California Vacations

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Shasta Lake, Houseboating Capital of the World

Most know Shasta Lake in northern California as the Houseboat Capital of the World. Summers are hot & dry, and provide the perfect time to rent a houseboat with high def TV, saunas on deck, and a slide for kids of all ages to ride, landing in the warm, comfortable lake. Temperatures in the summer hover around 100 degrees but it is a dry heat that makes houseboating the ideal vacation in this man-made lake, the result of a Shasta Dam construction in 1938.

For those who prefer cooler weather and non-houseboat trips, there's something special to see and do at Shasta Lake — Shasta Lake Caverns. Formed over 250 million years, you get to see a cathedral of color and formations among many amazing attractions in the cool caves– and getting there is half the fun! Shown in the photo is a vista of Shasta Lake before you enter the caves.

The cave tour involves several hours of entertainment that begins as you hop aboard a catamaran boat and take a scenic tour across Shasta Lake to the remote shore where the caves are located. After the boat ride, you hop on a tram or bus for a guided tour with mountain vistas of the lake that are breath-taking. Arriving at the cave parking and entrance, you enter the caves and embark on approx. an hour of descending and climbing steps in the caves that seldom climb above 55 degrees, even in the summer when it's 100 outside.

Three experiences await the adventuresome traveler who likes to be wowed. We always prefer making Redding our home base during this trip as we aren't houseboaters and don't like the heat. For people like us you need to start planning your trip and taking it now through May. By June the temperatures climb and you're in for several months of dry, toasty weather. Tours go every hour from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through May, then every half hour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Labor Day. (see lakeshastacaverns.com)

Getting there: Located off I-5 in Shasta County. Flying & renting a car is not a bad option these days, considering the price of gas is over $4 gallon in California. To drive to Shasta County from Southern California is a 9 hour trip of around 550 miles one way. The drive will cost several hundred dollars.

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