November 21, 2008
Happy Houseboating
The 70 Millennium Houseboat on Lake Mead. Image courtesy of Forever Resorts.
Take a personal cruise this summer on your very own rental boat, with access for wheelchair users and slow walkers included.As the dog days of summer linger on, valley dwellers flock to nearby mountain lakes for a little respite from the sweltering summer temperatures. Indeed, nothing beats dropping anchor in a sheltered cove and enjoying the refreshing waters of a cool mountain lake. And the good news is, you can kick back, throw some freshly caught fish on the grill and enjoy those refreshing waters all week -- as the captain of your own rental houseboat.
Houseboat vacations are gaining popularity throughout America, as they are a good way to combine water recreation with group lodging and dining. Think of it as your own personal cruise. Not only are they a popular choice for extended families, family reunions and girlfriend getaways, houseboat vacations are also becoming popular in corporate retreat circles. And to meet this increasing demand, several houseboat rental companies have sprung up at mountain marinas across the country.
Admittedly, the majority of houseboats are not wheelchair-accessible; however Forever Resorts offers two models that will work for most wheelchair-users and slow walkers. Both models are available at Moccasin Point Marina, located on Don Pedro Lake in Central California. Nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills, Moccasin Point Marina is just 60 miles west of Yosemite National Park and 2 1/2 hours east of San Francisco. More specifically, it's located in Jamestown, on Jacksonville Road near the intersection of Highway 120/49.
Moccasin Point Marina features accessible parking near the entrance and level access down to the marina. The marina has a snack bar, store, docks and a houseboat rental office, all of which feature good pathway access. Additionally, there are accessible public restrooms located behind the office.
Forever Resorts offers a wide variety of rental houseboats at Moccasin Point Marina, including two models which are classified as "wheelchair-accessible with assistance": the 59-foot Deluxe XT and the 70-foot Millennium. The major difference between the two vessels is the sleeping capacity. The Deluxe XT has five queen-sized beds, 1 1/2 bathrooms and can sleep up to 10 people; while the larger Millennium features six queen-sized beds, two full bathrooms and can accommodate up to 12 people. Both vessels have a wet bar, sun canopy and a water slide, but the Millennium also has a large hot tub on the sun deck perfect for relaxation and star gazing.
Access features are identical on both models, and they include a wide side boarding gate, a threshold ramp at the front sliding glass door and good pathway access throughout the living room, kitchen and dining room on the main deck. The forward bathroom features a wide doorway, grab bars by the toilet and a roll-under sink. The low-step shower is actually better suited for folks who can walk at least one step, as there is an 11-inch step up to the shower, and it's difficult to safely transfer to the built-in seat in the back of the shower without taking at least one step.
Access is limited to the forward section of the main deck, as a 24-inch hallway leads to the sleeping quarters in the aft section. The sofas in the living room convert to queen-sized beds, for those folks that can't manage the narrow hallways. And although the sun deck is only accessible by a flight of stairs, wheelchair-users can still enjoy the scenery from the front porch on the main deck. All in all, these houseboats meet the access needs of many people.
A complete orientation session is included with all rentals and the houseboats are surprisingly easy to drive. A staff person is available to pilot folks in and out of the marina, so renters don't have to worry about navigating around the other boats. Once you're out on the lake, it's smooth sailing. You can park in almost any cove along the 160-mile shoreline, and just nose-up to the shore and tie off for the night. The whole procedure is easy and no prior boating experience is required. Additionally, once an initial deposit is received, Forever Resorts sends out an orientation DVD to familiarize customers with the features of the vessels.
All Forever Resorts houseboats are equipped with linens, towels, kitchen ware, a BBQ grill and cleaning supplies so you just need to pack your clothes and groceries. Additionally the houseboats feature a DVD player, satellite TV and a CD player, so you'll always have entertainment on hand. So whether it's for a weekend escape or a week-long adventure, consider a houseboat rental for your next summer getaway. All in all, it's a fun and very accessible way to enjoy the great outdoors.
Candy Harrington is the editor of Emerging Horizons and the author of Barrier Free Travel: A Nuts and Bolts Guide For Wheelers and Slow Walkers. Visit her blog for access news, resources and industry updates.
Houseboat vacations are gaining popularity throughout America, as they are a good way to combine water recreation with group lodging and dining. Think of it as your own personal cruise. Not only are they a popular choice for extended families, family reunions and girlfriend getaways, houseboat vacations are also becoming popular in corporate retreat circles. And to meet this increasing demand, several houseboat rental companies have sprung up at mountain marinas across the country.
Admittedly, the majority of houseboats are not wheelchair-accessible; however Forever Resorts offers two models that will work for most wheelchair-users and slow walkers. Both models are available at Moccasin Point Marina, located on Don Pedro Lake in Central California. Nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills, Moccasin Point Marina is just 60 miles west of Yosemite National Park and 2 1/2 hours east of San Francisco. More specifically, it's located in Jamestown, on Jacksonville Road near the intersection of Highway 120/49.
Moccasin Point Marina features accessible parking near the entrance and level access down to the marina. The marina has a snack bar, store, docks and a houseboat rental office, all of which feature good pathway access. Additionally, there are accessible public restrooms located behind the office.
Forever Resorts offers a wide variety of rental houseboats at Moccasin Point Marina, including two models which are classified as "wheelchair-accessible with assistance": the 59-foot Deluxe XT and the 70-foot Millennium. The major difference between the two vessels is the sleeping capacity. The Deluxe XT has five queen-sized beds, 1 1/2 bathrooms and can sleep up to 10 people; while the larger Millennium features six queen-sized beds, two full bathrooms and can accommodate up to 12 people. Both vessels have a wet bar, sun canopy and a water slide, but the Millennium also has a large hot tub on the sun deck perfect for relaxation and star gazing.
The interior of the 70 Millennium. Image courtesy of Forever Resorts.
Access is limited to the forward section of the main deck, as a 24-inch hallway leads to the sleeping quarters in the aft section. The sofas in the living room convert to queen-sized beds, for those folks that can't manage the narrow hallways. And although the sun deck is only accessible by a flight of stairs, wheelchair-users can still enjoy the scenery from the front porch on the main deck. All in all, these houseboats meet the access needs of many people.
A complete orientation session is included with all rentals and the houseboats are surprisingly easy to drive. A staff person is available to pilot folks in and out of the marina, so renters don't have to worry about navigating around the other boats. Once you're out on the lake, it's smooth sailing. You can park in almost any cove along the 160-mile shoreline, and just nose-up to the shore and tie off for the night. The whole procedure is easy and no prior boating experience is required. Additionally, once an initial deposit is received, Forever Resorts sends out an orientation DVD to familiarize customers with the features of the vessels.
All Forever Resorts houseboats are equipped with linens, towels, kitchen ware, a BBQ grill and cleaning supplies so you just need to pack your clothes and groceries. Additionally the houseboats feature a DVD player, satellite TV and a CD player, so you'll always have entertainment on hand. So whether it's for a weekend escape or a week-long adventure, consider a houseboat rental for your next summer getaway. All in all, it's a fun and very accessible way to enjoy the great outdoors.
Candy Harrington is the editor of Emerging Horizons and the author of Barrier Free Travel: A Nuts and Bolts Guide For Wheelers and Slow Walkers. Visit her blog for access news, resources and industry updates.
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