Your houseboat vacation packing list and simple meal plan ideas
Plan your houseboat vacation with ease. Discover what to pack in your suitcases as well as what to put in your kitchen. Meal planning is key to ensure you have everything you need. Knowing what to bring will ensure a great time on your next houseboat vacation. With no worries you will immerse yourself in nature and unwind in your floating home away from home.
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In the summer of 2018, my husband along with 3 of my children and my son’s girlfriend decided to spend 3 nights on a houseboat in Dale Hallow Lake. Our vacation was in early June.
As the weather is still cooler in June where I live, I checked the average water temperature of the Dale Hallow lake. I read that the average water temperature was 73°. As this was the average, I thought it might be a little warmer as we had a warm spring. Just to let you know,: when we got in the water, it felt great to us.
Below is the packing list we took on our vacation. We packed for 3 days. Not including what we were wearing! The houseboat company gave us towels and bedding. Do check what your houseboat comes with!
Packing List
Basics
- Pillow: I bring my pillow everywhere I go. Mine is a foam cooling pillow. I sleep much better. My kids bring theirs for the car.
- Blanket: This was for the kids for the car.
- Pajamas
- 3 outfits: shorts, t-shirts, flip flops, lounge wear
- Phone, Charger, Cord
- Camera, charger, SD card (I always bring my Canon Rebel T7 on my trips)
Toiletries/Medicines
- Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Floss
- Comb/Brush/Hair ties
- Shampoo, Conditioner, Hair gels
- Moisturizers
- Deodorant
- Advil, Tylenol, Headache Medicine, Allergy Medicine, Vitamins
- Band aides, Neosporin, Ice pack, Bug spray, Itch cream
- Sun screen, aloe
Boat Items
- Rafts: I got some simple ones at Five Below
- Detachable pump: I have a blow-up mattress that has one of these. I use it on rafts and anything big that needs filled with air.
- Ligretto Game : A fast card game that comes from Germany.
- Deck of Cards
- Puzzle: We brought this in case it rained most of the time.
- Fishing Poles
- Towels: These microfibre towels were for swimming. They are perfect for traveling as they fold down nice and flat. Our houseboat came with bath towels.
- Swim suits: Everyone brought 2 swimsuits. One for the first swim and the other for the later swim. Sometimes we just stayed in the same swimsuit all day.
- Life vests (For the little ones. I asked friends on Facebook and borrowed 2)
- A good book: When I just wanted to sit and read
House Boat Meals (3 nights)
Meal planning is a must for a houseboat vacation. You can’t just go to the store to get something or go out to dinner.
Before starting to meal plan, look at what appliances your houseboat has. Can you grill or can you only use the stove and oven? What size fridge does your boat have? Once you have this information following this easy guide for meal planning on a houseboat:
Plan your favorite meals that travel well.
Depending on you and where you are coming from will determine what you can bring and what you must buy when you get closer.
bringing all your food
You will need a cooler to keep your food frozen as you travel. Which means you need to make sure you have room for your food plus everything you are bringing.
- Plan meals that freeze, thaw and cook well.
- I like to pack my condiments and spices.
- Don’t forget snacks and drinks
Buying at a grocery store that is close to the houseboat
If you want to shop right before you board, find the closest grocery store to the marina before you leave home.
- Plan your meals and make your shopping list
- Bring marinades in gallon size bags. You will add to the meat later.
- Bring condiments, dressings and spices
Kitchen items to pack. (First, check what the houseboat provides.)
- Paper towels
- Dishwashing soap
- Kitchen Towels
- Cooking utensils
- Cleaners
- Wine opener
What we ate on our 4 day house boat vacation:
We chose to bring all of our food with us instead of stopping at the grocery store.
- 3 Breakfasts (Eggs, Bacon, muffins): We didn’t stop at a grocery store, so breakfast could not include milk.
- 3 Lunches (PB&J, cold cut sandwiches): The cold cuts and jelly came in our cooler.
- 3 Dinners (Pulled Pork and chips, Grilled Chicken sandwiches and chips, Hamburgers)
- Pulled pork: I prepared this at home and froze it. I kept it on ice until I got to the houseboat. I brought the barbecue sauce, buns and chips.
- Grilled Chicken sandwiches: I prepared the chicken with the marinade at home. I froze it and then kept it on ice until I got to the houseboat. I brought buns, provolone cheese, lettuce and tomato in the cooler.
- Hamburgers: I brought these, frozen to the houseboat. I also brought buns, ketchup packets andchips.
- snacks (fruit, chips, popcorn): I brought my family’s favs
- drinks (pop, water, juice boxes, wine): I brought my family’s favs.
Check out my other post on vacationing on a houseboat:
Enjoy you first houseboat vacation with important planning
My Take Aways
- Houseboat vacations are meant to be laid back.
- They are for relaxing and getting away from the world.
- This is the perfect place to “just be” and enjoying your surroundings.
- I feel that houseboat vacations is upscale camping or glamping.
Do you have a favorite location you go on your houseboat vacation? Please share!
