Where are your sunglasses?

Wow! April is here already. The sun's coming out and it's time to start packing, or at least thinking about packing. The most important question, besides where your sunglasses are, is which waterway will you and your crew be on this season?

In this month's issue, we peek into one of the southwest's best kept secrets, Lake Mohave in Nevada. There's big news about the new houseboat website launch, some sweet smoothie recipes in our Top-5 list, and a bit of Waterways investigative reporting on Airplanes vs Houseboats.

Happy Houseboating!

Lake Mohave - The Best Kept Secret in Nevada

Find out for yourself why they come, year after year, to what some visitors say is the best kept secret in Nevada, Lake Mohave. This serene, 67 mile long stretch of the Colorado River, nestled in between Hoover Dam and Davis Dam, is less than an hour away from Laughlin or Las Vegas.

"We don't even tell our friends about this place" said one annual visitor, "There is a completely different feel here, it's nice and peaceful, very friendly, and you get the sense that people are really happy to be here." Visit with these "regulars" around the marina long enough and you will also discover an intense loyalty to this place. They will tell you it comes from the "lake's serenity, the clean, clear water," and the feeling that you "have a whole piece of the world to yourself" when you are nestled into your own private cove.

The crystal clear waters of Lake Mohave, along with it's 230 miles of shoreline, offer you and your crew an ideal setting for a great houseboat vacation. Wake up every day under rich indigo skies and discover great fishing to challenge your angler skills, sandy beaches to land and play on, super scenery and wildlife to enjoy, great scuba diving, and lots of room for recreation and relaxing. Then after the day is done, cap it all off with one of Mohave's famous ruby red sunsets.

Lake Mohave, Nevada

Mohave means "people who live along the water."

Easy navigation
You will find that Mohave is an easy lake to navigate. The marina is situated midway along the 67 mile length so all you really have to decide is whether to turn right or left when you leave the marina. The lake is long and narrow (no kidding, it's hard to get lost), and is not more than 4 miles across at its widest point. Because the water flow is controlled by the dams at either end, the lake is almost always full. (see water stats)

Sandy Beaches
The constant water levels, gentle current and soft winds over the years have created some great sandy beaches to enjoy along the shores of Lake Mohave. Some Mohave regulars will tell you these sandy beaches are the #1 reason they keep coming back, year after year. The fine, white sand is like "ocean beach sand" and they brag that they would "put Mohave beaches up against Florida beaches anytime." These gently sloping shorelines made of soft sand make beaching your boat a cinch. There is no "crunch" when you hit the beach, just the "smooth slide in" of a soft impact. Find your own private beach site for a base camp, set up the volleyball net, organize the camp fire and dig in your chairs and relax.

Scuba Diving
Are you ready to dive under water for a look, interested in taking a lesson, or thinking about joining a group? Then think Mohave. Diving is rapidly becoming a popular activity as the "secret" gets out about the clear waters of Lake Mohave. Many seasoned divers describe the lake as an "up and coming scuba location" and locals will tell you that divers always leave with a smile on their face. Contact Greg Carter (702-297-1464) at Cottonwood Cove for diving assistance and information.

Fishing
Cast your line for some great fishing and maybe you'll catch dinner too (the grill is waiting). Head upstream to the cooler water and angle for Rainbow Trout. You'll be happy to know that there is a fish hatchery upstream that keeps the lake pretty well stocked. Or... head downstream where the warmer waters keep the Largemouth and Striped Bass biting all season long. Just keep in mind that, as the locals like to say, "nobody will ever tell you where they caught their last fish." Good luck!

Wildlife
Keep a sharp eye out for some of the wildlife that call Mohave home. You will often see big horn sheep and mule deer casually hanging out along the shore. A more careful watch (binoculars definitely help) may be necessary to reveal the more elusive coyotes , kit foxes , bobcats , and ring-tail cats . Take a kayak along some of the rock shorelines and you are likely to spot numerous lizards doing push-up's in the afternoon heat (keeps em cool). You may even get lucky and spot the endangered desert tortoise or peregrine_falcon in the area as well. The variety of birds dropping in for a cool sip is endless. The best advice is to bring along binoculars and your camera so you can really enjoy the "neighbors."

Plenty of room to Play and Relax
Lake Mohave is usually not very crowded which makes it easy for everyone to spread out and have fun (without falling over each other). At times you may feel like you are distant and away from everybody even though you're not really that far. This makes Mohave a great place to teach the kids (and us big kids too) to water ski, wake board and try out other fun water sports. Swimming can be safer when you have fewer boats around too. Try out a sailboard or "cat" and the dependable desert breeze may just get you up. Most water "toys" are available at your gateway to Lake Mohave, Cottonwood Cove Resort & Marina. It's time to play!

Choice at Cottonwood Cove Resort and Marina

The first thing you may notice when arriving at Cottonwood Cove is that everyone seems to know each other. Many of our guests have been coming for years and they are known to welcome "newbies" with open arms. "Join the family" as many like to say and relax. The brand new marina facilities were designed to make your boarding a cinch and the long time staff is happy, helpful and welcoming too. You will find a Cafe', convenience store, lakeview Motel rooms, RV Park, Campground, and boat & PWC rentals, all at the water's edge. Simply put, you have a lot of choice at Cottonwood Cove.

It's always a better day at Cottonwood Cove

Accommodation Choices
You will find that the choice of available accommodations makes this a unique location. The motel rooms are right on the water and the buoy line keeps boats out and the beach safe for swimming/scuba lessons. Everyone can sleep where they want. Here's a great example from a scuba group that organizes diving trips to the lake, Gr8divn. They recently reported "As far as accommodations : 1 group used the campgrounds, 2 groups used the RV Park, 5 Motel rooms were used, 7 People stayed on a houseboat and some drove up and back. Fun was had by all and we all can't wait to go back in April."

An excellent choice for first time houseboaters.
Collette Carter, General Manager, explained that "we go the extra mile to make sure first timers get the advice and help they need, so they have a great experience." Because the Marina is located right in the center of the 67 mile long lake, "we are always close enough if you need help" says Collette. "It's easy to take houseboats out here, the lake is not crowded, and our pilots stand ready to take the boat out of the marina for you, or come out to give a hand if needed" She concluded, with certainty in her voice, "We want ALL Houseboaters to have a great experience on the lake and we'll do what it takes to make that happen."

Airplanes vs Houseboats?

Have you ever thought about the contrasts between flying and houseboating? True, airplane flight is a way of getting somewhere and houseboating is a real destination in itself, but they both take vacation time and resources to do. So have some fun with us as we compare these two vacation travel options.

Take leg room for instance... Even if you're in a first class seat on a Boeing 747 you won't have anywhere near as much legroom as you would on a houseboat. Try dangling your feet over the edge of an airplane, or looking down at the glistening waters below. And those seats, try stretching out in an airplane seat like you would on the couch in a houseboat. The only place you might have less legroom than an airplane when houseboating is in a kayak, paddling around at your leisure. Even then, you can always just roll over and take a swim when you need to stretch.

And pillows... Remember the last time you tried to get one on an airplane? No call button to push on a houseboat, or surly flight attendant to tell you the plane is all out of pillows. Take a short walk to one of the beds or closets in a houseboat and there they are, large, soft, fluffy, luxurious pillows of pleasure that any first class passenger would be envious of. Take two just to get even!

Window seats... These days airlines are charging extra for window seats. And they call that a view? Those teeny, oval, double pane, holes on the wall with moisture beads in the glass, can they really be called windows? Look out if you can tilt your head the right way. What can you see anyway? On a houseboat, all you have to do is slide open the wrap around windows, or the sliding glass door, to breath in the clean air, take in the views, and relax. Look around without straining your head and just enjoy! Open your mouth and taste the breeze.

Food... Peanuts? NOT, unless you want to bring an extra large bag or box. Never again will you be left to beg and plead for another minuscule bag of peanuts or pretzels on the fly. On a houseboat, peanuts and pretzels are best served on the upper deck with a cool beverage at sunset or in a big bowl on the kitchen counter... all day long. And meals, well, cooking up what you want has to be preferable to taking what is left... "Chicken or beef? Oh, I'm sorry, we are all out of beef..." Put a steak on the grill and relax!

Liquids... Thirsty? Bring your own beverages, gallons if you like. No security checkpoints pouring out your favorite bottle of wine or snarling at you for bringing a simple half empty bottle of water along. Bring a whole case if you like. Forget begging for the "whole can" and have two or three. In the morning, enjoy a whole pitcher of orange juice along with a real breakfast. The choice is yours, not theirs.

Bathrooms on airplanes can be a challenge... Can you say real toilet paper? Not to mention everyone looking at you as you come down the aisle. Try walking down the hallway on a houseboat. Where are all of those prying airline passenger eyes now? Your traveling companions on a houseboat are probably out on the water, swimming, snorkeling, or skiing. They might be on the sun deck lounging about or hiking and exploring on the shore. The last thing they are paying attention to is you and where you are going. And seriously, those airplane toilets, with the space around them measured in millimeters... they make marine toilets look like palatial thrones. Enough said.

Fresh air... Measure the air nozzle on an airplane, 1/2 of an inch when opened. Open the window, or door on a houseboat... Need we say more?

Flying time...With all of the increased security and flight delays today, flying can take a big chunk out of any holiday. Often, a full day is used up each way, even on short flights, when pre flight travel, security, flight time, delays, and ground travel after landing are added up. On your houseboat, boating time is THE time. Just walk on and relax, your vacation starts the minute you step on board.

The pilot... On an airplane, the pilot commands your every move. When you stand, when you sit, when you eat, when you wait...On a houseboat you are in command. The only pilots you will meet on a houseboat are the ones who help you proceed out of the dock and back. Beaching or anchoring is all up to you. Sitting or standing, it's all up to you. No seat belts or lighted signs on a houseboat, just good times with good people. That's what vacation travel is really all about anyway, isn't it?