Traversing the natural wonders of Lake Powell on a rented houseboat can be a delightful and cost-effective way to vacation in the Southwest. Through National Park Reservations, you may wish to secure your place on a Voyager Class houseboat. The 46-foot vessel sleeps up to 8 people and comes with an assortment of amenities, including a coffeemaker, a 150-quart ice chest, a high capacity generator and a CD sound system.

The 46-foot Voyager also features a double door refrigerator/freezer, cabin heaters, a boarding ramp, an outdoor gas grill, a canopy shade, and plenty of dishes and utensils. If you tire of splashing in the crystal clear waters of Lake Powell, you can take a warm bath on board. You can also coordinate your adventure with landing stations and other boats through your included marine radio.

This vessel also boasts a swim slide for easy and fun access to the water, launches from both the Wahweap and Bullfrog Marinas, and navigates well throughout the reservoir. For something slightly bigger, you may choose either the Adventurer--a 54-foot boat--or the Discovery--a 59-foot XL boat. The Discovery boats come with linens, but you can purchase towels, washcloths, sheets, blankets, and so forth if you are traveling on either the Adventurer or the Voyager.

All Lake Powell houseboat rentals that you procure through National Park Reservations come with dozens of conveniences, such as deck chairs, dinning utensils, fire extinguishers, hot pads, ashtrays, anchors and life jackets. Don't wait until the last minute to rent your seasonal Lake Powell Houseboat--contact a National Park Reservations representative at your earliest convenience.

One of the best ways to sift through lodging choices is to look at pictures and read updated pricing information. No other site on the Net has a more extensive database of pictures, pricing, and descriptions of cottages, hotels, and lodges in the U.S. national park system than National Park Reservations. For more information and to make reservations, log on to: www.nationalparkreservations.com or call toll free 1-866-845-8456.