Cruising on Lakes During the Summer of 2020
We made the most of our social distancing summer
When March 2020 came around and Covid hit us all like a hurricane, none of us thought that it would stick around for long. Two weeks tops, that’s what we all were told and believed.
We had to cancel our travel plans as did many other people. We had a trip booked to Cancun in April of 2020 and held on until the very last minute, hoping that we would be able to go.
April came and things were continuing to get worse, so we opted to get a refund on all of our travels. We canceled summer plans because the future was unknown.
With the money that we were refunded, months later in May, we decided that we should purchase a boat with our close friends, another family of four. We have a constant small group of friends, 12 of us total including our kids.
We figured that we would just hang out with each other. They would be in our Covid group, not hanging out with other people, for the most part. So, it was safe to get together for long weekend trips.
Everyone was working from home, school was online, and our kids didn’t have any of their normal activities. So, we might as well take advantage of the pandemic by social distancing from everyone else out on different lakes.
Our husbands were over the moon and took finding a boat very seriously. They researched and looked high and low because it seemed like many other people also had this plan in mind. There weren’t many boats to choose from.
Lake Mead — Nevada
Luckily, they found one that they both loved and the rest of us were along for the ride. We scouted different lakes that were within driving distance and decided on Lake Mead for our first excursion.
Sadly, there aren’t many lakes close to us, meaning we had to drive 4 hours to the closest, swimmable lake. There are some closer but nothing I would want to dip my toes in because they are either too cold or murky.
None of us had been to Lake Mead before. We decided on a hotel in Henderson, Nevada, and it was about a 20-minute drive to the lake. It was the end of June and we would be staying until the 4th of July. We made the most out of our time there with several days riding around on the lake.
Nevada is scorching hot in the summer and it was heating up when we arrived early in the morning. We were able to get a dock space for the entire trip so we didn’t have to take the boat in and out each day.
When we arrived down at the dock, there were so many fish that we stood there mesmerized while the boys got the boat in the water. After we were all lubed up in SPF50, we headed out for a fun day on the lake. Packing food and drinks for the trip, we didn’t have to come into close contact with anyone.
Our friends all knew how to wakeboard but no one in my family had ever tried and it sure is difficult. But, we all tried and of course, my athletic daughters got up on their first try. My husband and I were a sad sight to watch. I maybe stood up on the board for 5–10 seconds.
I’d rather swim in a cove, watch others wakeboard, and lounge around instead. The tube was also a hit with everyone.
Lake Mead is stunning in person. It is situated out in the desert. Half of Lake Mead is in Nevada and half is in Arizona. I am not sure if we made it to the Arizona side because there weren’t any signs but I am sure it is right past the Lake Mead narrows.
This was our favorite area of the lake. The days went by so fast and we were exhausted at the end of each day. The sun and heat are so draining.
The trip flew by and we were all hooked on the new boat. It made me realize that I like lakes more than the ocean, at least to swim in. The ocean here in California is always so cold and I never go in the water.
The temperature of the water in Lake Mead is perfect. The water is so clean and didn’t really ever get that choppy. When the trip was up, we started making plans for another lake boating trip.
San Diego, CA (Mission Bay)
Where would we go next? We decided that we should try the boat in the ocean, and there is a protected bay in San Diego that we knew of so we made plans to head there a few weeks later.
Yes, this isn’t a lake, but a bay, although I felt the need to include it for the comparison.
Boating in the ocean is not as enjoyable as boating in the lake. While in the bay, it was so crowded and hard to get any wakeboarding time in and when you take it out of the bay, it is so choppy and rough. We all decided that we would stick to taking the boat out in lakes, even if it is a long drive to a desirable lake.
There aren’t too many options but we decided to take it up to Big Bear Lake, which is a lot closer to Southern California where we live.
Big Bear, CA
Our friends actually had a cabin up in Big Bear for many years to rent out as an Airbnb, so we were able to stay there. They sold the cabin about a year later because it proved to be a real pain in the butt to deal with renters. They’d had enough but we did get some amazing vacation time up at the lake.
The water in Big Bear is a heck of a lot colder than Lake Mead so many of us did not get on the wakeboard but the scenery up there is picturesque. A tree and mansion-lined lake make for plenty of things to look at.
Plus, riding around on a boat in a lake is fun. The sunsets in Big Bear are magical and the photos do not do them justice.
Lake Tahoe (California and Nevada)
One of my favorite places in the United States is Lake Tahoe. Since my brothers live in Reno, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting several times. We rented a boat once and had the time of our lives so I knew we had to bring the boat up to Lake Tahoe.
It is quite the drive from Southern California, about 9 hours of towing the boat. You have to drive a lot slower than you would normally.
But, once we arrived it was worth it. We found a place in South Lake Tahoe in the “Tahoe Keys”. The houses are all situated in a marina setting, each house on the water with a boat dock. Somehow I managed to score a deal with an Airbnb right on the water. I still don’t know why it was so cheap because it was incredible.
Right out the back door was the dock where we could park the boat. No driving from a hotel or house to the lake, it made it so easy and we were able to take the boat out more often because of the convenience. Plus, it was the same price as our hotel 20 minutes from Lake Mead. Again, it was a steal.
The only picture I took of the dock or anything surrounding is this dorky one with my youngest brother. I’m pretty sure I was already drunk.
Nothing beats Lake Tahoe in the summer of 2020 on a boat. It was so relaxing, fun, and full of laughs and music. You also cannot beat the scenery up there. It doesn’t even compare to Big Bear Lake.
The water in Lake Tahoe is pristine and well taken care of. We had to get a thorough inspection of our boat before it was even allowed in the water.
We spent five amazing days on the lake with family and friends. Looking back, it is one of our favorite vacations that we’ve taken, the silver lining of our covid summer.
I’ve written in more detail about my love for Lake Tahoe here:
The Parker Strip and Lake Havasu, Arizona
Last but not least, we went to visit Parker, Arizona, and Lake Havasu.
We went during Labor Day weekend which wasn’t a good idea because it was way too crowded with people and boats. Although we kept our distance and stayed on our boat or close to our friends most of the time, it was still too many people for my liking.
I quickly found out that I don’t vibe with the crowd in Lake Havasu anyway. Although, I think I tolerated it a lot more because I was drinking. I went again last year sober and still didn’t like it there. I’d much rather go to any of the other lakes that we went to.
Cruising the Parker Strip is fun though, with lots to see and places to stop along the way for gas or a drink. We were able to snag another great deal right on the water with a dock.
We were all sad when the summer of 2020 came to a close. Everyone is always so busy so there would have been no way we would have made all of these trips happen. We go on one vacation every summer, not 4 or 5.
Which lake would you want to visit?
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Thanks for reading!
Much love, Michele
