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Todd Stevenson season to enjoy, clear skies to help soak in the sunshine, natural wonders to hike and explore, unsurpassed scenery in every direction, wild- life and endangered species to encounter and opportunities to play on the water. The choices are seemingly endless on Lake Powell—with so many beaches, coves and canyons to choose from. Water lovers enjoy long seasons May through October with clear warm water, sunny days and cool nights in abundance. The 3700-foot eleva- tion and desert location put the lake in a 78 percent sunshine belt so houseboaters rarely need umbrellas—well, ex- cept for shade. There are often great temps in the winter months too. Nightlife Because of its remote location, Powell boasts some of the clearest skies anywhere. Visibility is usually in the 50-plus- mile range, and overhead, the stars look like you can just reach up and grab them! Try kicking back in the hot tub while a meteor shower streaks across the sky above. It may well be a “night out” to remember. It all starts with dusk as the sky turns ever darker shades of blue until it finally gives way to the stars. Get up early in the morning and watch the red rocks around you come to life as the dawn approaches. Smell the morning coffee and watch the magic. It all happens here in the great protected scenery of Lake Powell, which is the central feature of the 1.2-million-acre Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. It stretches from Lees Ferry in Arizona to the Orange Cliffs of Southern Utah. Established as a park in 1972, the area borders the Navajo Nation and is home to many sacred sites, pictographs and artifacts. Carothers de- scribed the recreation area as a, “collection of great protected scenery, geologic wonders and a vast panorama of human history.” The glens or canyons of the area—that’s where they get the name—host a diverse range of wildlife. Some of the local amphib- ians blend in so well with the surrounding rocks that if you look too quickly, you might miss seeing them doing push ups on the shore (they do that to stay cool). Over 300 species of birds have been documented in the area too. Most just drop in for some rest and relaxation on the water and stay for a short time—just like houseboaters. The area, including the Colo- rado River below Glen Canyon Dam, is also home to several 12 Houseboatmagazine.com Anna Long “Still KING of the Tube” “The Most Relaxing and Fun Time Ever”