You can take an excursion on the Wolf River out of Fremont, Wisconsin, just two hours from Milwaukee, or take the four-hour drive to the Mississippi River where several companies rent houseboats. It's like trailer camping with style, great for people who love being on the water. Northport Marine offers houseboats from 42 to 52 feet long. They sleep up to 12 people in a combination of double beds and pull-out sofas. The facilities are compact, but kitchens have a small refrigerator, sink and stove, table and chairs, and a shower in the bathroom.
Boaters can stop at one of many available ports for a taste of life in town.
Quaint little towns are plentiful along the Mississippi, says Smith. When boaters approach a dam, the locks close the dam so boaters can get through. Then they shut the dam, your boat is raised up in the locks and you go on your way. Docking, incidentally, is probably the greatest challenge your skipper will face while houseboating, says Smith. Some experience piloting a boat is helpful, she says, but not necessary.