How often do you cook a turkey dinner on a houseboat? The opportunity arrives this Thanksgiving, when a houseboat rental at Glen Canyon, Lake Mead, or Lake Amistad national recreation areas will also get you a turkey for the big day.

Plus, the rental comes at 40 percent off, which means your five-day cruise on either Lake Powell, Lake Mead, or Lake Amistad will cost what a three-day cruise normally does.

The 2009 “Bird and a Boat” package is valid on houseboating adventures departing on Wednesday Nov. 25 from various Forever Resorts marinas. Here's how Forever Resorts describes the offer:

“This is an exceptional value as well as a wonderful opportunity for families, friends and neighbors to come together for Thanksgiving to enjoy each other’s company and the beauty and amenities of the great outdoors,” said John Schoppmann, executive vice president of Forever Resorts.

All Forever Resorts houseboats have fully equipped kitchens and outdoor barbecues, allowing adventurers the ability to customize their Thanksgiving meal to suit their traditions and tastes. There’s plenty of room on board to prepare, store and enjoy the fresh fixings of a Turkey Day feast (as well as the leftovers). Following their holiday meal, houseboaters have the option of watching movies or football on the satellite TV – or heading out of doors to enjoy the lake or surrounding landscape.

The “Bird and a Boat” package is available at the following Forever Resorts marinas:

* Antelope Point Marina at Lake Powell – Arizona

* Temple Bar Marina on Lake Mead – Arizona

* Callville Bay Resort & Marina on Lake Mead – Nevada

* Cottonwood Cove Resort & Marina on Lake Mohave – Nevada

* Lake Amistad Resort & Marina at Lake Amistad – Texas

Boats in the Forever Houseboat fleet measure from 50 feet to 75 feet in length, and 14 feet to 18 feet in width. Most boats sleep 10 with a maximum capacity of 12. Houseboats are powered by dual engines and the floor plans are similar on each boat with the main living area, kitchen and dining all together. Typical setups include two to six staterooms and one to two full baths. All houseboats have luxury amenities such as a fully appointed kitchen, waterslide and barbecue grills. Operational training and a personal orientation by skilled marina staff teaches renters how to pilot, dock and beach a houseboat, as well as the boating safety rules of the lake. For reservations or questions regarding houseboat rentals at any of the marinas, call 800-255-5561 or visit HYPERLINK "http://www.ForeverHouseboats.com" www.ForeverHouseboats.com.