The thing about people from Philadelphia is... they think Philly is the greatest city in the world, but then they get annoyed at tourists who want to visit and enjoy it in funny, tourist-y ways. And one of these tourist ventures that some Philadelphians love-to-hate are the Duck boats! We love them, though, and my two-year-old son and I often go Duck boat spotting-- he can see them coming a mile away and never ceases to be delighted by them!
The DUCKS are based on the design of WWII era amphibious vehicles. They drive around Independence Park, South Street, and Society Hill a bit, and then they drive into the river! You cruise the river for a tiny bit, and then drive back up on land. I took the tour with my 4-year-old as part of a birthday party, and we really enjoyed it together. However, for an adult who is not accompanied by a child, it may not be the best tour option. It is expensive, at upwards of $20 (for adults), and though your driver will probably give you an informed tour, he/she will also play silly songs over the PA and encourage you to use your yellow plastic quacker at passers-by. My son and I love it when people quack at us, but other Philly natives can be rude about it.
If you're interested, check out the website, and take a gander at the boats themselves when they're lined up on 6th St (just north of where it crosses Chestnut)-- maybe for you, like us, it will be enough to see these interesting vehicles. If you do want to RIDE the Ducks, I would advise going early. I believe the first tours start at 10am, and it seems to me like most of the people along the tour route in the morning are the genial type (like women with strollers) and not the jaded wet blankets.
Showing posts with label Boats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Boats. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
The Independence Seaport Museum
Our little family of four just visited the Independence Seaport Museum, and (unlike so many things in this world) it EXCEEDED my expectations! The best parts had to be the workshop within the Museum and the tours you can take of a REAL submarine and a REAL turn of the century warship that are parked in the river just outside! It was SO cool, so if you like boats, history, wars or even physics (the physics of floating and moving in the water) you will like this place. I loved it!
The workshop: When we visited on a Saturday, two men were in the workshop building a replica of a medium sized sailing vessel. While one toiled away, the other (who was extremely personable and knowledgeable) answered all of our questions, pointed things out around the workshop, and let us put our hands all over stuff to give us an idea of what they were doing.
The BECUNA: The Becuna is a WWII-era submarine-- oh my goodness! What an experience-- you don't know what our servicemen did for us until you cram yourself down into this thing and see for yourself what life was like under the surface. This is not for people who have mobility trouble, as there are narrow stairways and small hatch doorways to navigate.
The OLYMPIA: If not for the guns poking out of the pretty windows, you might at first feel like you were on a leisure fun ship when you step into the Olympia. But soon you realize that even if the Admiral had his own leather couches and huge enamel tub, the enlisted crew was left swinging in hammocks when they needed to unwind. The Olympia founght in the Spanish American War, and an exhibit inside the Museum will get you pumped to see it with information on Teddy Roosevelt, the Rough Riders, and the explosion off the coast of Cuba that started it all.
The Museum is included in the City Pass, too, if that's something you'd like to try. Get more information about CIty Pass, and the Museum, here.
The workshop: When we visited on a Saturday, two men were in the workshop building a replica of a medium sized sailing vessel. While one toiled away, the other (who was extremely personable and knowledgeable) answered all of our questions, pointed things out around the workshop, and let us put our hands all over stuff to give us an idea of what they were doing.
The BECUNA: The Becuna is a WWII-era submarine-- oh my goodness! What an experience-- you don't know what our servicemen did for us until you cram yourself down into this thing and see for yourself what life was like under the surface. This is not for people who have mobility trouble, as there are narrow stairways and small hatch doorways to navigate.
The OLYMPIA: If not for the guns poking out of the pretty windows, you might at first feel like you were on a leisure fun ship when you step into the Olympia. But soon you realize that even if the Admiral had his own leather couches and huge enamel tub, the enlisted crew was left swinging in hammocks when they needed to unwind. The Olympia founght in the Spanish American War, and an exhibit inside the Museum will get you pumped to see it with information on Teddy Roosevelt, the Rough Riders, and the explosion off the coast of Cuba that started it all.
The Museum is included in the City Pass, too, if that's something you'd like to try. Get more information about CIty Pass, and the Museum, here.
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