Boat Tour

, , , , ,

Boat Tours For New Visitors

Seattle WA boat tour

If you have not visited the Seattle area or the northwest corner of the continental United States, then you need to make a plan to visit.

Really, any time that you can get to Seattle is going to be good, but the best times, or the times that are most popular with tourists, is when the weather is at it’s best.  The best weather window for visiting Seattle is during the months of September and October (https://www.quora.com/Whats-the-best-time-of-the-year-to-visit-Seattle).

Now, I know that is a small window of time at only two months, but that is technically the most popular, or “high tide” of tourist season.  The reason is because the temperatures have cooled off from the summer heat and also September and October happen to be drier months of the year.

And, as you may have heard, Seattle gets a lot of rain.

The best way to see the sights that Seattle has to offer is by boat.  Seattle is surrounded by water and in particular by the Puget Sound.  The Puget Sound is renowned the world over for it’s abundance of wildlife and varied ecosystems.

From a boat sailing on the waters of the Puget you might be lucky to see animals such as whales, both killer whales and grey whales, a plethora of birds, with the crown jewel being a sight of a beautiful bald eagle soaring high on the thermals above.  Or you might even get lucky and see some of the native seals.

The sound is really an amazing spot because as you pull away from the shore you can see such diverse landscapes.  The dominant figure of the area of course is Mt. Rainier.  At over 14,000 feet above sea level, you can see this behemoth from hundreds of miles away.

If you look to the north you will see Canada not far away, and the jagged peaks of the southern Coast Range of the British Columbia mountains.  To the south, and much closer, is the are the peaks of the Olympic Range which is home to Olympic National Park.

What types of tours and cruises can you expect to find when visiting Seattle?

Harbor Cruises

There are several different cruise operators to choose from that operate at of the Elliot Bay area.  Cruising these water ways you’ll get to see the industrial side of Puget Sound with up close views of the City’s skyline and huge cranes that unload the international container ships.  Seattle Harbor is home to one of the worlds largest shipping terminals.

You will also get to see some of the other icons of Seattle on a Harbor Cruise like the Space Needle (of course), the giant Ferris Wheel, and you can even get a glimpse of the Seattle Seahawk’s football stadium.

Lake Union Hot Tub Cruise

Yeah, you read that right, a Hot Tub Cruise.  These are not just any hot tubs.  These are hot tubs that can accommodate up to six adults.

Now, you have to remember, you will be cruising on the waters of Lake Union.  There won’t be any big wave to deal with.  Just the occasional sea plane that might be landing or taking off, but they will stay way out of you way.  You will be given water proof bags to take with you that you can store your phones or any electronic devices you don’t want to get wet.  And there is also a storage locker at the office that you can use while you are out on the water.

Ride The Ducks of Seattle Tours

Now the Duck Boat tours are just as unusual at the hot tub tours.  And, like the hot tubs, these tours sail on the gentle waters of Lake Union.  But that is where the similarities end.

You see, the Duck Boat tours are land and water tours.  You read that right.  Ride The Ducks of Seattle tours are amphibious tours in old converted and updated World War II boats that were used for transporting the troops onto beaches.

To learn more about how you can get ticket for this unique sightseeing adventure go here:

You can also learn more about the Dad jokes, the tour commentary, and more about the family friendly cruise by checking out Ride The Ducks Of Seattle Twitter.

Dining and Drinking Cruise

There are some cruises, run by the tour company Argosy, that will give you the full wining and dining experience.

Do you want a full three course dinner with your own private server with the Seattle city skyline as a backdrop as you lounge on the comforting waters of Lake Washington https://www.kingcounty.gov/services/environment/water-and-land/lakes/lakes-of-king-county/lake-washington.aspx ?

Or, do you prefer to get on the deck and wander to which ever side of the boat has the best views as you sip on delicious and local Washington State wines?  Argosy’s wine cruise might be just what you’re looking for.

They offer 3 ounce pours of their featured wines, but don’t worry, they also offer, available for purchase, a full bar with specialty cocktails, a wide variety of micro brews, as well as non alcoholic beverages like Perrier.  Just to let you know in advance, they serve the wine in plastic cups on the boat.  Proper stemware would be too breakable and dangerous.

As you can see, the Seattle area has an abundance of different options when it comes to sightseeing on boats (and even hot tubs!).  Whether you want live commentary of the city, like on Ride The Ducks, or you want to relax on board with tasty beverages and delicious snacks, the gentle waters of the Puget Sound, Lake Washington, and Lake Union, have something to satisfy every type of cruiser.

And remember, while September and October are the most popular time to visit, they might not be the most joyous time for you due to all the crowds.  So don’t be afraid to come and visit Seattle during “off peak” season.

 

olga-con-blu-su-perseus

, , , , , ,

Restoring a sailboat: interview with Olga and Christian

Hi Olga, where are you moored right now?
We have been staying in Glossa [island of Skopelos, archipelago of the northern Sporades] for a little over a week. At the moment I am on a boat alone because Christian had to return for work. What then are never alone, given all the legs that are on board.

We are trying to lengthen the time. We started with the classic weekends, then the holidays. Last year we made two 40-day trips and this year we decided to live by boat from May to September. We don’t spend the whole year sailing yet, but we’re looking for ways to get there. We have a home and a shop: every 30 days, Christian comes back for a week and takes care of managing everything that still needs presence.

Can you tell me where your passion for sailing comes from?
I have always loved the sea, but I had never gone by boat before meeting Christian. Water is my element: I have always swam, all my life, I stopped because of an injury but I need to be in the water.

Christian is from Milan, but his father is originally from Rodi Garganico. He spent all summers there as a child. So he began to love the sea from a very young age: first with surfing and windsurfing and then with sailing. When we got engaged, he had a 33 foot in Goro. We went out on free days for the classic day out with sandwiches or pasta cooked on board. So I too started having fun with the boat.

One summer I lived on board for three months while working as a waitress for the summer season in Porto Garibaldi. I graduated in mechanical engineering but the job search in that field did not go far.

Here is another engineer with a crisis of conscience, like me. I’m always happy to find colleagues for course change. Keep on…
We were looking for a boat to live on. We were willing to sell the house just to go around the world. But the research was not paying off.

That summer Christian visited me on the weekend in Porto Garibaldi. On the day of August, we were having a barbecue at the port and we started eating in the shade of the dry boats in front of our mooring. At one point Christian looks up and has a love at first sight: he sees a beautiful boat, follows the line of the hull and reaches the bow with the figurehead. There was no escape, he had fallen in love.

So we started asking for information: whose boat is it? why isn’t it in the water? It seemed disused and it seemed impossible to us that someone wouldn’t want to use that wonder. We discovered that the boat was owned by the shipyard where we were moored and it was easy to get permission to see the interior. It was a real disaster.

dormire-al-porto

, , , , , ,

Sailboat vacation: survival tips

What is useful to know before leaving?
As soon as you look for some information on sailing, you are submerged by a flood of sites and detailed articles, full of technical words. If you also get the bad idea of ​​reading the posts of some group of sailors on social networks, you start to tremble: the teases towards newbies abound.

I replied to them in rhymes. Instead, I leave you some practical information that will make you feel more aware before leaving, knowing however that the best information on the boat and on the trip you are about to do, will be given by your captain.

The water
Boat water is a precious asset, especially if you want to experience the thrill of not touching the port for a few days. Use it sparingly : turn off the tap as soon as you can, take short showers, one is enough at the end of the day (and not every time you swim). Also in the kitchen you can try to save money, for example by recycling the water that you drain from the pasta – excellent for degreasing dishes – or by using pressure cooker.

The electricity
When you are sailing the energy is supplied by the batteries that power all the appliances on the boat, including navigation instruments, pumps, radio. If needed, the engine is started to recharge them, but it is important not to waste. The rule that also applies at home is worth even more, turning off everything you don’t need . It does not mean that you will be without a phone, but bring a 12 volt car charger with you and be prepared for very long charging times. In the port, however, the system is connected to the 220 volt column, and you can relax.

Respect for the sea
Boat waste management presents some obstacles. It is difficult to find space for separate collection (and, I must say, it is also difficult to find ports with bins that enhance the effort of the division of waste), but one thing is certain: only organic waste goes to sea and, even those, better if away from ports and beaches. All the rest must be kept by boat until the next port. When you do galley better throw the unnecessary wraps before leaving.

I still have a question pending on the glass … There are those who consider it harmless, because inert. I am not convinced, I will go deeper and I will be able to tell you.

If you don’t understand, ask
When the captain explains something, even if he knows he has neophytes in the boat and is animated by the best intentions, he can miss technical terms. He is so used to it that he does not notice and probably in his head that thing cannot be said otherwise. But you and I are not required to know, so we ask. I often realized that the questions I asked, or who had the courage to ask the rest of the crew, were useful for everyone.