Kiwanis Club - On Board Liberty Tour Boat

Thursday, August 26, 2005  

Captain and proprietor Rob Ludlow of Liberty Boat Tours Inc. of Seneca Falls Harbor took the opportunity to explain the services and future plans of operations to the Seneca Falls/Waterloo Kiwanis Club.

DAILY TOURS:

Liberty Boat Tours now offers daily tours at 3pm.

Route:

This daily tour departs from the Seneca Falls canal wall at People's Park (parking lot) and proceeds west to Waterloo's Lock No. 4. Narrations of the Seneca Falls canal history as well as general points of interest are covered while en route.

Locking Experience:

Passing through Lock No 4 to Oak Island we continue the canal education by visiting the Lock's Equipment House Museum that shows how the locks were powered and the principles of lock functions. Returning to Seneca Falls, we tour through the harbor area and onto VanCleef Lake while narrating the history of the Lake and answering the eventual question of " where are the falls ?" We continue the cruise past the Trinity Episcopal Church, The Dey Street Tunnel/Bridge and Suffrage Park entrance, Lock Nos. 2 and 3 as well as the power house. On the turnaround at VanCleef Lake, we recite the history of "The Flats" and for more information, we encourage tourists to visit the Seneca Falls Visitor Center and the Museum of Waterways and Industry.

This Daily Tour is completed in two hours. The fare is $12 per adult and half price for children.

EVENING TOURS:

On Friday and Saturday evenings, we offer sunset cruises from Seneca Falls departing generally at 6pm, depending on seasonal lighting.

Route:

The evening route is through the harbor, past Trinity Church, across VanCleef Lake into locks 3 and 2, continuing east bound down the canal to Cayuga Lake. We pass some of the most natural settings of the Cayuga-Seneca Canal including the Demont Settlement and the marsh areas bordering along the Montezuma wetlands; it is rare not to see blue herons and ospreys along the shore or an occasional bald eagle perched above. Moving along, we turn south through the channel out onto Cayuga Lake to watch the sunset. At dusk we return to port in order to experience the night sights and sounds on the canal.

The Evening Tour is completed in three hours and is encouraged primarily for adult patronage. The fare is $15 per person.

Note: On this and all of our journeys, your beverages (including alcohol), snacks, coolers are welcome aboard for your personal enjoyment.

Things You Should Know:

We welcome all opportunities to serve your entertainment needs. Groups are always welcome, and we can design your tour to your specifications.

We have a restroom on board, serving tables, coolers and seating for up to 48 passengers, as well as a PA and music system to entertain. Feel free to bring your own music selection.

Pricing is modest for sizable groups and often cheaper than walk up passage.

The Liberty Tour Boat would be a novel idea for entertaining:

New and exciting:

Liberty Tours is also offering canoes, paddle boats and bicycle rentals for touring the local waterways and streets on your own.

Future Plans:

We have plans for additional rental crafts ranging from small paddle boats that you propel, up to pontoon size boats for family and group outings on the canal and harbor areas.

Ongoing or in the Works:

Liberty Boat Tours works in conjunction with our local museums and restaurants arranging for group activities and combination tours -- i.e., museum and canal tours, canal lock and lunch tours, evening cocktail/dinner and canal tours planned with destinations ranging from Seneca Falls to Geneva as well as coordinated rail and boat tours with the Finger Lakes Railroad.

Liberty Boat Tours also manages operations for the canal cruisers of "Erie Canal Cruise Lines" often seen docked in the harbor behind our building at 1-3, and 5 Water Street. These 42 foot "live on board" boats can be rented by the week for your canalling experience and pleasure. These units sleep six comfortably and are fully equipped for a week of carefree waterways living. We would be delighted to give a tour of any of the units when they are available.

We also have plans to use these wonderful tour boats as bed & breakfast experiences. One can choose to stay on board for a night or two. This unique experience is a great alternative to a hotel room. Included with the bed & breakfast stay would be a 45-minute captained harbor cocktail hour tour for you and up to six people (maximum count.)

Contact:

For assistance in planning these tours and for all your future Seneca-Cayuga waterways plans, please call Captain Rob Ludlow at 315.246.7608, or visit us at our website www.LibertyBoatTours.com

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