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Boston Duck Tours
Rating Details »
Category: Tours
Neighborhood: Back Bay3 Copley Place
Suite 310
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 450-0068
Happy Birthday Boston Duck Tours!
Visit any BDT ticket booth and wish us a happy 15th…
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- Nearest Transit:
-
Back Bay (Orange)
Copley (Green)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
193 reviews for Boston Duck Tours
if you don't want to take your screaming toddlers, your drunk uncle, your special-needs half-sister, and your 200 year old grandfather stumbling, crawling, scooting, and whining down the 2.5 mile freedom trail, then herd them onto an amphibious vehicle with an ass-hole driver that yells at you with a megaphone for 80 minutes. put a flask in your pants and learn a thing or ten.
i thought i'd hate it, but here i am shelling out four stars.
bostonians- ask yourselves: why do i see these wheeled monstrosities barreling down the streets all the flipping time? because, contrary to popular belief, they're not useless.
kids will love, parents will be amused, and bostonians will think to themselves... huh, i don't have to kill myself after all.
i have to pee.
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due to the unusual circumstance of my business, I was given the opportunity to visit for the first time what had been one of my favorite cities since watching Cheers when I was young - for about 5 hours on a Monday.
I wanted to make the most of it so I looked into a tour. I had seen these Duck boats in Seattle and SF before, so I decided to give it a shot. I was really pleased.
I bought my ticket and waited for about half an hour on a surprisingly nice late October day. I watched as the Ducks lined up, all painted bright colors with fun names like "Miss Emma Science" "Beacon Hilda" and "Fenway Franny". I read about the many Conducktors (Tour Guides) and their equally colorful characters, wondering who I would get.
I boarded the Liberty Teresa operated by Howie Howaya, an italian pizza maker on permanent vacation, and also a pretty good Howie Mandel look-a-like. During the 90-minute tour as we barreled through the streets of Boston, Howie was at once hilarious and informative. He took us in the water for a leisurely cruise and then back up on the street for more sights and history.
the Duck Tour packed as much Boston as possible into my short visit and I hope to some day be able to go back and do it all again.
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Went on my first duck tour this past weekend and it's definitely something you have to do when you're in Boston. We got student tickets (so bring your old IDs!) and told them Happy Birthday! for the $3 weekend discount for a total of around $26 after fees.
We had Jason the Argonaut as our driver and he was quite a character. It was pretty interesting to learn about all the random facts of Boston, see part of the Berlin Wall, and take turns steering the duck along the Charles. I heard another person on the tour saying that each tour is different depending on who your driver is. Also, it's a good starting point if you want to see parts of Boston and then go back to the spots you want to check out more in-depth.
The quacking was kind of annoying but I gave props to the driver for busting a U-turn from the farthest right lane in the middle of a busy intersection. That was some crazy Boston driving.
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Whatever- I did it- It was awesome- And if you're a tourist you need to do it to, no question.
The Boston Duck Tour is, to my knowledge, the quickest and most affordable way to see all of Bostons major historical and tourist attractions. Instead of being the out-of-towner driving slowly and nervously to every destination- checking your GPS and maps- and backing up traffic looking for a parking spot- You can just jump on Duck Tour and knock all those destinations out of the way.
The tour is about 80 minutes long and you see EVERYTHING. I mean you name it, you see it. I almost forgot 'Cheers' was in Boston until the duck tour reminded me! There is a list here http://www.bostonduckt... on the duck tours official website of just some of the many things you'll see!
I was a little bummed during the 'Water' part of the tour, because it gets pretty boring. You're in the water for about 20 minutes, and there really aren't any great photo opportunities- the whole "We're in the water!" fun fades fast...
My driver was 'The Joker' on the American Flag bus- and I had a blast! I recommend this to all tourists- an affordable way to see so much of the city!
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We spent the weekend playing tourist with some friends from Maine and none of us had ever been on a duck tour. I've seen the odd looking boats cruising the streets of Boston for years & always thought they were a cheap tourist trap, but as long as we were going to be tourists... why not? With expert guidance from Melissa M. and her fiance, we decided to pick up the Duck Tour at the Museum of Science. The woman in charge of the tickets figured out who we were, we were escorted into the Museum through a secret entrance, telling people along the way "we're with the band". Our out of state friends were impressed.
After the formalities were out of the way, we were escorted back out of the museum to the waiting boat. We climbed up into the clumsy looking craft, took our seats, and suddenly the world changed. The corny jokes were funny, we were riding down uppity Charles Street street in a boat, even the most obnoxious SUV driver was intimidated, and our ConDUCKtor actually knew quite a bit about Boston. We were having a really good time. We even got in a drag race with a school bus, but we lost.
And then (after a quick safety lecture) we dove into the water. We were cruising around the river, the driver was letting passengers drive the boat and kept passing other duck boats. We passed so many of them in the water and on the street that it seemed like there must be 100 in the fleet.
The 80 minutes that we spent in the boat went really fast. I have a new respect for the duck boats and their drivers. And any time a tourist asks me what they should do, I'm going to suggest a duck tour. Five stars for this one because nothing could have been better, even though I suspect the drag race wasn't real.
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TOUR GUIDE = I've been on the tour twice and each time I had a great tour guide. Okay, if you can't handle over-the-top and overly enthusiastic, you may want to give yourself your own tour of Boston--otherwise, this is the way to go. I wish I could remember their names :-/ The guys new what they were talking about and they weren't boring us with the information.
EXPERIENCE = Minus the "Quack Quack" calls, I'd say this was informative, interesting and cool. You ride in this "DUCK" which is a W.W. II style amphibious landing vehicle throughout Boston. On a cooler day you may want to bring blankets because it can get cold. Also, don't drink a ton of liquid before you get on.. it takes about an hour and a half to complete depending on traffic. I like it when the "DUCK" goes into the water. If you have kids in your group, they may enjoy steering the vehicle because the guide asks if anyone wants help him steer at some point.
Also, please note that the Duck Tour picks up at either of these three locations: Museum of Science, Prudential Center, New England Aquarium (shorter tour).
PAYMENT/PRICING = So this is the part I didn't like because it's a bit pricey. Here's a breakdown:
Adult -- $29.95 each
Children aged 3 to 11 -- $20.00 each
Children Under 3 (including infants) -- $6 each
62+ Senior -- $26.00 each
Full Time Student -- $26.00 each
Active Military -- $26.00 each
I purchased my tickets online paying by credit card. You can print out your confirmation email as proof of your ticket purchase.
PARKING = Unfortunately, there wasn't easy parking for us.. We started our tour at the Prudential Center. Parking garages are expensive and street parking is almost impossible.
SIGH ... I see a one star review that proves what I was just about to say about the Duck Tours. If you're a tourist you MUST do this - but the locals will loathe you.
Be not afraid though - they should get over it.
I've done the tour twice and will say that each experience is unique because you get different tour guides and different passengers. The experience as a whole is what makes the tour so much fun. Passengers are encouraged to participate in the tour and even quack at locals. (This is why they hate you ... but the tour guide makes you do it!)
When visiting Boston you can't forget that this is where everything started. The tour guide dishes facts about US history dating back to the revolution all the way up to current events. I even recall driving by a huge piece of the Berlin wall! You'll learn about where JFK grew up, check out John Kerry's neighborhood, float along the Charles River, see the Capitol Building, etc. If you're in Boston for just a few days this will really knock out a lot of sights and educate you on what the city is all about. (Did you know there are 94 Dunkin Donuts within the Boston City Limits? Yeah ... crazy!)
The amphibious cars are a treat to ride in as well. If you get the right tour guide you'll learn about what they actually are and how they played a role in not just WWII but in women's history! When we drove into the Charles River the tour guide offered to let people drive the boat. (Of course I volunteered.. it was fun!)
Anyway - as much as locals hate the tourists that participate in this tour, it really is something everyone must do. In fact - if you get flack for going on it from a local, just ask if they've done it. Because THEY HAVE! HA. (All local school kids do it.) It's a wicked tour.. trust me.
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I love duck tours, more for the fact that if you are going to do a tour and be the tourist you might as be the fun albeit to some annoying one!
The pros: you get to see a lot in a short amount of time, they have multiple pick up spots so its convenient, it definitely more fun to ride a duck than be stuck on a boring normal looking tour bus, you are on a vehicle that takes you in the water and drives right out of the water, the tour guide is hilarious (ours claimed to be escaped prison inmate on first day out)
The cons: the locals will hate you so if you don't want to be recognized once off wear sunglasses and your quacker at all times aboard the vessel, it's pricey but so are most of the other tours, its a lot of history of Boston -- Boston is an old city so there is a lot to say.
I think each experience is unique with Duck Tours -- I had more fun on the one in Seattle but you really can't compare. I would suggest this if you are looking for a casual tour of Boston. Also, take the tour when you first get to Boston, it will help you narrow down places to go back to.
Yes, I am a tourist. Yes, I did quack on the vessel. So what!
I was told by many that this tour is a lot of fun. Cheesy jokes along with some informative history about every single historic building in Boston. It was a great way to see everything and not have to deal with all the confusion of all the streets. I can rant on forever on how much of a pain it is to figure out how to get around town since their streets are literally "f'd" up direction wise. Honestly, if you're not from Boston, YOU WILL GET LOST!
The tour highlighted all the places of interest so I could familiarize myself on specific places that i would like to revisit after the tour. This was a good thing!
I would agree that going down the Charles River was fun, but it did get a bit boring after a few minutes. That's ok, because it all part of the experience!
If you visit Boston, this tour is worth considering!
Did you know there are 94 Dunkin Donuts and 31 Starbucks in Boston?
You must get Jailbird George and his rainbow duck, South End Sara. Very entertaining and informative.
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Even though I live in Boston, I've always wanted to take the duck tour, so when my cousins came to town, it was the perfect opportunity to take it. I definitely lived up to my expectations. The tour guides are excellent: funny and informed. You learn a ton of cool things about Boston. And the duck boats are just fun to ride in! It costs about $40 and takes about an hour and a half.
Quack, quack!
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What a great way to see the City!
I took my mom and my 88 year old grandma on a duck tour when they recently came to visit me in Boston. I figured it would be a good way for grandma to see the city, without having to walk all over.
The tour guide was awesome. Very entertaining, and informative. I don't know how they do that all day long... I'd be exhausted!
I learned so many things I never knew about the city, and had a great time. Well worth the money we spent.
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The Duck Tour...a Boston must! I am not the organized tour type but this was so much fun. Our guide was hilarious and he knew a lot about the history (as he should since he's a tour guide) but he made it a lot of fun. I even found myself quacking to people on the street. You have to go on it to know what I mean.
Quack!
Great way to see lots of the city. Quick, in some ways, but comprehensive. Our conDUCKtor was Paul from Revere, and he had just the right amount of self-depreciating humor and quick wit for the job. Had tons of information about the various places we passed by - I suspect even people who grew up here could probably learn a thing or two. For people who had never been, it was a great eye-opener.
For the price, probably one of the better city tours. I will warn people not to get fooled by the multitude of "Duck Tours" that there seem to be out there - accept no imitations! Also, the duck is mostly open to the elements; you can roll down the plastic covers on the windows, but then picture taking is blurry, and the back of the duck is still open.
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Duck Tours are a must-do for visitors to Boston. I highly suggest that it is one of the first things you do, because it takes you to much of the things worth seeing, and you can figure out what you want to hit on your trip and when. Plus, the people that work there are virtually tour guides themselves (I used to work there, so I may be a bit biased here, but since we got so many questions about what/where/how/when, we got to have a huge knowledge base about Boston).
The tours are really pricey, but it is totally worth it, especially since it is something everyone, no matter how old, can enjoy. Just make sure you get there 20-30 minutes before your tour.....or don't complain about the wait in line, because there will most likely be a wait.
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This is a great way to tour most of the major points of attraction in Boston. I guess it's popular with locals too because about half of the people on our Duck were from Boston. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about every place we passed and gave some brief history and stories that your tour guide books probably wouldn't mention.
I think this tour would be fun for the kids because our tour guide was kind enough to let some of the kids 'drive' the Duck when we were floating on the Charles River. It was a little annoying when every time our "conDUCKtor" yelled out "snoop dogg" everyone on the Duck must shout out "quack quack" to the unsuspecting people on the street. It was also funny how our tour guide would drive like he owned the road. I was a little scared that we might actually hit other cars or pedestrians by how crazy he was driving. Very entertaining.
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I took my mom for a Duck Tour when she was visting from out of town and she and I both loved the experience!
When I originally purchased the tickets online, $30 seemed a bit steep for an 80 minute tour around Boston; however, after going on the tour, I really think the price is fair. The Duck vehicles/boats are really fun to ride in and the tour guides totally play it up for the people on their tour. The tour guides all have a "character" they play while on the tour...complete with an elaborate and funny backstory and costume.
The tour was great largely because of our tour guide, Hardly Davidson, who really made the tour. I learned a lot of new facts about Boston and laughed a lot too. This really is a great activity to do with out-of-town guests!
He is a man with a mission. He wears platform zebra striped shoes. He is Disco Dan and he is on a quest to bring disco back to Boston. He also drives a large amphibious vehicle and tells you all about Boston.
I must admit that I am a bit of a history geek and I like to take little tours in different cities to learn about the local history. I rode the Duck Tour in Seattle when I had people visit me there and when we had a friend visit this past weekend, I got to exerience the Boston version. I think it was better here because there were only 3 kids on the tour and they were not super young.
There were only a few times when Dan asked us to Quack and apparently you are not allowed to quack in a few areas of the city, so we yelled "Opa!" I am not sure why.
Since there were only a few children we learned a lot of local history and Dan was very entertining without being a crazy child entertaining clown.
The main thing that I didn't like about the tour was that it cost $29.95 per person. Yeah, $30 to drive me from Back Bay to Charles Town Ship Yard and then back.
The strangest part for me was when we passed a group of people on Seguays. I didn't think people really rode on those anymore. Well otherthan meter maids in Seattle and really weird middle-aged men.
So, if you have a friend in town and need to kill 2 hours and want to spend $30 per erson, this is your tour. Or you can go to a good pub and get drunk on cheap shots and beer. Maybe you can find a bar near the Duck Tour Route and drink and quack at the tourist driving by.
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If you're a tourist and you can only do two things in Boston, make those two things The Freedom Trail and a Duck Tour. Between those two events, you'll get a sense of not only the history of the city, but the vigor of its modern form.
I've lived in Boston for almost ten years, and I can't think of a better way for someone new to the city to get so hearty a slice of knowledge. And heck, if you've live here, take a Duck Tour anyway and learn something new.
The guides are universally excellent, with each one keeping in some sort of character throughout the 80 minute adventure. They know pretty much everything there is to know about Boston trivia, but every guide has their own area of expertise.
The Ducks themselves don't give you a lot of legroom, but the WWII landing craft weren't really built for comfort. Hopefully you don't mind being up close and personal with your benchmate. Heck, it's just another way to make friends in town.
I can't recommend a Boston Duck Tour highly enough, for visitors or locals. It's a great way to spend a morning.
My best friend visited Boston back in May and I wanted to be able to give her a thorough feel for the city so we did a lot of walking, took the T a few times, and of course, took a Duck Tour.
Overall, I was disappointed. The last time I toured via Duck I was about 12 and I remember it being funny and enjoyable but this time it wasn't quite up to par. Purchasing tickets wasn't tough but we had to wait until the afternoon for an open boat and it involved traversing the Pru a couple of times. Our boat was rainbow-tastic, but unfortunately our driver, Officer D. Dunkin, was hard to hear over the engine roar. I felt like I was the only one laughing at his jokes too so... maybe they weren't that funny. Also, we had to stop to let a child go to the bathroom about 15 minutes in, which I thought was pretty awful planning on the parent's part. Good job guys.
I did learn a few new things about Boston, had a few laughs, and enjoyed cruising down the Charles- that was pretty. I think this IS a good touring company and a unique way to see/learn about Boston, but I also think that it's variable depending on weather, traffic, and most importantly your driver so it may or may not be worth your money. I'll probably give it another go when entertaining more tourists and hopefully the third time will be the charm.
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I've been on two Duck Tours, and I'm sure they aren't my last. It's super annoying when "locals" make fun of them I think. I mean your city has a unique tour, and you should embrace it!
When I first moved to the city, the Duck Tour was a full of random facts that I still remember to this day. Over 90 Dunkin Donuts in Boston?! Thank you conDUCKtor--now I can add a number when people ask me how many there are when they visit!
It can be super cheesy, but it's a cute way to see the city and who doesn't like it when you take a dive in the Charles? When I was on them I remember everyone quacking at people constantly, but whenever I see them when I'm walking down the street I rarely hear any quackers. Feel free to quack at me people! I probably won't quack back but at least you'll get a smile and a wave!
Overall, I do think this a tour you can't miss. People I know from other states that have visited are always asking me about it because it's one of the things they always remember. Definitely consider going!
Walking down Boylston Street, a duck tour would drive by quacking at me as it passed. I thought to myself- I wouldn't be caught dead in one of these boats. Low and behold, I was offered a "free ride" from a friend begging for a companion with her mom and her mom's boyfriend. Alright, alright...
So we run into Shaw's for some Lobster Bisque, curl up in blankets, and sit in the very back. I have to say- one of the main reasons why this was such a great experience was because I LIVE here.. you learn about things you pass every day and think nothing of and feel smart whenever you know where you are.
But the best of all, the driver asked for any volunteers to drive the boat in the water. My hand shot up like I was in fifth grade again, and I drove the boat down the Charles.
Now, when they drive down Boylston Street quacking, I smile to myself- and look to my coworkers and say, "I would never be caught dead in one of those boats..."
Pretty good stuff. They herd you like sheep, but run a pretty tight operation. Our guide was a bit awkward, but had lots of great information.
I'm going down to three stars because I was with my grandmother who is mobile, but has difficulty with stairs and such. The staff was not helpful and at first didn't want to let her board first to allow extra time.
Quack.
I have been on the Boston Duck Tours now three times. Each time it just gets better!
Some of the Con-DUCK-tor's are a bit out there.
One of them, Captain Kenny Bunkport, seemed to have a fixation on "The Great Garabaldi"....which was very weird....oh well. Seems Capt Kenny has moved on according to the website.
It's fun to drive around Boston in a high open vehicle....so you can look down into the cars....lol
Don't forget to Quack at anyone making fun of the DUK.
The splashdown is cool, and once on the water, everyone's the Captain....as you get to pilot the ship. Stickers too which says "I drove the duck!"...or something like that.
Yeah, it's a tourist trap, but sometimes it's fun to be a tourist, even in your hometown.
How can you not love a business which names one of it's offerings "Red Sox Nathan" after the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004?
Took my girl on this a while back.
Yah - it's pretty much a standard Boston experience for tourists. Kinda nice.
Sit with me so I can tell you what *I* know about the town in between the host's little jokes and stories.
The part where the vehicle goes in the water is kind of a joke. You get to float around. Big whoop.
But people like it - it was ok. I recommend it for something different to do.
So being in Boston I am used to seeing the Duck Tours buses going up and down the street with people blowing there duck whistles at you. So I decided to take my future in laws on it when they came to visit. The driver was rude and was encouraging everyone on the bus/boat to be as rude and obnoxious to the passers by. He would make nasty comments about old people crossing the road and for the most part be a jerk. My in laws were offended.
But wait the best part is when I told this to the "Manager" at the end of the trip they said that we needed a thicker skin. So if you don't find taking an amphibious boat rife with Don Rickles or Howard Stern relaxing then go for it.
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I have come to Boston once a year nearly my entire life and even lived there for 7 years, but last week was my first Duck Tour. I can't believe I waited this long! It was a lot of fun and I'd definitely do it again.
The PROs
This is a great way to see a lot of Boston in one swoop. Our guide/driver was very knowlegeable, told great stories, and genuinely seemed to care about everyone having a good experience. I learned quite a bit and even gained some ideas for additional sight seeing. Even the short ride on the Charles River turned out to be much more relaxing and enjoyable than I had imagined. And, the ~80 minute trip seemed perfect. Not a bad deal for $29 per person.
The CONs
The seats were cramped! Apparently, they are upgrading their fleet to more spacious vehicles, but I'd feel sorry for anyone 6ft or taller. If you do go, make sure you bring an even number of people or you risk rubbing elbows and knees with a stranger for an hour and a half.
The SKINNY
This is a great first day adventure if you've never been to Boston since you can see take it all in and make your plans from there. Or, if you've lived there all your life, it's a great way to see all you've been missing.
Some people call him the space cowboy...
Some call him the gangster of love...
'The Joker' gave us our tour and it was highly enjoyable. Very knowledgable of the city -- homes, skyscrapers, roads, etc. I guess with a job like that, he'd HAVE to be. However, even when we were in areas that were not part of the tour (he had to take a detour due to...um...something...traffic-related?), he STILL had something to say about a bar, a street, etc. That's pretty cool.
All in all, it's an enjoyable 'urban Wisconsin Dells' experience.
Dear Boston:
You know, we've been having some "problems" in our relationship the last few months and you've done nothing to help resolve the issues. So I had to seek help outside of the relationship- I went on a Duck Tour last Friday w/Clueless Joe and about 30 other people. No, don't worry, it wasn't what you are thinking.
We left from the Aquarium, drove through your streets, over Beacon Hill and around the Charles, and back again. During that hour I learned a great deal about who you are today, what transformations have occurred through your years and what interesting souls you have fostered along your journey. Almost immediately, I began to realize that my love for you is not lost, in spite of the awful "summer" weather we have had for the last couple of months. I found myself falling back in love with you for your beauty and all the ways you have made a difference in the history of our country and the world.
Let's continue to move forward, darling Boston, for without you there would be no interesting historical facts and beautiful skyline to permeate my days and dreams. And many thanks to Clueless Joe and the Duck Tours for truly showing me the way back into my beloved's heart. They are the best "relationship counselors" ever!
Kisses,
Beth
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Boston Duck Tours aren't something any tourist visiting Boston can miss. It's a great, comprehensive tour of the city with the extra fun of getting a ride in the Charles River.
My tour left from the Prudential Center and made its way through Back Bay, Charlestown, Museum of Science area, and the outer part of Beacon Hill. Despite traffic and slight hickups in the "flow" of the tour, our tour guide was super talkative and always had something interesting to talk about. He was a character and really funny.
The view of Boston from the river is something not to be missed, so rather than do a separate water tour, Duck Tours are a great alternative.
The only thing that bothered me a little is that I was told all tours take the exact same route, However, we didn't go down Main Street in Charlestown or Charles Street in Beacon Hill. I was especially looking forward to Charles Street as I live in the area and always partially hear Beacon Hill trivia when Duck Tours are going down the street.
Overall, a great tour for any tourist... or Boston local who wants to learn more about the city and gain a further appreciation for their surroundings.
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This was my second Duck Tour. The first one was when I moved up here with a girl, so this time around it cleansed the demons from the experience. I took my Little Brother (I do Bigs) and we had a blast. We both got to drive the Duck, which was cool. At first I wasn't going to do it, as I felt stupid being over 13 and wanting to drive. But then I remembered the visit I took to the Bronx Zoo where they were letting kids pet a snake. I was too scared and I've always regretted not petting the snake. (This oddly sounds like a euphamism, but rest assured it was an actual snake.)
Good history. Captain Mack was a good guy and we had the newest Duck in the fleet. Apparently they come with satellite radio now. So enjoy this unique Boston tradition this summer. Learn something for Chrissakes.
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I definitely geek out around interesting/innovative/awesome-looking vehicles. I didn't know that these DUKWs were so common, and my friend kept giving me this wonky eye whenever I'd ask her to reassure me that the tour would consist of both a land tour and water excursion in the same vehicle. I mean, when I was a kid I always dreamed...
But enough about childhood daydreams...
The tour itself is both informative and entertaining. As a [probable] future Bostonian, I told myself I should explore as a tourist to see what I'm getting myself into. Warrant Officer Wiliam (WOW) ran through his script a bit like he recites it in his sleep, but I was quite amused when some late teens and early twentysomethings volunteered to steer the DUKW in the water.
All in all, a lot of fun. I've already told myself that my future visitors will be partaking in this tour.
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4.6.09
I wanted to puke off the side of the duck and not because I was seasick. Thank god it was raining so they had the flaps down because I would have been really mortified to have been seen riding around quacking. I had one of the boring history-bent guides, which equated to a pretty relaxing nap at one point. Plus one star!
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Love the Duck Boats! I have done it twice with my mom and now my nephew. We had a blast. Our driver's name was Paul Reverse. He was very entertaining. The next family member to visit I gaurantee I will do it again!
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Highly recommended!
When anyone from out of town comes to visit me in Boston, I always bring them on a DuckTour. Not only do you actually LEARN about Boston as you SEE Boston but you have a great time as well.
Been going on them for over 10 years and will continue to do so. :)
Pretty fun, and of course, really only necessary to do when you have parentals or the like in town. I learned a couple of interesting tid bits about Boston, but the duck didn't go as far as I thought it would, and spent considerably more time in the water than I thought was necessary. The water part was a novelty as far as I was concerned. It's not like there's much to see from the water except for the skyline and a better view of the bridges and Cambridge. I would have preferred the tour took us by Fenway and Harvard Yard so my 'rents could have learned more about those historic places.
That being said, you can't argue that it's a well-oiled machine (the operation, not the actual duck). There's always a line for tickets, and the staff and website are both very helpful. The tickets for the MoS and other attractions are a nice bonus (and made me feel better about dropping a bennie on a tour). The drivers are all engaging and energetic...it happened to be my dad's birthday, so when I quietly mentioned this to the driver prior to quack-off, he called him up halfway through the tour and had him sit in the driver's seat! My dad won't soon forget driving a duck down the Charles River, that's for sure!!
Conclusion: do it once, but try to get to know Boston enough on your own to show your out-of towners around and save yourself the $30 every time you have someone in town.
I drove the Ducky!
I was feeling quite lucky!
Kilroy was not there.
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As someone who spent much of her life in the Boston area, I have long been all too familiar with the phenomenon known as the Duck Tour. However, like most self-respecting Bostonians, I had never once set foot on the thing.
I am not an asshole, after all.
So when, on my most recent visit to Boston, my mother suggested we take a Duck Tour, I was a *tad* taken aback.
TSADA: ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FUCKING MIND????!!!!!
MOM: Um, no.
TSADA: Only assholes ride that thing.
MOM: And tourists.
TSADA: Same thing.
MOM: People say it's a very memorable experience.
TSADA: So is rough anal sex with a Bridgewater inmate.
MOM: ...
TSADA: Or so I've heard.
But being the loving daughter that I am, I decided to indulge my mother (as well as my own longtime curiosity) and hop aboard Fenway Fanny or South End Sally or whatever the fuck our duck's (haha I said "fuck our duck's") name was and take an eighty minute tour of a city I thought I knew better than the back of my hand.
*looks at back of hand and finds a new scary mole*
Given the fact that I have a spectacularly tiny bladder and therefore had to forgo my customary Dunkin Donuts laahge cahfee regulah (tm BLAKTINO) that morning for fear of pissing myself on a bus full of crazy Polish people from Jersey, I was really prepared to hate this thing. However, once we embarked on our journey, I sat back and actually began to enjoy the ride.
The driver was one of those charming, pickled Bostonians you'd expect to find keeled over the bar at Foley's at four o'clock in the afternoon. Nonetheless, he was wearing suspenders and a smile and claimed to have a commercial driver's license as well as a captain's license, all of which allowed me to settle nicely into a most delicious false sense of security with this dude at the wheel/helm. He had an authenticity about him that was endearing ( I especially enjoyed him telling us that "Nahhm and Cliff live in Hahllywood and if yah go tah Cheers, yah can rest ahshurred NOBAHDY'S gonna know yah name!"), although I wish he would have let loose with the otherwise obligatory "Hey ahhshole, go fahck yah mothah!" at the many drivers who had the balls to cut off a Duck (haha, I said "balls to cut off a duck") along our way. After all, this is supposed to present an accurate representation of Boston, right? His restraint in this regard was obviously an unnatural effort, as he laid on the the big duck horn and periodically grumbled about how Boston is a "trahffic niiightmayah".
The part of the tour when the Duck goes into the river is really the highlight. And it's great to hear that they've done such a great job cleaning up the Charles. I was shocked to hear the conDUCKtor tell us that the river is so clean,"You can now swim in tha Chaaahhles." He then went on to add, "Now, would *I* swim in tha Chaaahhles? AAH YA OUTTAH YA MIIIND ?" Oh well, at least it doesn't smell like poopy anymore.
I gotta admit I really had a swell time on this thing, and I even learned a little along the way. Perhaps if the Duck Tours had been around when I was in high school, I would have done better in US History. Probably not, though, because by the time the conDUCKtor got to the Constitution and went on and on and ON and ON and ON about the battle of Bunker Hill and the "DehCAHration" of Independance, all I could think about was how many Dunkin Donuts there might be in Charlestown, and how nice a chocolate stick would taste right about then, especially if dunked in a laahge cahfee, regulah.
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What a great way to see Boston. After living in Boston for 2 years, I finally had the opportunity to go on a duck tour when my college friends came to visit. I went to buy the tickets about a month in advance at the booth in the Prudential Bldg. The tour was soo great, I learned new and interesting things about the city that I never knew. I would highly recommend the duck tour, a great way to see and learn about the city.
Completely and totally touristy! However, I was born, raised, and still live in Boston and I loved it! A little on the pricey side but the tour covers a ton of ground and the guides are excellent. Must do!
