Duck Boat Tours

Ride the Ducks!

Duck Boat Tours are a fun and wacky way to see Seattle by land and water!

Ride the Ducks Seattle offers rides through the city on a DUCW. A DUCW is an amphibious landing craft designed by the US military during World War II. They were used by the military through the mid-1960s. Since then, they have been used by civilians such as police and fire departments and rescue units.

Now, a few cities have discovered they are a great way for tourists to see the city on land and water. And with all the water we have around here, this is the perfect place for them.

The Holiday Lights Duck Tour

This 40-minute land-only tour departs daily from the Westlake Center kiosk November 25 through December 30 (closed Dec. 24 and 25). You'll tour all the holiday lights displays in downtown Seattle including Toyland Village on the waterfront, Pioneer Square, and more.

Duck Boat on Lake Union

There are now two locations where you can buy tickets and board a duck for a tour. One is the Ride the Ducks Seattle headquarters at 5th and Broad across the street from the Experience Music Project and Space Needle. You can't miss it - during the summer there is a giant inflatable duck perched on top of the building!

The second location is at Westlake Center near the Starbucks on the plaza.

Riding the Ducks with a friend

The Seattle Duck Tour

The tour is about 90 minutes long and takes you through downtown streets past sites such as EMP, Pioneer Square, and Pike Place Market. You will also drive right past the sports stadiums where the Mariners and the Seahawks play - Safeco Field and Qwest Field. You get a running commentary by the captain of what you are seeing out the window - all the while accompanied by hoots, hollers, funky music, and fellow riders who purchased duck quackers to hang around their necks!

The duck boat tours cross over Aurora Bridge, 167 ft. above the water and listed with the National Register of Historic Places. The boat sits up high enough to give you a great view - one the cars don't get to see!

When the duck boat enters the water of Lake Union, things slow down a bit. As you cruise around the lake, you get a fabulous view of the city, the Space Needle, and Gasworks Park. You also get a waterside view of boats, ships, and houseboats including the one from the movie "Sleepless in Seattle". The last time I did the duck boat tours, the captain allowed one of the young guests to come sit up front and man the super soaker water gun - the boy loved it!

The Seattle Duck Tour Guides

Ride the Ducks Seattle wouldn't be nearly as much fun if it weren't for the wacky captains! They go by names such as Hope Itfloats, Helen Wheels, Justin Credible, M.T. Pockets, and Joaquin DePlanque. They dish out facts about landmarks, joke with the audience and passersby on the street, play great music, and make the whole experience very entertaining!

For more information:
Ride the Ducks Seattle
516 Broad St.
206-441-3825
www.ridetheducksofseattle.com