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Kids On A Plane

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Get Your Quack On: Ride the Ducks of Seattle

Post last updated July 25, 2013

Last month, my family and I enjoyed a tour of Seattle with Ride The Ducks.

Is it a bus? Is it a boat? It’s Both!

Ride the Ducks offers visitors and Seattle-ites an engaging and educational tour of Seattle aboard an amphibious bus – a vehicle that can drive on land and cruise in the water.

Ride The Ducks Seattle Bus

With two pick up points, Westlake Center (near the shopping mall in downtown Seattle) and Seattle Center (the Space Needle and Experience Music Project area), Ride the Ducks Seattle tours run several times a day with each land and water tour lasting about 90 minutes – 30 of which are spent out on Lake Union.

Ride The Ducks Lake Union House Boats

A Party on Wheels and In the Water

Our Captain, Captain Davy Quackett, was very animated and had head gear changes – hats and wigs – several times during  our tour.

Top of the charts hits from the 70s, 80s, 90s and a few current ones – think Justin Bieber, One Direction and Black Eyed Peas – were played throughout the entire ride.

Songs would often match our location – “Bad Boys” played as our bus passed some police officers, the theme song from Jaws played softly in the background as we entered Lake Union, and an Elvis Presley song played when we drove past this iconic elephant sign.

It even pre-dates Seattle’s Space Needle. Elvis Presley was rumored to have visited while he was filming “It Happened at the World’s Fair” in the 60s.

Ride The Ducks Elephant Car Wash

Captain Davy Quackett also encouraged us to make noise using our quackers and dance in our seats as we passed pedestrians and other tour buses.

Ride the Ducks was both entertaining and educational. Our captain covered a lot of ground in 90 minutes and we were able to see many of Seattle’s famous landmarks, attractions and neighbourhoods.

And of course a very famous houseboat. Any Sleepless in Seattle movie fans out there?

Ride the Ducks Sleepless in Seattle

Ride the Ducks Seattle Tips

1. Do this tour at the beginning of your trip. The tour gives a great overview of the city and you can go back and explore your favorite sights afterwards.

2. If your budget allows it, buy the quacker (yellow plastic duck beak noise maker)! At $2.50 each it’s a wallet friendly souvenir.

3. There are no washrooms on The Duck so make sure you go before you board the bus.

4. It is completely open on the sides – there are no windows – which makes it quite breezy and chilly. Dress warm or in layers. Some fellow passengers were wearing winter hats and gloves when we took the tour in May.

5. Have some ibuprofen near by. You may or may not be seeking headache relief after the tour.

Ride The Ducks

Get Your Quack On!

Yes, it is a little bit cheesy at times with the chicken dancing and noise making but when else are you allowed to scream, shout and quack on a tour?

Ride The Ducks Seattle is great for all ages – visitors, locals and families with kids.



About Cheryl - Kids On A Plane

Cheryl daydreams about exploring the world with her family often and will travel for good food, lattes and theme park rides that don't require her to go too high in the sky. She's afraid of heights!

Comments

  1. Monica says

    June 14, 2013 at 10:15 am

    This quack tour looks like so much fun! I love seeing glimpses of other people’s adventures.

    • Cheryl @ KidsOnAPlane says

      June 18, 2013 at 12:24 am

      It was a blast Monica! I also love reading about what others do when they travel just so it gives me a better idea of what things my kids may or may not like.

  2. Mary {The World Is A Book} says

    June 18, 2013 at 1:20 am

    This looks so fun despite it being cheesy on a few occasions. Love Captain Davy Quackett and the yellow plastic duck beak noise makers though. I saw these around Seattle but we didn’t get a chance to do it. So, thanks for the virtual tour. We have a Seal version here in San Diego but it doesn’t look as entertaining.

    • Cheryl says

      June 20, 2013 at 1:36 am

      You’re welcome Mary! Seal, Duck… tomato, tomat-oh 🙂 When I’m in SD I will try the seal version and let you know how it compares.

  3. Victoria Ess says

    June 18, 2013 at 9:05 am

    That looks like it was a lot of fun! I’ve seen these amphibious buses and have wanted to go on one for a while now!

  4. Kerrie @ Family Food and Travel says

    June 18, 2013 at 9:49 am

    I’ve always wanted to do this! Looks like such fun and I know my kids would love the idea of a boat and a bus – that would just be too much excitement. Thanks for the great review.

  5. Sarah Lynn says

    June 18, 2013 at 11:54 am

    I took the Harbour Hopper Tour in Halifax and had a great time. I love that you can go on bus AND boat tours and not even move from your seat.

    I love that they played music to match the location!

    • Cheryl says

      June 20, 2013 at 1:37 am

      I think there used to be Hippo Tours in Toronto too Sarah. Did you ever go? So now I know what to do in Halifax 🙂

  6. Lisa Goodmurphy says

    June 18, 2013 at 3:48 pm

    We’ve done the Harbour Hopper in Halifax and Lady Dive in Ottawa. My kids love these tours – they’re fun and they’re a great way to get a short tour of the city – who cares if they’re a bit cheesy? 🙂

    • Cheryl says

      June 20, 2013 at 1:38 am

      Bring on the cheese! I totally agree with you – it is a really good way to see the city and then plan out what you really want to do for the rest of the week.

  7. Susannah says

    June 19, 2013 at 2:10 pm

    I love that this is so unique and fun. I can imagine the kids loving it. What a great way to discover a new city. Definitely on my hit-list for Seattle.

  8. Tonya @ The Traveling Praters says

    June 19, 2013 at 8:55 pm

    I’ve always wanted to ride the ducks…anywhere…but my husband has never agreed. I can imagine by the end of the tour my kids would be rolling their eyes and my husband would be ready to bolt.

    • Cheryl says

      June 20, 2013 at 1:41 am

      Hmmmm I don’t recall any teenagers on the tour with us so I think you may have a hard time convincing your kids. Your husband though… I bet he would be one of the first ones to start dancing in his seat! 😉 I’m not sure how long tours in other cities are but maybe you can find a short one to get his feet wet.

  9. Heidi C. says

    June 20, 2013 at 3:22 am

    I love these! We took our kids on one in Halifax and the looks on their faces were priceless! Definitely, a must-experience!

  10. Tammy says

    December 10, 2013 at 8:42 pm

    I’ve seen these on TV on the Travel Channel I think – I always thought it would be pretty neat to go on one of them. Looks like you guys had a lot of fun 🙂

  11. Nancy Lustri (StyleDecor) says

    December 10, 2013 at 11:30 pm

    Very cute! It sounds like a wonderful time and is a fun way to see the city. Love it!

  12. Jenn says

    December 10, 2013 at 11:42 pm

    I’ve always wanted to ride one of those duck sightseeing tours! They look like so much fun. 🙂

  13. brett says

    December 11, 2013 at 12:31 am

    ah i didn’t get to do this when i was in seattle last month!! how fun!! i have every intention of returning there so i will make a point next time. with headphones.

    • Cheryl says

      December 11, 2013 at 10:06 pm

      Ha! Yes it does get a little noisy and I ended up taking an Advil afterwards

  14. Nicole B says

    December 11, 2013 at 12:33 am

    I’m a Sleepless in Seattle fan! That looks like a fun way to see a lot of the city. Thanks for sharing your trip photos.

    • Cheryl says

      December 11, 2013 at 10:05 pm

      Oh I wanted the boat to go closer to the Sleepless in Seattle house, Nicole, but I don’t think it’s allowed. I’ll take what I can get. 🙂

  15. Melissa says

    December 11, 2013 at 12:45 am

    That tour sounds like so much fun! My kids would love it!

  16. Ellen Christian says

    December 11, 2013 at 7:37 am

    This sounds like so much fun and your photos are amazing!

  17. Jennifer Soltys says

    December 11, 2013 at 9:08 am

    Oh my!!! The Ducks bring back so many memories!! We always went on them in Wisconsin Dells. Probably similar… SO MUCH FUN!

  18. Liza @ Views From the 'Ville says

    December 11, 2013 at 9:26 am

    Duck boat tours are so fun! I’ve done the ones in Boston before. If we ever get a chance to visit Seattle we’ll definitely have to try this tour – I’ll bet you get to see lots of interesting things!

    • Cheryl says

      December 11, 2013 at 10:02 pm

      Next time I visit Boston I’ll have to ride the duck!

  19. Amanda says

    December 11, 2013 at 11:36 am

    My kids have always wanted to Ride the Ducks in Branson. Maybe this summer!

    • Cheryl says

      December 11, 2013 at 10:01 pm

      I bet they’d love it!

  20. Tammilee Tillison says

    December 11, 2013 at 12:53 pm

    I love the duck ride in Seattle! Such an amazing way to see the city from land and sea

    • Cheryl says

      December 11, 2013 at 10:01 pm

      I agree, Tammilee. It’s a great way to cover a lot of ground in a short time. And the personable drivers make it really fun too.

  21. Dawn Lopez says

    December 11, 2013 at 11:36 pm

    OOh this looks like such a GREAT thing to do! I have really been itching to make it out to Seattle! Will definitely put this on my to-do list. Love it!

Trackbacks

  1. Hotel Monaco in Seattle, Washington - Kids On A Plane - Family Travel and Family Entertainment Blog says:
    June 16, 2013 at 11:55 pm

    […] and a short distance from popular attractions (Pike Place Market and Seattle Public Library and Ride the Ducks at Westlake Center to name a few), retailers (Nordstrom and Macy’s) and the monorail, Hotel Monaco is a relaxing […]

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