Walking around downtown Boston, the duck boats are hard to miss. The World War II-era vehicles motor down Newbury Street, Boston's main shopping area at near-pedestrian speeds with the witty quips of Conducktors (duck boat drivers and tour guides) resounding off the early 20th century buildings. Duck tours are a worthwhile afternoon excursion even for Boston residents, as the boats run right into the Charles River and provide a different way to see the city.
The main duck boat tours departure site is on majestic Huntington Avenue in the heart of the Back Bay neighborhood, near a host of other must-see attractions including Prudential Center, Christian Science Building and Copley Square. If your activities lead you to other parts of town, there are additional departure locations located near the Boston side of the Charles River at the Museum of Science and on the waterfront near the Faneuil Hall Marketplace at the New England Aquarium pier. Tours from the Museum of Science and Prudential building pick-ups are 80 minutes and tours from the New England Aquarium are 55 minutes.
Along their routes, the duck boats visit sites from both historic and modern Boston. In addition to the sites mentioned above, the tour includes contemporary Boston landmarks, such as the Zakim Bridge, Holocaust Memorial and the TD Banknorth Garden--home of the Boston Celtics. The majority of the trip, as with many tours of Boston, focuses on the city's rich historical sites. Around the Boston Common, which dates back to 1634, Conducktors relate the history of Boston's central buildings, including the new and old State Houses, New Old South Church, and Arlington Street Church, before following the Freedom Trail into the North End.
There is no set departure schedule for Boston Duck Tours, as they alter depending on the season and customer demand. In 2010, tours operate seven days a week from March 22 to November 28 and are also offered on weekends in November. Tours depart starting at 9 a.m. and end an hour before sunset. At the New England Aquarium departure point, tours are only offered April through August, beginning at 3 p.m. on weekends in the spring and daily in the summer. Tours that run in inclement weather have plastic window coverings pulled down on the sides of the boat to protect passengers from rain.
As of 2010, 80-minute tours cost $31 for adults, $21 for children ages 3 to 11 and $6 for children under 3. Seniors over 62, full-time students and active military personnel receive a $4 discount with valid identification. The 55-minute tours from the New England Aquarium are $27 for adults, $18 for children ages 3 to 11 and $6 for children under 3. Seniors, students and military personnel receive a $3 discount. Each duck boat seats 28 passengers. If you are traveling with a group, Boston Duck Tours requires you to book seats for the whole group in one transaction to ensure you are on the same boat.
