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EASTERN WATERWAYS Cruise boats spotlight some of the East’s most photogenic shorelines on sightseeing excursions and overnight journeys
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New York City’s SHARK speedboat
ouring by water provides a refreshing alternative from the “road routine,” as many group planners know. Seeing the sights on a harbor cruise, riverboat or traditionally rigged sailing vessel adds a heady dimension to any group itinerary. Waterborne trips not only give travelers a fresh perspective but in some cases provide access to areas that can’t be experienced any other way.
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat / Essex, Connecticut
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he only steam train and riverboat connection in the country spotlights the unspoiled Connecticut River Valley, designated “one of the last great places on earth” by the Nature Conservancy. The serenity of the valley, with its coves, inlets, marshes, wildlife and rocky shoreline, enchants passengers on the 220-passenger Becky Thatcher, a three-deck, Mississippi-style riverboat. Sights on the 1¼-hour cruise include Gillette Castle and the Goodpseed Opera House. The boat can be chartered for evening cruises. The 2½-hour rail-cruise journey begins at the historic station in Essex, Conn. with a ride in vintage coaches pulled by a steam locomotive. The train travels through the quintessential New England towns of Deep River and Chester and near the tidal wetlands of Pratt Cove and Chester Creek, natural habitats for birds. A highlight is the undeveloped Selden Neck State Park, accessible only by boat. (essexsteamtrain.com)
Yorktown Sailing Charters / Yorktown, Virginia
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roups can experience the days of Captain John Smith and the golden age of sail on tall ship cruises departing from Riverwalk Landing Pier in Yorktown, part of Virginia’s Historic Triangle. Yorktown Sailing Charters’ 49passenger Schooner Alliance offers two-hour cruises into Chesapeake Bay tidewaters, three times a day, from April to early November. Under a cloud of canvas, passengers on Historic Yorktown Cruises glide past Yorktown Battlefield, view the Victory Monument along the banks of the York River, sight dolphins and osprey, and sail by working watermen. They can even help raise the sails. Snacks and drinks are sold on board, and box lunches can be ordered. The 26-passenger Schooner Serenity, new this year, offers Pirate Cruises with crew in pirate costumes and cannon firings; kids get pirate tattoos. Also available are educational cruises that focus on the ecology of Chesapeake Bay. Both the Alliance and Serenity can be chartered for private cruises. In Yorktown visitors enjoy the seafood restaurants, 18th century homes, museums showcasing Revolutionary history, strolling the scenic Riverwalk and relaxing on the sandy beaches. Picturesque streets are the backdrop for art galleries and antique and specialty shops. Not far away are Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown Settlement. (sailyorktown.com) LeisureGroupTravel.com
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