Belle Isle Park is being re-discovered by residents and suburbanites for water-side recreation.  

Kayakers and canoeists like to explore Belle Isle’s North Channel where there is no freighter traffic.  Portions of Belle Isle's own waterways are now accessible from the river.

(The busy parts of the river are not recommended to novices.)

 

The East RiverWalk Uniroyal site extension can be seen from Belle Isle and the MacArthur Bridge.  It will soon connect to Gabriel Richard Park.

This eastern stretch of the RiverWalk (near the UAW-GM building) is a hidden gem often missed by strollers.

Red Bull Air Races:  The Red Bull Air Races turn the river into an air acrobatics display.  This spectacular may return in 2016 or 2017 after a short absence.  Refer to Sports Page 4.

Hydroplane Race Catamaran Boats:  Each year the world’s most prestigious and historic hydroplane race occurs between Detroit’s Gold Coast and Belle Isle Park.  This is the Gar Wood trophy race.  Refer to Sports Page 4.

Wind Dancer “Gazelle” Schooner Cruise Charters  (239-940-0651                        

www.winddancercharters.com at extrade.net).

The Wind Dancer offers windjammer cruises of the Great Lakes that pass through the area but don’t currently stop in Detroit.  It operates out of Grand Rapids, Michigan and Ft. Meyers, Florida depending on the season.   

This riverboat is one of the newest to join excursions on the Detroit River.  The Macassa Bay offers a variety of cruises for dinner and dancing, with narrated tours that can travel the entire 32 mile length of the Detroit River -- from Lake Saint Clair to Lake Erie. 

The Murder Mystery cruise, a Mother’s Day cruise and a Cruising with Elvis cruise are popular.  The Macassa travels from a point near the Livingston Light in Lake Saint Clair/Belle Isle, and along both coastlines down to Lake Erie.

It has two decks.

Departures:  The Macassa Bay picks up groups of 25 or more at the foot of Windsor's Riverfront Festival Plaza Dock.  It travels in the Detroit River for various tours between the Ambassador Bridge and Peche Island (east of Belle Isle), and along the American shore for part of the voyage depending on your tour.  (Do not appear at the listed docking area until you have consulted the company web site for actual times and locations.  Schedules and destinations may have changed since this was written.)

• MV Senator (no longer active)

• Aurora Borealis (status unknown)

This vessel introduces K-12 students to marine and fresh water ecology.  It’s docked on the Detroit River for a limited time during the warmer months and departs from the Port Detroit dock facility.  It’s also available to adults for reserved tours.

This boat appeared in Detroit and other locations for:

• “Science Under Sail”:  April 22 through 27 (2012, Detroit).

• “Detroit River Days”:  June 22 through 24 (2012, Detroit).
  

• Charter Tours
  

• Group Tours
  

• Windjammer and Windward Bound overnight voyages.
  

Canadian Side...

√Rec Macassa Bay  (519-258-0911, WWW.WindsorRiverCruises.com)

The Infinity is 117 feet long.  It can entertain 145 people on the 1st deck with a spacious interior, including gourmet galley.  It has an extended bow, as well as an Admiral Salon with bamboo floors.  There are 2 decks with an enclosed fore deck and open area at the rear.  The vessel also features sun decks, lounges, and a full-service bar.  The deck exteriors have a sleek, aerodynamic shape enclosed in dark glass.

LAKE SAINT CLAIR

Lake st. Clair (shown above and below) is 430 sq. miles.  While not a Great Lake, it is part of the Great Lakes fresh water system.  Surprisingly it varies from as little as 10 feet deep for a large percentage of its area to no more than a 27 feet. Channels had to be dredged for freighter traffic. This lake offers major recreation for fishing and pleasure boats. The city of St. Clair Shores has one of the highest boating registration rates of anywhere in the U.S.

A group of crisscrossing canals outlines the Harbor Island neighborhood nearby.  The canal level dropped in 2012 due to an excessively dry spring and summer.  Water levels have climbed back quickly after the heavy snowfalls of 2013 and frequent rain in 2014 and 2015.

A horizon line is all that meets the eye from Lake St. Clair. 

The Ovation is 138 feet long.  It can entertain 300 people in the spacious interior on the 1st deck, which includes a full-length dining salon, contained within a spacious frame of clear-span design. The 2nd deck offers a large area with full service bar, cocktail lounge, bridal/executive suite and covered aft deck.  The 3rd deck has an open air sun area, a pilothouse, and another full service bar.  The deck exteriors have a sleek, aerodynamic shape enclosed in dark glass.

Charters have offered:

• Weddings on the River,

• Corporate Events,
  

• Student Events,
  

• Birthdays,
  

• Church Groups,
  

• Engagement Parties,
  

• Special Charters,
  

• Bar-, Bat-Mitzvahs and
  

• Fundraisers.
  

You can obtain Season Tickets and Group Charters. Gift certificates are available.  Several summer theme cruises have been offered through events available by ticket.  Refer to the official company website listed above for current details before appearing for a cruise.


 

A $21.5 million dock facility with cruise ship wharf and passenger terminal was built on the RiverWalk in 2011.  A Customs office with a view of the river is on the second floor.  Funding from the Federal Department of Transportation helped designate this location the new capital of Great Lakes cruises a few years ago.  Since then numerous cruise ship purveyors have shown new interest in the Great Lakes with stops in Detroit and Windsor. In addition, water taxi service ferries passengers between the RiverWalk and Belle Isle from areas near this location subject to demand. 

Unlike riverboats, the cruise ships visiting Detroit have cabin berths with amenities for extended trips.   Several cruises have been proposed over the last decade, which means more vessels will sail the inland seas from Motown. 

Detroit was an important stop for cruise ships in the 19th century when the first steam vessels sailed these waters.  It was the only sure way to get to lake ports before dependable roads were built.  Detroit’s cruise heyday was between 1894 and the 1930's when the passenger Queens of Great Lakes were a popular vacation and mode of travel.  Mackinac Island remains one of the great attractions of both eras.  Film fans will remember Somewhere in Time, which captured the grandeur of Mackinac Island. 

The last major visit to Detroit by cruise ships was made by the Detroit and Cleveland Navigation Company in the 1950's.  Smaller vessels continued service through the late 60's.  Cruise ships return to the city on the strait with a great sense of pride and history.  The first to restore cruises to the area was the Grande Mariner.  Former U.S. Transportation Secretary, Ray Lahood presided over its debut.

Ambassador Bridge, 1929:  This is a privately owned suspension bridge built at a narrowing in the Detroit River at Mexicantown.  It makes a strong impact on the horizon as the River Gateway.  Sparkling nighttime cable lights draw the tour boats and all ships on the river pass through this bridge before turning south to Lake Erie 26 miles downriver.   

Built in the first year of the Great Depression, the Ambassador is America’s busiest international crossing.  Since 1929 traffic between both countries has increased so dramatically a much larger bridge will be built about a mile west.  It will supplement traffic at this bridge and three tunnels under the river.  A new rail tunnel will be built in addition to the new bridge.

(The Ambassador owners may also build a new span immediately adjacent to the existing span.)

Three barges add a big bang to annual International Freedom Festival celebrations on the river in June.  Windsor and Detroit share this spectacular.  A single barge lofts pyrotechnics high into the sky for the Detroit International Jazz Festival in early September.  All barges assemble between the Ren Cen and Hart Plaza on the river. 

In addition, various tall ship gatherings have been held at ports throughout the Great Lakes. The 2001 Detroit Tri-centennial attracted a large number on the riverfront.  Another brought Navy ships and an old brig to Detroit during the War of 1812 Anniversary.  Other vessels are make their way up the famous strait for several coastal city celebrations.

1812 Bicentennial Celebration

The War of 1812 Bicentennial began on September 5th, 2012 near the Port of Detroit dock.

Ironically, the same bicentennial was occurring immediately across the river at the Windsor dock where a Canadian Navy frigate had just arrived.  

River Celebrations 

The river is shared by pleasure craft of all kinds including jet skis, speed boats, sailing yachts, tiny sail boats, bass boats, canoes, kayaks, cabin cruisers and immense, private luxury yachts.  Problems develop when giant freighters pass through flotillas of sail boats that have no dependable power option to safely escape.  The scene above was one of many close calls.  Accidents have claimed many lives on this part of the river.  All ships are required to give three warning blasts when passing:   one long and two short.    Visitors Downtown are sometimes startled to hear them.

A short sail east into Lake St. Clair brings a breath of fresh air as the brilliance of the horizon unfolds ahead and the water becomes a recreation paradise for fishermen and sailing adventurers. 

Vessels of all kinds navigate from Lake St. Clair to Lake Huron via the St. Clair River about 50 miles north.  The Great Lakes form an immense liquid highway.

The Gritty West (Southwest Detroit and Downriver)

​

Peche Island lies directly south of Windmill Pointe, under protection of the Canadian Provincial Park administration.  Lucky apartment dwellers have a spectacular view from the Canadian Shore.

Detroit’s shimmering waters reflect a new-found enthusiasm on the river.  Recreation and shoreline attractions like the 4-mile RiverWalk have transformed the downtown coastline into a jewel embraced by the city.  

Windsor’s new skyline offers a rewarding view to strollers on the Detroit shore. 

Fishing explodes along the RiverWalk during the Silver Bass runs in June when anglers in some areas stand shoulder–to-shoulder to cast their lines. Visitors get an eyeful of giant, 1,000 ft. freighters and little tour boats sail past the city office towers.

Two rival gatherings on the river provide stark contrast for the outcome of the conflict 200 years ago.  Of course, the Canadians claim they won the war (or at least its major battles) and the Americans claim otherwise.  The same territory once disputed 200 years ago lies between them and on both sides of the strait. 

Occasionally the U.S. Navy sends various vessels to Great Lakes harbors for training or public education programs.  There are many other impressive vessels that appear as well.  However, rarely do any military vessels such as these come to the port of Detroit.   The bicentennial of the War of 1812 proved to be an unusual exception.

J.W. Westcott, 1874:  The J.W. Westcott Co. runs a risky 24-hour a day U.S. Mail delivery and taxi service for freighters on the Detroit River.  It's been in business since 1874, and works for one of Detroit's oldest continuously operating companies.  Built in 1945, this boat is Diesel powered and is 45 ft. long.  It meets a busy schedule delivering mail and people with nimble quickness.  But it's no easy job making deliveries to ships while underway near the Ambassador Bridge.  In 2001 the Westcott II capsized when caught in the wake of a Norwegian oil tanker, resulting in the deaths of two crewmembers.  It was recovered and repaired and still remains in service.

Tour Area -- Ambassador Bridge

Delray’s sober trusses and girders paint the entrance to the Rouge in gray.  The freeway and several bridges cross the Rouge a half mile from the new refinery.   

In contrast to the esthetic richness of the east, the west side of Detroit owes much of its industrial lore to actual factories.   While most industry has left the area, its hardcore legacy survives in abandoned facilities crowding the shoreline.  (The shore above was piled high with coal and coke.  But the city recently ordered it removed from this part of the river.)

Some islanders resorted to inflatables to avoid the shallows.

Windmill Pointe graces the eastern boundary of Detroit and the suburban city of Grosse Pointe Park.  More parks and canals join the area between this shoreline and Maheras Park.  But Windmill Pointe and the park grounds offer one of the most beautiful views from Detroit’s eastern shoreline. 

Alter road passes between the final block of Detroit homes and a canal that joins the river to Harbor Island, another subdivision surrounded by water.  (See several frames below.)

Many places of natural beauty are hidden along Detroit’s near-east shore and the adjoining suburban Pointes a couple miles beyond.  These attractive park areas are just a short boat trip or a healthy bike ride from downtown Detroit.  Canals and estuaries lie within sight of Peche Island and Lake St. Clair.

The Niagara held 155 seamen during Perry’s 1813 victory on Lake Erie against a British squadron that included larger vessels.  Judging by today’s standards (and average height), it’s hard to imagine so many crewmen sharing its cramped quarters.  Few visitors emerge from the lower deck without a strained neck or a sore back.  But many clamor for a chance to crew aboard the living legend and sail the Perry flagship.  (Contact 814-452-2744 sail@flagshipniagara.org or htttp://www.flagshipniagara.org at 150 E. Front Street, Erie, P’A 16507-1594.)    

The Guardian is owned and operated by the U.S, Environmental Protection Agency.

Grande Mariner:  96 passenger cruise ship of the American-Canadian Caribbean Line.  It offered a cruise from mid- to late July in 2011 between Chicago and Toronto, and another from late July to early August to Georgian Bay in Ontario. 

Fanfare greeted the Grande Mariner’s inaugurating cruise to Detroit on July 17 and 18 in 2011.  More cruises followed on August 8 and 16, 2012, including others in 2015 and 2017. Shore excursions are made to popular areas like the RiverWalk, downtown Detroit, Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford (in Dearborn, Michigan, a nearby suburb), and downtown Windsor, Canada across the river.  The Mariner conveniently stopped on the Canada side for the Windsor shore excursion.  The Grande Mariner was the first cruise ship visit for the Detroit side of the river in many decades.  But the Yorktown and the Victory 1 have docked here as well. (Depending on water levels at other ports on the itinerary, some cruise programs may have been cancelled.)

The Department of Natural Resources continues to enhance the natural beauty of the island since it became a state park in 2014.  (Refer to Page 11.)  There are four big fishing piers on the island.

Liquid Limos offers a limousine service on the water encouraging you to “Take a Bus or Cruise With Us.”  This is a reserved charter boat.  There are several vessels made available through ClintonRiverCruiseCo.com.  

Major Events:

• Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix

• Detroit Hydroplane Races
  

• Other  events near downtown Detroit

Liquid Limos, Captain Paul II Limousine Boat Rental Service through ClintonRiverCruiseCo.com (1-800-227-8635 LiquidLimos.com  or Email:  Info@LiquidLimos.com)  Verify correct info.

The St. Laurent stopped in Detroit in 2015 and appeared as Victory 1 in subsequent visits.

Canada’s Provincial Peche Island Park is home to beaver and other wildlife only a mile from Windsor and a short cruise from high rise apartments. 

Detroit has numerous canals and inlets that flow into the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair.   They are especially common on the east shore adding their beauty to the coastline.  The industrial west is a neglected reminder of Detroit’s past.  The entire coast is nearly 14 miles long.  Detroit’s near-coast border in the west extends even further.  Together there are almost 17 miles between the Ecorse River and the area north of Grosse Pointe Park.  (Refer to Page 13.)

Yet here on the same day each navy made its claim at odds with the other’s interpretation.  The U.S. Navy frigate DeWert, Coast Guard vessel, Katmai Bay and historic brig, Niagara appeared at the Detroit Riverwalk on full display for the occasion. (The Niagara is not permanently docked in Detroit.)

Yorktown:   New York 138 passenger cruise ship owned by Travel Dynamics International offering cruises throughout the Great Lakes.  It made its first stop in Detroit in June 2012.  At 257 feet long and 43 feet wide, the Yorktown offers comfortable accommodations.

The Yorktown is the second ship to visit Detroit and travels to Godderich, Ontario, Manitoulin Island, Ontario, and American ports at Whitefish Point, Sault Ste. Marie, Mackinac Island, Saugatuck and Chicago.  Saugatuck gave a warm welcome to the Yorktown with a parade.  The Yorktown visited Detroit on June 23, July 7, July 12, August 1, August 25 and September 8 of 2012.

Several other cruise ships toured Detroit in the next few years.  But availability depends on river conditions throughout Great Lakes ports of call.

 

Windmill Pointe is a popular fishing area.  A lighthouse guards the west corner of seawall above the water.

A German cruise ship makes a stop in Windsor.  Windsor is a short half-mile trip from downtown Detroit via tunnel or bridge.

Best Viewed in Google Chrome

Newer developments take aim at the wonder of Detroit’s eastern waterfront and numerous canals.

Sea and sky meet at the inlet to Detroit’s Grayhaven Art community further east.  A mile of canal forms an island

around this beautiful upscale subdivision on Detroit's eastern coast on the mainland.

Great views are found along Gabriel Richard Park at the east end of the RiverWalk.

Kayaking has grown in popularity on the river near Downtown and a great variety of sailing vessels and motor yachts have been cruising the azure waves.   Vessels vary from the unusual to the traditional.

But there’s nothing quite like the excitement of a jet ski slicing through the rolling surf.

                      WARNING!  While board paddling and water skiing appear exhilarating, they are not safe,                                                                   recommended or legal on most of the Detroit River.

MS Columbus: German owned 423 passenger cruise ship of Hapag-Lloyd lines.  It was thought Hapag would offer 14-day cruises from Toronto to Duluth and back with stops between like Chicago, Mackinac Island, Thunder Bay, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Traverse City and Georgian Bay in a couple years.  It was active through the 2007 season and visited Windsor until water levels were too low. The new Detroit facility, however, has been built beyond the potential low water line and won’t be a problem for most visiting cruise ships.  This ship has been the largest to travel the Great Lakes in recent decades.  However, it may be withdrawn permanently from the area due to concern over water levels at other locations.  Please consult the Hapag tours website to be sure before determining its availability.  (Note:  The water level locally has rebounded to record highs lately.)

Quick Tours in Detroitfor Cruise and Boat Excursion Visitors. Tour these on your own (3.5 hours or less):

• RiverWalk Tour(4 miles):  It’s a great way to sample Detroit’s new sights along the river.  Seating, refreshments and restrooms are available at the Ren Cen or Rivard Plaza, where you can also rent bicycles at the Wheel House Detroit facility.  Ask for a RiverWalk map at the Wheel House.  It lists downtown attractions and restaurants.  Or look through this web site for map details on the RiverWalk. Joseph Campau Street offers several good bars like They Say and fine dining at the Rattlesnake Club.  Refer to Page 10.
  

• Renaissance Center Tour:  Visit the top of the Renaissance Center Mariott Hotel (73 stories) Coach Insignia Bar and Restaurant will be replaced with a new venue, but is not open. There are also four other major restaurants, the GM car display and a Pure Detroit souvenir shop at the Ren Cen.  Many affordable fast food places are in the basement level.  Refer to Page 10.  For guided Ren Cen tours call 313-568-5624.
  

• People Mover Downtown Business District Tour:  Take the elevated one-way People Mover tram, offering a 3-mile, 15 minute trip through Downtown for 75c.  Stop at selected stations. (Maps are available in the People Mover Cars.)  Many live theatres are near this route like the PuppetART Theatre (great for kids), as well as major professional sports stadiums, Joe Louis Arena, Comerica Park and Ford Field.  Comerica Park, home of Tigers baseball, has a small amusement ride area for kids.  The Foxtown Theatre district is across the street with great concerts, restaurants and bars.  Refer to Page 7.
  

• Greektown Tour:  This block-and-a-half area includes a casino and a big selection of restaurants, some with traditional Greek food.  A good, multi-ethnic buffet and a live theatre are inside the Casino. Traditional Greek restaurants are recommended.  Access Greektown directly by People Mover.  Refer to Page 8.
  

• Campus Martius Tour:  This famous downtown park with fountain and skating rink (winter) is just a half mile up Woodward from Hart Plaza near your docking area.  The Hard Rock Café and several great restaurants are here.  Sample casual French cooking and great beverages at the Fountain Bistro in the park.  Refer to Page 9.
  

• Architecture Tour:  Check out the spectacular interior of the Guardian Building not far from Hart Plaza and Campus Martius.  This tall, orange brick skyscraper is truly a Cathedral of Finance.   It was the WWII allied command center for war production, known as the Arsenal of Democracy.  Refreshments and shops are inside.  Then check out some of the other buildings Downtown.  Detroit has one of the largest pre-Depression era collections of skyscrapers in North America.  Refer to Page 9.
  

• Belle Isle Park Tour:  This is the nation’s largest city island park -- about 7 miles in circumference (designed by Frederick Law Olmstead of NY Central Park fame).  It has three fulltime museums, including the Nature Zoo with exhibits and deer pen, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, great for history buffs, and the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory a draw for plant lovers.  The Aquarium re-opened for a limited time on Saturdays and Sundays.  Visit the beautiful Scott Fountain or walk the stunning shore.  There are hiking trails on the east end of the island near the lighthouse, a small golf course and several inland lakes and lagoons.  The island is located in the Detroit River, accessed by MacArthur Bridge at East Grand Blvd. from East Jefferson (a mile east of Downtown). (…best visited by car for those unfamiliar with the area – the best way to save time.)  The island has required an entry fee since February 2014 when it became a state park.  Refer to Page 11.
  

• Eastern Market Tour (Saturday Only):  This is the nation’s largest farmers’ market with four large sheds and 250 vendors, restaurants, art galleries and a few antique shops.  The sheds are only open on Saturday.  Arrive by 3:00pm to get the best deals.  You can reach the market from the RiverWalk connection, walking (or biking) the Dequindre Cut or drive north on Russell from Gratiot.  Refer to Page 12.
  

• DIA Tour (Detroit Institute of Arts):  Tour one of the world’s great public art museums ranked 2nd in the U.S.  It was recently expanded and renovated.  Suits of armor, the dazzling Rivera Court and popular paintings of the Renaissance and the Impressionist periods are just a part of the splendid attractions in over 100 galleries. (Located in Midtown.)  Refer to Page 2.
  

• Detroit Historical Museum Tour:  (Renovated in 2012.)  Witness Detroit’s dramatic rise to industrial prominence.  Visit the popular Streets of Old Detroit, a one-block collection of 19th century shops and businesses.  These were painfully re-constructed to display period storefronts, offices and products, bringing the past to life among cobblestone streets and boardwalks in the museum’s basement.  The museum’s upper levels chronicle the city’s emergence from wilderness outpost to automobile production.   (In Midtown near DIA.)  Refer to Page 2.
  

• Pewabic Pottery Tour: Tour Detroit’s OTHER industry in the quaint little building.  Visit the celebrated ceramic training center, design studio, production area, museum and store on East Jefferson and Cadillac.  See beautiful creations from vases to commemorative plaques, fireplace mantels to floor tiles, holiday ornaments and sculpture.  Mary Stratton founded the center contributing her unique brand of copper-rich ceramics to the rich tradition of Detroit design.  It appears in several Detroit skyscrapers and private homes.  (Freighter relief plaques, vases and holiday ornaments make popular gifts and keepsakes, valued as collectibles.)  Refer to Page 2.
  

• Hitsville USA (Motown Museum):  If you’re in Detroit for only a short time, don’t miss the iconic symbol of the city’s music eminence.  This is the birthplace of Berry Gordy’s Motown Records, his home and garage studio.  Visit the two side-by-side homes on Grand Blvd. in Detroit’s New Center.  Refer to Page 2.
  

• Other Tours:  Refer to the riverboats on this Page and the Attractions Pages in this web site.  Or refer to Tours Page 18 in this web site for a list of Riverboat Tours, factory tours, museums and other Detroit attractions.  

 Great Lakes Cruises

But even the rusty west may soon be joined to the sparkling east when Detroit’s RiverWalk links the two bridges and areas beyond.  A third bridge will make improvements to the Delray coastline and, within a decade, all three crossings may well ornament a river with 14 miles of RiverWalk and greenways.  (Refer to Delray, Page 13.)

Maheras Park’s tiny island cove adds serene beauty to the recreation field west of Grayhaven Art.

Enthusiasts also take their boats between the Detroit coast and Peche Island to Lake St. Clair for fantastic fishing.

Greenfield Village and The Henry Ford – Dearborn (nearby)

• Greenfield Village and The Henry Ford comprise America’s largest outdoor-indoor, historical museum, featuring restored buildings whose former residents represented the European roots of America or who played a direct role in the culture and industry of the United States.  The Henry Ford is an indoor museum housing collections of major industrial artifacts, agricultural machines and transportation equipment, spanning the Industrial Revolution to present day.  The Village and Museum demonstrate working examples of many early prototypes and production methods.  Henry Ford, its founder believed history had to be presented as a working model and not merely written on pages.  Refer to the Museum Page for details.
  

Amenities and Transportation Available to Visitors

• Great Lakes Cruise visitors and convention-goers will benefit from the ongoing $300 million, windows-on-the-river renovation of the Cobo Convention Center, the eventual improvement of Hart Plaza, the construction of the Globe Trading Outdoor Adventure Center, and the expansion of the RiverWalk to 5.5 miles in 2017-2019.  The Port Detroit docking facility is next to the RiverWalk, near the expansive Marriott Hotel at the Renaissance Center and several other hotels Downtown, accessible by People Mover.  Good dining, theatre, gambling, sports and museums are a short hop away.  The new Q-Line rail (M1) or Woodward Trolley starts at Larned near Hart Plaza close to the same docking facility, providing access to many Woodward Boulevard venues including the Cultural Center.  This is a quasi 3-way transportation area located by the river near the People Mover and Dock of Detroit offering direct access to many Detroit venues including riverboat tours and strolls by the shore.