Boat and Canal Tours
Enjoy time on the water with our boat and canal tours. Board a 25-foot pontoon boat for a scenic Seneca Lake tour. Or embark on a history- and nature-focused Seneca/Cayuga Canal tour.
Seneca Lake Pontoon Boat Tour
Enjoy a relaxing cruise on our 25-foot pontoon boat, which comfortably seats up to 12 guests. This tour takes you out onto Seneca Lake, gliding past Seneca Lake State Park and along the waterfront in front of the city of Geneva. We cruise by Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where the first-ever women graduated from medical school.
From there, we continue past the beautiful Belhurst Castle and Geneva On The Lake, as well as a new lakeside hotel and restaurant. We then cross the lake to one of the largest outcroppings of Marcellus shale on the East Coast, where we talk about the natural gas formations between our Finger Lakes.
Along the way, we share two dramatic stories—the Serpent of Seneca Lake and the age-old Native American legend of the Drums on the Seneca—both now supported by fascinating new evidence. This tour is also available at sunset for a small additional charge. Because Seneca Lake runs north–south, the sunset views are especially dramatic.
Seneca/Cayuga Canal History & Lock Tour
We also offer a boat tour that is very different from the lake cruise. This experience takes you east on the Seneca/Cayuga Canal, where we look closely at local wildlife and pass several new RV parks that have sprung up along the waterway.
One highlight of this tour is traveling through a 14.5-foot concrete lock. Even if you’ve seen a lock in operation before, being in the boat as the water rises and falls around you is a truly unforgettable experience.
After the lock, we travel behind one of the region’s largest historical polluters and point out the important changes the EPA has made to protect our air and water while still supporting this major local employer. Finally, we pass a true mystery: a concrete block tower that hints at an unusual three-story distillery once used to produce alcohol. Our research uncovered that this distillery was owned by an Amish resident.
SENECA LAKE CRUISE
Venture beyond the canal into the expansive beauty of Seneca Lake, where the stories of this deep freshwater ecosystem come alive. We’ll cruise past historic shoreline landmarks like Belhurst Castle and Geneva On The Lake, sharing local legends like the 'Serpent of Seneca Lake' while you take in the feeling of being out on the open water.
The scale of the lake offers a different kind of peace. We’ll finish our time together with the warm glow of a spectacular Finger Lakes sunset or a serene moonlight ride back to the dock, moving at a pace that lets you truly disconnect and unwind.
Ask us about customizing this cruise