Special Tours Coming to Blackstone River

Saturday, August 27, 2011

GoLocalProv Features Team

What better way to celebrate Rhode Island Water Celebration Day than on one of the state's greatest rivers?

On Saturday, September 24, join with the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council which is hosting two special cruises along a scenic portion of the historic Blackstone River, aboard the Blackstone Valley Explorer river tour boat.

It's a soothing, scenic way to get an up-close and personal perspective of the remarkable nature and wildlife found inside Valley Falls Marsh, one of Rhode Island’s largest urban preserves. The marsh area is habitat to a diversity of birds and wild animals hidden along the industrial and cultural heritage of Rhode Island’s Blackstone River Valley.

There will be a 7:30 am Sunrise Cruise, and a 5:30 pm Sunset Cruise. Both tours will operate from Central Falls Landing, at Broad Street & Madeira Avenue, Central Falls. Each tour will last one hour.

Here are complete details on each cruise happening: (in the event of rain, the cruises will occur Saturday, October 1, 2011). The Blackstone Valley Tourism Council recommends interested folks reserve soon, as spots are filling up.

7:30am Sunrise Cruise

Get up with the birds and come on board for coffee, orange juice, muffins and donuts for you to enjoy while you cruise the river. There is a colony of mute swans on Valley Falls Pond adjacent to the river. Osprey and hawks search the river for prey. Red Wing Blackbirds, Great Blue herons, and swifts are regular visitors to the river. The river in the early morning is totally different from the river in the evening.

5:30pm Sunset Cruise

As dusk comes to the river a new set of characters comes out. Come on board and relax after a busy weekend day and enjoy apple cider and cookies. Swifts dive-bomb the water scooping up bugs for their dinner. Canada geese search the shallows for a delicious meal. The muskrats and river otter are sometimes seen along the river’s edge. Turtles watch you glide by on the boat as intently as you watch them. The river in the evening is totally different from the river in the morning.

Tickets for each of the riverboat tours are $15/person and each cruise is limited to 40 persons. As a special offer, take both cruises for just $25/person.

Advanced reservations for these cruises is required, as the riverboat tours are a very popular attraction and sell out quickly!

Please reserve your tickets NOW for these special riverboat tours by calling the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council at 724-2200.