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Tour the Erie CanalExploring the canal’s beauty and history this season is as easy as taking a boat tourThe Erie Canal represents an important waterway that helped build the Empire State’s economy. The 363-mile, hand-dug canal was originally 40 feet wide and four feet wide, a veritable ditch for floating mule-drawn barges. The canal links the Hudson River with the Niagara River and in doing so, it cut shipping costs 95 percent, dramatically boosting the young state’s economy. In the early 1900s, the canal was improved and enlarged to accommodate larger, engine-driven watercraft and thus it further grew the state’s economy. Though you’re not likely to see mules on canalside towpaths as in the 1800s or transportation of goods as in the early 1900s, much about the canal and its original 83 locks remains. Exploring the canal’s beauty and history this season is as easy as taking a boat tour. Most Erie Canal boat tour companies operate May through October, so you’ll have plenty of time to select one or experience several. Here are a few of the numerous Erie Canal tour companies in the region. Lockport Locks & Erie Canal Cruises (www.lockportlocks.com; 800-378-0352) focuses on the history of the Erie Canal. A 49-foot “lock through,” a procedure that raises and lowers the boat to accommodate the different water levels, adds to the experience. In addition to enjoying the canal, you can also peruse the displays at the facility’s Lockport & Erie Canal Heritage Museum. Departing from Fairport, Colonial Belle Cruises (www.colonialbelle.com; 585-223-9470) boasts the largest boat cruise on the canal. The two- to three-hour tours include narration about historic points of interest and can include a meal or snack. Themed tours include murder mystery, Jimmy Buffet music, 4th of July dinner cruise, and a fall foliage tour for leaf peepers. Erie Canal Cruise Lines (www.canalcruises.com; 800-962-1771) allows you to charter your own course, departing from and returning to Seneca Falls and lasting for three days or an entire week. Whether you’re an old salt or a landlubber, the boats are easy to handle and there’s little learning curve in getting the hang of it. Bicycles are included so you can dock the boat and pedal around in any of the villages you encounter. In Herkimer, Erie Canal Cruises (www.eriecanalcruises.com; 315-717-0350) features a lock through that lowers and raises the vessel into the lower Mohawk river. Experienced guides will narrate your cruise and share the area’s colorful history. Check the website for special events all season long and special pricing promotions. Mid-Lakes Navigation in Skaneateles (www.midlakesnav.com; 800-545-4318) offers brief sightseeing cruises, self-piloted cruising (bicycles included) and up to three-day adventures that include a captain and crew. If you’re mildly interested in touring or an avid boater, Mid-Lakes has a package for you. For help in planning a canal tour or canal-based vacation, visit www.nycanal.com. The site lists events, eateries, marinas and lodging all related to the Erie Canal and surrounding areas. Canal Locks So what’s all this about a “lock through” and what are water locks? Water locks allow boats to safely travel on waterways of varying depths. Since the Erie Canal crosses the state from Lake Erie to the Hudson River, that’s a lot of elevation change: 565 vertical feet to be exact. Locks allow a vessel to go up or down when those changes are abrupt without damaging the vessel or making the navigation difficult. |
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