The Best Way to See a City...

My grandmother (who I believe is responsible for giving me the travel bug) once told me that flying is convenient and taking a train is wonderful for seeing the real countryside but if you want to experience a city, you have to take the bus. She felt that because a bus goes right through the heart of the city, you got to actually see where people lived, and what their life was really like, not just what the tourist spots would have you think. While there is certainly some wisdom to that, I'm going to say that my favorite way to a city is by boat.

Now this is certainly not going to be true of everywhere you will travel, but most major cities are established on water. In some cases this is an ocean, in others a lake, in most some kind of river. Settling near water allowed people access to trade routes while also providing a source for drinking, washing and food. Therefore a lot of a cities prominent buildings and skyline can be viewed from the water.

Each time I visit a new city I try to see if they have some kind of river cruise or boat cruise available. While these can sometimes get a bad "rep" as tourist traps if you do your research you can find yourself spending a lovely afternoon on the water. Not only does the narration usually provide a nice overview of local history, but you can get a lay of the land. Usually after existing the boat I have a sense of which tourist attractions I want to see and what is located where. You can also get some beautiful skyline shots.

Finally, traveling can be tiring. Generally there's a lot of walking involved. If your feet need a respite but you don't want to waste time resting in the hotel, a boat cruise can be a great way to take in some sights while also taking a load off. I have also found that as long as the weather isn't too bad, a boat cruise can be a nice drizzly day activity. Usually there is some kind of indoor area with windows, and often times you can get a small lunch and beverage of choice.

If relaxing a bit and taking in the sights via a waterway sounds like something you'd enjoy I recommend the following:

DO: 

• DO research your options! You don't have to spend a lot of time doing this (I often don't know I'm going to take a boat cruise until I'm at the docks). Most cities have several companies, but once you narrow it down to time of day and the type of cruise (dinner vs. sight seeing) there may not be as many options. Yelp can be a great tool as well as TripAdvisor when researching on the fly. Just make sure you at least take a cursory glance so you know what you're getting into.
• Do look for a narrated tour. While they can be cheesy at times, you can often learn some fun facts that will make your trip even more enjoyable.
• Do check out the amenities on board. Whether the tour is one hour or more you want to be sure you have access to a bathroom if you need one. I also always look for a boat with a bar and snacks. What could be better than sipping a glass of bubbly and watching Paris go by? Having food and drink available means you can use the boat as a lunch stop, saving you time later, and saving you from spending more money on an official "lunch cruise." Which brings me to...

DON'T:

• Don't spend more money for an official "lunch cruise" unless you are purposely looking for a nice seated meal on the water. These cruises can be very overpriced. Additionally, most sight seeing cruises offer a snack/beverage bar with drinks and light refreshments (chips, small sandwiches, etc) so you can still eat a little something without spending an extra $50. If you are truly set on a nice sit down meal on the water, I would spend a little bit more money and spring for a dinner cruise. These usually include a band or D.J. for dancing and taking in the city at sunset or by night can be breath taking. 
• Don't spend more money than you need to! For a two hour sight seeing tour of a city I would expect to spend somewhere between $15 and $25 depending on the length of the cruise. Do some quick research at the dock, sometimes you can get tickets online cheaper right from your smartphone while your standing in line!
• Don't forget to bring a few singles to tip the crew. If your narrator was particularly entertaining or helpful, show them some love! They may be paid to give you the facts, but if they put a lot of time into honing their presentation to make your trip more fun- let them know!
• Don't be afraid to ask the Captain and crew for recommendations! They can often point you to a good pub or spot that you can't find in the guide books.
• Don't forget to take pictures!

Traveling offers so many unique ways to take in the views, boat cruises are just one of them. What are your favorite ways to see a city?

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