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THE 10 BEST St. Petersburg Tours & Excursions

St. petersburg tours.

• Sightseeing Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Private Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• Special Offers
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Island Sunset and Skyway Light Show in St. Petersburg

2. Evening Yacht Cruise with Optional Dining in St. Petersburg

3. 4-Hour St. Pete Pier to Egmont Key Experience by Ferry

4. 2-Hour Sunset Cruise Tour in St. Petersburg

5. Clear Kayak Tour of Shell Key Preserve and Tampa Bay Area

6. Daytime Yacht Sightseeing Cruise with Optional Dining

7. St Petersburg Speed Boat Adventure

8. St. Petersburg Jungle Prada Site History Tour

9. Guided St. Pete Sightseeing Tour in Deluxe Street Legal Golf Cart

10. Tiki Boat - St. Pete Pier - The Only Authentic Floating Tiki Bar

11. St. Pete Beach Dolphin Racer Speedboat Adventure

12. Sunset Champagne and Charcuterie Charter in Tampa (Private avail)

13. Shell Key Clear Kayak Glow in the Dark Tour

14. Egmont Key Ferry from Ft. DeSoto Park

15. Shell Key Ferry from Ft. DeSoto Boat Ramp in Tierra Verde, FL

16. Electric Bike Guided City & Mural Tour

17. 2 Hour Guided Segway Tour of Downtown St Pete

18. The Skyway Tour

19. Sunset Cruise with Skyway Bridge Light Tour St. Petersburg, FL

20. Half Day Private Luxury Boat Charter

21. Private Guided Dolphin Sightseeing Cruise in St. Petersburg

22. Electric Bike Wildlife & History Tour along Fort De Soto's Beaches

23. Stunning Helicopter Tour - Skyway Bridge, Fort Desoto & St. Pete Beaches

24. Bay Area Info Tours- Tours of Pinellas in a Luxury Mini Van

25. 6-Hour Eco Tour in St. Petersburg from Florida

26. Twilight Sip and Dine St. Petersburg

27. Guided Kayak EcoTour of Beautiful Shell Key Preserve

28. Private Dolphin & Architecture Tour in St. Petersburg, Fl

29. 3 Hour Charter from Maximo Park View with Lunch or Snacks

30. Trolley Pub Mixer Tour through St. Pete with Bar/Photo Stops

What travelers are saying.

• JORDAN H 1 contribution 0 5.0 of 5 bubbles Absolutely the best Captain Jamie and his lovely boat were both absolutely amazing! Great food, great drinks, and amazing sights. We would do it again in a heartbeat! Read more Review of: Private Sunset Champagne and Charcuterie Charter in Tampa Written April 24, 2024 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

• Island Sunset and Skyway Light Show in St. Petersburg
• Clear Kayak Tour of Shell Key Preserve and Tampa Bay Area
• Evening Yacht Cruise with Optional Dining in St. Petersburg
• 4-Hour St. Pete Pier to Egmont Key Experience by Ferry
• St. Pete Beach Dolphin Racer Speedboat Adventure
• Coastal Cruises
• Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center Eco-tours
• Salt and Mist Sea Tours
• Sailing Florida Charters
• Pier Dolphin Cruises
• Dolphin Racer
• Island Boat Adventures
• Speed Boat Adventures
• Discover Florida Tours
• Tour St Pete BTI LLC
• Remi's Segway Tours
• Doo's Amazing Tours
• Eat St Pete Food Tours
• St. Pete Sailing Charters

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Excursions & Tours

Exclusive St. Petersburg Two Day Program (Visas Included)

Evening River and Canal Cruise (Visas Included)

1 Day Imperial Saint Petersburg Highlights Tour (Visas Included)

2 Half Day St Petersburg Highlights Tour (Visas Included)

2 Day Imperial Saint Petersburg Highlights Tour with Spanish Guide (Visas Included)

Evening at the Ballet (Visas Included)

Moscow in a Day (Visas Included)

St. Petersburg Through the Eyes of Russian People (Visas Included)

1 Day Tasting Tour of St. Petersburg (Visas Included)

2 Day Free Style Visit of St. Petersburg (Visas Included)

2 Day Saint Petersburg Highlights, Feel Like a Local (Visas Included)

2 Day St. Petersburg Must-Sees and Boat Cruise (Visas Included)

2 Day St. Petersburg with Faberge Museum and Canal Cruise (Visas Included)

Half Day St. Petersburg and Church of Spilled Blood (Visas Included)

Hermitage and Peterhof Gardens with Lunch (Visas Included)

Panoramic Drive of St. Petersburg (Visas Included)

Peterhof Gardens by Hydrofoil (Visas Included)

St. Petersburg Canals and Church on Spilled Blood (Visas Included)

The Gems of St Petersburg Small Group Tour (Visa Included)

Private St. Petersburg On Your Own 3 Day (Visas Included)

Private St. Petersburg Through the Eyes of Russian People (Visas Included)

Private Catherine's Palace in Pushkin (Visas Included)

Private Hermitage Museum (Visas Included)

Private Grand St. Petersburg (Visas Included)

Private Panoramic St. Petersburg (Visas Included)

Private Magnificent St. Petersburg (Visas Included)

Private Catherine's Palace and the Hermitage (Visas Included)

Private Hermitage and Spilled Blood Cathedral (Visas Included)

Private Russian Shopping (Visas Included)

Private Peterhof - Russian Versailles (Visas Included)

Private Peterhof Gardens and Fountains (Visas Included)

Private City Highlights and Peter and Paul Fortress (Visas Included)

Private St. Petersburg On Your Own 2 Day (Visas Included)

Private Imperial St. Petersburg (Visas Included)

Private Faberge Museum & Canal Cruise (Visas Included)

Private 2 Day Excursion with Evening Canal Cruise (Visas Included)

Private 2 Day St. Petersburg with Canal Cruise (Visas Included)

Private 3 Day St Petersburg with Free Time (Visas Included)

Private Best of St. Petersburg Two Day Program (Visas Included)

Private Hermitage, Peterhof Gardens and Canal Cruise (Visas Included)

Private Night Drawbridges from Boat Cruise (Visas Included)

Private St. Petersburg Highlights and Vodka Museum (Visas Included)

Private Royal Palaces and Hydrofoil (Visas Included)

Private Peterhof Park Experience (Wheelchair Accessible Tour & Visas Included)

Private Peterhof & Alexandria Parks by Train and Hydrofoil (Visas Included)

Private Lenin, Rasputin & Russian Revolution Historical Tour (Visas Included)

Private City Highlights with Jewish Heritage Tour (Visas Included)

Private Hermitage Museum & Treasure Room (Visas Included)

Private Gems of St. Petersburg (Visas Included)

Private All Exclusive Royal Residences (Visas Included)

Private Dostoevsky's St.Petersburg "Crime & Punishment" (Visas Included)

Private Church on Spilled Blood and Canal Cruise (Visas Included)

Private Best of St. Petersburg. Family Visit and Metro ride (Visas Included)

Private City Sightseeing with a visit to Church on Spilled Blood & Hermitage (Wheelchair Accessible Tour & Visas Included)

Private Guide and Vehicle - Half Day (Visas Included)

Private Guide and Vehicle - Full Day (Visas Included)

St. petersburg tours and excursions, take a cruise tour of st. petersburg.

Experience the highlights of Russia when you travel to the great city of St. Petersburg on one of our St. Petersburg tours. Founded in 1703, the city has developed into one known for its immaculate architecture, historical landmarks, and unique culture. Our St. Petersburg shore excursions highlight the deep history embedded in this center of Russian culture. Embark on an excursion adventure through famed Russian historical periods, a full-day tour with a viewing of Catherine the Great's palace and the world-famous Amber Room, in addition to sightseeing tours of other landmarks associated with Russia's imperial elite. Have a tour guide show you around the Hermitage Museum, a world-famous museum showcasing Russian arts and culture, explore Peter and Paul Fortress, and visit St. Isaac's Cathedral. With all its imperial glory and elegant fountains, you will delight in the sights of Peterhof, also known as Russia's Versailles. And don't forget a city tour of Moscow - a must-see!

St. Petersburg Shore Excursions

St. Petersburg, Russia is a magnificent city on the Baltic Sea that perfectly embodies the culture, art, and lifestyle of the country. This is perhaps the reason it has become such a popular tourist destination in Eastern Europe. Visitors are often excited by the city's growing underground art and music scene, its breathtaking architectural atmosphere, and the fascinating Russian history and culture behind it. St. Petersburg is indeed an unquestionable, unrivaled source of refined art and culture. Our variety of the best tours of St. Petersburg gives you access to the city's most notable museums, palaces, restaurants, and sightseeing venues. We cater to both large or small groups and offer standard, small, and private guide excursions.

Top St. Petersburg Tours:

Note the following are sample tours and may not work with your itinerary. Find excursions for your cruise itinerary here .

• Exclusive St. Petersburg Two Day Program (Visas Included) ($299.00)
• 1 Day Imperial Saint Petersburg Highlights Tour (Visas Included) ($129.00)
• 2 Day Imperial Saint Petersburg Highlights Tour with Spanish Guide (Visas Included) ($299.00)
• Cossack Dance Show (Visas Included) ($150.00)
• Evening at the Ballet (Visas Included) ($159.00)
• An Evening of Classical Music (Visas Included) ($160.00)
• Private Faberge Museum & Canal Cruise (Visas Included) (starting at $95.00/person)
• Private Lenin, Rasputin & Russian Revolution Historical Tour (Visas Included) (starting at $175.00/person)
• Private City Highlights with Jewish Heritage Tour (Visas Included) (starting at $80.00/person)
• Vodka Tasting and Evening Canal Cruise (Visas Included) ($169.00)

Experience a St. Petersburg visit like a true Russian by discovering adventures that go off the beaten path - guided tours, walking tours, group tours, and private tours available with certain excursions. Get the very best this beautiful city has to offer and experience premium panoramic views, excursion tours, and river cruises you can't find anywhere else in Russia! Browse St. Petersburg today and be on your way to visiting one of the most culturally profound cities in the entire world!

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Where do you need Nail Care Salons ?

Excursion nail spa, about excursion nail spa.

Excursion Nail Spa is located at 8062 Highway 100, Nashville, TN. This business specializes in Nail Care and has 2 review(s) with a star rating of 4.5.

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Reviews about excursion nail spa.

Number 1 Nail Spa!

Excursion is truly #1 They have the best service and selection in pedicures. You are always treated like a VIP guest. They serve wine and the spa is very relaxing. All my family comes here now and each time I get a pedicure I get to keep my own foot stone and file kit. The girl that does my waxing does the best eyebrow shaping I have ever had and I have been getting the Shellac gel polish. The other salons around have only a few colors but Excursion carries over a hundred color! I always get so excited to see what new colors they have.

Great work and professional staff!

I was having a bad day so I treated myself to a little pampering. Had always went to another nail salon in the area but wanted to try something new. First impression are always important to me. When I walked in the manager was so kind and friendly and greeted me with the most hospitality anywhere I have ever been. All the staff was very friendly. My pedicure was amazingggg... It lasted so long and I also got a fill which turned out to be the best fillI I have ever gotten. My nails looks thin and natural, so places just rush and pile the product on so thickly and I hate that. I am very hard to please but this salon meets all my expectation. I will be back !

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• St. Petersburg Excursions
• St. Petersburg 1 Day Private City Highlights Sightseeing Excursion, Visa included S1765

St. Petersburg 1 Day Private City Highlights Sightseeing Excursion

St. petersburg, russia (excursion id s1765).

• Duration 8 hours
• Activity Level Low
• Minimum Age All Ages

Description

• Meeting Point
• Restrictions

Cancellation

• Round trip, air-conditioned private transportation from your St. Petersburg Russia cruise ship terminal!
• 1-day Private guided excursion with English speaking and certified shore excursion guide!
• Professional, licensed driver and award-winning St. Petersburg shore excursion operator!
• Complimentary bottled water!
• "Blanket" Tourist Visa for Russia is included for the duration of this sightseeing cruise excursion!
• See the best sights and highlights of St. Petersburg city!

If your cruise ship will only stay in St. Petersburg one day or if you are just looking to see the most possible for one of your days in port here, this is a great option. A private one day city highlights shore excursion with your choice of pacing - comfortable, moderate or active. Have the flexibility to see what you want rather than have the cruise ship dictate where you are going and rushed in volume (!). We also offer Private 2-Day Excursion and 3-Day St. Petersburg Cruise Shore Excursions as well! NOTE: You may hear from the cruise line that in order to get off of the ship in St. Petersburg that you will need to be on one of their ship sponsored cruise line shore excursions or apply for a Russian visa. This is not true...with our Electronic Shore Excursion Ticket and government sanctioned, private, cruise excursion guide you will be able to explore St. Petersburg and see the history and beauty of this great Russian city. With our Private St. Petersburg One Day Sightseeing Excursion booking, you are good to go! Depending on the activity level you choose, the St Petersburg shore excursion sights and highlights you will see may vary. We have listed examples below of each excursion pacing level - comfortable, moderate or active. Regardless of which level you choose, your private guide, transportation, and driver will show you the best in just one day! This is a private cruise excursion of St. Petersburg that is just for your group, no others will be added to your private party - see the price list to determine the cost for your group of 1 to 10 participants. For larger groups, please contact us .

Once you place your booking of this St. Petersburg Private City Sightseeing Highlights 1 Day Excursion, you will receive your E-ticket and Visa and be provided with step-by-step instructions on how to clear immigration outside of your cruise ship and exactly where to meet your private excursion guide. Your private St. Petersburg cruise excursion guide will be with you every step of the way so there are no worries about being stopped by the police - your guide and excursion ticket are your Tourist Visa and permission to travel with your local shore excursion guide. The exact itinerary may vary depending on the attraction closures for the day of the week. See examples below to get an idea of what you could do for each of the pace levels for a 7 to 9-hour city sightseeing excursion. Starting time will vary according to your cruise ship arrival and will be noted on your ticket. Lunch cost not included but your private guide will offer many suggestions and options to suit your tastes. Excursion pricing is based on Comfortable Pace. Contact us for pricing for Moderate and Active Paced excursions as well as larger private group excursions in Saint Petersburg Russia.

What is included?

• Cost of blanket Russia St. Petersburg Cruise Excursion Tourist Visa
• Admission fees to all St. Petersburgh museums canal and boat ride
• Services of a professional licensed Russia St. Petersburg shore excursion guide for the whole day
• Driver's services and private transportation for the whole day (modern western car/van or Mercedes mini bus with A/C)
• All port fees for St. Petersburg
• All local taxes, charges and handling fees
• Bottled water

Excursion Notes

• We suggest you comfortable footwear and clothing.
• Please bring your camera (your guide will tell you where photos are not allowed or if there is a fee), cash for shopping purchases or extra food/beverages, gratuity for tour guide and driver (customary is 15%), sun protection and/or light jacket, your passport and special visa which will be emailed to you, and a great sense of adventure.
• The actual order of activities may vary slightly depending on venue closures, traffic, etc.
• Do expect traffic and crowds.
• Shoulders and knees must be covered in all religious venues such as cathedrals.
• Shore Excursioneer will need the passport information from each participant which will be forwarded to the operator to obtain your visas. After booking this excursion you will be re-directed to our "Additional Info" page where the operator requires Passport information from each participant booked. The operator will send us your visas and we will forward them to you. Your visa from the operator and your valid passport must be presented to Russian officials and are required in order to get off the ship in St. Petersburg. Also note, your passport needs to have a minimum of 6 months validity left (does not expire within 6 months of your stop in Russia) and a minimum of 2 blank pages for your Russian entry stamps.
• Foreign language guides are available with prior notice when booking - $50.00 USD and payable directly to the operator the day of the excursion. The languages available include: Russian, Spanish, Chinese, Swedish, Italian, German and Hebrew.

Where we meet

Excursion restrictions.

• This excursion involves a considerable amount of walking. Please choose the physical activity level for this excursion that suits your personal needs the best - comfortable paced, moderate or active.
• The streets of St. Petersburg are not suitable for guests in wheelchairs or families with strollers due to uneven surfaces.
• Families with children need to take into account the duration and level of activity excursion.

Excursion FAQ

• Your ship arrives into port late and you cannot make it in time to the meeting location (we will verify with the tour operator).
• Your ship skips/misses the port.
• Weather conditions or equipment failure prevents the operator from running the excursion.
• A medical problem prevents you from safely participating in the excursion (we will verify with the excursion operator and the guest may send doctor's note). This applies to individuals only and not the remainder of the group.
• Cancellations/deposit refund requests that do not comply with the above may not be subject to refund.
• Refunds may be subject to a service charge fee as determined by the payment processor, please refer to Terms and Conditions for more information.

Excursion out of stock

St. petersburg 1 day private city highlights sightseeing excursion experiences, this excursion is available to everybody and specially designed to accommodate passengers of the following cruise lines.

Similar St. Petersburg Excursions

St. Petersburg 1 Day Private City Highlights Sightseeing Excursion Reviews

When your cruise ship is only in St. Petersburg for one day, make the most out of it. This is the ultimate private sightseeing and highlights sightseeing shore excursion of St. Petersburg City, Russia!

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( Courtesy of Casey Kaplan and Amanda Russell )

The Pleasures and Perils of Renovating a Historic Home—Asbestos, ‘Historically Accurate Nails,’ and All

Casey Kaplan and Amanda Russell had always been fans of older homes. Naturally, their first property purchase was a three-bedroom Craftsman built in 1911. But, three kids later, the couple needed more space.

Enter the Fenton House.

Built in 1892, this Queen Anne-style Victorian in Portland, OR , has a Wikipedia page and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

The couple had passed by this house many times, stopping to admire the wraparound veranda, the second-floor porches, and the original wainscoting and intricate trim.

(Casey Kaplan)

“We always felt it would be a neat house to have,” Kaplan recalls.

The homeowner died about the same time they began home shopping, so they went to the estate sale to see if the family was going to sell the house. The couple were able to purchase the run-down house as is for the hefty sum of $900,000.

“We impressed upon the sellers that we were a neighborhood family, and we’d long admired the home,” says Kaplan. “We knew it was special, and we told them we wanted to preserve it.”

That’s how the Kaplan-Russell family became the proud owners of a 131-year-old, four-bedroom, three-bath Victorian that needed a lot of work.

What it’s like to renovate a historic house

Historic homes are a rarity, with only 0.25% of U.S. real estate listings advertising “historic home” in their description. These properties tend to be more prevalent in the Northeast (0.31%), Midwest (0.31%), and South (0.26%).

While some homebuyers like Kaplan and Russell see a historic status as a positive, others might shy away from these older builds because they might require expensive repairs and renovations to keep them functional for a modern-day family. And while renovating any house is an arduous process, renovating a historic house comes with unique challenges and stringent regulations on what may be changed.

“These homes are usually governed by a local group of owners, historians, and bureaucrats who have some legal say as to how you go about restoring the property,” says Tyler Drew , a real estate developer in California. “For instance, if your home has an exterior of cedar shingles, you can’t just slap composite siding on it and call it a day. Some historical groups go so far as to require you to use historically accurate nails .”

According to Ken Ray of the City of Portland Bureau of Development Services, the city has rules regarding the exterior of historic homes.

“It is incumbent upon every home purchaser to conduct due diligence in researching the rules and regulations that may apply to a property,” he adds. “With regard to interior improvements to a historic building, the State Historic Preservation Office may have further rules or guidelines.”

As it turns out, the Fenton House didn’t need much exterior work because the previous owner had completed a three-year renovation of the exterior, replacing its chipped blue paint with a pristine white.

(Diane S. Hardiman/Oregon State Historic Preservation Office)

Kaplan and Russell focused on the home’s interiors, which face looser preservation restrictions. They had budgeted about $250,000 for the entire remodel, with most of the funds going toward the kitchen and upstairs bathroom.

But they quickly encountered some unwelcome realities.

The first was asbestos . The kitchen’s original vinyl floor was about 90 years old, put in at a time when the toxic material was used in adhesives. They also found asbestos in the insulation of the heating pipes in the basement. Removal required specialists in hazmat gear—an expensive process that’s all too common in historic buildings.

“With historic homes comes historic building material,” explains Drew. “That usually means the house is full of lead paint and asbestos. All of these things must be torn out, remediated, or contained. Original iron piping also needs to be removed because it usually contains lead-soldered connections.”

Electrical is another common problem with historic homes.

“These old homes often have knob-and-tube wiring throughout, which is essentially just bare wire wrapped in cloth and put behind the walls,” Drew adds. “The cloth usually disintegrates, leading to your walls being filled with bare, hot wire. Simply turning on the electricity can burn down the house. Usually, the entire electrical system requires an update.”

The Fenton House’s electrical problems were minimal, but the couple discovered some interesting things in the walls of the bathroom: 1960s collage-style wallpaper made up of magazine ads.

They considered keeping this unique wallpaper, but it was in poor condition and “a little racy,” Kaplan says with a laugh.

The couple also found an old Anheuser-Busch beer bottle behind a wall in the kitchen. The circa 1910 bottle had a stork on the label, which Kaplan learned was marketed to nursing mothers as a health tonic.

Such finds are one of the fun parts of renovating a historic building.

“Insulation in historical homes is often made up of old newspaper and whatever can be crammed inside the wall that was available at the time,” says Drew. “Occasionally, the odd renovator will find insulation made out of rare baseball cards or comics. A few Action Comics #1 have been found this way, which would easily pay for the entire home and renovation costs.”

Old homes, odd layouts

Although Kaplan and Russell had taken a risk purchasing the Fenton House as is, their home inspection revealed good news: The brick foundation was in solid shape, the furnace was old but working, and the water heater was almost new.

The kitchen was the trickiest space to upgrade. The space was small and oddly shaped, with an adjacent bathroom and chimney jutting into the room. It would be impossible to put in the long kitchen counter the couple wanted for their family.

“There looked like there had been three remodels done, one right on top of another,” adds Kaplan.

The designer they hired decided that the chimney had to go, as there was no other way to carve out enough space for a modern kitchen.

“They took it apart brick by brick,” says Kaplan. “It was quite impressive to watch.”

To make room for new kitchen countertops, the shower was removed from the bathroom that was jutting into the kitchen.

The Fenton House also suffered from another problem common in old homes: crooked floors.

Kaplan learned that the typical fix for a tilted subfloor involved ripping out and releveling the original pier and beams that went all the way to the basement. Luckily, their contractor had a better solution: spreading a self-leveling material across the floor and letting gravity work its magic.

Even so, the floor remains slightly crooked to this day, Kaplan explains. “The kitchen island has four slightly different leg lengths to make it level.”

Upstairs, the bathroom needed an overhaul, while the bedrooms needed plaster and woodwork repair.

“The costs kept piling up,” Kaplan recalls.

Staying true to a home’s history

The home was originally built for William Fenton , a Portland lawyer and judge. Fenton Hall, which housed the University of Oregon Law School, was named after him.

Armed with two binders on the Fenton family, Kaplan and Russell were determined to preserve the home’s classic Victorian architecture, while making minor cosmetic upgrades like paint colors that would fit more with their style.

“I was in awe at the details,” Kaplan says of the home. “The incredibly high ceilings, the old wood floors, the elaborate banisters. There were these grand pocket doors, original trim everywhere, beautiful old light fixtures. There were so many awesome elements.”

As the timeline dragged on and bills piled up, Kaplan and Russell kept telling themselves that every dollar they put into this historic house was a good investment.

“This is a one-of-a-kind home,” he says. “The character and charm were unmatched.”

To keep the project on schedule, they dispatched with their rental and Kaplan basically moved into the construction zone, using it as his home office.

“Being present and keeping on top of the tasks helps move things along,” he says.

Finally, in December 2023, the Kaplan-Russell family made Fenton House their permanent residence. And even though the home had been modernized, certain old quirks remain.

“You will hear weird things throughout all hours of the day in a historic house,” warns Drew. “They are probably not the ghosts of former residents, but rather old piping expanding and contracting as the house warms and cools. You will never get the house to stop making these noises, so don’t bother to try.”

Nonetheless, “It was exciting to move in,” says Kaplan, “though the house still needed some work. To be honest, I don’t think the work will ever completely end.”

Case in point: Soon after they moved in, the furnace blew, requiring a $5,000 replacement. They also added an HVAC system in the attic at a cost of $14,000.

Even so, Kaplan says, the house is “drafty in winter, hot in summer.” Replacing the original single-pane windows would help, but it would cost approximately $70,000.

“These homes are not built for modern HVAC systems,” explains Drew. “Modern buildings have space in between the studs to safely run ducting. Historic homes usually do not have any such luxury. Renovating an HVAC unit into one can be costly. And some historic societies that govern them won’t allow mini split systems to be installed.”

Another issue with historic homes is that they can come with insurance headaches not present with a newer home.

“Special insurance is often required for these homes as they simply cannot be replaced,” says Drew. “These insurance requirements can be fairly onerous and expensive. They may even go so far as to require a fire suppression system to be installed, which is expensive. And getting a proper appraisal can be a nightmare, as finding comparable sales is sometimes impossible.”

Kaplan jokes on Instagram that the house is a “money pit,” but in reality, he believes the Fenton House offers intangible benefits.

“People stop every day and take pictures of our home and ask questions,” he says. “I enjoy talking to them about its history. There is no other place we can see ourselves living.”

Curious to see more historic homes for sale that could be yours? Check out the five cities below that have the most listings mentioning “historic home” in their descriptions.

Share of listings mentioning ‘historic home’: 1.1% 55 N Monterey St  for sale for $875,000

(Realtor.com)

Share of listings mentioning ‘historic home’: 1.1% Home at 124 Cherokee Ave  for sale for $799,000

Poughkeepsie, NY

Share of listings mentioning ‘historic home’: 0.9% Home for sale at 125-127 Bedell Rd  for $2,500,000

Wilmington, NC

Share of listings mentioning ‘historic home’: 0.8% Home at 149 Northern Blvd  for sale for $425,000

Portland, ME

Share of listings mentioning ‘historic home’: 0.8% Home at 14 Dow St  for sale for $799,000

Kiri Blakeley is a writer in Brooklyn who has written for Forbes, The Stir, Daily Mail, Marie Claire, and others.

Twitter Follow @KiriBlakeley

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Gonzaga students lead fourth-graders through Riverfront Park in district-wide excursion to ‘feel more connected to their community’

Local fourth-graders swarmed Riverfront Park on Monday, learning the history of the area on the heels of the 50th anniversary of Expo ‘74.

To them, the pre-expo Spokane is ancient history that took place before many of their parents were born. A partnership between Spokane Public Schools and Gonzaga University allowed them to wrap their little heads around the world’s fair that shaped downtown Spokane, unveiling the decadesold antiquity of the park.

“Having kids understand the historical context of the place they live I think really just helps them feel more connected to their community and understand the impacts can be long lasting,” district curriculum director Stephanie Kerwien said. “They can have an impact on their community that may live 50 years into the future.”

All fourth-graders in the district went on the field trip tour of Riverfront Park led by Gonzaga students studying education and history.

Tour guides were stationed at several points around the park to share the backstory of each area, including Indigenous history and tribal use of the area before contact with white settlers and Expo ‘74, which 50 years ago was celebrated at Riverfront Park.

Some of the kids were Riverfront regulars, with fond memories feeding the garbage goat or sliding down the enormous red wagon. Others hadn’t been to the 100-acre park surrounding the river and bordering downtown Spokane. Both groups learned something about the history of the area.

“I grew up here, and we used to go to these places a lot,” said Hutton elementary fourth-grader Maddie McFarland, who never gets bored visiting the park. Her favorite feature is the raging Spokane River, she said.

Hutton fourth-grader Katherine Gordon shared an affinity for the waterway, recalling memories with her family immortalized in a photo kept on her family’s refrigerator.

“It reminds me of when we used to come down here with my siblings,” Katherine said.

“I’ve never been here at all in my life,” one student declared to a tour guide while learning about the lower Spokane Falls. Guides told the students about the Grand Coulee Dam that largely blocked salmon migration on the Columbia and Spokane rivers, on which the Spokane Tribe relied as a food source and intrinsic cultural icon.

The park was abuzz with hyper Spokane fourth-graders, excited to see highlights like the Ice Age Floods Playground, where they learned about the Missoula floods that carved out the region 13,000 to 15,000 years ago. The Garbage Goat was another anticipated stop, with kids scrounging for scraps of litter to feed the metal sculpture with an internal vacuum to inhale trash.

“It’s a lot of energy from the kids,” Montessori teacher Pete Goettert said as fourth-graders clamored around him, fighting for his attention. “It’s a balance; we’re balancing the fun and the learning.”

Students received coupons for a free roller skate rental at the Numerica Skate Ribbon to entice them to return to the park and share all they learned from the day.

“The best outcome of this is if any of these students come back with their families and teach them like, ‘Oh, when we came for the field trip, we learned about the clock tower and that there used to be railroads that came right through here and those railroads were removed so that they can have the fair 50 years ago,’ ” said Gonzaga history professor Ray Rast, whose students in his Pacific Northwest history class lead tours.

Around 50 Gonzaga students worked as tour guides, getting credit for their associated classes.

Most were studying education, proteges of professor John Traynor, who came up with the project to benefit both the young learners and aspiring teachers in university.

“I remember field trips as something I vividly remember rather than a little mini lesson about salmon,” said Gonzaga sophomore Zaidee Smith, studying elementary special education with the hopes of becoming an elementary school teacher.

She recognized many of the kids who came through her tour, having student-taught at several local elementary schools.

“Getting up, involved and moving leaves an impact not only on students but the community, too, in coming together,” she said.

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Taylor Swift's 'Tortured Poets' is hauntingly brilliant, even the 15 surprise songs

Taylor Swift ’s vulnerability is her superpower.

From the glorified diary entries of her 2006 debut to her 2024 album of the year Grammy winner “Midnights," she has proudly worn her heart on her sleeve.

That heart is bloodied and battered, but ultimately beating on “The Tortured Poets Department,” Swift’s 11th studio album that she surprise announced while collecting the first of two more Grammys in February.

Then came a bigger surprise when, at 2 a.m. Friday, Swift declared that "TTPD" was really a double album, with "The Anthology" tacked onto the the title and the addition of 15 songs to join the initial 16.

These 31 pensive pop tracks are the antithesis to “Lover.” Heartbreak and misery wrapped in melody. Rainbows faded into sepia tone. An era endured not enjoyed.

"TTPD" is bookended with a prologue – a poem by Stevie Nicks – and an epilogue framed as Swift’s summary report as the chairman of The Tortured Poets Department (Chaos, “leads the caged beast to do the most curious things,” she writes).

As she grapples with blame for the fizzling of a six-year relationship, she isn’t worried about pride. Former boyfriend Joe Alwyn is the obvious unnamed antagonist in most songs ("My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys"), though Swift shoulders plenty of culpability ("The Tortured Poets Department" title track).

With these songs, Swift pulls listeners into the depths of misery catalyzed by a public breakup while she staged the biggest concert tour in history. It's an exploration of extremes told with intimate details. Is this her “Tapestry" ? Her “Blue" ? Her “Like A Prayer" ?

Maybe the old guard still isn’t ready to anoint Swift to the echelon of Carole King and Joni Mitchell (Madonna? Absolutely). But “TTPD” springboards off Swift’s vibrant storytelling on “Folklore” and “Evermore” and spotlights the open-hearted confidence she presented on those musically minimalist albums.

Swifties can exhaust themselves excavating lyrical clues in the F-bomb-dropping “Down Bad” (“If I can’t have him, I might die”) and surmise if “But Daddy I Love Him” is funny or cruel (“I’m having his baby. No I’m not, but you should see your faces”), but it hardly matters.

Like the most successful artists in history – The Beatles and Beyoncé, perhaps – Swift is untouchable. Critic proof. Adored whether she unveils a masterpiece or a stopgap collection of songs.

“TTPD” falls closer to masterpiece territory, if not musically – similar cadences and production from Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner coat many songs with the same sheen – then lyrically.

It’s a bonafide headphones album, best experienced in the quiet to fully absorb the sadness and exasperation in Swift’s voice when she sings in the resentful “So Long, London,” (“I’m pissed off you let me give you all that youth for free”) and her ache on the melancholy piano ballad “Loml,” which will make your heart feel raked over with nails.

What guests does Taylor Swift have on her new album?

Post Malone is dancing closely to the fire known as "Call John Legend For a Feature" with his high-profile drops not only on Swift’s album, but Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter.”

While he offered a pedestrian contribution with Beyoncé, Posty fares better on “Fortnight,” the opening song on “TTPD” which he co-wrote with Swift and Antonoff.

A gentle thrumming in the background cushions Swift's darkly funny lyrics (“I was a functioning alcoholic ‘til nobody noticed my new aesthetic”) while Post Malone dips into the mesmerizing rhythm with some sweet vocals.

It’s also one of two songs to namedrop Florida. But the second, “ Florida!!! ,” co-written by and co-starring Florence Welch, is the standout, with Swift and Welch trading vocals over a stomping backbeat that is both cinematic and purposeful.

More: Taylor Swift name-drops Patti Smith and Dylan Thomas on new song. Here’s why

While it’s impossible to out-lyricize Swift, Welch nudges impressively close with her self-penned contribution: “Barricaded in the bathroom with a bottle of wine, well, me and my ghosts had a hell of a time.”

These two are ideal companions, musically and philosophically.

‘I Can Do it With a Broken Heart’ is one of Swift’s best Trojan horses

Synths flutter, an electro-pop beat pulses and the melody is structured as one of Swift’s trademark glistening pop gems.

But then the lyrics of “I Can Do it With a Broken Heart” kick in and Swift travels through the most potent psychological exploration of “the show must go on” since Smokey Robinson and The Miracles described “The Tears of a Clown” in 1967.

“I’m a real tough kid,” Swift sings, defiant as ever. “They said baby, gotta fake it til you make it … and I did.”

With humor and grace, Swift unfurls the anguish she hid while remaining very visible the past year, including blasting through an awe-inspiring three-hour show several nights a week on her world-spanning Eras Tour. But the song achieves liftoff with the dichotomy of Swift’s honeyed voice and her chant-singing, “I’m so depressed, I act like it’s my birthday, every day.”

It’s a clever entry into the complexity of mental health, and Swift, she of limitless ambition, flips her sorrow into something constructive, a Superwoman unbowed by pesky things like misery.

“I cry a lot but I am so productive,” she chirps, tongue firmly in cheek. “It’s an art … you know you’re good when you can do it with a broken heart.”

The capper is Swift declaring, “I’m miserable and no one even knows it!” as she laughs through the end of the song. But after recognizing what she’s endured, even her giggles lacerate.

More: All 11 of Taylor Swift's No. 1 songs ranked ahead of her 11th album release

Who is Clara Bow?

One of the most intriguing songs on “TTPD” is named for a 1920s-era silent film star and the layers run deep (paging all excavating Swifties!)

Is the choice of an actress who was seen and not heard on film a metaphor for her life with Alwyn, a cornerstone of which was privacy?

Or, as Swift sings from an observational post, does she merely resemble the alluring dark-lipsticked 20 th century star?

The wispy ballad finds Swift mimicking the words she (possibly) heard in her upstart years, such as “You look like Stevie Nicks ,” before the storyline comes full circle with a new rookie being told, “You look like Taylor Swift … you’ve got edge, she never did.”

It’s meta, yes, but Swift often subscribes to glancing back to lunge forward – always saturated in poetic sensitivity.

What is ‘The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology’?

The 15 additional songs Swift dropped a mere two hours after providing an emotional wallop with the first batch include four of the tracks already announced as bonuses: “The Manuscript,” “The Bolter,” “The Albatross” and “The Black Dog.”

Among the others, Swift is especially pointed on the gently swelling acoustic guitar-based “Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus,” a song that seemingly references her fling with Matty Healy (she laments being unable to save someone who “needed drugs” and was always just out of reach).

Her strongest vitriol, however, is reserved for “Thank you, Aimee,” which fans surmise digs into her feud with Kim Kardashian . But Swift is bold and forthright when schooling “Aimee” about her success in spite of criticisms – a familiar, if still welcome, page from Swift’s playbook.

A trio of “name” songs – “Cassandra,” “Peter” and “Robin” – are all winsome ballads couched in pretty piano melodies. “Peter” is especially endearing with its waltzing rhythm and Swift’s warm vocals on this ode to a childhood friend (“The goddess of timing once found us beguiling,” she sings).

But a highlight is the bouncy “So High School,” which finds Swift singing and strumming guitar with the breezy glow of ‘ 90s-era Sheryl Crow. Is her focal point current paramour Travis Kelce ? Lyrics including “You know how to ball, I know Aristotle” and “I feel so high school every time I look at you,” are significant indications. But more importantly, the song pulls Swift out of the sludge and into the sun.  

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News & Reviews News Wire Grand Canyon No. 4960 concludes April operations with Earth Day excursion

Grand Canyon No. 4960 concludes April operations with Earth Day excursion

Next steam trip in May to feature guest whistle

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WILLIAMS, Ariz. — While the busy steam season for most locomotives is beginning to build up around this time, 2-8-2 No. 4960 is already in full form n the Grand Canyon Railway. The Mikado-type recently completed three April round trips from Williams to Grand Canyon National Park.

While the locomotive performed well during the public excursion on April 6 [See, “ Grand Canyon No. 4960 operates first… ” News Wire, April 11, 2024], the private charter on April 15 met a new challenge, according to railway chief mechanical officer Eric Hadder. Heading the four-car train unassisted, the tender’s coil heater wasn’t working, leading to the use of the direct bubbler to heat the waste vegetable oil, he said. “This resulted in adding a significant amount of water to the fuel tank, which caused problems later in the day with keeping the fire lit.”

Prior to the Earth Day public excursion later that week, the coil heater was repaired, Hadder said, in addition to the fuel tank being drained and refilled. The trip on April 20 showed better performance with no mechanical issues from No. 4960 as it pulled a 15-car train and F40 No. 4128 as a diesel assist.

Over the years, the 2-8-2 received multiple modifications to make it both economically efficient and environmentally friendly. A prior post on GCRY’s Facebook page indicates enough snow melt during the winter was harvested to cover the entire steam season. The post also states that 12,000 gallons of water and 1,200 gallons of waste vegetable oil are used per trip, hence the railway’s tradition of a steam-powered excursion scheduled during the Earth Day celebration. New this year was parking No. 4960  in front of the Grand Canyon Depot with stairs leading up to the cab for visitors to look inside during the layover.

Another short turnaround will lead up to the next steam excursion on May 4. While no reports of any changes in maintenance and preparations, Hadder confirmed a new wrinkle to the upcoming trip. No. 4960 is planned to carry the whistle of Texas & New Orleans No. 982. This Houston-based 2-10-2 is under the care of the Texas Railway Preservation Association, which is currently fundraising for the locomotive’s future relocation and return to operation. Yhe non-profit organization and GCRY have partnered in a ticket raffle for a chance to ride the May 4 excursion. A March 12 post on the TRPA Facebook page says “all proceeds of ticket raffle admission go towards the upcoming — quiet and fast —  relocation of 982 to its restoration site, tooling, and new insurances!”

For more information, visit the Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel website . The “Steam Saturdays” schedule is available here .

One thought on “ Grand Canyon No. 4960 concludes April operations with Earth Day excursion ”

I had the pleasure of riding the Earth Day excursion. 4960 performed well, and the crew freely answered my questions about the waste vegetable oil conversion. There was quite a line to look up in the cab at the Grand Canyon depot, too. I would highly recommend taking a ride behind this engine!

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