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The 8 Best Boat Tours in West Virginia!

Whether you’re looking for a whitewater rafting trip or a relaxing afternoon on the lake, West Virginia’s boat tours will bring you a little bit of everything. Explore the state’s cool mountain streams that feed into rushing rivers or race down Class IV rapids. Here are the 8 best boat tours in the state.

Cantrell Ultimate Rafting Day Tours, Fayetteville, WV

If you’re looking for a fast and fun outing for your family, Cantrell Ultimate Rafting is the place to contact for day tours on the wild rivers of West Virginia. Located in Fayetteville, this family owned and operated tour company understands what makes a safe and exciting water activity. They can provide expert guidance on all aspects of your adventure on the New River or Gauley River. They can also make suggestions on overnight accommodations in case you’re having so much fun you don’t want it to end. Base camp is the place to be for a great pub and grill experience and live music, too.

A post shared by Cantrell Ultimate Rafting (@cantrellultimate) on Jun 16, 2018 at 12:46pm PDT

West Virginia Adventures, Glen Jean, WV

The tours arranged by West Virginia Adventures tend to sell out quickly because their trips are planned with two things in mind—fun and adventure. There are several rafting trips to accommodate the thrill you want and the level of experience. The family float trip is an all-day trip for ages five and up on the Upper New River where kids of all ages can get out and in the water. A buffet lunch is included in the price. The Lower New River is the site for a day trip with lunch that goes through the New River Gorge National Park and includes Class III/IV rapids. Part of this trip takes you under the famous New River Gorge Bridge, the third longest bridge in the world. And for the extreme thrill seekers, there’s the overnight trip on the Upper New River with Class I/II rapids. Lunch and dinner are provided, and Day 2 includes Class III/IV rapids on the Lower New River. Experienced guides are part of all rafting tours, and life jackets and helmets are provided for the youngsters.

New & Gauley River Adventures, Lansing, WV

Are you ready for the adventure of your life running the river? If you’re an adrenaline junkie and the idea of experiencing come of the best rapids makes your heart beat faster, then New & Gauley River Adventures is where you need to go to plan your next water adventure. From mild to wild, whatever your comfort and experience level dictates, you’ll find West Virginia to have some of the best Class III-V rapids along the legendary Gauley River. You can do a half-day, full-day, or overnight trip that fits your activity level and interest.

ACE Adventure Resort Day Tours, Oak Hill, WV

ACE Adventure Resort in Oak Hill, West Virginia offers a trip to remember that includes so much fun, it’ll be hard to leave. From zip lines to water slides, live music, and white water rafting, it’s all here. Family friendly and safety conscious, you’ll be able to experience the water like never before. You’ll see gorgeous landscapes along the shoreline as you float down the New River by raft. You’ll stop and enjoy a special lunch, and spend the rest of the day navigating fast and fun rapids. Swimming, water games, and lots of fun are on the agenda with ACE Adventures.

River Riders, Harpers Ferry, WV

Guided or self-guided white water rafting is available at River Riders, your water fun maker. Located in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, River Riders will give you a trip you won’t soon forget. One of the most popular trips is the Shenandoah, perfect for beginners and young rafters. Guides will be with you all the way navigating you and the other boaters on the seven-mile trip through the Class 1-III rapids of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers. Suitable for ages 6-8 (or 50 lbs.) and up. Group pricing is available, and you’ll spend 2-3 hours on the river.

The Greenbrier Outfitters, White Sulphur Springs, WV

From the finest resort in the country comes Greenbrier Outfitters, the ultimate in outdoor adventures. Have you ever wanted to learn how to paddleboard down a river with white water rapids? You’ll have your chance at this White Sulphur Springs location. You can choose a one or two-person kayak, and travel with an experienced guide to find out what adventures await you. If stand up paddle boarding is more your interest, you can learn to do that on a quiet lake. No matter what age or skill level, each three-hour tour/class will give you the information and opportunity to test your limits.

Cheat River Outfitters, Albright, WV

Cheat River Outfitters is the premier river running outfitter in West Virginia. Located in Albright, you’ll have the best at your fingertips when it comes to planning your trip and making it happen. Experienced guides will take you on a trip designed with you in mind, whether you’re a beginner or a rafting expert. You’ll see Mother Nature at her best along the Cheat River Canyon with its high walls and Class III-IV whitewater. Cheat Narrows offers families and those unfamiliar with this type of water adventure a chance to enjoy Class III white water in the spring and summer. The Upper Yough is for the most daring of them all and you’ll have Class IV and V whitewater on this trip. Occasionally, special dam releases are offered on the North Branch of the Cheat River and provide the chance to raft where the Olympic trials are held.

A post shared by Dustin Daniels (@triple_d87) on Jul 19, 2015 at 8:36am PDT

Sarge’s Dive Shop, Summersville, WV

Relax and dive right in to the Little Bahamas of the East, as Summersville Lake is known. For an exciting day on the lake, stop by Sarge’s Dive Shop in Summersville, West Virginia and rent a canoe or kayak for some excellent white water rafting. Then reserve your spot for an evening of enjoyment on the water featuring a meal catered by a local restaurant. Other adventures that can be found at Sarge’s include scuba diving classes and snorkeling charters, lake tours, and boat rentals.

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7 best US river cruises

Whether you're fascinated by American history, culture and cuisine, or you've enjoyed river cruising in Europe but are now looking to explore closer to home, U.S. river cruises are an easy and enjoyable vacation option.

Choose from two main waterways for your U.S. river cruise: the Mississippi River — which flows through nine states from St. Paul, Minnesota, to New Orleans — or the Columbia and Snake rivers in Oregon and Washington. Some cruise lines also venture onto three smaller, lesser-known rivers: the Ohio, the Cumberland and the Tennessee. You can also explore New York's Hudson River on a fall foliage cruise.

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Your choice of cruise line is equally limited. Just two companies offer multiple itineraries on U.S. rivers. American Cruise Line sails all the waterways mentioned above, while Viking offers itineraries solely on the Mississippi. Additionally, Lindblad Expeditions has introduced a food-and-wine-centric river cruise on the Columbia and Snake rivers.

Read on for our picks of the seven best U.S. river cruises. They range from seven to 15 nights and visit destinations in 16 states; itineraries take you through the colonial-heritage-rich Northeast, America's agricultural heartland and the pioneer routes of the Pacific Northwest.

American Cruise Lines' 8-night Music Cities Cruise

From Memphis blues and Elvis Presley's "Blue Suede Shoes" to Kentucky bluegrass and New Orleans jazz, American Cruise Lines' eight-night Music Cities Cruise sails you through a chronology of the U.S. music scene. You'll traverse three rivers (the Mississippi, Ohio and Cumberland) en route from Memphis to Nashville, or vice versa.

In Tennessee's two famous music cities, you'll have a chance to visit Elvis Presley's Graceland, stroll blues club-lined Beale Street and check out the Grand Ole Opry. You'll also visit Paducah, Kentucky, and Dover and Clarksville in Tennessee, where experiences include whiskey and bourbon tasting, tours of landmark art murals and, of course, Civil War history.

While cruising, you'll enjoy nightly entertainment that celebrates the region's musical heritage. American Cruise Lines offers this itinerary on four ships from April to October 2024, 2025 and 2026. Three of the ships — American Melody, American Symphony and American Serenade — are 180-passenger modern river ships launched in 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively. The fourth, American Splendor, is a 180-passenger paddlewheeler that debuted in 2016.

Related: Booking your first river cruise? Here's what you need to know

Viking's 14-night America's Great River Cruise

Want the total Mississippi experience? You can cruise the entire length of this mighty river as you visit 14 cities in seven U.S. states on Viking's two-week sailing.

Available three times a year (in July, September and October), the America's Great River cruise begins in Minnesota (either St. Paul or Red Wing) and concludes in New Orleans, allowing you to experience an intricate tapestry of American history and culture.

There's eagle spotting in Red Wing and agricultural innovation in Quad Cities, Iowa. You'll enjoy Mark Twain lore in Hannibal, Missouri, and architectural landmarks, such as the soaring Gateway Arch, in St. Louis. As you cruise the lower Mississippi, you'll delve into civil rights history in Memphis; Civil War battles and historic architecture in Mississippi's Vicksburg and Natchez; Cajun and Creole music in Baton Rouge; and the legendary culinary treats and jazz of New Orleans.

All sailings are aboard the 386-passenger Viking Mississippi. Launched in 2022, it's currently the largest river ship in the U.S. and features three restaurants and an aft infinity pool.

American Cruise Lines' 8-Night Columbia & Snake River Cruise

If your vacation preferences favor mountain landscapes, wine tasting and pioneer lore, consider American Cruise Lines' eight-night Columbia & Snake River Cruise . You'll explore the Pacific Northwest from Portland, Oregon, to Clarkstown, Washington (or vice versa).

On the Pacific end of your voyage, you'll visit Astoria, Oregon — the oldest American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains. This coastal city at the mouth of the Columbia River is known for its Victorian homes, wineries, brew pubs, and Lewis and Clark heritage. Next, from Kalama, Washington, you can join an excursion to visit the remnants of the area around Mount St. Helens, which suffered a devastating eruption in 1980.

In The Dalles, you can enjoy a sommelier-led tasting of Columbia Valley wines, visit Multnomah Falls or get adventurous on a river kayak tour. During a call on Richland, Washington, you can admire the scenic beauty around the confluence of the Columbia and Snake rivers at Sacajawea State Park. More wine tasting or outdoor adventure awaits on the way to Clarkstown.

American Cruise Line offers this itinerary on five ships from April to October 2024, 2025 and 2026. Three of the ships (American Song, American Jazz and American Harmony) are 180-passenger modern river ships launched from 2018 to 2020. American Pride is a 150-passenger paddlewheeler launched in 2012, and American West is a 110-passenger veteran paddlewheeler launched in 1995.

Related: Best river cruise lines around the world

Viking's 7-night New Orleans & Southern Charms

If you've never visited New Orleans, or it's been a while, take a Mississippi River cruise that sails round-trip from the Big Easy. They offer time before or after the cruise to enjoy the city's food, music and iconic architecture — plus the ease of a round-trip flight booking. Viking's seven-night New Orleans & Southern Charms itinerary focuses solely on ports in Louisiana and Mississippi, with an emphasis on historic architecture, Cajun culture and Civil War landmarks.

From Darrow, Louisiana, you'll stroll beneath canopies of towering live oak trees to visit historic mansions or glide through the bayou. More historic architecture, along with bird-watching, awaits in St. Francisville, Louisiana, and Natchez, Mississippi. Vicksburg, Mississippi, is home to one of the Civil War's most famous battlefields. Baton Rouge, Louisiana's capital, has something to satisfy every interest, from Cajun cuisine to tours of the restored World War II-era USS Kidd.

The cruise, which is available in November and December 2024 and January, November and December 2025, ends with a full day of exploration back in New Orleans before one last night aboard the 386-passenger Viking Mississippi.

American Cruise Lines' 7-night Hudson River Fall Foliage Cruise

Not only is the autumnal landscape in New York's Hudson Valley visually captivating, but the small cities and towns that line the river's shores are filled with fascinating early American history dating back more than 400 years.

Cruise the Hudson round-trip from New York City on American Cruise Lines' seven-night Hudson River Fall Foliage Cruise . You'll visit Catskill, home to the Hudson River School Art Trail and the Olana Historic Site, or explore more actively at the Hudson River Skywalk and Kaaterskill Falls. In Albany, founded in 1609, you can tour the newly renovated New York State Capitol building, built in the late 1800s; you can also visit the New York State Museum, which dates to 1836. Feel like apple-picking? That's an option here, too.

Next, during a call at Kingston/Hyde Park, you can tour the Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, home to the 32nd U.S. president's library and museum. You can also head to the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, featuring an American Beaux-Arts mansion completed in 1899. The United States Military Academy at West Point, founded in 1802, is also on the itinerary, as is Sleepy Hollow. The Sleepy Hollow legend comes to life during a tour of the local cemetery where author Washington Irving is buried. Back in the Big Apple on day seven, you'll have time to explore before saying farewell to your ship.

Sailings are available from late September to early November 2024, 2025 and 2026. Sailings are onboard either the 100-passenger American Eagle, American Liberty, American Glory or American Legend (all built in 2023 or 2024), or the older 90-passenger American Star and American Independence, launched in 2007 and 2010, respectively.

Related: River cruise packing list: What to pack when traveling by riverboat

Lindblad Expeditions' 7-night Columbia & Snake Rivers: Food, Wine and History Cruise

Nature-focused cruise line Lindblad Expeditions has partnered with Food & Wine magazine to offer a new seven-night Columbia & Snake Rivers: Food, Wine and History cruise on multiple dates in April, September and October 2024; there are also sailings in March, April, September and October 2025. The voyages will sail between Portland, Oregon, and Clarkston, Washington.

Complementing the itinerary will be gourmet Pacific Northwest cuisine and more than 40 regional wines curated by an onboard culinary team. All ingredients will be sourced from within 250 miles of the ship's route. A naturalist, historian and geologist will be on hand to guide you on excursions by foot, kayak, Zodiac and jet boat.

Off-ship experiences include sampling local beer and oysters in Astoria, Oregon; visiting Multnomah Falls or hiking Beacon Rock; and having a private vineyard visit and downtown wine walk in Walla Walla, Washington.

These sailings occur on two identical Lindblad ships: the 62-passenger National Geographic Sea Lion and National Geographic Sea Bird.

American Cruise Line's 15-night Grand Ohio River Cruise

Did you know that you can cruise from Pittsburgh to St. Louis? If exploring the central U.S. — Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri — without driving is appealing, consider the 15-night Grand Ohio River Cruise offered by American Cruise Lines. You'll enjoy regionally inspired dining and eclectic landmarks along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers as you sail.

Over two weeks, you'll visit Native American burial grounds and archeological sites in West Virginia and learn about the underground railroad in Ohio. You can taste bourbon and explore the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory or the Kentucky Derby Museum & Horse Park in Louisville. Take time to appreciate American artistry at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky. Rest up from your portside adventures during five days of scenic river cruising.

This itinerary is available from June to August 2024, 2025 and 2026 on the 180-passenger modern river ship American Melody and the 150-passenger paddlewheeler American Heritage.

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Belle of Cincinnati Summer River Cruises

July 25, 2021 @ 12:00 pm - 9:30 pm.

Come join BB Riverboats’ Belle of Cincinnati on its summer tour of river cities. We will be stopping in Huntington WV, Portsmouth OH, Gallipolis OH, Ashland KY, and Maysville KY offering lunch, brunch, dinner, and sightseeing cruises! Come ride the boat and enjoy one of Cincinnati’s top attractions during this annual tradition! The following are times and prices for the Huntington, WV cruises on Sunday July 25, 2021.

Lunch Cruise Boarding 11am Sails 12 pm – 2 pm

Adults General Admission   $42.44 Children Ages 4-12   $26.41

Sightseeing Cruise Boarding 3pm Sailing 3:30 pm – 5 pm

Adults General Admission   $25.47 Children Ages 4-12   $19.81

Dinner Cruise Boarding 6:30 pm Sailing 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Adults General Admission    $56.60 Children Ages 4-12   $39.62

Make a reservation online at bbriverboats.com or over the phone 1-800-261-8586 For Portsmouth, Gallipolis, Ashland, and Maysville times, locations, and bookings please visit https://bbriverboats.com/cruises/summer-tour

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Huntington WV (West Virginia)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region Canada and USA Rivers

Local Time 2024-04-27 10:00

Port Huntington WV cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Huntington WV, West Virginia. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

Huntington WV is an Ohio River cruise port and city in West Virginia USA (Cabell County and Wayne County) with population around 50,000. The city is located at the mouth of Guyandotte River (one of Ohio's tributaries). By annual shipping traffic, Port Huntington Tri-State is currently ranked West Virginia state's largest river port and the USA's second-largest inland port (after New Orleans ) and the USA's 15th-largest. Excepting the neighborhoods Westmoreland and Spring Valley, most of Huntington is in Cabell County.

Huntington is the largest city in the Huntington-Ashland Metro (combining 7 counties in WV-KY-OH/West Virginia-Kentucky-Ohio) with total population around 370,000. The city's current economy is based on river shipping and heavy industries like coal, oil, chemicals, steel production. The settlement was founded in 1775 (as Holderby's Landing, part of Great Britain's Virginia colony), incorporated in 1799 (as Guyandotte), and in 1871 renamed Huntington - after Collis Potter Huntington (1821-1900, industrialist and railway magnate).

Huntington WV is best known for its  Marshall University (1837-founded, in downtown), Huntington Museum of Art (1952-opened, in the Park Hills neighborhood), Collis P. Huntington Historical Society and Railroad Museum, Mountain Health Arena (fka Huntington Civic Center, 1977-opened), Camden Park (1903-opened amusement park), Special Metals Corporation's Plant (refractory alloys). The city's largest employers are Marshall University, Cabell Huntington Hospital (303-bed medical center), St Mary's Medical Center (393-bed medical center), CSX Transportation (freight railroad network in the eastern USA and Canad's Ontario and Quebec provinces), US Army Corps of Engineers (LRD-Great Lakes and Ohio River Division), Amazon.com Inc (e-commerce), DIRECTV (direct broadcast satellite service provider).

As a cruise port, Huntington WV is included in the schedule of one of the USA's largest river cruise companies - AQSC-American Queen Voyages/Steamboat Company . The next table shows a 7-night/8-day itinerary (from Pittsburgh to Louisville) as port sequences.

Prices start from ~USD 2700 per person (with double occupancy). Traditionally for AQSC, the cruisetour is operated by paddle-wheel riverboats.

Huntington WV - user reviews and comments

• 13 Meals: 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 5 dinners
• Free home or local pickup and return
• Take an interesting Bunker Tour hidden beneath the Greenbrier Hotel
• Ride the Cass Scenic Railroad over the same line built in 1901 to haul lumber to Whitaker Station
• Enjoy a delicious dinner at an elegant “Timber Baron” mansion
• Ride the new Greenbrier Wilderness Train through the scenic and rugged Greenbrier River Valley
• Tour the Green Bank Observatory
• Enjoy dinner followed by the live entertainment of the Tribute to Musical Legends Dinner Show at the Gandy Dancer Theater
• Ride the diesel-powered New Tygart Flyer as it climbs along Shavers Fork of the Cheat River to High Falls
• Farewell dinner at Hofbrauhaus

Cruising the Ohio River~on the American Queen~Point Pleasant, West Virginia

ON THE OHIO RIVER_Is it Friday already? As cruisers know, it’s easy to lose track of the days when you’re sailing — each day bleeds into the next.

But it is indeed Friday, and we are at our second to last port of call, Point Pleasant, West Virginia. The tours start later today, not until after lunch, so this morning we are free agents. For the boat, the first order of business is docking at a fuel depot to tank up — which, according to one of the workers, means a 30,000-gallon fill-up. Talk about pain at the pump.

The first activity of the day is the river lecture, where riverlorian Chris Wistey acquaints us with the history behind some common riverboat terms and phrases, which, as an English major myself, I always find interesting. For example, “hog wash” was coined by deck workers who had to clean up after the pigs the boat was transporting. And we all know that cabins on cruise ships are called “staterooms.” That came about because cabins were initially named for states, and the name stuck.

Next up, they assembled the entertainment team in the Grand Saloon to field questions from the guests. What’s impressive about this group is their deep level of experience and how they support each other in whatever task needs to be done.

After lunch, it was time to board the buses for our tour of Point Pleasant. With intermittent light rain falling, we grab an umbrella provided by American Queen and head for our bus. Like many other small towns along the Ohio, artists have painted large murals all along the flood wall. The walls were put in place after the disastrous floods of 1937 we are told, which must have been catastrophic for the entire region.

It’s a small town — less than 5,000 residents — founded in 1797 and named by George Washington. Located at the merger of the Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, we learn it’s the second oldest city on the Ohio River. There are five stops planned, and we opt to “hop off” at the third: Fort Randolph, a faithful replica of the original, built in 1776 to protect its residents from the Indians.

Tour guides in authentic garb of the period are on hand to tell us about the various buildings, their purpose and what life was like during that time. Major kudos to the townspeople we have encountered throughout this cruise, who have really rolled out the red carpet for us.

But of course, the real attraction I’m looking forward to seeing is the Mothman Museum, dedicated to the winged creature that allegedly terrorized the town in November, 1966. Eyewitness accounts at the time tell of a something six feet tall, with big red eyes and giant wings. It’s even being tied to UFO activity, the infamous Men in Black and the collapse in 1967 of the Silver Bridge, which killed over 40 people.

It gained notoriety mostly through a book by John Keel, “The Mothman Prophecies,” published in 1975, and a 2002 movie by the same name, starring Richard Gere.

Whatever you choose to believe, believe this: The Mothman Museum is the most happening place in town. Pam indulged me as I viewed old newspaper clippings, took selfies with Mothman replicas and did a deep dive into the legendary monster. Bless her heart, she even bought me a Mothman T-shirt.

Every September, they hold a Mothman Festival, which attracts three times more people than live in the town. But enough of the Mothman; time to make the short walk back to the boat.

One note about that: Getting on and off the boat just involves swiping your boat card. There are no metal detectors or checking bags and belongings, as they do on most cruises we’ve taken. We’re not used to that.

The late afternoon is off to a good start at the Captain’s Bar, where the Steamboat Syncopators are doing a set of Duke Ellington jazz, one of our favs. Their versions of “The ‘A’ Train,” “In a Sentimental Mood” and “It Don’t Mean a Thing” had guests clapping their approval.

Next up was the port talk, detailing our upcoming visit to Marietta, OH., followed by tonight’s show, “Over the Rainbow,” featuring vocalist Mandy Kerridge and the Steamboat Syncopators. She has an outstanding voice, which was showcased on a stirring rendition of “Don’t Rain on My Parade.”

Our dinner featured pecan-encrusted corvina (excellently prepared) and for dessert, Tennessee Whiskey Cake. While we dined, American Queen entered another lock on the river. It didn’t appear we had a lot of room to spare as we went through. Our captain knows what he’s doing for sure.

Afterwards, we walked the top deck and were treated to a beautiful sunset, creating golden ripples across the river while the boat’s paddlewheels threw spray in the air. It was the perfect way to end the day.

And in case you were wondering: No sign of the Mothman.

PHOTOS: by Gerry Barker

• Sunset creates a golden glow on the Ohio River (Cover Photo)
• The Mothman Museum
• I take a selfie. Is the Mothman smiling or licking his chops?
• Inside one of the buildings at Fort Randolph. The original was built in 1776.

See sailings here  American Queen Voyages Cruises (cruisecompete.com)

See earlier American Queen posts here

Cruising the Ohio River~on the American Queen ~Maysville, Kentucky – All Things Cruise

Cruising the Ohio River~on the American Queen ~Cincinnati

Cruising the Ohio River~on the American Queen ~Madison, Indiana: ‘Most Beautiful River Town in America’

Cruising the Ohio River~on the American Queen ~Indiana

Cruising the Ohio River~on the American Queen ~Louisville

Cruising the Ohio River~on the American Queen

1 thought on “Cruising the Ohio River~on the American Queen~Point Pleasant, West Virginia”

I ran across your blog and pics, both which I’d like to share with my Marietta group–your most recent port of call. Looking forward to your Marietta piece.

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THE 10 BEST West Virginia Boat Rides & Cruises

Boat rides & cruises in west virginia.

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• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Good for Couples
• Good for Big Groups
• Adventurous
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Good for Kids
• Budget-friendly
• Hidden Gems
• Honeymoon spot
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. West Virginia Adventures

2. Adventures on the Gorge

3. River Riders

4. New & Gauley River Adventures

5. Blackwater Outdoor Adventures

6. ACE Adventure Resort - Day Tours

7. Cantrell Ultimate Rafting - Day Tours

8. River & Trail Outfitters

9. River Expeditions Whitewater Rafting

10. Mountain Surf Paddle Sports

11. The Greenbrier Outfitters

12. Cheat River Outfitters

13. Mountaintop Adventures

14. New River Jet Boats

15. Sunset Beach Marina

16. Summersville Lake Marina Inc.

17. Trough General Store & Canoe Rentals

18. Sutton Lake Marina

19. Breezewood Adventures

20. Knapps Creek Trout Lodge

21. NBD Fishing Inc.

22. Crafts Adventures

23. Day Trippin Adventures

24. New River Jetboats

25. Hatfield & Mccoy Airboat Tours

26. Sarge's Dive Shop

27. Gauley Whitewater LLC

28. The West Virginia Experience

29. North American River Runners - Day Tours

30. Son Dad's New River Outfitters LLC.

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Flash Spring Savings - Save 30%

• 30% off your entire stay
• Good for stays between now and May 27, 2024
• Only valid on lodges and campsites
• Minimum three-night stay required  
• Offer excludes Stonewall
• Blackout dates: May 10 and 11

Promo Code: SPRING

Browse Additional Deals

Travel Alert

For health and safety updates and information about the free vaccine clinics at West Virginia’s state parks and forests, click here.

Take 30% off your lodge or campsite stay with offer code SPRING at checkout.

• 1-833-WV-PARKS
• Merchandise
• Interactive Vacation Guide
• Aerial Tours
• Elk Management Tours
• Golf Courses
• Hiking Trails
• Horseback Riding
• Mountain Biking Trails
• Museums and Historical Sites
• Outdoor Adventures
• Scenic Train Rides
• Snow Sports
• Whitewater Rafting
• Groups & Events
• Green Initiative
• Adopt-A-Trail

State Parks

• Berkeley Springs
• Blackwater Falls
• Blennerhassett Island
• Camp Creek and Forest
• Canaan Valley
• Carnifex Ferry Battlefield
• Cass Scenic Railroad
• Cedar Creek
• Chief Logan
• Droop Mountain Battlefield
• Fairfax Stone
• Holly River
• Little Beaver
• Moncove Lake
• Pinnacle Rock
• Prickett's Fort
• Summersville Lake
• Tomlinson Run
• Tu-Endie-Wei
• Tygart Lake
• Valley Falls
• Watters Smith

State Forests

• Cabwaylingo
• Calvin Price
• Coopers Rock

Rail Trails

• Elk River Trail
• Greenbrier River Trail
• North Bend Rail Trail

Boating Excursions

Boating is one of the best ways to experience the scenic beauty found at West Virginia’s state parks and forests. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon river cruise or take the family out for an escape on the cool, tranquil waters of Almost Heaven. Whether you opt for a motorized adventure or a paddle-guided glide, West Virginia’s waters are the place to launch your adventure.

• Stonewall Resort State Park

A tranquil environment and calming waters await at Stonewall Resort State Park . 

Little Sorrel:   Stonewall Resort State Park offers yet another relaxing way to take in the surrounding scenery. As the only excursion boat operating on an inland lake in West Virginia, the 125-passenger lake cruise boat – named Little Sorrel – is perfect for private groups, family vacations, group meetings or romantic getaways, with a variety of excursions to choose from. Cruises are available for guests staying at Stonewall Resort. 

Pontoons and Aqua Cycling: Picture riding a big tricycle on the water. That is the Aqua Cycling experience. These fun and quirky water vessels seat two people and operate like a paddle boat. Simply turn the handlebar to steer. At Stonewall Jackson Lake, you can rent Aqua Cycles and pontoon boats – both of which are perfect for a leisurely outing on the water. Bring the whole family out on a pontoon, and don’t forget to pack a picnic lunch and a tackle box!

• Hawks Nest State Park

Jetboats: At Hawks Nest State Park , New River Jetboats zips you through the rapids to just below the base of the majestic 876-foot-high New River Gorge Bridge. The trip to board the boat is almost as fun as the ride itself. From the lodge at the canyon rim, you’ll take the aerial tram down to the river. It’s a unique chance to experience the beauty of the gorge from both the top and bottom – all in the same day.

• Bluestone State Park

Bluestone State Park’s 2,040-acre glimmering lake is the state’s third largest body of water and visitors can enjoy all sorts of aquatic activities. Bring your own boat and utilize the public boat launches or rent one of the fishing or pontoon boats, kayaks or canoes available at Bluestone Lake Marina.

• Tygart Lake State Park

There’s no better way to enjoy a warm day than by soaking up some sun and spending time on the water at Tygart Lake State Park . Boat, cruise and slip rentals are available at the Tygart Lake Marina, which is open seasonally, from mid-May through mid-September, depending on water conditions. Tygart Lake’s tranquil waters are wonderful for kayaking, canoeing and stand up paddle boarding as well.

Climb aboard the Princess, a two-deck tour boat at Tygart Lake Marina, for an 11-mile water cruise that is great for parties, weddings and family gatherings.

Start Exploring

• Search All Parks
• Audra State Park
• Babcock State Park
• Beech Fork State Park
• Blackwater Falls State Park
• Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park
• Cabwaylingo State Forest
• Cacapon Resort State Park
• Camp Creek State Park and Forest
• Canaan Valley Resort State Park
• Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park
• Cass Scenic Railroad State Park
• Cathedral State Park
• Cedar Creek State Park
• Chief Logan State Park
• Coopers Rock State Forest
• Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park
• Greenbrier State Forest
• Holly River State Park
• Kanawha State Forest
• Kumbrabow State Forest
• Little Beaver State Park
• Lost River State Park
• Moncove Lake State Park
• North Bend State Park
• Panther State Forest
• Pinnacle Rock State Park
• Pipestem Resort State Park
• Seneca State Forest
• Tomlinson Run State Park
• Twin Falls Resort State Park
• Valley Falls State Park
• Watoga State Park
• Watters Smith Memorial State Park
• Beartown State Park
• Berkeley Springs State Park
• Calvin Price State Forest
• Fairfax Stone State Park
• Prickett's Fort State Park
• Summersville Lake State Park
• Tu-Endie-Wei State Park

West Virginia is home to some of the most beautiful and remote areas in the United States. Be sure to download your Park Pack for maps and other park information.

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Kanawha river boat rental.

Mid-April the recreation traffic really picks up all the way until mid-October.

The upper pool   of the Kanawha River runs from London, WV Locks to Belle, WV Locks and is quiet and calm on most days which means calmer water. It's filled with beautiful mountain views and is great for privacy and laying out and relaxing. There's currently no restaurants or fuel stations on this section of water, so planning ahead with food and drinks is a great idea! No worries as we supply a cooler and ice!

The lower pool  of the Kanawha River runs from Belle, WV Locks to Winfield, WV Locks and is a busier section, you can expect to see many other boaters and some rougher water. This is great for those that want to be in the middle of it all. This section has restaurants, fuel, shopping, etc. Beautiful views of our state capital and a dock that you can park at and visit the beautiful and historic capital city of Charleston. You can also go up the Coal River and Elk River from this section of water. 

On this section they have several events throughout the spring, summer, and fall season, such as:

*Live on the Levee which is held every Friday from Memorial Day to Labor Day from 6:30pm to 9:00pm. This event has live waterfront bands where you can anchor out and enjoy some great music. They close the local streets and bring in food vendors so you can enjoy the music from the water or park at the dock and check out what they have to offer on land. They also occasionally have fireworks.

*The annual Sternwheel Regatta which is a boater's paradise; sternwheeler boats come from all over to dock up at the Charleston Levee, the city closes the streets down and allows many retail and food vendors to setup all weekend long. Pair this with live music (a few big-name headliners), a carnival, and fireworks, you can't help but have a great time! The 2023 dates are June 30th to July 4th.

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CALL FOR RESERVATIONS

As we move into our new Newport Landing dock facility & event center, our online reservation system will be temporality unavailable. Please call 1(800) 261-8586 to book your reservation today. We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to serving you in 2019!

Charleston WV Fall Cruises

About this Cruise

BB Riverboats' flagship Belle of Cincinnati will be in Charleston, West Virginia running buffet lunch and sightseeing cruises on the beautiful Kanawha River. Gather your crew for an out-of-the-ordinary afternoon and enjoy the beautiful fall scenery from the open air upper viewing deck. Cash bar and snacks will be available for purchase. See all of our up-to-date special packages when you choose a specific date in our online reservation system.

Cruise Schedule

Saturday October 5, 2019

Lunch Cruise

Sailing: 12:00 - 2:00 pm

Boarding: 11:00 am

Afternoon Sightseeing Cruise

Sailing: 3:30 - 5:00 pm

Boarding: 3:00 pm

Adults/Seniors General Admission

Children Ages 4-12

25% OFF Souvenir Photos

Pre-order a souvenir boarding photo when making your online reservation and save on your purchase.

Tossed salad with cucumbers tomatoes & accoutrements ranch & balsamic vinaigrette dressings

Fresh baked bread & butter

Grilled marinated chicken breast

Sliced roast beef with bordelaise

Garlic mashed potatoes

Chefs blend of mixed vegetables

Vegetarian pasta bake

Chefs choice of dessert

Dietary Restrictions?

If a member of your party requires a vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free meal, please note this selection when making your reservation and other options will be made available on your cruise.

More Cruises Like This

Signature cruises.

Experience Cincinnati and the Ohio River like never before and unwind on a day or evening cruise aboard one of the magnificent BB Riverboats. We aren’t your typical cruise company. Choose from a wide variety of our signature cruises, Read More all of which include a fully stocked bar and delicious food from our buffet. Plan a date night with your loved one on our Stonebrook Winery Sunset Cruise, relax the day away with friends on our Captains’ Lunch Cruise, or bring the kids and have some family fun and bonding on our Sunday Family Dinner Cruise. Our Signature, or Specialty Cruises are offered daily throughout the season. Read Less

Specialty Cruises

Are you looking for a unique and memorable way to spend an afternoon or evening in Cincinnati? BB Riverboats cruises have plenty of options for you, whether you're looking for family fun during the day, or a way to spend an evening with friends that you'll never forget. Read More Join the excitement and take an adventure on one of our themed dinner cruises. These riverboat cruises are designed for all tastes and interests. Bring your kids to a Princess, Pirate, or Super Hero Cruise; take your husband or wife to sightsee along the Ohio River; or grab your friends and listen to live music. For a fun guy’s night out, we offer a Bernstein’s Batch Bourbon Dinner Cruise; and for the ladies, a Girl’s Night Out with Pure Romance Cruise. Tasty cocktails at our full bar and exciting entertainment compliment all cruises. Read Less

Holiday Cruises

Are you looking for a fun way to spend the summer holidays with family and loved ones? Forget the movie theatre or dinner at a boring restaurant and come aboard one of our lavish Riverboats to sail on the mighty Ohio. Read More Spend Father's Day, July 4th or Labor Day on a boat cruise that is sure to be one of the highlights of your summer! Our dinner cruises travel along the Ohio River and give you the greatest of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky sightseeing. Whether it is dining at our extensive buffet, sipping cocktails at our full bar, or busting out your best moves on our dance floor, you are sure to make memories your family and friends will cherish forever. Read Less

BB is Back! Here's How We’re Cruising Safely

There is nothing more important than the well-being of our customers and crew. Learn more about the steps we’re taking to make sure your BB experience is safe and enjoyable.

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Riverboat Tours Make Wheeling a Port of Call

The American Countess – the newest paddlewheeler in the American Queen Voyages fleet – was docked at Heritage Port in Wheeling on Monday and Wednesday this week for shore excursions to various sites around town during weeklong trips between Pittsburgh and Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Eric Ayres)

WHEELING — People out venturing into downtown Wheeling and enjoying the pleasant weather this week may have caught a glimpse of the massive American Countess at Heritage Port.

The newest paddlewheeler in the American Queen Voyages fleet is a four-deck vessel that was christened in 2020. With 123 staterooms and a crew of just under 100, the majestic boat inevitably causes heads to turn and prompts people to grab their cellphones to snap pictures of the spectacular sight each time it passes down the river or pulls into ports.

Now that warm weather has arrived and is expected to stay, the riverboats have made their way to northern routes. This past week, the American Countess stopped in Wheeling on its way to Pittsburgh on Monday and on its way from the Steel City on another voyage on Wednesday.

American Queen Voyages Tour Manager Judy LaMance of Chattanooga, Tennessee, was helping visitors find points of interest in the Friendly City Wednesday.

Although Wheeling is not always a regular stop on the river tours that pass through the Upper Ohio Valley, it’s one of the prime options for boats on trips that begin or end in Pittsburgh.

“We come here usually in late spring and early fall – two to three times per year,” LaMance said, noting that the tours basically migrate through the seasons by following the pleasant weather. “We do the lower Mississippi until late April, and then we do it again from October until the end of the year. In between we do the Ohio, Illinois and Tennessee, and then we’ll go all the way up to Red Wing, Minnesota, on the Mississippi.”

The specific stops depend on each different river cruise’s itinerary. The ports of call on a typical week-long or nine-day river cruise in this neck of the woods between Pittsburgh and Louisville, Kentucky, may hit Marietta, Ohio; Huntington; Augusta, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Ohio; and Madison, Indiana, with occasionally stops in cities such as Wheeling; Maysville, Kentucky and Point Pleasant.

“We’ll be here for a couple of weeks now and a couple of weeks in August,” LaMance said of the American Countess’ current tours that include the Upper Ohio Valley.

For cruises like the one that stopped in the area this week, a fleet of three tour buses follow the boat – or in many cases, the boat actually follows the buses since the land-based vehicles usually arrive at the destination first, LaMance noted. During stops in Wheeling, the paddle boat docks at Heritage Port, and guests can go ashore, hop on a bus and check out various points of interest in town.

“We go to the Artisan Center, to West Virginia Independence Hall, the Capitol Theatre and Centre Market on our hop-on, hop-off buses,” LaMance said. “And we have a premium tour that goes to the Oglebay museums.”

While riverboat cruising is similar to ocean liner cruising in many ways, the riverboats obviously carry only a couple hundred passengers as opposed to thousands that can be loaded onto today’s mega-ships.

“This is pretty laid back,” LaMance said of the American Countess. “It holds 245.”

Because of the limited size of the river boats, the shore excursions are a primary highlight of river cruising – and most excursions are included in the overall price of the cruise.

“We’re in ports most days,” LaMance said, noting that while cruising onboard, guests can enjoy a number of group activities, visit public areas and check out the ever-changing scenery. They have game shows, trivia contests, bingo, a library, a card room, a coffee shop room, a number of bars (with most drinks included) and on-shore tours every day. “There’s not food 24 hours a day like you see on the big ships.”

But there is plenty of great dining, she noted, as well as on-board entertainment, which is also included. This week, they have a mentalist performing and a show featuring a Mark Twain impersonator. There are also house entertainers and musicians on board.

Vessels in the American Queen Voyages fleet have the classic, historic look of riverboats of the past, but boast modern amenities. They may look old, but most were built in or around the 1990s.

“We have four paddlewheelers that do the rivers – three of them do the Mississippi and the tributaries, and then one does the Columbia and Snake rivers out of Portland, Oregon,” LaMance said. “We also have two boats that do the Great Lakes and coastal tours, and then we have an Alaskan expedition boat.”

The American Countess has some scheduled trips that will pass by the area in the future, but the next scheduled stop in Wheeling is not until August.

For more information about river boat cruises by American Queen Voyages, visit www.aqvoyages.com.

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Tygart Lake Cruises - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

The Summersville Lake Dinner Cruise In West Virginia Is The Best Way To End A Summer Day

If she isn't writing, hiking, teaching, or gardening, Cristy is probably busy enjoying a good book and a big bowl of ice cream.

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Imagine this. It’s the end of a long, fun day spent soaking in the beauty of wild, wonderful West Virginia. You’re sad to see your Almost Heaven adventure come to a close. But the day’s not over yet! There’s still time for one last hurrah to close out the day—so make it a big one: a catered dinner cruise on the sparkling waters of Summersville Lake.

Related Stories

West Virginia's New River Gorge Is Among The World's 100 Greatest Places And We're Here For The Recognition

The Best Kayaking Lake In West Virginia Is One You May Never Have Heard Of

Enjoy Lunch On The Lake At The Little Beaver State Park Picnic Area Near Beckley, West Virginia

To learn more, you can also visit Sarge’s Dive Shop at their website or on Facebook . You’ll find that Sarge’s has more adventures up their sleeve than just dinner cruises—they can also take you scuba diving to see another view of Summersville Lake that you’ve probably never seen before. Have you ever taken a dinner cruise on Summersville Lake? What’s your favorite way to close out a day spent adventuring in West Virginia? Here’s another good option: catch a sunset from one of these epic West Virginia lookout towers.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Discover fall in almost heaven.

Featured Destinations

From ATV excursions in small towns to scenic drives across the state, West Virginia is made for everyone. Rest and relax at a world-class resort or head out for a waterfall hike. It’s all waiting for you this summer in Almost Heaven.

Chase stunning fall foliage this season aboard a scenic train ride or ATV excursion. Reconnect with friends and family in a cozy cabin. From charming small towns to flavorful farm-to-table dishes, an autumn adventure awaits in Almost Heaven.

Featured Road Trip

Get a true taste of west virginia along this memorable route.

Less than three hours outside Roanoke, this stretch of West Virginia is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. Shaped by the famous New River Gorge, you’ll find plenty of riverside activities, outdoor adventures and some of the most extraordinary views. Pair that with the region’s compelling historical past and vibrant small towns, and you’ve got one very memorable trip....

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Culture & Lifestyle

Check Out These Charming Small Towns in Almost Heaven

Get a true taste of west virginia along this memorable route, a memorable trip through the potomac highlands.

Defined by its rivers and lush forests, this region in southern West Virginia has some of the most spectacular outdoor recreation.

Explore Some of West Virginia's Most Stunning Sights

Just a short drive outside of the Washington and Baltimore metro areas, this loop through West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle is both a relaxing and enlightening weekend getaway.

You Can Take a Drive and a Dip Along This Historic Loop

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Explore lodging.

Whether you prefer a luxury retreat at a world-class resort or a rustic campsite stay under starry night skies, West Virginia has accommodations for every type of traveler. As you plan your mountain road trip, explore one-of-a-kind stays and traditional comforts along the way. The peace and solitude of Almost Heaven is just an overnight stay away.

Current Season

Blooming rhododendrons. Wildflower hikes. Rushing waterfalls. Welcome to spring in West Virginia. It's the season where Almost Heaven comes alive.

Escape the churn and burn of the daily routine and hit the road this summer. Explore wide open spaces with plenty of room to roam.

Nature works her magic every autumn in West Virginia. As the third most forested state, our country roads are vibrant with color and a sight to behold in the fall.

The wonder of winter in West Virginia is filled with untouched fallen snow, scrapes of skates along fresh ice and snow-capped mountain views you have to see to believe.

Little Sorrel – Stonewall Jackson Lake

Stonewall resort offers yet another relaxing way to take in the surrounding scenery. As the only excursion boat operating on an inland lake in West Virginia, the new 125-passenger lake cruise boat—named Little Sorrel—is perfect for private groups, family vacations, group meetings or romantic getaways, with a variety of excursions to choose from. Ideal for cocktail parties, private parties and wedding receptions, guests will also enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner cruises for up to 60 people, pleasure lake tours and fall color tours. Cruises available for people staying at stonewall resort. Available for private rental.

Nearby Attractions:

West Virginia Herb Association

La Paix Herb Farm

Steer Steakhouse

Lambert’s Vintage Winery

Linda's Country Kitchen & Pub

LEWIS County

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A destination that combines timeless adventures with historic charm, The Mountain Lakes region in West Virginia has a lot to offer. Quaint ...

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Soak Up the Sunshine with a Stay at These Cabin Retreats

West Virginia boasts serene endeavors and adventure amid nature, and each cabin getaway is nothing short of a sanctuary. From charming town...

Plan Your Spring Getaway to These 3 Must-Visit Towns in West Virginia

From the beam of the sun to the bloom of the flowers, springtime brings good company, warm smiles and unforgettable experiences. The oppor...

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Explore North America's Most Stunning River Cruises

Posted: April 25, 2024 | Last updated: April 25, 2024

Rolling on the river

Viking Mississippi Holiday Season cruise, USA

It’s never too early to start planning a Christmas markets cruise, and as much as we love the ones in Germany and Austria, nothing beats a festive float down the Mississippi. Highlights on  this cruise , which snakes from Memphis to New Orleans, include stop-offs at Natchez, whose many historic buildings are festooned with Christmas lights, and Vicksburg, whose independent boutiques are great places to pick up presents. This is also a great cruise for twitchers – a huge number of bird species flock to this stretch of the Mississippi for winter. 

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M.S. Dixie II Lake Tahoe cruise, California, USA

Say hello to one of America’s most spectacular lake cruises. Your mode of transport for this sail across Lake Tahoe will be the M.S Dixie II – the lake’s biggest boat. The sunset dinner cruises are popular with couples, although we recommend the scenic daytime tours, which are a great way to explore North America’s largest alpine lake. This high-altitude body of water spreads into two states (California and Nevada), contains enough water to cover California with 14 inches of water and is deeper than the Empire State Building is tall.  

Le Petit Navire Lachine Canal tour, Québec, Canada

If crowded cruise liners and transatlantic crossings don’t appeal, consider this leisurely sail along Canada’s 14-kilometer Lachine Canal, which slices through the southern section of Montréal, a city famous for its historic architecture. Don’t know your dingle from your dewater? You’ll gain a wonderful insight into the construction of this historic waterway as you pass through its locks, and you’ll also enjoy fantastic views of Montréal’s skyline. Your mode of transport is rather special too – a carbon-neutral, zero-pollution electric propulsion boat. 

American Cruise Lines Alaska Inside Passage cruise, Alaska, USA

Alaska’s Inside Passage is an inland route weaving between islands on the Pacific Northwest coast and along glacier-lined fjords. Inside Passage cruises offer a different perspective on Alaska to coastal cruises, relying on smaller ships to reach more remote ports of call. Highlights of this cruise include the Strait of Georgia, where you’ll sail between Vancouver Island and British Columbia, and the glacier-fed waters of Frederick Sound – a brilliant whale watching spot.

Now check out the fabulous cruising facts you won't believe

Northwest Pioneers Cruise, Oregon and Washington, USA

As much as we love the mighty Mississippi, this brilliant river cruise , which wiggles through Oregon and Washington, is a fantastic reminder that there are plenty of other breathtakingly beautiful waterways to explore. On this adventure, you’ll sail along the Columbia River – the largest in America’s Pacific Northwest – and Snake River, which is the Columbia River’s largest tributary. It’s a great way to see some of America’s most underrated destinations, including the town of Astoria, which is the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies.

American Cruise Lines Puget Sound and San Juan Islands Cruise, Washington, USA

This seven-day cruise provides a brilliant insight into one of America’s most wildlife-rich regions: Washington state’s Puget Sound, America’s second largest estuary; and the San Juan Islands, a cluster of 172 islands and reefs where you’re likely to spot wildlife including whales and eagles. Don’t miss the chance to explore Port Townsend, sandwiched between Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and famous for its Victorian-era architecture. 

Viking America’s Heartland cruise, Upper Mississippi, USA

This is one of the best Mississippi cruises for anyone keen to learn about the people who shaped this part of the US, whether it’s the Norwegians who migrated here during the 1800s or the farmers who made this region one of America’s top culinary destinations. Stops include the Missouri city of St Louis, once known as the Gateway to the West; Hannibal, which was the setting for Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn;  and the Iowan city of Dubuque, home to the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium.

Viking Heart of the Delta cruise, USA

An eight-day cruise between Memphis and New Orleans, Viking’s Heart of the Delta cruise takes in the Mississippi’s best bits, including many listed monuments and buildings. For history buffs, highlights will include St Francisville, where there’s a whopping 140 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and Natchez, which has more listed buildings than any other American city. If you’re short on time, put Stanton Hall, which was built in the 1850s, at the top of your list – this Greek revival-style property is famous for its ornate mirrored parlors.  

James River Batteau Company Batteau River tour, Virginia, USA

Short on time? Opt for this scenic river tour . Your mode of transport for this float along Virginia’s James River will be one of the beautiful wooden boats which have sailed this waterway for years. The two-hour tour along the river, which is Virginia’s longest, is a great way to see its wildlife – bald eagles, river otters and ospreys are regularly spotted. It’s a rather relaxed affair, and passengers are encouraged to cool off with a swim in the river. 

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American Queen Voyages Clarkston to Portland cruise, USA

A brilliant cruise for history fans, this 10-day Snake River and Columbia River cruise starts in Clarkston and finishes in Vancouver, Washington – the route undertaken by explorers Captain Meriwether Lewis and Lieutenant William Clark in the early 1800s. It’s also a route lined with natural wonders, including Columbia Gorge, which slices through the Cascade Mountains, and Idaho’s Hell’s Canyon, which is deeper than the Grand Canyon and can be explored on a high-speed boat ride. The Columbia River stretch is where you’re most likely to see bison, elk and deer too. 

American Queen Voyages Memphis to Nashville cruise, USA

This nine-day Memphis to Nashville   cruise is a fantastic way to check out some of the southern state’s prettiest towns, whether it’s Paducah in Kentucky, famed for its arts and craft museum or Clarksville, Tennessee. The latter is famous for its breweries, distilleries and wineries, while historic sites include the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center, where you can learn about the town’s famous former residents, including Wilma Rudolph – the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympic Games. 

American Queen Voyages Mighty Mississippi Red Wing to New Orleans, USA

Can’t get enough of the Mighty Mississippi? Take a deep dive on  this 16-day cruise between Red Wing and New Orleans. It’s a fantastic way to discover the landscapes which surround America’s second longest river. The Minnesotan city of Winona, for example, is built on a sandbar and dates back to 9,500BC. The excursions on this cruise are fantastic too. Our favorite? In the town of Hannibal, Missouri, you’ll get the chance to make your very own clay pot out of Mississippi mud. 

Adventure Life Rivers of Adventure and Wine cruise, Oregon, USA

Your transport for this food and wine-themed cruise along the Columbia River is the Wilderness Legacy, a beautiful vessel designed to resemble a Victorian steamer. During the cruise, which starts and finishes in Portland, you’ll visit some of Oregon’s most important historical sites, but it’s the food and wine-themed stops that really set it apart. In the Hood River Valley, you can sign up for cycle rides between local vineyards, and in the Washington city of Walla Walla, you’ll visit a local chocolatier, olive oil producer, and brewery.  

American Queen Voyages St Louis to Cincinnati cruise, USA

Get more bang for your buck from your river cruise by signing up for American Queen Voyages’ exploration of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Stop-offs on this spectacular paddle steamer cruise include the Illinois city of Alton, which has a rich history and became a base for abolitionists in the 1800s, and Henderson in Kentucky. It’s another cruise with fantastic excursions, our favorite of which is a jet boat ride along a stunning section of the Ohio River near Carrollton, Kentucky. 

American Queen Voyages Montréal to Detroit cruise, Canada and US

An 11-day cruise between two very different cities, this Montréal to Detroit sailing provides plenty of opportunities for urban explorations – you’ll visit Montréal, Québec City , Toronto and Cleveland, as well as quaint riverside towns such as Gananoque, in the heart of the Thousand Islands archipelago in Eastern Ontario. This particular cruise offers fantastic value for money – the cost of your sailing covers a wide range of excursions, including visits to Toronto’s CN Tower and catamaran tours of Niagara Falls.

St Lawrence Cruise Lines, Canada’s Capital North cruise, Canada

This Ottawa River cruise is a great way to explore two very different regions of Canada – more specifically Ontario and Québec. The six-day sailing is packed with fascinating stop-offs, including the wildlife-filled Thousand Islands, which straddle the border between America and Canada, and Fort Wellington, built in 1812. Love a lock? For many passengers, the highlight of this river cruise is the famous Carillion Lock, an enormous 182-tonne structure which has a flow rate of 2,000 cubic meters of water per second. 

Pearl Seas Cruises Great Lakes and Georgian Bay cruise, US and Canada

Sign up for this 11-night cruise from Toronto to Milwaukee and you’ll get the chance to see four of the most beautiful Great Lakes, with time to visit attractions lining the route. For many, the highlight is Georgian Bay, where 30,000 islands form the world’s largest freshwater archipelago, and where you’ll be able to check out destinations such as traffic-free Mackinac Island by horse-drawn buggy. There are plenty of big hitters too – you’ll take a guided tour of Niagara Falls and visit the legendary Henry Ford Museum in Windsor, Ontario. 

Le Boat Rideau Canal Cruise, Ontario, Canada

For something completely different, consider hiring your own river boat for a bespoke exploration of Canada’s Rideau Canal. The waterway, which is the oldest continuously-operated canal system in North America, is regarded as one of the world’s greatest engineering feats, and the UNESCO-listed canal is lined with historic sites. Your mode of transport? A luxury river boat kitted out with a kitchen, spacious bathrooms and sun deck. They’re surprisingly easy to drive too, thanks to powerful thrusters which make navigating locks a breeze. 

American Cruise Lines Hudson River cruise, New York, USA

This New York round trip  takes in the Hudson River’s best bits, busting the myth that its most spectacular section weaves through the Big Apple. You’ll explore it on the American Star, which has room for just 100 passengers and offers several stop-offs in the beautiful Catskill Mountains area. The cruise is especially popular with fans of architecture, who come to admire historic buildings such as the Vanderbilt Mansion (the former home of Franklin D. Roosevelt). 

Viking Great River cruise, Mississippi, USA

This is another fantastic option for history buffs – a Mississippi River cruise filled with visits to some of America’s most important historic sites. In Red Wing, Minnesota, you’ll learn how New Englanders joined forces with German and Irish migrants to farm the fertile landscape, and in Burlington, Iowa, you’ll discover how the arrival of both steamboats and the railroad transformed this once sleepy town, filled with listed buildings. Don’t miss the chance to stand under the famous Gateway Arch in St Louis, Missouri – a crossroads for nineteenth-century explorers. 

US Mailboat Cruises of Lake Winnipesaukee on the M/V Sophie C, New Hampshire, USA

Another fantastic option for anyone short on time, this cruise takes place on America’s oldest floating post office – a beautiful vessel which launched on Lake Winnipesaukee in 1945. During the two-hour cruise, you’ll visit several of Lake Winnipesaukee’s 253 islands, many of which were once home to indigenous people such as the Pennacooks. Don’t forget to send a postcard home – you’ll be able to post it on the boat, complete with an M/V Sophie C stamp.  

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How to hear Virginia’s ‘forgotten’ history along the James River

Jessica Kronzer | [email protected]

April 22, 2024, 5:28 AM

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Two Virginia men are hoping to change that.

Will Smith and Will Cash, or the Wills (as they’re often called), bring customers aboard a replica of an 18th century batteau. While the word borrows from the French term for “boat” (bateau), the vessels were mostly used in North America as freight haulers during the colonial period.

The Wills hope to share the largely forgotten history of the boatmen who built a community on the James River.

“There was a lot of people that put a lot of work in, whose stories are disappearing all the time,” Smith, 36, told WTOP. “We see ourselves as being able to carry that torch on, making sure people … are able to really take that in and understand the state as it is today.”

The river tours set out from Scottsville, Virginia, a small town just south of Charlottesville.

During the early 1700s to mid-1800s, batteaux were navigated mostly by enslaved and freedmen who transported goods, oftentimes tobacco, from Virginia’s Piedmont to the markets in Richmond.

The men would then row back up the river, hauling goods that plantation owners wouldn’t otherwise have easy access to, such as coffee, tea, molasses and sugar.

Smith and Cash are longtime friends. They co-own the James River Batteau Company , offering river cruises with light acoustic music and flavorful charcuterie in the afternoon and at sunset. The pair rows groups of customers while retelling the stories of the batteaumen who spent their time on the same passageway.

Nancy Gill, a former mayor of Scottsville and the host of the James River Podcast, is somewhat of a superfan. She’s taken three tours with the Wills.

“You don’t get from a history class or a textbook, what you get going out on the river with them,” Gill said.

‘The Cadillac experience of being out on the river’

James River batteaux are typically around 7.5 feet wide and 45 feet long — for reference, that’s a bit longer than your average telephone pole.

That skinny, narrow build makes for a relatively stable, dry cruise down the river, Smith said, when compared to a canoe or raft that run the risk of tipping over.

“This is more or less the Cadillac experience of being out on the river,” Smith said.

The two white-oak batteaux the company uses are built by hand.

“You can’t exactly just go to the batteau store these days and go pick one up,” Smith said.

The Wills are the company’s only employees. The two build the boats themselves and handle all other responsibilities like marketing the tours and checking water levels before bringing guests out on the river.

The build process takes two months.

“We are literally fashioning every piece of the boat from the ribs to the stem pieces (and) the planking ourselves,” Smith said.

They use oakum to create a watertight seam on the boats as a finishing touch.

Summertime floating down the James River

On the tours, Smith recounts the history while he poles the boat down a middle portion of the James. When they’ve strapped two wooden vessels together — which allows for more guests — Cash quietly dashes along the opposite of the batteaux, pole in hand, providing the necessary manpower to steer.

After delivering the oral history, Smith strums the guitar and sings as the day fades away, much in the same way as the batteaumen who would play music while poling up and down the very same portion of the river centuries ago, he said.

It’s picturesque. Floating down the James River in Virginia on a warm summer day, you can expect to spot fish and turtles in the crystal clear water below. Sycamore trees line the riverbanks. Occasionally, you can spot a bald eagle.

“The boat itself also folds you into the scene in the way that being on a plastic boat doesn’t,” he said. “When you see the batteau on the river, it just looks like it’s in its natural habitat and you’re there with it.”

What really catches people’s attention on the tours though, isn’t the sights, he said — it’s the quietness.

“That’s one of the things we find our guests really react to,” he said, adding that many guests come from urban areas like D.C. or Northern Virginia. “Just being out on the river and hearing nothing but birdsong all of a sudden puts people in a very relaxed state.”

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How the batteau ‘transformed’ virginia.

The batteau was invented in 1775 in Albemarle County, where Smith grew up.

“These James River batteaux completely transformed the face of Virginia,” Smith said. “There was no way for people that were living in the interior of the state to sell their product, until you had a boat capable of shipping that product to the ports of Richmond.”

That was a gamechanger.

“The men that actually worked on these boats are really what facilitated all of that economic activity that kind of grew up and created the cities and towns we live in today,” Smith said.

The boatmen transported heavy loads year-round at times in tough conditions, only stopping for ice or low water. There’s no shade on board and little protection from the rain.

At times, the journey was treacherous.

The enslaved men who piloted the boats would be gone from the plantation for months at a time. As a result of their long journeys, Smith said they were often afforded more trust and independence than people working in the fields.

“Explaining their role in the settlement of Virginia’s Piedmont is a story that we want all Virginians and anyone joining our tour to know,” Smith said of the boatmen.

A century later, batteaux found buried in mud spark curiosity

In the mid-1800s, batteaux were replaced by canalboats. With that, the history of the batteaumen largely vanished for more than a century.

“That changed in 1985, when several boats were discovered in downtown Richmond buried under the mud,” Smith said. “These boats sparked a resurgence and an interest in batteaux.”

The discovery of the vessels led to the first ever James River Batteau Festival later that same year. During the yearly event, groups build replica batteaux and pilot them 120 miles from Lynchburg to Richmond on a similar route as the batteaumen did 200 years ago. Hundreds of people in kayaks and canoes join on the eight-day journey with around 10 to 15 handmade batteaux.

In some spots along the river, including Scottsville, people crowd along the river when the group arrives and departs.

The festival is how Smith tipped his toe in batteau.

“My father built his first boat the year I was born in 1987,” he said. “I grew up coming down to the batteau festival and floating on the boat for a day.”

As teenagers, the Wills got involved in the festival. Smith captained his first boat in 2006, the year after he graduated from high school.

“We were the only ones on planet Earth floating down a batteau,” he said. “It was just about as unique as anything you could get involved with.”

After nearly 20 years of navigating the James, the men started giving batteau tours in 2022.

Connecting the dots in Va. history

The tour, Smith said, “connects the dots” between the role of tobacco and the settlement of the Piedmont for attendees.

Most people they come across don’t know much, if anything at all, about batteaumen. Some of that, Smith said, could be attributed to the sheer volume of Virginia history.

“I’m standing here in Scottsville, Virginia,” he said. “You drive 25 minutes up the road, Charlottesville, and there’s Monticello. Virginia, especially 17 to 1800s Virginia, just has a massive amount of history to cover.”

That’s the “generous” way to look at it, he said, but another explanation has more to do with the subjects of the stories.

“These being enslaved African Americans or freedmen of that time, we don’t have a lot of their stories that we end up celebrating as much in Virginia,” he said. “I think the fact that this was their story is one reason it’s been forgotten.”

That vision resonates with Virginians like the former mayor Gill, who was first exposed to batteaux upon moving to Scottsville in 1999 — but she said the tour gave her a more in-depth understanding of the James River’s role in Virginia’s settlement.

“It was a verbal history and almost a re-enactment of that history that brought the lessons home for me,” she said of the tour. “We really need to pay attention to our history, and what got us to where we are today. They tell that story about central Virginia so well.”

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Jessica Kronzer graduated from James Madison University in May 2021 after studying media and politics. She enjoys covering politics, advocacy and compelling human-interest stories.

• @kronzer_news

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