Transportation Lesson #1: 8 Steamboat Rides Ranked by Ticket Price

Photo by Krenda

One of the ways Cincinnati inspired me is its history, especially on the waterfront I feel connected to bustling years of commerce and drama.
 
Cincinnati celebrated the steamboating era with a festival named “Tall Stacks Festival”. Over half a million people visited and more than a dozen steamboats visit the Cincinnati port.

The Magnolia Belle, The Natchez, The Mississippi Queen, The PA Denny, Delta Queen, General Jackson, Majestic, Spirit of Peoria, and more have all docked upon the Cincinnati shore.  The Tall Stacks Festival had so many steamboats and ride options, making it difficult to choose.  We enjoyed cruise both during the day and at night.

You don't need to wait for a festival.  If you want to treat your family to a steamboat ride, here's a few options in descending cost order:

1.  The African Queen (Marina del Mar, Florida) - family four approx. $200
Famous because it starred alongside Humphrey Bogart and Katherin Hepburn in The African Queen movie.  The $49 cruise takes you down the Port Largo Canals to Atlantic Ocean.  The two hour dinner cruise cost $89.  If you time it right, you may also attend the Humphrey Bogart Film Festival in May.

2.  General Jackson (Nashville, TN, Opryland) - family of four approx. $150
The largest inland shipbuilder in the US (Jeffboat in Indiana) built one of the largest showboats in the world.  Multiple shows available.  Taste of TN showband or Sunday in the South show $45 cruise and balcony seat, $30 child.  Nashville Nights show $60 adult, $45 child.  Pay more for better seats and/or meal.

3.  Katahdin, Maine (Moosehead Lake, Maine) - family four approx. $140
Leisure boat turned to log hauling vehicle and back to leisure boat docked at the Moosehead Marine Museum.  Katahdin operates June to Columbus Day with multiple cruise options:  Sugar Island cruise 3 Hours $35 each, Mt. Kineo cruise 5 Hours to see cliff side of Kineo Mountain $40 each, Head of the Lake Cruise 8 Hours $75 to Seboomook and includes dinner

4.  Steamboat Natchez (New Orleans, LA) - family four approx. $128
Cruise on New Orlean's only steamboat while enjoying the music.  Jazz cruise $48 adult and $21 children.  Jazz pianist or jazz trio plays.

5.  Sabino Conneticut (Mystic, Conneticut) - family four approx. $76
Sabino is believed to be the oldest wooden coal-fired steamboat still operating in the United States.  The 90 minute downriver cruise costs $18 per person, but does not require museum admission.  Sabino offers shorter, cheaper ride.  The half hour cruise costs only $8, but that offer requires Mystic Seaport Museum admission ($29 adult, $19 child age 4-14).  Although I did not cruise the Sabino, I admired it in the sunset.
 
6.  Belle of Louisville (Louisville, KY, Ohio River) - family of four approx. $66
Take a sightseeing cruise on one of the oldest operating steamboats in the world (built in 1914).  The Belle operates April to October with a capacity of 1914.   

7.  Minne-Ha-Ha (Lake George, NY) - family of four approx. $47
Minne-Ha-Ha was built in Lake George in 1969, not Minnehaha Minnesota.  Lake George Steamboat Company offers rides spring, summer, and fall including a summer pirate cruise giving kids treasure bags.  The one hour cruise costs $16 for adults and $7.50 for kids.  When you disembark, enjoy the sounds of a steam calliope on dock.

8.  Minnehaha, Minnesota (Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota) - deal during special events $20 for four total!
It once ferried residents and then sank in 1926 and raised in 1980.  It has a 90 person max. capacity.  Standard cruise $15 adult and $5 children or 2 hour Grand Minnetonka Voyage $25, but check out specific dates for special events with $5 special pricing:  Excelsior Art on the Lake (June), Wayzata JJ Hill Days (Sept.), and Excelsior Apple Day (Sept.)

Enjoy the journey & other lessons learned

Here's a life story about life being a journey and enjoying every step of the way, seeing the possibility, and learning every day.

When I tell people, Iowa, that's where I was born

They tease me about endless flat land and corn

That's where I grew values and how to work hard

Pride in farmers and Americans, things you can't learn from a card

Relatives warned don't go north to Appleton where it's cold

Women wear flannels and hunt deer, young and old

I learned to follow my own dreams with the precision of a bow

Have courage and strength and cheer on my teams, go, go, go!

Elders shook their head about moving to the capitol, Mad Town

Be careful they exclaimed, you could become a politician or clown

That's where I led communities and debate ideas with zeal

The government, the university, all part of the appeal

Friends rolled their eyes, friends don't let friends go to Fort Wyane

Not enough parties or people, you'll have to escape by plane

I only needed to find one person, the love of my life

I loved responsibility, a career, and throwing parties as a wife

Those settled questioned, why Bloomington, a town so small?

Why risk your paycheck and take a chance that you'll fall?

Big ideas from Asia, Africa, Europe, and many states

We triumphed in case studies, internships, a big success at any rate

Classmates pointed out Cincinnati isn't close to a beach
So serious, so focused on industry, life won't be a peach

I learned to turn around businesses in need

With little ones we grew fruit trees, gardens, and good deeds

Collegues warned don't leave for Evansville, a smaller river port

Watch out for cowboys and the religious sort

That's where I feel most comfortable to kick up my boots

And sing praises so loud, a place where kids can grow roots

Neighbors ask why buy property in the mountains, so close to the sky

You could get attacked by a bear, you can't even fly

That's where I appreciate nature so majestic and free

I embrace the danger, the adventure, and all that I can be

Strangers warned don't move to a bankrupt, high tax state
The traffic, the crime, you know it leads to hate
Chicago has energy, diversity, and new food to taste
So many museums and parks, there's not a moment to waste

Shoot for the stars and don't let anyone hold you back.  Experience new places and cultures, you'll never stop learning.  And whenever you hear negative stereotypes, search for the positive instead.

Animal Lesson #7: Conservationist Jane Goodall and Chimpanzees

As a child, I read stories and watched movies about Jane Goodall and I admired her for her success in conservation efforts.  As an adult, you can inspire children to take action and help the environment. 

As an adult, I had the pleasure of becoming more connected to Jane Goodall.  I heard her speak at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Wow! What an inspiration to see her live. Jane presented slides from her chimpanzee research in Tanzania. To hear her tell the stories, to hear the passion in her voice about the next generation. She encouraged the audience to get involved in Roots & Shoots, a global youth organization that gets youth involved in service learning projects that promote care and concern for animals, the environment, and the human community.

After I saw Jane in person, I visited a museum with a special exhibit all about her life. Very nicely done, but nothing beats hearing stories live from a leader.

You can get your child involved in conservation through Jane's Roots & Shoots organization.  Search for an existing group or event or create a new one.  Example events include 1) "Anything with A Plug Recycling Event" Carmel, IN, collected 30 tons to recycle, 2) Run for Wild Bronz Zoo, NY, 3) Animal Shelter drives
http://rootsandshoots.org/

I realized I was also indirectly connected to Jane through working with my past company providing funds to the Angel Fund, a cheetah conservation effort with the help of dogs.  I had the chance to meet Thane Maynard (Cincinnati Zoo Director) who co-authored the book Hope for Animals and Their World with Jane.  After meeting Thane and the Angel Fund initiater Cathryn Hiker, I took my kids to witness the cheetah's run at the zoo.  When I took my kids to see Jack Hanna's live animal show, Jack mentioned his admiration for Jane.  We are all so connected and so are the plants and animals in our world.  How are you connected to conservation leaders and efforts?  How do you pass that passion down to your children?  Please share your ideas.