Ever since I wrote a story last summer about the houseboats that you can rent on the Erie Canal I have been looking forward to the chance to rent one for myself. I am doing just that this week. My “kid” brother is in town with his family and we rented a Canal Princess Charters houseboat to use as a floating cottage so we could spend some time together in a central location. It has worked out better than any of us expected.
For the most part, we’ve stayed park in the Gateway Harbor, on the North Tonawanda side in front of the former Packett Inn. Every night we’ve had a gathering of the clan and my nieces and nephews, cousins and aunts have joined us for a dinner on shore, right next to the boat.
I must say, the location is gorgeous. All the flowers are in bloom and every dime the city has put into the landscaping and upkeep is evident in the clean, colorful harbor and park. Even when it rained one night, we simply put a table under the ivy-draped shelter where bands often play, and we were dry and happy.
Those who want to get a taste of the life on the waterways can cheaply rent a floating bike or kayak, or even a pontoon boat from Waterbike Adventures, another rental business on the Tonawanda side right near the Harbor masters’ cabin.
I’m heading out to the Wednesday night concert and my family and I will be enjoying the event from the plastic green Adirondack chairs on the upper tier of the boat. The rain and stopped and so I’m hitting send on the blog entry and I’m off to “staycate” in the harbor!