A glide aboard the
Swan Boats is a must for anyone visiting or living in Boston. A Boston tradition since 1877, these
people-powered paddle boats are one of the reasons people flock to the
Public Garden in the warmer months.
Operated by the same family since their maiden voyage over 130 years ago, the "swans" are powered by human operators who take you on a tour around the lagoon. On the way, you'll pass under the smallest suspension bridge in the world. Don't expect a three hour tour; the ride takes about 10-15 minutes. It is super slow, so even kids who are leary of rides will be able to relax and enjoy themselves, however briefly.
The boats are replicas of the originals (design inspired by a medieval German story in which Lohengrin, a knight of the Grail, crosses a river in a boat drawn by a swan to defend the innocence of his heroine, Princess Elsa - how's that for trivia?), but have five or six benches, carrying up to 20 passengers.
The Swan Boats cannot operate on rainy, windy, or extremely hot days. The boats are
wheelchair accessible.
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