By MJ Hanley-Goff

We called it our amphibious day, or our New York City “land and sea” adventure. Jude and I.  Friends since the 1980’s, co-workers and concert-goers, and planning a “not your typical” day on the Hudson.

It was a glorious day, and we were torn between the Duck Boat Tour that meanders through mid-town and splashes into the River, or the fast and bumpy Beast-ride, that skims along the water’s surface toward the Statue of Liberty. Hmmm….  Which one should we do?

Yes, we did both. And, the combination fulfills not only the desire to be a city tourist for the day, but something that puts the spotlight on the most breathtaking harbor view in the world. The NYC Ducks’ Tour departs from 49th and Broadway and ends with a splash into the Hudson River. Before embarking, we had the chance to meet and be photographed with the Duck concierge, a human-size water fowl dressed in a captain’s costume, who really didn’t say more than “quack, quack” when asked if he would pose for us. We didn’t have a long wait for the “next” boat; they are plentiful, and “run” often. The $24 ticket price was, for Manhattan, truly a bargain. (Free duck “quackers” were handed out to all, which Jude and I used more often than we would like to admit.)

Seated on a longboat on wheels that stands as high as a double-decker tour bus, we had Times Square literally in our faces.  It’s my most favorite part of the city with its colorful and flashing neon signs that change in a blink, with clever advertisements, and a peek into what’s current and trendy. Derek Jeter is represented there, so is Elvis, and there’s a big hairy hand holding a Sprint phone; Conan O’Brien has the same hair, but a different channel, said the ad. Our guide was a very sweet gal, with a Spanish accent who knew more about city trivia than anyone I ever met. We learned, for example, how Hell’s Kitchen acquired its nickname, about the feuds between the wealthy Astoria brothers, the history of the Empire State Building. On more than a few occasions, Jude and I nodded in agreement, saying, “I never knew that!”

After a slow (blame the traffic) but interesting midtown drive, we headed for the river. A duck boat tunnel sits just beside the City’s Towing Garage, and upon entering it, we were entertained with a quick movie (if you could call it that) that I think was trying to show what the harbor would have looked like upon Henry Hudson’s arrival, complete with rain droplets that fell down upon us. Before we could ask what the point was, the doors on the other side opened up, and our driver (Captain Dan), steered us down into the river, log-flume style. With a “whoosh,” we were soon floating, and just a little wet from the splash. We laughed like kids, throwing our hands in the air like flume experts.

Our ride continued slowly around the harbor. Captain Dan reminded us of the emergency landing that took place just a few months ago, and pointed out the water taxi that was first on the scene. The sky was just an amazing blue, and all I could think about was how lucky we are to live near this great city, one filled with heroes from every walk of life, that show up when you need them.

And, now the Beast. Docked beside the Circle Line stand on 43rd Street and Pier 83, the Beast provides a crazy-fun romp through the waves at about 45 mph. There’s no  educational value at all, just rock and roll and water balloons. The nutty host with baseball cap on backwards, muscle-shirt, and tattoos, was a wild guy who relished his job of wisecracking and scaring the riders with warnings of sunglasses flying off, soaking waves, and speed bumps. “If you have back problems, heart conditions, or are pregnant, maybe you shouldn’t ride this,” he said.

With the wind in our faces and the boat bumping and jerking about, we sped towards the Statue of Liberty. This is the way to travel on the water…after this, I don’t think I could ever sit on any other tour boat ride. This is another activity, priced at $24, and again, worth every penny.

Back on land, a little wetter than before, with a few more laugh lines and a sun burn, Jude and I headed back to reality, and a trip to Macy’s.  A perfect day!

Duck Boat Tours, www.NYCDucks.com

The Beast, www.CircleLine42.com

MJ Hanley-Goff is editing a follow-up to her first novel, The Bench. She’s taught classes in freelance writing, and is a founding partner of “Women For Women,” an organization inspiring women to pursue their passion. Visit her online journal, mjwrites.net She also muses about entrepreneurial topics at www.WomenForWomenSite.com