-Courtesy of En Route Marketing
Independence Seaport Museum (ISM) recently announced the return of their popular on-water programming, Kayak Excursions and Paddle Penn’s Landing. Additionally, the Museum is unveiling a new after-hours, pirate-themed program, taking guests on seven different swashbuckling adventures. Due to popular demand, ISM will also expand visiting hours and tour availability of its historic ships, Cruiser Olympia and Submarine Becuna.
Kayak Excursions
Select weekends through October 22. Guests can choose from six specially curated tours designed to give unique perspectives of the Delaware River. Excursions range between three to ten miles and offer beginner to advanced options. Destinations include Three Sisters Shipwreck, Graffiti Pier, and Petty’s Island.
ISM is also unveiling two new Kayak Excursions this spring, including a sunset happy hour Skyline Paddle or a visit to The Back Channel Boneyard in Camden, New Jersey. The new excursions add to the variety of experiences guests can choose from, offering Instagrammable moments and sights that can only be found on the Delaware River. Each guided paddle trip range from $50 to $85 per person. Tickets must be purchased in advance here.
Paddle Penn’s Landing
Beginning May 28, Paddle Penn’s Landing will reopen, allowing visitors to enjoy an afternoon of fun under the sun paddling around the Penn’s Landing basin in a kayak, rowboat, and paddleboat. The paddleboats are the perfect outdoor recreational activity for a family of four, with a choice of a swan, flamingo, yellow duck, or dragon boat! New additions include two swans, Cherry and Mango, sponsored by Rita’s Italian Ice. Summer hours are Monday through Friday, 3 p.m. to dusk, and Saturday and Sunday, noon to dusk through September 5. All Paddle Penn’s Landing activities are $12 per person for a half-hour rental. Visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance on ISM’s website.
Deck-to-Deck Tours
After a brief hiatus, ISM and Battleship New Jersey are excited to announce the return of Deck-to-Deck Tours, an experience where visitors are able to discover nearly 100 years of naval history through guided tours of three remarkable ships. Embark on a three-hour, guided tour through Battleship New Jersey, Submarine Becuna, and Cruiser Olympia to get an up-close look at prime naval ingenuity that includes light refreshments served at ISM. Tours are available on select dates and can be purchased online for $100 per person.
Museum Programming
Expanded self-guided tour hours and guided tours of Cruiser Olympia and Submarine Becuna will allow more time to explore the historic ships during the summer season. Beginning May 26, both vessels will offer extended hours from Thursdays to Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Labor Day, with 30 to 45- minute guided tour options available as an add-on to the general admission ticket. Guided tours aboard Olympia include options to explore the Admiral’s Quarters and the Engine Room led by a member of ISM’s historic ships team.
A new program for 2022, the Pirate Rum Challenge, takes visitors through seven different pirate adventures under the watchful eye of Calico Jack and his friends. Visitors can test sea skills by walking the plank, “firing” a cannon, and singing sea shanties with a complimentary cocktail. The after-hours adult program is $18 a person and is offered Thursdays to Saturdays from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets for the Pirate Rum Challenge can be purchased in person.
Families are welcome to explore one of the largest maritime artifact collections in North America. The award-winning immersive exhibition, River Alive!, gives visitors an up-close look at the wildlife, science, and wonder of the Delaware River and encourages exploration through various interactive components such as the Water Cycle Puzzle, Watershed Map, Continuum Wall, and more. Additional exhibitions include The 2022 Ecotopian Toolkit Project, Tides of Freedom: African Presence on the Delaware River, and Patriots & Pirates.
Before leaving ISM, visitors can stop by the gift shop to find the perfect souvenir. Gift shop proceeds are re-invested in the ISM’s programs, historic, ships, and collections. Visit the website here.
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