The New York State Canal System comprises four canals covering 524 picturesque miles -- 338 of which are the Erie Canal. The season runs early May to early November, just when the last leaves of autumn have dropped. Riverfarers can explore the canals in various vessels: English narrowboats, houseboats, refitted ferries, small cruise ships, canoes, etc. Trips range from two hours to multiple days, with captain or self-crewed.
Erie Canal Cruises (800-962-1771, www.canalcruises.com), for example, charters a 42-foot canal cruiser with two private suites for $1,700 to $1,900 for three days, or $2,200 to $2,800 per week. For a shorter sojourn, Colonial Belle (585-223-9470, www.colonialbelle.com) has a three-hour lock cruise for $18 per person, or $31 with Sunday chicken dinner and ribs. The New York State Canal Corp. (800-4CANAL4, www.canals.state.ny.us) has a list of tour boat companies and other pertinent information.
We'll have a day and a half in New Orleans. Do you have any info on swamp tours and haunted history tours? We won't have a car and are staying outside the city.
Norma Eigles
Columbia, Md.
After kicking around for hundreds of years, it's no wonder New Orleans is so rich with spooky lore. With Haunted History Tours (888-6-GHOSTS, www.hauntedhistorytours.com), you could spend a day exploring the darker side of Crescent City. Options include the Ghost, Haunted Garden District or Voodoo/Cemetery tours. Tours are $20 per person and leave from central locations in the French Quarter and Garden District. From the outskirts of town, catch a cab to Carrollton Avenue and hop a street car. Just as bone-chilling are the walking tours by New Orleans Spirit Tours (866-314-1224, www.neworleanstours.net); to really get freaked out, go after dark.
For swamp tours, there are a trio of choices: slow, medium and super-speedy. Cajun Pride Tours (800-467-0758, www.cajunprideswamptours.com) offers swamp tours by motorboat or canoe ($20 and $25, respectively); it also offers transfers from various area hotels for $20 extra. Airboat Tours (800-975-9345, www.airboattours.com) has boats that rocket through the glades at 50 to 70 mph; cost is $35 to $45 per person, plus $60 per couple for hotel pickup.
For other tours: New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau (800-672-6124, www.neworleanscvb.com).
Send queries by e-mail (travelqa@ washpost.com), fax (202-912-3609) or U.S. mail (Travel Q&A, Washington Post Travel Section, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071).
