Ride the Ducks in Branson, Missouri

A unique way to tour the city of Branson and its surrounding areas, Ride the Ducks provides visitors with a fun land / sea excursion unlike any other. No boring narration on this ride! As is true with all Ride the Ducks tours around the country, these excursions are led by humorous guides who can provide passengers with plenty of information about the area while maintaining a light-hearted atmosphere, making it appropriate for all ages.

Branson Ride the Ducks takes place on replicas of the World War II-era DUKW amphibious vehicle. While some companies use actual refurbished DUKW vehicles, Ride the Ducks builds new ones that take advantage of the latest advances in marine design, making this a safe ride for all. (Ride the Ducks vehicles even helped rescue those stranded in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.) The vehicles, which can ride on land and water, are built just outside of Branson and are Coast Guard certified and tested regularly.

 

Currently, two different Ride the Ducks tours are available in Branson. The Classic Table Rock Lake Adventure takes about 70 minutes to complete and includes a ride on land through the entertainment district of the city and time spent floating on picturesque Table Rock Lake. On the Branson Landing Adventure, a 60-minute adventure, the vehicle travels through the historic district of downtown Branson and then cruises along Lake Taneycomo. Time on the water for both tours is about 20 minutes. Most people can tolerate the Ride the Duck tours, even those who might be prone to seasickness. The waters of either lake are quite gentle and the speed of the boat rarely reaches more than about 7 miles per hour. Passengers do not get wet.

The tours depart from two different “Duck Docks” in town, where guests can buy their tickets for that particular tour. Tickets for the Table Rock Adventure are available online as well, and reservations for either may be made by phone.

Part of the fun of Ride the Ducks tours is interacting with the wacky captain of your duck vehicle, who boasts an unusual name that’s designed to make you smile. He/she tells jokes, spins stories, and sings songs, but also imparts plenty of interesting information about the history of Branson and the Ozark Mountain region. Passengers also interact with fellow travelers on the streets of town or on the shores of the lake by blowing on their “Wacky Quackers™”, duck bill-shaped noisemakers that are supplied to each passenger regardless of age. The Quackers have become synonymous with Ride the Ducks and are just another part of the fun.

Ride the Ducks Branson offers daily tours several times a day from mid-March through the end of December. Special Holiday Lights tours are offered twice a day from early November through mid December and include a free Santa hat for all and an opportunity to sing (or quack) some Christmas tunes while on board. Ride the Ducks also offers birthday packages that include a tour as well as use of a party room.

Useful Links:

http://www.ridetheducks.com/

http://www.bransonducks.com/

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