The best way to get to know the place you are vacationing in is by signing up for a walking and riding tour of the area at the beginning of your trip. Galveston offers a variety of tours guaranteed to increase your appreciation of the history and beauty of our favorite place on Earth. There are electric shuttles can take you all around the island, bus tours that allow you to get off and on at different stops to explore more in depth on your island, helicopter tours, ghost tours, and one of the more unique tours: The Galveston Island Duck Tours. No, this is not a tour of duck habitats throughout the island; this is a tour where you ride in the duck, a six-wheeled amphibious truck that drives both on land and in the water!
The History of the Duck
Originally built for the Military during World War II, the DUKW (D is for the year it was built, 1942, U stands for utility, K means it has all wheel drive, and W is for the dual powered rear axles) the DUKW was involved in the invasion of Normandy in 1944, carrying over 18 million tons of supplies to the area after the invasion, in addition to its involvement during the invasion. Today, although the DUKWs used for the Galveston Island Duck Tours were built in 1945, they never saw military action until Desert Storm and have been completely renovated for the safety of the tourists who ride in them today!
The Tours
The tours start in the waters of Offatt’s Bayou and then proceeds on land for a tour of the Strand District and the Silk Stockings district, home to some of Galveston Island’s more beautiful historic buildings and homes. The captain of your Duck Tour in Galveston will have a United States Coast Guard Captain’s license and a grand supply of stories and anecdotes about our island and the people who make their lives here. No one likes to laugh at themselves more than a Texan!
Tickets
Costing $18 for adults, $12 for children, and $5 for kids 2 and under, this reasonably priced adventure is a whimsical way to tour the waters and the land of Galveston. They generally have at least two or three Galveston Duck Tours leaving every day, but that can change due to weather, so you should probably give them a call at 402-621-4771 for times and further information!
