Duck tours are land and sea sightseeing tours using WWII-era amphibious vehicles known as ducks. They can enter water and transport tourists along city streets and waterways. The first duck tours operated in Milwaukee in 1946 and have since expanded globally. Tours are lighthearted and include puns and jokes from the captain. They typically last one to two hours and highlight major tourist areas and historic sites.
A duck tour is a land and sea sightseeing tour offered in many cities around the world. The defining feature of the tour is the tour vehicle, a WWII-era amphibious vehicle known colloquially as a duck. The vehicle can enter the water directly and act as a boat, allowing tourists and sightseers to be transported along city streets and along waterways without having to change vehicles.
General Motors first designed the DUKW amphibious vehicle in 1942. It served as an amphibious landing craft in World War II and played an important role in the D-Day invasion of Normandy. After the war, DUKW vehicles and their equivalents spread throughout the world for military and civilian applications such as use by search and rescue teams and supporting abalone fishermen.
Duck tours use a blend of original WWII ducks, reconstructed ducks, and modern duck-like amphibious tour buses. The name “duck tour” derives both from the amphibious nature of the vehicle and from the similarity between DUKW and duck. Modern duck-shaped vehicles typically seat about 30 people on bus-like benches. While most duck vehicles have rain covers, some riders experience a bit of water splash when riding on rivers and lakes.
The first duck tours operated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin soon after World War II ended in 1946. Many cities that have significant bodies of water now offer duck tours, whether they are coastal cities or inland communities on lakes or rivers. Although the duck tour concept started in the United States, it has expanded globally, with operators now offering duck tours in countries such as Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom.
Duck tour operators tend to run lighthearted tours with things like a public address system loaded with sound effects and music clips. Many captains offer jokes full of jokes, mixing comedy with standard tourist information. Participants on a duck tour should be ready for puns of varying quality, such as having a duck guided by a “conDUCKtor” or “cackling” with laughter. Most duck tours are one to two hours long and highlight major tourist areas and historic sites.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
