st. helena iii canal boat rides

This is a very unique attraction that not many people know about. You first start out watching a film in a small theater on how and why the canal was built. You then take the short ride down to the lock and back on the horse drawn boat. On the way you learn so much about the city and it economic contribution as well as the history of the underground railroad that brought some slaves to freedom in canal Fulton. The staff is very knowledgeable. And the experience is eye opening to how far are this country has gone in a short time.

I took two preteens to the ride on a hot sticky day - I was expecting them to be grumpy, but we had a fantastic time - even though it was very humid, the kids and I enjoyed a peaceful ride on the canal. We went on a day when it wasn't very busy, so we got to talk to our guide for most of the trip. I'm looking forward to go back...

It was a nice scenic little trip for the family. Lots of history, great for homeschoolers and history enthusiasts. Very interesting.

Took our Seniors group to Canal Fulton for the day.The half-hour video before the boat ride was just full of interesting historical facts. The boat ride was quiet and relaxing and easily accommodated the 20+ of us. The narrator was very informative and added to the enjoyment. Almost everything worth seeing in the town is within easy walk. Stopped for Oser's ice cream after the boat ride and it was the perfect end to really pleasant outing. Highly recommend.

We rode the Helena III on a sunny Sunday afternoon. It was an enjoyable outing. A interesting commentary was provided along the way. Saw a great blue heron! There was an informative video in the visitor's center. Tickets were $8 each for an adult.

If you like history and a relaxing time this is something that is worth the time to do. A short movie was shown about the history of the town before getting onto the canal boat. The ride took an hour. The gentleman talking about the history of the canal and boat was great. He knew his stuff and when he broke out his banjo and harmonica and played the old songs I knew I had made the right choice by going there.

This is very well done, relaxing and educational. A great job of explaining the history of the canal system.

Our group of 6 included ages 22-84 and we all enjoyed this attraction very much. The ride lasted about 45 minutes, and our guide pleasantly explained the history of the canal and the local area. This is a family-friendly adventure and two groups with us even brought their well behaved dogs on board. Unfortunately, a mom brought a baby and a not so well behaved little boy that distracted our guide most of the ride. Two 1600 lb. draft horses literally drag the boat down the canal and back--very peaceful minus the kid. We were disappointed that the staff could not accept tips because they were city employees. They were all very patient and professional even with our "distraction".

My family loved the canal ride. We had an informative tour guide. He explained about the boats and how people lived on them. It was very fascinating! It took about an hour and I would highly recommend it!

Our group of six adults had a lot of fun going back in time when we rode the St Helena boat down the canal. We had a little trouble finding the departure site, but they held the boat a few minutes while we bought our tickets. Our guide was a young teen who said he was in training. He was excellent & humorous & answered the riders' many questions very well. We teased him a bit & he teased right back. Our boat was towed by a team of horses for a very smooth glide down the canal. We went a mile to the old lock site & the boat 'steerers' turned us around in the large pond area using long poles. It was slow & casual & very pleasant viewing beautiful gardens & wooded areas along the canal tow path. My brother-in-law was concerned about his horse allergy, but the horses were far ahead of the boat & he had no problems. We all enjoyed our little canal journey. The history relayed to us was very interesting & thought-provoking. We were so glad we made the effort to find this little Ohio canal & take our ride back into history. Thanks to the city of Canal Fulton & the heritage society who partner to put on this nostalgic, historic experience! We really enjoyed the 30 min video in the heritage center as well. The woman in the center was so accommodating & re-showed the film to our six as we didn't have time to view it before our boat ride (we got lost!).

The cost to ride the St. Helena is 7 dollars per person. The boat usually departs twice a day; you can buy your tickets right there next to the dock for the boat at the visitors center. My family and I have taken this ride many times and we have enjoyed most of the rides. The ride can take anywhere from 45 minutes to a little over an hour. The boat can be enjoyed by both the young and old; however, I would recommend if you are taking a little one on the boat to make sure that they can handle the ride. Once on the boat, it does not stop. There are no bathrooms and there is no water available unless you bring your own. We've had a couple of times when small children are crying hysterically because they want off of the boat or have to go to the bathroom. Not fun, especially if you're not even fifteen minutes into the ride and were hoping for a quiet relaxing time. However, there are bathrooms in the visitors center where you buy your tickets. It can also get pretty warm if there's no breeze.The ride is slow and relaxing, and most times they have an informative guide that describes the history of the canal and the boat. The people in the visitors center are very friendly and willing to answer any questions. There are a couple of restaurants and an ice cream place within walking distance as well. This is definitely worth checking out if you are in the area. It makes for a pleasant afternoon.

What a pleasant way to spend some time -- quietly floating down the canal. This is a really nice ride that most kids will like. My only complaint is that I wish it could go on all afternoon.

Very interesting and educational excursion! Boat moves slowly, so it's a good trip for kids and seniors, too.

A step back in time. Makes you wonder how we ever got this far today and very glad we did!