Boat Rides, LEGO Boats to Highlight Pennsylvania Coast Day

PHILADELPHIA — Over 550 people will enjoy a free boat ride atPennsylvania Coast Day on Sept. 12, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Penn’s Landing.

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary will give away over 350 tickets for the RiverLink Ferry and 150 tickets for the Patriot. Both tours will be narrated. It is also offering free kayaking and pedal boating in Penn’s Landing Marina. Those who take advantage of both could save up to $40.

“Many people don’t realize the Delaware River is something they can experience and enjoy,” said Lisa Wool, program director at thePartnership for the Delaware Estuary. “This festival changes that by getting people on the water with their families; many for the first time.”

Other attractions at Pennsylvania Coast Day include free face painting, free arts and crafts, free prizes, exhibits and more. A free shuttle will also take tourists to the Fairmount Water Works. This riverside museum is always free, as are its programs showcasing the city’s other coast, the tidal Schuylkill River.

Visitors can also venture inside the Independence Seaport Museum, where admission ranges from $10 to $15. This will get them up close with TEACH FLEET, the world’s largest collection of LEGO model ships.  Its centerpiece is the new RV Hugh Sharp. Commodore Wilbert McKinley modeled this after a nearby research vessel owned by the University of Delaware.

The Philadelphia Ship Model Society will also race motorized models in Penn’s Landing Marina. And the oil-spill boat DELBAY will be open for tours.

Sponsors for Pennsylvania Coast Day include the Pennsylvania Coastal Resources Management Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Philadelphia Water, Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, Fairmount Water Works, and Independence Seaport Museum.

More information is available at DelawareEstuary.org/Coast-Day. Callers can also inquire by dialing (800) 445-4935, extension 112.