History of Duck Boat
During the early days of World War ll, the allies were faced with a tough tactical problem: how could they unload cargo and men from their ships in places where the dock facilities had been destroyed or simply did not exist? The answer was to unload cargo directly over the beach. But how?
The demands of war, along with technical know-how and old fashioned Yankee ingenuity combined to create the perfect solution: A vehicle that was half boat and half truck, that could run on land and water. Code-named DUKW (see where we get the name?), the first “DUCK” was actually a GMC truck enclosed in a water-tight shell.
Duck boats has become a popular tourist detonation in Boston. In recent years, duck boats have carried Boston Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics coaches and players during rolling rallies to celebrate the championships they have won.
Red Sox players on a duck boat during a rolling rally on Nov. 2, 2013 (photo by David Li).
Tickets can be purchased at Prudential Center or Museum of Science. The following is ticket prices for 2013. More info can be found at: bostonducktours.com
PRUDENTIAL CENTER TOUR
Pricing:
$33.99 Adults
$27.99 Students (ages 12 and up), Seniors (62 and up), and Military
$22.99 Children (ages 3 to 11)
$10.50 Children (under 3 including infants
Duration 80 Minutes
MUSEUM OF SCIENCE TOUR
Pricing:
$33.99 Adults
$27.99 Students (ages 12 and up), Seniors (62 and up), and Military
$22.99 Children (ages 3 to 11)
$10.50 Children (under 3 including infants)
Duration 80 Minutes
波士顿鸭子游的门票可以在普天寿大楼（PRUDENTIAL CENTER）或科学博物馆购买。2013年的票价为10.5美元到34美元不等，早上10点钟之前订票可以享受九折优惠。
我的波士顿鸭子游
（作者：楼兰）
波士顿以美国第一个大城市而闻名，还具有历史上的很多第一。“鸭子游”(Duck Tour)也是在这首创的，就是利用二战时期的水路两用登陆艇改装成旅游观光车，载着游客从市内街道游到查尔斯河面。记得是多年前“鸭子游”公司刚创立时，我曾受老板邀请带着女儿作为首批乘客来体验这水路两栖观光的滋味。岁月流逝，如今这类废物利用旧军车改装的旅游车在美国很多地方都流行了，但波士顿的“鸭子”还以“首创第一”闻名，外来游客都慕名而来体会一下呢。
最近陪几位国内来的客人，又乘坐了一回“鸭子”。这是上车站，这就是当年的两栖军用运兵车，据说是二战期间美国妇女们制造的呢。眼下类似的鸭子在波士顿恐怕有数十只了。
鸭子的驾驶员兼导游都幽默风趣妙语连珠，我们的司机小伙子是波士顿篮球队赛尔特人的铁杆粉丝，身穿该队的球衣。车顶上有救生衣，因为要水上游，这是必备的安全设备。在其他地方真发生过鸭车沉没造成伤亡的事故呢。
驶过波士顿市区的街道。尽管美国历史短暂，但东北部算是最有历史的地方，波士顿尽量保护古老的建筑。这是考百利广场(Copley Square)的古老三一教堂辉映着现代派的恒康大厦。
麻州政府大厦，屋顶是真金的奥！这是数百年前造的，如今美国老百姓可不允许政府部门这么挥霍了。新州长想重新装修办公室，都被选民们大扁了一通呢。听说中国如今有些县份上都修“白宫”，美国人民那个晕啊！
司机问：路上的车收起轮子变成什么？多数乘客说“船”，司机说不对，是“鸭子”——旱鸭子变水鸭子。下水啦，跟对面驶来的鸭子招招手。
查尔斯河流过波士顿和剑桥之间，鸭子畅游在宽阔的河面上，请小朋友们也过过当船长的瘾。记得十多年前带女儿乘坐鸭子处女航时，当时不到十岁的女儿也开过一把鸭子船，是最早的小船长之一，其后让孩子水上驾驶就成为“鸭子游”的传统。