Today, we took a field trip to Canal Fulton in Stark county to ride on a real horse-drawn canal boat. The boat is called the St. Helena III. We had about 8 families join us for the ride, some of whom are new to the group, which is wonderful. I love meeting all of the new people, and I could see some of the kids making some new friends, which is the best part.
Other than having some trouble finding where to go, we had a very nice trip. There aren't many signs there to tell you if you are in the right place. I found one small brown one across the street coming from the North that pointed to the left. They are doing quite a bit of construction, so I imagine that they will work on making it more clear when it is finished. It was quite hot and sunny, so the drivers and the young guy narrating were dripping sweat. Although the boat is open and obviously not air-conditioned, it is shady, and it wasn't too uncomfortable for us during the cruise. It was a very smooth ride, and the guide was quite informative giving a brief history of the canal and how the boats operated. There was also plenty of time for questions, which he was able to answer easily. He really seemed to know what he was talking about. On the ride back, the children were allowed to climb up on deck to watch the girl steer the boat. They even climbed up on the roof.
We were given the group rate, which only requires 12 people or more. The group rate is $5.50 adults, and $3.50 children 5 and older. Under 5 are free. It is possible to take a stroller on board (one of us did it), but you have to carry it down the few steps there are to get on the boat. The cruise takes most of an hour.
The staff were quite friendly, especially considering how hot they were. If you go, though, don't expect them to be around before the cruise, since the same crew drives the boat as sells the tickets, so you have to wait for the earlier boat to return in order to buy tickets for the next cruise. Cruises run at 1, 2 and 3 o'clock most afternoons. Also, there was no bathroom. There was a port-o-potty, which I assume was there for the construction crews, but it was used by us as well.
If you're interested in visiting, you can call 1-800-HELENA3 for info.
