connecticut river expeditions - riverquest

Captain Mark makes the trip so interesting. We have taken RiverQuest many times in the last decade. We have been on a simple summer boat ride with the family, we have done the Swallow Cruise, the Eagle cruise, the Battlesite Essex cruise and even some small corporate functions. Every time we enjoy ourselves. We always see something new. Captain Mark and his crew are always welcoming and give a great tour pointing out interesting facts about the river, the birds and sea life and the properties along the shore. Of course, everything is better in good weather but RiverQuest has covered areas so you can stay dry and somewhat warm. They let you borrow their binoculars so you don't have to miss anything when you forget yours. Definitely recommend this as a great couple of hours.

We took a 90 minute Sunday afternoon cruise to celebrate my sister-in-law's birthday. Everyone loved it. It is a great activity for out of town guests. We arrived about 40 minutes early but we were not the first people there! Many people came early and boarded the boat to eat their picnics. The boat is a friendly casual place and they do not mind if you move chairs around to make groupings with your friends. I definitely recommend bringing along some food. Many lavish picnics and bottle of wines were on board.The ride is lovely and relaxing. We saw a bald eagle and some other less rare birds and lots of lovely scenery. The binoculars they have on board are a great asset and it was nice that the hosts gave a lesson on how to use them. The narration was informative and clear- they really knew how to direct your eye to find the pretty sights. They timed the ride precisely for a photo op of the Essex Steam Train riding by. This is may not be the ideal time for seeing lots of birds, but even so we loved it. I definitely plan to go again at different times of year. A bargain for $20.

We took the morning 4 hour tour and loved it. They have binoculars for everyone to use, which I really appreciated as I had forgotten mine. They have coffee, tea and water for all. You can bring on snacks,meals and beverages. We saw eagles, egrets and a large number of osprey. it was fantastic. It is also informative about what you are passing, and info about the river itself.

I was on the boat Sunday 8/24. It was gorgeous day and a great way to spend a relaxing Hour & a half on the CT river . I have gone on this boat 4 times since we moved here 2 yrs ago. Sometimes you see eagles, or osprey and many other birds. Captain mark & his wife Mindy are great hosts and the narration on the trip is just enough. Longer cruises are available for a few bucks more

A group of friends from Fairfield, New Haven and Hartford counties was looking for a central place to meet for a night out. The two-hour sunset cruise along the Connecticut River was an excellent option. The boat is docked across the river from the historic Goodspeed Opera House. On its trip down the river, it passes by another Connecticut landmark, Gillette Castle. On our voyage, we saw bald eagles, osprey and other birds.When we booked our reservations, we let Mindy and Captain Mark, the boat operators, know we had a party of eight. When we boarded the boat, a table and chairs were set up to accommodate us. (We brought along our own snacks, beverages, plates and utensils.) We were also fortunate to have great weather, but there's a covered section of the boat to keep you dry if it rains.

I loved this. We took the daytime Osprey cruise. Captain Mark is very knowledgeable about the area and his commentary was both informative and engaging. Mindy was a great hostess and made everyone comfortable.They have bathrooms on the boat, and also binoculars at no extra charge to see the Osprey nests. I recommend bringing something to eat and drink - we took white wine and cheese - to make it a truly wonderful experience.

Captain Mark and Mindy really know the river and the wildlife, and have great binoculars to share, too. They are so accommodating to our little group each time. This time it was their ''River of Dreams , Selden Creek ' before sunset --- magical!

Lovely way to spend an afternoon on the beautiful river! Watch for wildlife /birds with your binoculars or use theirs, or just sit back and enjoy the ride and scenery...bring a picnic for the ride or make the short drive to Gillette castle and picnic there after the ride, either way you're in for an enjoyable time! This has become an annual treat for me!

Captain Mark and Mindy were great! They are warm and friendly and extremely knowledgeable about the Connecticut river and its river traffic, points of interest and wildlife. We got to see 3 bald eagles on this trip which made it a bonus for us. We definitely would take this trip again.

Captain Mark and his First Mate do a safe, informative, entertaining job. Be on board at the appointed time or plan to take a fine picture of the boat receding into the distance.Good binoculars and instruction are provided.Bring your own lunch. Bottled water is provided.Call ahead for weather and capacity updates.

My wife and I took the sunset cruise on a Saturday night and we had a great time. Mindy and Mark did a great job a letting everyone know where to look for the various birds along the cruise as well as points of interest. We brought along our cooler packed with drinks and snacks for the 2 hour cruise (which actually lasted 2h 15m). It was our 1st time experience seeing Bald Eagles in Ct and mind you we saw 6 different ones. Thanks for a great time.

We brought hearty sandwiches from a good nearby takeout place, wine and sodas for a sunset cruise a week ago Saturday, a pleasant June night. My wife and I and our two younger 20-something sons sat at a table just under cover, with windows and doors open to the breeze the boat generates as it cruises up and down the Connecticut River. This remains one of the less-developed, beautiful places I know, and still much as I remembered from the last time I was there, 30 years ago; a treasure of a locale. We had a perfect evening; no one was rowdy, the off-and-on narration from first mate Mindy was enjoyable, the river-bottom sonar fascinating to watch on a screen, but most of all the river, the riverbanks, and the gradually fading day made for a serene mood and a deeply satisfying two hours. You can walk onto the open decks or stay in or near the covered area. The boat is a stable, two-pontoon number, though I would have had no idea of its structure had I not read the website blurb. It's not a yacht, but a good working boat that provides an easy ride on the water and tons of visibility. Loved it.

Fathers Day Cruise,second time and just as much fun as the first one,Capt Mark and his wife Mindy are a fun and very well versed in the history of the Ct. River, no where can you get such views, smooth trip.A must is the fall cruise to see the swallows dive at sunset, it is an unbelievable spectacle. Take a picnic lunch to have at one of the picnic tables on the grounds or bring on board, one of Ct.'s best trips!

This is a great trip to take !! Capt Mark and Mindy know their stuff. There's a lot to see on the lower Ct river and Mindy and Mark keep it lite and fun. It is a boat so dress according to the weather and it will be fine. We look forward to taking more cruises on the RiverQuest.

We had a most enjoyable tour of the Southern part of the CT River on the River Quest.The ride was very smooth and the weather was perfect on Fri Aug 31. Our captain showed us the highlights of the river, shared it's history, and pointed out the wild life including an eagle on our cruise.Bring your camera and a pair of binocaurs also! and anything you want to eat and drink.We sat at the bow and had a terrific view.