It's the Most Fattening Time of the Year!

Yes, that's right! You know the song?! Sing it with me (to the tune of Andy Williams): It's the moooooost fattening time of the year!  It's also the most fun time of the year, once you get past the stress of finding the perfect gift for a loved one or figuring out what to do with those in-laws. So, here's Ride the Ducks' list of 5 things to make your holiday season brighter, more cheery and full of laughter!

1. Ride the Ducks' Holiday Lights Tour! It's a 40-minute sleigh ride on wheels! Adults: $15; Kids: $5, plus tax. Departs nightly from Westlake Park through December 30th (closed 24-25th).

2. Gift certificates! This holiday season, give the gift of laughter and fun! Purchase online or over the phone at 206-441-DUCK(3825).

3. Cinderella Duck! The classic story of Cinderella is featured this holiday season at the 5th Avenue Theatre! For groups of 10 or more, get a Holiday Lights Tour with tickets to the show!

4. Wine and Lights! Nothing says HOLIDAY CHEER like a nice glass of wine! Ride the Ducks has partnered with Evergreen Escapes to bring you a night of festivities, food and wine!  Public tours offerred on December 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 23 and 30th. OR, book for a group of 8 or more any day through December 30th (closed 24-25th).

5. The Original Land and Water Tour! Don't worry! Our original, wacky land and water tour departs daily through January 1st from two locations! In-laws driving you nuts? Here's a great way to get rid of them for an hour and a half.

Enjoy! Happy Holidays!

Thank you!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and here at Ride the Ducks, we'd like to say "Thank You" to everyone who plays a role in making Ride the Ducks of Seattle one of the most fun attractions in the city.

First and foremost, our team! We have an amazing team of Captains, Mechanics, Customer Service staff and office members who work tirelessly throughout the year to make sure that Ride the Ducks of Seattle is the safest, most fun attraction in the city. Backstage and front of house, we appreciate everything you do for our guests and our company. You are the best!

And of course, let's not forget, our dancin' in the aisles, grinning from ear-to-ear guests! You are the reason we do this day in and day out every year! It makes us happy to see you happy. Whenever you visit Seattle or have guests in town or are just looking for something to do, thank you for spending 90-minutes with us. We *heart* you!

Last, but not least, our partners and vendors throughout the city and across the country. What would we do without you? There are far too many to list, but from the east coast to our own backyard, we appreciate the re-designs, the education on new products and services, the quick shipping, the weekly check-ins, the quarterly check-ups and everything in between. We work with you because you make our jobs easier and our products better. Thank you!

This Thanksgiving weekend, we hope you feel as lucky as we do to be surrounded by great people throughout the year. Happy Thanksgiving!

Aren't the leaves of fall beautiful? The city looks so different in each season!

Aren't the leaves of fall beautiful? The city looks so different in each season!

Ducks Donate 100% of Ticket Price to Starlight!

Ride the Ducks of Seattle will donate 100% of ride sales
on October 15, 2011
to Starlight Children’s FoundationNorthwest.

On Saturday, October 15, 2011, Ride the Ducks of Seattle will donate 100% of ticket sales to the Starlight Children’s Foundation up to $10,000. Guests can reserve tickets in advance or walk-up to purchase tickets at either 5th Avenue & Broad Street, across from the Space Needle or Westlake Center, in the heart of downtown Seattle. Buy tickets now!

Ride the Ducks started a partnership with the Starlight Children’s Foundation Northwest in 2008. This annual event has raised $30,000 over the past three years and Ride the Ducks is excited to be able to continue this tradition.  

In the spring, Ride the Ducks donates three of their WWII “Ducks” for a tour for Starlight children and their families. The Ducks will pick up the children and their families and depart from Swedish Hospital. After seeing all the sights of Seattle, the Duck will SPLASH into Lake Union to see Gasworks Park and a breathtaking view of the skyline.

“It’s incredible to watch the children’s faces light up when the Ducks splash into Lake Union. To be able to be a part of this is really heart-warming for the entire staff,” says Brian Tracey, President of Ride the Ducks. “We are excited to be able to partner once again with a great organization. Starlight lets kids be kids and have some fun – and that’s what we do, we sell fun!”

About Starlight Children’s Foundation Northwest

Starlight Children’s Foundation is a non-profit organization providing education, entertainment and family events that improve the quality of life for children with chronic and life threatening medical conditions before, during and after treatment. Starlight Northwest touches the lives of over 7,000 children and their families each month through over 90 in-hospital programs and various outpatient events in Washington and Oregon. To volunteer, support, or learn more about Starlight, contact 425-861-7827 or visit www.starlight-northwest.org.

Retired Videographer Gets Kicks from Elaborate Home Movies

Today, we received a letter from Brian Neff from Cleveland.

"I am a retired video documentary maker, but still getting my kicks from making elaborate home movies. My family and I were in Seattle last year and had the great pleasure to take one of your Duck Tours led by Captain Whynn D. Whether. I hope you enjoy the video as much as I enjoyed riding the Duck and putting this video together."

Check it out! What a great video!

Packers WIN, Jubal loses bet!

Jubal Flagg, from Seattle radio station Movin' 92.5, may rethink his love of the Steelers in the future. His fate was sealed when the clock wound down to zero and the Green Bay Packers won Superbowl XLV. Jubal bet DJ Mayhem, a die-hard Packers fan, that the Steelers would win and what was on the line? Control of their Facebook page and washing a listener's car in a bikini.



Good thing the Ride the Ducks' employees listen to Movin' in the morning!



Yesterday, Jubal, DJ Mayhem and Brooke stopped by Ride the Ducks to watch as Jubal put on a two-piece and started scrubbing! Check out the photos and videos!







The SeattleInsider was here too!

National Rubber Ducky Day Marks the Start of the 2011 Season!

Thursday, January 13th is National Rubber Ducky Day and Ride the Ducks is partnering with The Children's Museum to celebrate!

Ride the Ducks will kick-off its 2011 season with tours on January 13th from 11am to 3pm from our location at 5th Avenue and Broad Street, right across from the Space Needle and The Children's Museum at Seattle Center.

Plus, The Children's Museum will be hosting a series of family-fun activities including a Ride the Ducks Parade (including the famous duck Quackers!), Rubber Ducky races, Rubber Ducky story time and more! Visit The Children's Museum calendar for more information!

Ride the Ducks will kick-off 2011 on National Rubber Ducky day on Thursday, January 13th and offer daily tours through Martin Luther King Day (Monday, 17th). Tours start at 10am and depart frequently until 3pm.

January 13th through February 12th, we'll have tours open on Friday, Saturday and Sundays. After that, we'll have daily tours through the end of the year!

Ride the Ducks voted a Must Visit for College Students!

Awesome! Thanks for the recognition! College students, kids of all ages and the young at heart always have a blast on the Ducks!

Ride the Ducks to offer Holiday Lights Tours!

Quack, laugh and sing-a-long with your Wacky Captain on 40-minute land only adventure tours of the downtown Seattle holiday light displays!

The most fun holiday lights tour in Seattle is now at Ride the Ducks! Starting on Friday, November 26, you can grab a pair of holiday bells and hop on board a WWII amphibious landing craft for a 40-minute land-only tour of the holiday light displays in the downtown Seattle core.
Guests will clap and sing along with their Wacky Captain as they belt out songs like “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” and “It’s the Most Fattening Time of the Year” as the Ducks tour the holiday lights in downtown Seattle. Guests will see light displays at Westlake Center, Toyland Village at Pier 57, Pioneer Square, Pike Place Market and the downtown shopping district.

“We’re excited to add a new tour that can be the perfect addition to your family’s trip downtown to enjoy the holiday festivities! We have purposefully made this very affordable to entice entire families to join in on the fun,” says Brian Tracey, President/CEO of Ride the Ducks of Seattle.

Tours will depart nightly starting at 5pm from Westlake Park, near the Holiday Carousel, at 4th Avenue and Pine Street from November 26 through December 30th. Ride the Ducks is closed on December 24-25th. Adults: $15; Children $5, plus tax.

Ride the Ducks will continue to offer their original land and water tours during the day departing from two locations: 5th Avenue and Broad Street and Westlake. Tours depart seven days a week through January 1st from 11am to 3pm Monday through Thursday and 10am to 3pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Reservations are recommended; walk up tickets are available.

Ride the Ducks Makes Dreams Come True!

"When you're asked to make a wish, we expect most of you to ask for the world: cars, trips, money. But one woman just wanted to take a ride with some very special kids," Josephine Ching from King5 TV reports with Meeghan Black on Evening Magazine!



Thanks so much to First Place School for an awesome Duck Tour!