Your party of two to four people will be guiding yourselves through this journey; you can tailor each day’s pace and activities to your own preferences. You’ll be responsible for most of your own meals—and, needless to say, the steering of your houseboat. We’ve made several special arrangements for you over the course of the trip, and we’re here to help you tailor the experience to your interests however we can.

Keep in mind that every few hours you’ll be passing through a town where you can stock up on groceries and other necessary items, grab takeout, or settle in for a meal if restaurants are offering dine-in options. Often these grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, diners, and breweries are within walking distance of the canal, but ride-sharing apps are available if it’s easier to drive. (You can use the bikes provided with your rental!) Your houseboat will be outfitted with a small refrigerator and cooler, so you’ll be able to keep perishables and beverages cool.

The houseboat's electrical system works a lot like it would in an RV. There’s a set of batteries (that charge while the engine is running) that operate the appliances inside the boat. There is an inverter that converts the battery power to 110v power, which means that you can plug in chargers, fans, and smaller items just like at home. The inverter will not operate anything that uses more than 900 watts of power; this means that while using the boat's power, you can't use any appliance that gets hot (hair dryer, curling iron, coffee pot, toaster etc.) However, when you are at a dock, most often Shore Power will be available. The boat has a cord that you run to a power pole on shore which bypasses the battery/inverter system. While using Shore Power, you may use any appliance that you want to. And note that this and more will all be covered during the first afternoon's orientation!

August is one of the warmest months in Central New York State. Daytime temperatures hover around 80°F, dropping to the low 60s in the evenings, while the average relative humidity is around 75 percent. The water is warmer than in early summer, and you can expect some rain during any given week.

Travelers will be responsible for their meals during the trip, with the exception of dinner in Bushnell Basin on Day 3. As part of your registration for the trip, we’ll be asking for any allergies or dietary restrictions and will take that into consideration when arranging your dinner in advance.

As part of your houseboat rental, each boat actually comes with two bikes, which are stored right on the boat's roof. These are more basic bicycles—they have just one speed and pedal brakes—so if you'd prefer to bring your own, you're more than welcome to do so, and swap yours out with the ones on the roof. There are also places in the area where you can rent bikes, if preferred.

There are two houseboats (one 34-foot and one 41-foot) that are designated for pets. If you are looking at specific dates and hoping to bring a pooch, please send us an email and we can look into whether one of the pet-friendly boats is available for those or similar dates. Note that there is a $300 pet cleaning fee.

Visa requirements for the U.S. vary depending on traveler citizenship. Please check requirements for travel to the U.S. and any countries passed through in transit. A passport is required for international travel. We recommend your passport expire at least six months after your return home.

In addition to contributing to small businesses and local economies in under-touristed areas, your trip helps preserve and celebrate an important part of the region’s history: the remarkable Erie Canal. As the region begins its summer reopening, restaurants, museums, and other establishments are eager to welcome new visitors.