The weather may be getting cooler, but the Milwaukee River isn’t frozen over yet. Good news: drinking and boating is still an option.
Two boat lines are offering saucy tours into October, so it is time to shove off with that wooden leg attached. Riverwalk Boat Tours offer cruises six nights a week that are themed for maximum slosh: Margarita Mondays, Tiki Tuesdays, Wine Wednesdays, Funky Fridays and Social Saturdays. All of these hour and a half specialty cruises leave at 6pm and 7:30 pm from Pere Marquette Park on Old World Third Street.
Margarita Mondays are pretty self-explanatory. Tiki Tuesdays offer tropical cocktails, beer and Caribbean music. On Wine Wednesdays, boaters can sample various wines with the help of a wine expert. Thirsty Thursdays get more serious- vodka lemonades, rum punch, beer and reggae music. Funky Fridays have sangria, New Orleans style hurricanes, beer, soft drinks and appetizers. Social Saturdays have beer, wine and vodka lemonades.
If you have a group and want to plan an outing, Riverwalk allows customers to rent either the Brew City Queen II (capacity 42) or The Milwaukee Maiden (capacity 30). You can B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Booze) and simply pay a $25 clean-up fee. This is a great option for work function, birthday parties or just to gather a group of friends to sail away with some good drinks.
Riverwalk also offers weekend brewery tours. For four hours on Saturdays (through September 29; $25 per person), you can sample unique brews at three microbreweries. Start at Lakefront Brewery (1872 N. Commerce St.), where you get multiple drink tokens to sample before, during and after the tour. Next you’ll depart for The Ale House (233 N. Water St.) for another drink and optional tour. Finally, the boat docks at Rock Bottom (740 N. Plankinton Ave.) where you go below deck to their private bar and party room. Call 414-283-9999 for tickets.
Edelweiss is the city’s other competing boat line offering party cruises. Friday and Saturday nights are Miller Lite Party Cruises from 10:30 pm-midnight. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays are Margarita Fiesta Cruises from 5:30-7 pm. These all-you-can-drink margaritas and taco buffet cost $20 in advance or $25 to walk-up. To bring a little culture or sass to Milwaukee, Edelweiss added their “Sexy in the City” cruise, which serves martini flights with Hors D’oeuvres. This cruise costs $25 in advance and $30 for walk-ups. Carrie Bradshaw would be thrilled.
They will be hosting a Halloween Costume Party on October 26 and 27. The costume winner will win $100 free bar tab. With the $17 advanced reservation or $22 walk-up ticket, you get Miller Lite tappers and a nacho bar. Call 414-276-SHIP for tickets and more info.
Thank God, it’s not time to hibernate yet. Luckily many of these boats have indoor, heated seating. Grab a sweatshirt, some friends, and enjoy the scenery as you sip and sail along!
