Believe it or not, one of the highlights of any trip to our Trip Pick of the Week, Phoenicia, is a trip down the Esopus Creek (which is really more like a river) in a tube. That's right - jauntsetter is sending you downriver in an inflatable doughnut, and if you act like you're too cool, or too grown up to do this, for shame! If you've never been before, we really encourage you to try tubing in this naturally gorgeous setting; not only is the scenery awesome, but you're probably going to be surprised by just how fun this silly sounding activity can be. The Town Tinker is Phoenicia's tubing outfitter, and they'll provide you with everything you need for a few hours of fun lazing downstream or rushing down rapids, depending on your preference. Just show up at their HQ downtown at 10 Bridge Street, and choose whether you want the "novice" or "advanced" route. Both will take about 2.5 hours to complete, and the Town Tinker will provide you with the necessary transportation from their base.
While we prefer languidly drifting down the Esopus, those looking for more of an exciting ride than what the "advanced" course offers should head over on July 18th and 19th for the "water release" event. This is when an upstream portal is opened up, and a higher volume and intensity of water is let out into the creek than usual, providing more intense rapids and a faster tubing experience.
Finally, one of the best parts of the experience is the affordability of it all: inner tube, life jacket and transport will all cost you just $20. The Town Tinker also sells hiking maps for the area and rents kayaks as well. Click through for more details.
2 comments
magixcarpet says:
We drove up to Phoenicia on 4th of July to do the tubing but abandoned the idea when we were told that it was going to be a bumpy ride. On the day that we were there, the water level was quite shallow (on non-water release dates) and the river bed is very rocky. If you are looking for a more relaxing tubing experience, I highly recommend http://www.delawarerivertubing.com/, in Frenchtown, NJ. Halfway through the river, there’s a hotdog stand where you can get your lunch.
(posted on 08/21/09, at 05:58PM)
admin says:
Thanks so much for the tip! It’s a good idea to call ahead when tubing anywhere – recent rain (or lack of it) can drastically affect conditions!
(posted on 08/27/09, at 11:06AM)