sailboat cruise watkins glen

Cruising Seneca Lake with Captain Bill’s Boat Tours

The Finger Lakes region is well known for its great wineries and waterfalls , but the lakes themselves are also something special and worth exploring. So, when visiting Watkins Glen, I was excited to take a Seneca Lake tour with Captain Bill’s Cruises.

Captain Bill’s Cruises leave from a dock on the southwestern end of Seneca Lake and is easily accessible from town. There is a small lot next to the dock where you can find free parking, but, given that the dock is only 0.6 miles from the entrance to Watkins Glen State Park , you could also park in their lot if you are also planning to hike the trail there since the parking fee there covers the entire day.

Seneca Lake cruises with Captain Bill’s run from mid-May through mid-October, with daily sightseeing cruises on the Seneca Spirit, as well as dinner and show cruises on the larger Seneca Legacy.

The Seneca Spirit is a new-to-the-area boat that started plying Seneca Lake in 2021. It replaced the Stroller IV, a mahogany-lined boat that was built in the 1930s.

While the Seneca Spirit lacks the historic charm of the Stroller IV, it’s larger and provides two levels of seating (including an open-air second deck), and there are now bathroom facilities on the boat.

Despite the tours not being on a historic boat any longer, my family and I were still excited to get out onto the water and grabbed seats on the top deck, a great spot to be on a beautiful day.

Sightseeing cruises leave several times a day and last about an hour. They start on the west side of the lake, going approximately 3.5 miles north, before crossing the lake and returning along the eastern side of Seneca Lake.

Along the way, there is a lot to see along the shoreline including beautiful lakefront homes and a large salt factory.

As the boat travels along the water, a live narrator offers commentary on the lake’s history and ecology, as well as what can be seen from the boat. This narration is a bit sporadic during the trip, which gives you plenty of time to simply enjoy the scenery along the lake and watch the many smaller boats on the water.

While the first half of the tour along the western shores is very nice, in my opinion, the highlights of the tour are mostly on the eastern side of the lake, especially the chance to see the incredible Hector Falls .

Hector Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in the region and is one of the state’s most impressive roadside waterfalls . However, from the road, you can only see the top half of this majestic waterfall.

Fortunately, while portions are blocked by trees during the summer months, you can get a great view of this entire waterfall from the water, which was definitely one of the highlights of the Seneca Lake boat cruise for me.

Another highlight was seeing the Painted Rocks along the cliffs on the southeastern end of the lake.

As the story goes, these rocks were painted by Native Americans commemorating their escape from John Sullivan’s expedition in 1779. However, while the story of their escape is likely true, these cliffs were almost certainly painted at a much later date. In fact, one historian believes they may have been done by a local boat tour operator in the late 19th century.

Either way, the paintings that you can see from the boat today, which include teepees (which weren’t used by local tribes), dancing Native Americans, and an American flag, were done to commemorate the event’s 150th anniversary in 1929.

So, while the story told on the boat may only be partially true, seeing the paintings on the rock is still one of the more interesting aspects of the tour.

Overall, my family and I really enjoyed our tour with Captain Bill’s on Seneca Lake. While it’s a bit sad that they no longer have their historic boat, the new vessel does offer more space for visitors and provides some great outdoor seating that wasn’t available on the Stroller IV.

So, if you are looking for a really fun way to spend an hour while in Watkins Glen, want to get out onto the water in the Finger Lakes , and want to learn more about the area, this Seneca Lake boat tour is a really fantastic option.

Looking for more places to visit in the area? Check out a Skaneateles Lake sightseeing cruise near Syracuse , the waterfall in Havana Glen Park , the many waterfalls near Watkins Glen , and the best Finger Lakes breweries .

Captain Bill’s Seneca Lake Tour

More nearby places worth exploring

Hiking Through Corbett’s Glen Nature Park Near Rochester

The Corning Museum of Glass: One of New York’s Best Museums

Lights on the Lake: Festive Christmas Fun in Syracuse

Visiting the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse, New York

Find more things to do in the finger lakes.

Jim Cheney is the creator of Uncovering New York. After spending 5.5 years exploring Pennsylvania, Jim discovered a love for New York and is excited to spend time exploring this great state and uncovering the best things to do here.

2 thoughts on “Cruising Seneca Lake with Captain Bill’s Boat Tours”

I hope you’ll also sail the schooner True Love on Seneca Lake some day, next to Captain Bills. True Love is a historic racing schooner from the Malabar series built in 1926 and featured as a model that Cary grants gives to Katherine Hepburn in the movie Philadelphia Story (1940) and in High Society (1956) where Bing Crosby serenades Grace Kelly on her deck. There’s nothing like sailing on a nearly 100 year old boat when the wind is up! “My, she was yar!”

As a new resident of Central New York, I look forward to your emails and use them to plan fun weekends exploring my new home area. Keep ’em coming! Thank you!

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Captain Bill's Seneca Lake Cruises

• 1 N. Franklin St.
• Watkins Glen, NY 14891
• (607) 535-4541
• Visit Site | E-Mail

Discover the beauty and charm of Seneca Lake as it can only be seen from the water. With two vessels to choose from, we offer scenic boat tours on Seneca Lake, including lunch, dinner, private parties, and weddings. Captain Bill’s vintage, 49-passenger mahogany vessel, the Stroller IV, offers informative sightseeing excursions. This hour-long tour of Seneca Lake, a tradition since 1908, provides a brief look into the history of the lake and the surrounding area. You will be captivated by Hector Falls at 165 feet, the majestic cliffs of the east shore with Native American Paintings, and a view of the salt industry. Dining in the Finger Lakes would not be complete without experiencing the splendor of a meal cruise aboard the luxurious Seneca Legacy. Our meal cruises boast full course seated dining with fantastic entree selections prepared daily by our chef. The casual elegance of the finely appointed Seneca Legacy is complemented by her friendly crew. Our officers and staff promise to spoil you and your guests from stem to stern. Whether sailing for dinner, lunch, cocktail, or an entertainment cruise, you will experience elegant dining afloat executed with style and charm.

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Captain Bill's Seneca Lake Cruises

Restaurants/Cafés Attractions Boating & Lake Life

• 1 N. Franklin St. , Watkins Glen , NY , 14891
• (607) 535-4541
• http://www.senecaharborstation.com/
• for each social option that currently exists, below are 3 of them -->

Discover the beauty and charm of Seneca Lake as it can only be seen from the water. With two vessels to choose from, we offer scenic boat tours on Seneca Lake, including lunch, dinner, private parties, and weddings. Captain Bill’s vintage, 49-passenger mahogany vessel, the Stroller IV, offers informative sightseeing excursions. This hour-long tour of Seneca Lake, a tradition since 1908, provides a brief look into the history of the lake and the surrounding area. You will be captivated by Hector Falls at 165 feet, the majestic cliffs of the east shore with Native American Paintings, and a view of the salt industry.Dining in the Finger Lakes would not be complete without experiencing the splendor of a meal cruise aboard the luxurious Seneca Legacy. Our meal cruises boast full course seated dining with fantastic entree selections prepared daily by our chef. The casual elegance of the finely appointed Seneca Legacy is complemented by her friendly crew. Our officers and staff promise to spoil you and your guests from stem to stern. Whether sailing for dinner, lunch, cocktail, or an entertainment cruise, you will experience elegant dining afloat executed with style and charm.

Captain Bill's

Seneca lake cruises, seneca harbor station.

Seneca Harbor Station Restaurant

2024 schedule

Open for the season

Friday May 3rd 4pm-9pm

Saturday May 4th 11:30am-9pm

Sunday May 5th 11:30am-9pm

Monday May 6th 11:30am-9pm

Tuesday May 7th 11:30am-9pm

Wednesday May 8th 11:30am-9pm

Thursday May 9th 11:30am-9pm

Friday May 11th 11:30am-9pm

Captain Bill's Seneca Lake Cruises

is for the 2024 season.

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Waterfront Dining on the Finger lakes

Destination dining afloat, sightseeing cruises.

Seneca Harbor Station offers elegant dining at our full-service restaurant replete with sandy beach patio and exceptional waterfront views from our beautiful dining room.

The casual elegance of the finely appointed Seneca Legacy is complemented by her friendly crew. Our officers and staff promise to spoil you and your guests from stem to stern. Whether sailing for dinner, lunch, cocktail,or an entertainment cruise, you will experience elegant dining afloat executed with style and charm.

Captain Bill’s offers informative sightseeing excursions. This hour long tour of Seneca Lake provides a brief look into the history of the lake and the surrounding area. The Seneca Spirit is an enjoyable way to take in the scenery and spend an afternoon.

Our story begins in 1963...

Captain Bill Simiele (pictured left) purchased a single tour boat in 1963.  From that humble beginning, his vision for the lakefront  has evolved into what we all enjoy today at Captain Bill's and Seneca Harbor Station. All who knew him felt his genuine warmth and love for all people.  From the early days through 2006, he managed with humor and had a positive influence on many lives.  We love and miss him dearly.

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For cruise reservations call 607-535-4541

For Restaurant reservations call 607-535-6101

1 North Franklin St. Watkins Glen, NY 14891

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Captain Bill's Lake Cruises

Cruising on seneca lake.

10 mile scenic cruise sailing hourly. Lunch, evening dinner & cocktail cruises. Reservations.

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Captain Bill's Seneca Lake Cruises

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Martin Truex Jr is right and other Watkins Glen NASCAR takeaways

The first round has delivered the nascar playoffs shake up that it was intended to produce.

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Martin Truex Jr. is right, you know.

Maybe it’s this tank of a car that offers no repercussions over what drivers choose to do behind the wheel or maybe it’s the high stakes of the championship format that encourages it but the end of NASCAR Cup Series races right now are generally complete madness.

Candidly, the occasional Stock Car shish show is fun and separates NASCAR from purer disciplines like IndyCar, IMSA or Formula 1, but at what point do these races cease to become sport?

NASCAR president Steve Phelps, in telling Kevin Harvick on Happy Hours why they penalized Austin Dillon for his racing actions on the last lap at Richmond , said ‘we are not a demolition derby’ but it definitely doesn’t look like it more often than not

As a result, one of the cleanest racers of his era has had enough eight weeks before setting sail into retirement anyway.  

“You go into the esses and they just plow through you, put you in the marbles. This racing is just ridiculous. It’s a joke.”

“It’s just crazy that all these races always come down to this. I just don’t understand how guys can call themselves the best in the world when they just drive through everyone on restarts at the end of these races.”

“It’s very frustrating but it is what it is these days. I’m outta here.”

And by the way, this isn’t totally blaming the racers themselves, because what are they supposed to do with this underpowered weighty brick of a race car?

Goodyear’s radically experimental tire compound did not produce the intended results on Sunday. At one point, leaders Ross Chastain and Shane Van Gisbergen stayed out on tires for 40 laps and kept the lead based on the benefit of clean air.

It was a 90-lap race!

They can’t pass except on pit road, which is why you see super aggressive sends deep into the corners and corresponding blocks. When every position matters, especially under a three-race playoff round sample size, these are the ethics everyone has to play under.

Maybe, if the car was better it would at least allow these guys to actually go out there and properly race.

Just ask Ty Gibbs, according to this quote from The Athletic’s Jeff Gluck.

“Until you put 900 horsepower in these things, you’re not going to do anything. You cannot pass. Sometimes I feel like, is this car designed for us not to pass.” 

Instead, this is the underpowered heavy brick that can’t even get going on restarts until one driver slams into the one in front of them and can’t complete passes unless they deliver an even bigger shove or hook.

It’s a car designed for crashing more than racing.

And the response to all of this was to start the playoffs, what should be the ultimate test of racing execution, at a lottery comprised of a diet superspeedway, a road course on an experimental tire and a Bristol Night Race designed to replicate the extreme tire wear conditions from March.

When these are the conditions, how do we expect them to drive? And this is perhaps the point, the memeification of as many races as possible and there comes a point of diminishing returns when races devolve into a never-ending crescendo of crashes.

Because deep down, right now, we are a demolition derby.

Praise for Chris Buescher

Despite how the race trended in the midpack near the end, the right guys ultimately contended for the win and what a duel it was between Chris Buescher and Shane Van Gisbergen.

Hardcore racing fans don’t need to be told this but Buescher really is one of the most underrated gems in the NASCAR Cup Series. There’s a reason he has been in the Roush development pipeline and then the main roster for over a decade and spanning two different ownership combinations.

There was always a conviction that once the Ford flagship put it all back together, and in this case was saved by the NextGen reset, that Buescher was going to lead them to a resurgence. Absolutely, co-owner Brad Keselowski deserves a lot of credit for the turnaround but it was also jointly his decision to continue having faith that Buescher was their guy too.

For all the hype Shane Van Gisbergen receives on road courses, and it’s absolutely warranted, Buescher not only took the fight to him but also overcame getting passed by the three-time Australian Supercars champion and pressure him into a mistake.

RFK Racing isn’t totally back yet but they are so far beyond where it was in the last half decade with the previous generation of car and Buescher was also going to be the catalyst for a turnaround if they could just keep him in the stable.

From that standpoint, it’s really remarkable that no one came calling to poach Buescher because he could have been had at a discount while Roush Fenway struggled season after season.  

And some of that is his demeanor, right? Buescher isn’t flashy. He’s not flamboyant. He speaks softly but is carrying one hell of a big stick right now and should be good for multiple wins for years to come.

Stray thought

If you really, whatsoever, questioned why Shane Van Gisbergen is getting the call from Trackhouse to run the Cup Series next year, this is why.

The same thing applies to AJ Allmendinger, who won the ROVAL race last year, and is coming back to the Cup Series with Kaulig Racing too.

At any point, for any race run on a road course, these two guys could change the entire course of a season for an organization.

COTA Mexico City Sonoma Chicago Watkins Glen

There are five regular season race chances for SVG and AJA to punch their tickets into the Round of 16 and positively impact the business of their team’s season. Sure, Buescher proved that all the Cup guys are just as capable of winning but this is Trackhouse and Kaulig stacking the deck.

Blaney’s gripe

Ryan Blaney was involved in the first lap crash with Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Corey Lajoie and the crash severely left his car damaged and with flat tires that made the car undrivable.

NASCAR officials determined the damage was enough to eliminate him from the race.

It made that determination, not because of the flat tires, but the damage to the suspension and concluded the Team Penske No. 12 wasn’t going to drive back to pit road for repairs.

“How are they going to dictate if we are done or not?” Blaney said. “They have no idea of the damage. They said because I couldn’t drive it back to the pit box that we were done, but if you have four flats you get towed back to the pit box. You can’t drive that back.”

The damaged vehicle policy has pros and cons, right?

On one hand, teams no longer have to carry around expensive crash carts and the spare parts each week, and that simplifies the race day experience over doing whatever it takes to get just one or two extra points.

On the other hand, the racing product would benefit from slower cars off the pace for the contenders to have to navigate around and them possibly dropping debris to cause cautions and naturally shake up the racing too.

But ultimately, NASCAR got this one right based on precedence, even if there’s a middle ground conversation to be had.  

After all, William Byron and Keselowski drove these cars away, and they couldn’t have been any worse than Blaney’s car.

Or Hamlin for that matter, but they all made it back to pit road.

Playoff dogfight

There is the potential for a tremendous amount of intrigue and excitement on Saturday night at Bristol.

For one, look at the provisional playoff grid above, with six drivers separated by 26 points.

Based on what Chase Briscoe did on Sunday at Watkins Glen, finishing sixth and scoring 10 stage points, anyone below the cutline can theoretically make that back up.

Briscoe was down-21 before scoring more points than literally anyone on Sunday.

But then there’s the open question about the tire wear. NASCAR and Goodyear has spent all summer hoping that Bristol would once again produce the same level of tire degradation and passing as the race in March.

Despite no one fully admitting they know what happened, there is a great deal of confidence that it’s going to happen again, with Hamlin thinking Goodyear did unwittingly modify the chemical compound and will do it again on purpose for this weekend.

If that proves successful, that’s going to be another wrinkle for all the playoff teams to navigate as they try to go fast enough to be in position to score stage points but without forcing a tire failure.

The March race was quite literally insane, producing superspeedway levels of passing stats but on a road course, now imagine that happening during a playoff cutoff race with three future Hall of Famers all trying to stave off elimination.

Get your popcorn ready.

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