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Cruising into fall

For lovely views of the hues, try a float on a boat.

As wooded shorelines erupt in fall colors, narrated river cruises become especially popular. That's easy to understand — why not kick back and let the scenery come to you?

On the most scenic part of the Mississippi, pontoons glide past 500-foot bluffs and into backwaters. In the northwoods, they explore a wild part of the Wisconsin River.

On the Dalles and in the Dells, paddlewheelers, launches and amphibious Ducks give passengers plenty to look at. 

This October, the new Ghost Boat is cruising the Wisconsin Dells, ending up at Witches Gulch — where special effects and spooky stories will add to the already creepy atmosphere.

Here are some of the best tours.

Mississippi Explorer from Prairie du Chien, Wis.: These pontoon riverboats ply the Mississippi at its most picturesque, the point where Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois meet. Based in Lansing, Iowa, the line specializes in backwater eco-tours out of La Crosse and Prairie du Chien, Wis.; Dubuque, Iowa; and Chestnut Mountain Resort, just south of Galena, Ill.

In fall, they offer two-hour fall foliage cruises out of La Crosse at 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 18 and from Prairie du Chien at noon Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 25. They're $20, $15 for youths 4-11.  Call 877-647-7397, 563-856-4444.

Dells Boat Tours in the Wisconsin Dells: Narrated tours on the Wisconsin River, past the famous sandstone formations, go out daily through Nov. 1. Upper Dells rides are two hours, $23, $11.50 for ages 6-11; Lower Dells are one hour, $16.75 and $9.25.

Ghost Boat tours go out at 6 and 8 p.m.  Fridays and Saturdays in October. The 1½-hour tours are $15 and are not recommended for children under 11. 608-254-8555.

Wisconsin Ducks in the Wisconsin Dells: The amphibious Ducks trundle along forest trails and into the Wisconsin River or Lake Delton. One-hour, 8½-mile tours go out through Nov. 1, $23 adults, $11.50 children 6-11, 608-254-8751.

Scenic Boat Tours on the St. Croix River from Taylors Falls, Minn.: Narrated paddlewheeler cruises take passengers past the evocative formations of the St. Croix's Dalles, formed at the same time and in the same way as Wisconsin's Dells.

On weekends through Oct. 11, seven-mile narrated trips leave daily at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 and 3:30 p.m., $15, $8.50 children 3-12; and three-mile trips at 5:30 p.m., $11 and $7. On fall weekdays, only the 1:30 p.m. trip is offered. 651-257-3550, 800-447-4958.

Wilderness Cruises on the Wisconsin River south of Rhinelander, Wis. The 76-foot Wilderness Queen, which formerly toured the nearby Willow Flowage, is one of the few remaining northwoods cruises, and its route gives passengers many opportunities to see eagles, osprey and herons.

It offers 1½-hour sightseeing cruises, $14, $8 for children 3-10, and two-hour Sunday brunch cruises, $28 and $23, on a pontoon with an open top deck and a handsome, knotty-pine lower deck. There's a cruise nearly every day through Oct. 11. 715-369-7500.

Pictured Rocks Boat Cruises on Lake Superior from Munising, Mich.: The 2½- to 3-hour cruises along the national lakeshore go out through mid-October. Cost is $33, $10 for children 6-12. 800-650-2379, 906-387-2379.

Steamboat Minnehaha from Excelsior, Minn. The autumn tours around Lake Minnetonka are very popular on this restored streetcar steamboat. The one-hour cruises go out at 12:40 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:20 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 11. Tickets are $10, $5 for children 12 and younger. It's smart to reserve in advance, 952-474-2115.

Door County Fireboat Cruises from Sturgeon Bay, Wis. A former Chicago fireboat offers 1½- or 2½-hour narrated tours of the bay and ship canal, past three lighthouses, through Oct. 15. Tickets are $20-$30, $15-$20 for children 9-17. 920-495-6454.

Last updated on October 1, 2009