Take A Ride On This One-Of-A-Kind Paddle Boat In Maine

One of our favorite Maine facts is that the coastline here is even longer than that of California! Makes sense when you consider just how many beautiful inlets that exist all the way up and down the coast. With all that coastline there are quite a few options for enjoying the water. But, what some visitors forget is that we have plenty of great waterways inland. Rivers, lakes, and ponds dot the landscape making it easy to get out on the water. If you can make it away from the coast, we recommend heading to Long Lake in Naples for a ride on a beautiful, old-fashioned paddle boat!

The Songo River Queen II is located in Naples, ready to explore the most beautiful parts of Long Lake!

This unique paddle boat is a replica of the Mississippi River Paddle Wheelers that were once a popular leisure time activity in the south.

She was built in 1982, but her home dock is filled with even more history. It dates back to before the 1920s, which is when this photo was taken. If you look closely you can see the Bay of Naples Inn that stood overlooking the lake from 1899-1965.

The Songo Queen II was built to look and operate as much like the old paddlers as possible. She's 93 feet long and 23 feet wide with a capacity of up to 350 passengers. She's also wheelchair accessible.

There are two decks on board, one at the top with a canopy and one that's fully enclosed.

The paddle boat also has a food court and full bar which means this is a great way to enjoy a meal as well.

Rides are offered on Saturdays and Sundays during the pre-season which runs from Memorial day through the end of June. In season rides take place almost every day of the week.

During the in-season visitors can choose from a two-hour journey running from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. or a one hour trip departing at 4 p.m. and returning at 5 p.m.

In the fall these later rides allow for some breathtaking sunsets.

Trips on the Song River Queen II travel along the eastern shore of the lake then cross to return down the western shore. Sometimes the route is reversed, but both ways mean different scenery throughout your trip. That scenery includes Mt. Washington as well as quite a few historic areas along the shore.

Visitors can enjoy rides all summer and continue into the fall when visitors can take in the incredible changing Maine foliage.

Your voyage typically runs from six to 12 miles depending on the length of the ride chosen.

Whichever journey is right for you, you can be sure that you'll have fantastic views on a unique Maine paddle boat.

Throughout the operational season there are special events as well, so be sure to check out the website listed below to start making your plans.

The Songo River Queen II typically operates from Memorial Day through mid-October with varying schedules that include just weekends or a few days a week depending on the time of year. The official in-season runs from July 1st through Labor Day and includes two rides each day from Thursday through Sunday. You can see a full schedule and book your tickets for pre-season rides, in-season rides, and post-season autumn rides on their website. You can also follow them on Facebook. They can be reached on 207-693-6861.

For more ways to get out on the water check out these 9 boat adventures that will show you a side of Maine you didn't even know existed!