Today’s adventure floated us right onto the Hudson River. We picked Linda up at her hotel and headed down to the dock, with Lucky excitedly leading the way—as if he had booked the tickets. Our ride for the morning: the Dutch Apple Cruise boat, a classic river cruiser that felt just the right mix of touristy and relaxing.

Once aboard, we set off south down the Hudson, the city of Albany slowly shrinking behind us. The cruise lasted about 45 minutes before turning back, but the real highlight was the steady stream of views along the shoreline. From bridges and old warehouses to leafy stretches of riverbank, there was always something to point at. A narrator gave us the backstory on what we were seeing—local history, river lore, and plenty of fun facts that made us realize we were sightseeing and learning at the same time.

One of the most exciting moments came when we spotted bald eagles perched high in the trees along the shore. Their white heads stood out against the green canopy, and everyone on deck leaned toward that side of the boat for a better look. It felt like a special reward from the river itself—America’s bird giving us a flyby cameo. Lucky may not have noticed the eagles, but the rest of us were thrilled.

Back on land, we returned to the Airbnb for a quick pause before dinner plans called us out again. Just a short walk away, El Mariachi served up colorful plates of Mexican food that hit the spot after a day on the water. Afterward, we strolled back through the neighborhood—Linda peeling off to her nearby hotel while we wandered back to ours, full and happy.

The Dutch Apple Cruise turned out to be a perfect mix: history lesson, city views, bald eagle sightings, and a very content dog who can now add “riverboat passenger” to his résumé.