Romance on the water Venice style!
Venice, you say? …… No, Gig Harbor WA!
The water parts smoothly as we glide serenely through mirror-still water, listening to an Italian love song sung just for us. The stillness of the night enhances the romantic mood and we take a sip of wine. No, it’s not Venice. It is Gig Harbor, Washington!
Gig Harbor
Just minutes from downtown Tacoma, Washington, 44 miles from Seattle and 150 miles from Portland, is the picturesque community of Gig Harbor. There, Gig Harbor Gondola offers tours with a singing gondolier and authentic Venetian gondolas.
Travel placidly through the harbor on Puget Sound, learn the history of the area, snack and sip for an hour or hour and a half, all while being serenaded in Italian. It’s the adult version of Disney magic. Recently our daughter treated my husband and me to a ride with Gig Harbor Gondolas for our birthdays.
Having been to Venice, and knowing the history of “authentic” gondolas, we were a bit skeptical that this adventure would be comparable. (One fact that signals a real gondola from Venice is the iron prow with six prongs denoting the six sestieri—neighborhoods–of Venice). The minute we saw the Gig Harbor gondola, affectionately named Tomasso Sebastiano (one of two “Ferraris of Venice” used by the company, imported from the Italian Tramontin family), we knew it was the real deal—the illustrious iron prow proved it. In fact, Tomasso was even better, because this gondola was spotlessly clean and new, complete with gold enhancements. Greg, the gondolier’s, hat, and shirt were also true to Venice, though a rain jacket was added on a blustery evening.
John (“Cinque”) Synco started his gondola business in Gig Harbor in 2015 after working with the first modern American gondola business in Southern California. His passion for the sport of rowing and his love of Venice runs deep. In fact, in 2005, he participated in the Volgalonga, a once-a-year celebration of rowing taking place in May in Venice, Italy, featuring a twenty-mile trek outside of the city taking over 4 1/2 hours to complete.
Despite the threatening clouds, the ride was serene and memorable, a tour of the entire harbor, sprinkled with little-known facts about the Gig Harbor waterfront and the town itself. The water was glassy calm, and the gondolier was undaunting, friendly, and professional, despite the rain.
We were treated to an ongoing dialog– history of the businesses that surround the harbor, interesting facts about the homes that encircle the water (Did you know Brad Pitt once put an offer on one of the homes?), the history of the net sheds fishermen use and continue to use to store and repair their nets, and more. The bonus was that we were also serenaded (in-key!) with four Italian songs, including the iconic O Sole Mio and Santa Lucia. It was memorable and special–calming, refreshing, and romantic all at the same time. In fact, by the end of the ride, raindrops weren’t the only moisture on these cheeks.
Wonder what to do for your next anniversary or Valentine’s Day? Look no further. This is it! Good to know:
Cost:
- Half Harbor (one hour): $90 for two people, $25 for each additional person up to six total, free for children under five.
- Entire Harbor (90 minutes): $120 for two people, $25 for each additional person up to six total, free for children under five.
- Appetizers are available for $15 additional, or you may bring your own. See the website for options.
Inclement Weather:
- Winter schedules depend on the weather.
- Blankets are available for cooler journeys.
- In case of rain, the gondolier will call you with options.
Contact and schedule:
Sunny in Venice — Rainy in Gig Harbor!!!!
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