just ducky

I have been on Just Ducky many times everytime I have family members come to visit I take them on Ducky. Captain Stewart and Captain Shane are two of the nicest people I've ever met. They are native Floridians and they are very knowledgeable of the area. It's a great hour and a half trip. Over an hour of the trip was on the water. We saw many birds and on most trips that I have taken we have seen dolphins and one time 3 manatees. It's an open air vehicle and a little bit loud but it's still an awesome tour. I would and do recommend it to anyone that wants to see Venice from the water.

Just Ducky is an Amphibious Tour on a Duck. It is open air. The trip is 90 minutes, about 60 minutes on the intrarcoastal waterway, and 30 minutes on roads to and from. Their brochure says it gives 3 tours a day 10, noon, 2, but in reality they only give tours hardly ever but whenever they have enough people to fill up the Duck. We had tried of 10 years of visiting the inlaws in Venice to go on this before we were down there on a day when they were actually taking the Duck out. I had no idea that a ride in a Duck (or at least this Duck) is so LOUD and smelly. The smell of diesel fuel for half the trip was pretty bad. The second half of the trip the wind was the other way, so we didn't have to smell the exhaust. The captain gives a sort-of half baked tour. He points out half dozen types of birds and some houses and restaurants along the intracoastal waterway. But the speaker system is sooo bad that it is almost impossible to understand a thing he says. And he has to use the speaker system because the Duck motor is so loud. There must be a better way to see the intracoastal waterway than on the Duck. Prices were $23.50 adult, $21.50 child, so it is not a cheap ride. No bathroom, no food available, open air bus like Duck. If I had known how loud and smelly it was, I would not have gone. I can't think of anyone to recommend this to.

I am a Big Brother in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. For a special occasion for my "little" I had arranged to take him on a Just Ducky tour. I called the day before to make reservations. The trip was to go off at noon. I drove well over an hour to get to the parking lot (they have no office!) where the Just Ducky vehicle is parked. My little and I waited and waited. At five till noon I called the phone number for Just Ducky. The very unprofessional owner said that there would be no tour because there weren't enough people scheduled. The result was a VERY DISAPPOINTED KID! This tour should be arrested for impersonating a legitimate business! SHAME ON THEM!!!!! I would caution ANYONE from ever using this company!

We were looking for something to do that an elderly aunt could enjoy. We had done similar things in Boston and Australia. We called and made reservations for a Thursday afternoon. It was a very short drive from Siesta Key where we were staying. It was an enjoyable afternoon. After a drive thru town we took "Just Ducky" into the water. Capt Stewart and First mate Laura were very helpful. We saw many beautiful birds, some lovely houses and waterways and even saw dolphins a few times. It was hard to find the price but it was 21.50 for Seniors and $23.50 for everyone else. It was well worth it for a 90 minute excursion. Only downside was the microphone was acting up and it was a little hard to hear. But they were very willing to answer any questions we had and pointed out some good sites. Also you were allow to bring your own drink which was good since it was 90+ that day.

On our recent trip to the west coast of Florida we stumbled across a unique trip called "Just Ducky" . Its a trip on an old amphibious ex military vehicle commonly known as a duck.One climbs a ladder to board because the trip starts in a parking lot beside the busy US41between Sarasota and Venice Florida.Once aboard Captain Stewart and son Shane give you the history of "Ducky" and its capabilities and then you are off down the centre of the 3 lane main highway high above the traffic and much to the amazement of passing motorists. Shane hoots his ancient horn at people you pass and there is much waving by everyone on board. The duck travels down to the intracoastal waterway slipway at Venice and the Captain drives straight into water. A super cruise follows down to the Gulf of Mexico with all points of interest pointed out , and the back out of the water and onto the road by the Yacht Club. The Captain then drives down the Venice main street with much more hooting at the shop owners and pedestrians. One and a half hours from the start finds you back at Duckys home having enjoyed a trip with a difference .If you are staying in the Sarasota area its worth a try