Get ready to rove on the river this season as the NC Estuarium opens its 14^th annual season for river-roving pontoon boat tours; but don’t delay. Be sure to call and reserve your spot for one of the tours offered this season.

According to Tom Stroud, deputy director for Partnership for the Sounds, trips can book up to a month in advance, particularly in the summer.

Started in 2000, the estuarium begins offering tours the first Wednesday in April and continues to conduct tours until October.

“We give people an opportunity to enjoy the river and hear a little bit about the history and the habitats right around the Washington area,” said Stroud.

During the season, two tours run each day, Wednesday through Friday and one tour runs on Saturday. In order to finance the costs of fuel for the tours as well as boat maintenance, donations are strongly encouraged.

“The weather can be a little iffy at times, but to us, here, it is the beginning of spring, the beginning of a very busy time, something we look forward to. We are happy to offer this. It can be pretty challenging at times to meet the demand, but we try to do our best,” Stroud said.

Stroud said the tours, for the most part, follow the same route.

“We go downriver toward the railroad trestle and then turn around and go back upriver, usually into Bear Creek, a tributary of the Tar River,” Stroud said.

According to Stroud, the tours are conducted by a group of about 12-13 volunteer captains who also serve as guides for the tours.

“They are folks who are very experienced boaters and they also talk about the things you see. They enable you to enjoy the beauty and serenity of the trip,” Stroud said.

According to Stroud, in December, the estuarium also offers a week of mistletoe river roving in which participants have a chance to travel along the banks of the river and harvest mistletoe, a Christmas tradition.

The tours allow about 10 individuals per tour. The tours require individuals to be 16 year of age and up to participate in the river roving. Children 6 and up must be accompanied by an adult.

The Estuarium is a facility of the Partnership for the Sounds, which operates facilities such as the Roanoke/Cashie River Center in Windsor and the Columbia Theater Cultural Resources Center in Columbia. River Roving trips are available on the Roanoke and Cashie rivers at Windsor and on the Scuppernong River at Columbia.

For more information or to make a reservation, call 252-948-0000.