Last week, the Coast Guard announced that there would be major closures on the Potomac and Anacostia rivers for the July 4 holiday weekend. Since then, several cruises have reported having to refund sold-out fireworks tours that routed through the closed areas. But if you were hoping to be out on the water and have yet to make a booking for the 4th, or are having to rebook—all is not lost.
Several companies running kayak and boating excursions in DC tell us that while routes have changed, boaters should still be able to see the National Mall fireworks from the water.
Adventures Unbound is one of the largest cruise and boat rental companies in DC. They are an official partner of America 250 in creating on-the-water events for visitors. District Operations Manager Gabi Muskett said that the announced river closures have required Adventures Unbound to cancel one of their annual kayak paddle-outs.
Every year Adventures Unbound takes folks out on the water from both their Key Bridge and Thompson boat houses. This year, the closures span from Key Bridge to the 14th St. Bridge Complex on the Potomac, and between Fredrick Douglas Bridge and the 11 St. Bridge on the Anacostia. After the announcement, Adventures Unbound had to refund bookings for the trip planning to leave from Thompson boathouse.
“It did send us back to the drawing board a little bit,” Muskett said. “But we are very excited for what we have now been able to turn around and provide.”
Adventures Unbound is still sending a few hundred kayakers and canoeists out of the Key Bridge boathouse for skyline fireworks viewing, but with the waterfront closed in front of Thompson, that boathouse will now be hosting a viewing party on land.
Muskett said that they’ve had lots of interest so far and Adventures Unbound still expects to meet their sales goal. It helped, she said, that the announcement came two weeks out—they had time to pivot and, besides, people tend to make fireworks plans at the last minute.
“So while there’s definitely still room to sign up now, we pretty much will see all tours and experiences fill up in that last 48 to 72 hours,” Muskett said.
Lavert Phillips is the CEO of GoBoat, which offers boat rentals in the Washington Channel. Phillips said that companies operating on the waterfront are familiar with closures.
Last year when President Trump hosted a military parade in honor of his birthday, waterfront closures were announced at the last minute—forcing GoBoat and other businesses to offer refunds for Father’s Day weekend.
“That was exactly a year ago, so it does bring back bad memories,” Phillips said.
Yet, because of GoBoat’s smaller operating area, the announced closures won’t impact their bookings. Even so, Phillips said he remains anxious about the possibility of further last-minute closures. A City Cruises spokesperson said that they also are monitoring area closures to finalize routes in the coming days, and demand is still high.
