No ducks in Philly

[ForYourLungsOnly]

Originally Posted by Jrn14

but you're saying you wish they would get rid of the tours because you find them "tacky" ... I'm not saying they shouldn't have more sophisticated/educational tours as well (which it seems already exist), but the tours are a huge hit with families and tourists and they bring a lot of joy to their customers and actually showcase the city in a great light. The dive bar and the gastropub can both exist.

My personal opinion is that they are tacky. I said I don't personally care if they go away...but I won't be "upset" if they stick around. I then expressed an opinion regarding a different type of tour and was of course called "pretentious" because "the ducky tours are fine". How dare I have differing ideas. I love both dive bars and gastropubs btw (the best yet is a dive bar that sells good craft beers, best of both worlds), and agree they can both exist. Why is everyone so sensitive about this? Is it a modern Pittsburgh thing for people to be overly sensitive about differing ideas/opinions, because I don't recall that being the case with people I hung out with during my recent life there...that was usually relegated to the commuter Armstrong County crowd who were afraid to drive through the city in fear of being shot and the old time yinzer crowd who feared a tunnel/bridge.

What I meant to say is "duck tours are FINE and we don't need any pretentious crap. anyone who dislikes family friendly duck tours is pretentious. pull yourself up by your bootstraps. go stillers".

[Salmonburgher]

Originally Posted by Jrn14

The ducky tours are fine... They are quite educational and informative, but they have a nice hook/gimmick that will get the kids and John Q. Public on board. Just because they are a little flashy and fun doesn't mean they are "bad" ... Seems rather pretentious

I was back home in Pittsburgh this past August and I was photographing Pittsburgh from different vantage points. I wanted to get on one of the Gateway Clipper boats to take some shots from the rivers, but, I missed the last boat of the day. I had noticed people lining up for the Duck Tours, which I had not considered.

I decided that as I had missed the last Clipper boat of the day, I would take a Duck boat. I did not expect much and was only doing the tour to get on the water for some photo shots of the city.

However, I was pleasantly surprised at how good the tour was, for what it was. They ask everyone to "quack", which is really cheesy. But, the tour covered considerable ground (and water) and I learned a few things about my home town that I had not known before then.

[Copanut]

If you get enough people to take up the entire boat you can take some booze along.