Seaport Museum's summer fun on the water

Summer is in full swing and the Independence Seaport Museum has a schedule full of outdoor activities the entire family can enjoy.

Along Penn's Landing, the nautical museum is home to one of the largest maritime collections in North America and their summer lineup is full of water activities, excursions, and behind the scenes tours of historic ships.

Inside the museum there are exhibitions and artifacts that document the history of the Delaware River, an important aspect of the mission according to President and CEO John Brady.

"Our mission is to deepen the experience, appreciation, and understanding of the Philadelphia's region waterways," says Brady.

Visitors can explore those waters up close in a kayak, rowboat, swan, or dragon boat.

"We think everybody should be in a boat, right? It's fun," says Brady.

For a more relaxing experience, guests can sail in one of the museum's excursion boats, the Liberty or the Patriot.

"They'll go out every evening for sunset cruises," explains Brady. "They have a bar on-board."

The Seaport's summer camp program offers hands-on education opportunities for kids ages 6 through 12 and according to Brady there will be plenty of things to explore.

"We look at everything from pirates on the river, to what's in the mud. The kids all learn how to paddle and row, and then in the science lab they'll bring water samples in and test them and find out what's living in the water," says Brady.

The River Stewards Program is designed for high school kids with on-the-water training and conservation awareness.

"And that culminates in a 12-mile trip at the end of the summer where they row the boats from here to Bartram's Garden on the Schuylkill River," says Brady.

Two landmark ships provide a glimpse into history.

"We have the Olympia which is a cruiser from the 1890's, and we also have a World War II submarine, the BECUNA," says Brady.

The Cruiser Olympia is one of the last remaining ships from World War I and beginning July 21st, it will be transformed into a weekend long tattoo convention, a fun event with historical implications, according to Brady.

"It's an opportunity to get a tattoo just as a sailor would've in 1896," says Brady.

The Independence Seaport Museum is open daily. For tickets and museum hours visit: The Arts in Philly.