Smith Colonial Hotel offers half-day and day-long canoe trips down the Delaware River. Whether you choose the 6- or 10-mile ride, the price is the same: for the canoe. The hotel's owner, a friendly man named Jeff, will meet you at 10 am at Fireman's park, a waterfront park in town, where he'll gear you up with a canoe, paddles, life jackets and a map of the river.
My boyfriend and I opted for the longer, 10-mile canoe trip. The ride was beautiful. Smooth, fast-moving waters and the occassional fly-fishermen kept the trip exciting. Where the Eastern and Western forks of the river converge, you can paddle around the center island in search of hawks' nests. We also spotted a doe and her fawn on the western bank.
As you paddle further downstream, the landscape changes dramatically, especially as you near Equinonq, another riverside village. The soft, tall grass is replaced with more dramatic stone cliffs.
Prepare to wait for your lunch because aside from the two canoe launches along the way, there are few banks suitable for docking and lunching. There wasn't much time to lunch in Equinonq since Jeff and his wife, Irene, arrived promptly at 2pm when we pulled ashore.
Quick Tips:
There are other canoe rental options in town, but Smith Colonial is the only one that includes a pick-up and drop-off.
Best Way To Get Around:
From Port Authority in Manhattan, you can catch a Shortline Bus to Hancock. It costs round-trip or .90 one-way. Once you are in Hancock, there is no public transportation. The village is quite small -- only 1,200 residents live in the village itself -- and easily walkable. There are two grocery stores in town, a movie theater open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and a Rite Aid.
If you do choose to drive, the Highway 17 leads directly to Hancock, and it is a stunning drive. With a car, you can discover the many surrounding villages and country roads throughout New York and Pennsylvania. There are countless daytrips heading in every direction from town.