Next week our play group is taking their annual cruise around Long Beach’s local waters via Long Beach Transit’s seasonal water taxi, the Aqualink. I am sad that we’re going to miss out on that as we LOVE that little red-and-yellow(-and purple) boat, and we especially love riding it with friends and family any chance we can get! In fact, we just took our traditional cruise with Grandma Beep the other week!

The Aqualink in Long Beach (CA) is one of our favorite summertime traditions!

I’ve written several times before about our fantastically fun outings aboard the Aqualink, so I’ll spare you a rehashed post of what’s I’ve already covered. What I will post today is a pictorial history of T’s time aboard through the years since discovering this water-ful summertime activity five summers ago. Ahoy, RMT’ers, and have a great weekend!

T’s first trip aboard the Aqualink in Summer 2009 (1-1/2 years old).

Summer 2010

Summer 2011

Summer 2012

This summer’s Aqualink excursion was as fun as ever!

The Aqualink and Aquabus (a smaller boat that runs a loop around Rainbow Harbor only) operate daily now through Sunday September 29, when it will close up for the summer 2013 season. The 68-foot catamarans in Aqualink’s fleet are all wheelchair accessible. Operated by Catalina Express, schedules vary depending on weekdays and weekends (you can find the schedule online here); please also note there are slow-boats and express runs that skip stops so please read the schedule closely. One-way fare aboard the Aqualink is $5 per person three-and-over (two-and-under ride free with paid fare companion), and the Aquabus is just $1 each way; no round trips on either boat and transfers and bus passes may not be used for fare. Don’t forget to cut out and bring your 2-for-1 fare coupons thanks to the Gazette Weekly Newspapers, which is good for the Aqualink or Aquabus.