We hail from the state of the voyageurs, the land of ten thousand lakes and the headwaters of the Mississippi. Canoes are not a novelty in our neck of the woods. That doesn’t stop us from thinking of how extraordinary it is, however, to ply the Rivers of America alongside the Mark Twain Riverboat and the Sailing Ship Columbia. Certainly not in Minnesota are you going to circle Tom Sawyer’s Island with its pirate trappings and treetop secret hideouts. Not likely that you’ll encounter a Native American village along the banks, either, or all manner of wildlife conveniently hanging out at the river’s edge for easy viewing.

The park guest-powered Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes in Disneyland have been on the map since 1956, making them one of the few remaining attractions of that early era. But please, don’t make the mistake of thinking the canoes have passed their expiration date. Our whole family found it to be one of our favorite outdoor attractions. Most of the kids were excited to get their paddles in the water on a sunny spring day (even the smallest ones can participate if they please) and my tween amused himself by “accidentally” dousing me each time he dipped his oar. All of us enjoyed rounding a curve to find the native woodland creatures out to greet us. Sure, you can find moose in Minnesota, but good luck spotting ones so eager to be photographed.