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Huntington Beach, Calif.—Now
is the time to see the beautifully decorated
homes in a gondola ride. Spanning six islands in
Sunset Beach and Huntington Beach, the
Sunset
Gondola takes you on a private tour of the
lit-up houses and boats that fill the channels
and coves. These aren't just any houses,
however. Many are decorated for the Cruise of
Lights, an annual fundraiser. It's a special
experience that you'll certainly enjoy in a
night-time gondola cruise. You can ride alone,
with a loved one, family members and friends.
Men (and
women) listen up. If you're looking to impress
that someone special, the formula is simple.
Just book a romantic gondola cruise (in
Huntington Harbour) and
things should begin to heat up, no joke.
Italians have been doing it for hundreds of
years and it really works. Ask Tyson
Davis. The handsome man with golden skin and
sandy, blonde hair has paddled around the canals
of Naples for eight years, watching more kisses
and wedding proposals than others will see in a
lifetime. He looks like the quintessential
Southern California beach boy but when you hear
him speak in Italian, you quickly learn he and
his business partner, Tim Reinard, are both
ranked as America's top gondoliers. They've traveled to
Italy numerous times to win the Italian gondola race.
So
familiar with its success in promoting romance
is Davis, in fact, the professional gondolier
has banked his savings on a beautiful vessel
he's sure will bring joy and love to Southern
California tourists and locals. Versed in
traditions affiliated with gondola rides in
Italy such as stopping under a bridge to kiss (a
must), to myths that authentic Italian
gondoliers wear a red sash, he said that
American gondola passengers ask lots of
questions and are eager to embrace a slower pace
that a gondola ride affords.
If Davis
and Reinard look familiar, you may recognize
them and have even ridden with them previously
Long Beach's Gondola Getaway, where both
men worked for seven years. They know the
gondola business inside out so they
purchased a spectacular 6-seater gondola named Cantiere Costantini dei
Rossi and launched Sunset Gondola company at
Peter's Landing recently, offering full moon romance
cruises, daytime diversions and reservations for
Cruise of Lights, an annual December event that fills the Huntington bays
with reflecting lights from the decorated houses
and boats that line six manmade waterways.
Eventually they hope to grow the fleet to an
additional boat, then three or more. But for
now, they must pay off the mortgage on an
authentic Venetian gondola from one from the
oldest boat yards in Venice, which was acquired
from a gondola company at Oakland's Lake Merritt
where gondola rides are also offered.
From Duffy
electric boats to private yachts, we've tried
various watercraft around Huntington Harbour but
have never enjoyed a ride so much as the Sunset
Gondola cruise. The nearly silent and serene
gondola glides its way through the canals and
for an hour or two, allows you to relax, kick
back and just enjoy the ride.
Sunset
cruises are beautiful, but don't dismiss a
daytime experience that affords much picture
taking. Huntington Harbour is filled with
multi-million dollar waterfront houses, castles
and estates that you get to watch during the
day. Whether you choose a day adventure or
evening romance excursion, you're traveling with
the best gondoliers in the country, and you
can't go wrong. Reinard carries certification
through the U.S. Coast Guard where was also
issued license as a certified gondolier.
Gondola
Ideas:
Getting married on a gondola, proposing on a
gondola, dining at Captain Jack's and boarding
the gondola for a romantic after dinner cruise.
Family birthdays, anniversaries and even
important business deals can all be memorable
when you travel with Sunset Gondola, my choice.
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