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MARIETTA – With Labor Day Weekend approaching, many are firing up their grills in preparation of cooking their hamburgers and hot dogs and celebrating their day off.
But what if there was more to do than sit around and chow down among family and friends?
Fortunately, for those who wish to switch it up and try something new, Marietta has a lot to offer over the weekend that is sure to spice up the traditional Labor Day family fun. Ryan Smith, owner of Marietta Adventure Company, said the best way to enjoy Labor Day is to be active.
“Really, the basis for what we do at Marietta Adventure Company is to encourage people to get out and enjoy the outdoors and we do whatever we can to help people with that,” said Smith. “To be active makes a happier and healthier person and we think that makes the world a better place.”
There is a lot to do around Marietta throughout Labor Day Weekend where families can spend quality time with each other that is not centered around the grill.
“We have pontoon rentals, we rent pontoon boats and we rent bicycles,” said Stephanie Jarvis, day shift/night shift manager at the Marietta Harbor, located at 1 W. Butler St. “We have a lot to offer and we will be open on Labor Day.”
Jarvis noted that their docks are free to use as long as they aren’t full.
“You’re allowed to dock your boat for free as long as it’s not crowded,” she said. “People dock their boats and go shopping and just come back when they’re done.”
The Harbor offers pontoon boat rentals for $45 an hour and $300 a day with a $125 deposit. The bike rentals range from $5 to $7 an hour depending on the bike.
Additionally, a new business is in town and offers unique rental options to the area.
River Front Water Sports LLC is officially open as of mid-July to bring more Jet Skis to the area available for renting.
“We do rentals by the hour; $80 for the first hour and $70 for any additional hours,” said River Front Water Sports LLC Owner Nat Knolle. “That includes fuel, the life vest and everything you would need to operate on the water.”
Knolle said they launch from any public dock in the area and prefer at least 24-hour notice.
“It’s our first year and it’s a way to get into the market,” he said. “What we do is there are a couple of locations in the area that we launch from, including the Williamstown boat dock, Belpre boat dock and the boat dock in Devola.”
They stick to the Ohio and Muskingum rivers and have had quite a bit of business thus far for opening so late in the season, Knolle said.
The Marietta Adventure Company at 219 Second St. also offers a lot to do over the weekend even though it is closed on Monday.
“We offer bicycle rentals, kayak rentals; we do sales and we do repairs,” said Smith. “We like to make it as easy as possible to get out and enjoy the outdoors.”
The kayak rentals are $25 for half a day and shuttle trips – they provide all of the equipment and transport customers as well – begin at $30.
“We have trips arranged from an hour to an hour-and-a-half on the water all the way up to a day,” said Smith.
He noted that people can stick with tradition and expand the fun all within the same weekend and even the same day.
“The good thing is, if you have the day off, there is plenty of time to do both,” he said. “You can come in and do your bike trip, have your cookout in the afternoon and have a good balance to your day.”