Whether a life-long resident or just passing through the Queen City on a visit, people can find the best views of downtown Buffalo just off shore, on Lake Erie and the Niagara River.

"It's really exciting. Most people haven't had the opportunity to come out here and see the skyline of the city of Buffalo in this way," said Rick Hilliman, co-owner of the Spirit of Buffalo/Buffalo River History Tours.

Buffalo River History Tours are offered four times a day, seven days a week, helping people be a tourist in their own backyard.

"All of our residents that come on have lived here all their life in Buffalo, most of them,” Hilliman said. “After they get off a Buffalo River History Tour, learn the history of the silos, why Buffalo is even here and how it exists, they get off the boat and they just tell us all the time that they never knew that about Buffalo.”

Cruising along the waterfront on one of the many vessels is also a great way to sit back and relax with a drink in hand, with cocktail, wine and craft beer cruises also offered.

On weekends, kids can channel their inner Captain Hook on pirate cruise and adventure. 

But this summer, they'll be offering something for the first time with The Talls Ships coming to Buffalo's waterfront.

Not only will the Spirit of Buffalo vessel join the festivities from July 4-7, but the history tours will also give an up-close view of the action.

"We're going to have tall ships from around the world, and they're going to be docked from Canalside all the way to Erie Basin Marina, and they're going to be great to see not only from land, but you're also going to be able to see from water as well,” Hilliman said. “We're going to kind of adjust our history tour to include them as well.”