ALBANY - Put on a swimsuit, grab a pair of sunglasses and load some cold drinks in a cooler - that's all needed for some fun on the river.
Tubing on the Sugar River at S&B Tubing, Canoeing and Kayaking, a fixture on Main Street in Albany for 18 years, offers a mini three- to four-hour get-away for about four miles south along the Sugar River.
Lindsey Hobson of Orfordville took her cousin, Morgan Strzok tubing for her first time on Monday.
"For me it's relaxing," Hobson said. "You don't have to do anything. It's not like a boat where you have to motor it. They have everything ready. Not having to do anything and just laying back is the best part."
While many come in seek of peace and relaxation, the tubing rides on the Sugar River can offer more since riders can get out of their tubes as long as they remain standing in the water.
"It's like riding on a lazy river in the Wisconsin Dells," said Evie LaPointe, S&B manager. "Our landing is so peaceful."
It's also a good opportunity to enjoy nature: Tubers may have a chance to spot turtles, cranes, deer and an assortment of birds along the river. LaPointe said there is even a bald eagle nest in a fresh water spring along the four-mile tubing journey.
Eliza Coster-Hergert of Madison made her second trip to Albany for tubing this summer. She enjoys being outdoors and when she has a day off it's a great way to unwind from a stressful week at work.
"It's fun to get out in nature a little bit," she said.
LaPointe manages the tubing business for her friend, Jenny Bryant, who owns the business that has been in her family for 18 years. The tubing business was started by her father Gary Bryant. LaPointe and Jenny Bryant are both 2007 Albany High School graduates.
LaPointe works for S&B Tubing in the spring and summer and works as a caterer in the winter. She's also pursuing a career in health promotions and wellness.
"I think when people come and use it as a get-away, that is inspiring to me," LaPointe said of the tubing business.
The business strives to be good stewards of the environment along the river. LaPointe said employees from S&B clean the river at least once a week.
"We want to make sure we do the clean-up so everyone in town is happy," LaPointe said. "We want to make sure everyone enjoys a great time on the river especially when it's busy on the weekends."
All the land along the river is private property. The state Department of Natural Resources developed a wet-foot rule, meaning if tubers keep their feet in the water they are permitted to walk along the river.
After a four-mile tubing ride, a shuttle bus will pick up visitors at a landing and give them a ride back to the tubing shop in Albany.
Tom Naegle of Belleville was tubing with nine co-workers from the University of Wisconsin-Hospital on Monday. It was Naegle's second time on the Sugar River. He's done tubing on various rivers about six other times.
"It's relaxing and a great way to hang out with friends and co-workers," he said.
The best part of LaPointe's job is seeing visitors with special needs or who are handicapped get their time on the river.
"The most rewarding part is the enjoyment I see from people when they get off the river," she said. "It's a great job. It allows for a nice winter of travel."
Tubing on the Sugar River at S&B Tubing, Canoeing and Kayaking, a fixture on Main Street in Albany for 18 years, offers a mini three- to four-hour get-away for about four miles south along the Sugar River.
Lindsey Hobson of Orfordville took her cousin, Morgan Strzok tubing for her first time on Monday.
"For me it's relaxing," Hobson said. "You don't have to do anything. It's not like a boat where you have to motor it. They have everything ready. Not having to do anything and just laying back is the best part."
While many come in seek of peace and relaxation, the tubing rides on the Sugar River can offer more since riders can get out of their tubes as long as they remain standing in the water.
"It's like riding on a lazy river in the Wisconsin Dells," said Evie LaPointe, S&B manager. "Our landing is so peaceful."
It's also a good opportunity to enjoy nature: Tubers may have a chance to spot turtles, cranes, deer and an assortment of birds along the river. LaPointe said there is even a bald eagle nest in a fresh water spring along the four-mile tubing journey.
Eliza Coster-Hergert of Madison made her second trip to Albany for tubing this summer. She enjoys being outdoors and when she has a day off it's a great way to unwind from a stressful week at work.
"It's fun to get out in nature a little bit," she said.
LaPointe manages the tubing business for her friend, Jenny Bryant, who owns the business that has been in her family for 18 years. The tubing business was started by her father Gary Bryant. LaPointe and Jenny Bryant are both 2007 Albany High School graduates.
LaPointe works for S&B Tubing in the spring and summer and works as a caterer in the winter. She's also pursuing a career in health promotions and wellness.
"I think when people come and use it as a get-away, that is inspiring to me," LaPointe said of the tubing business.
The business strives to be good stewards of the environment along the river. LaPointe said employees from S&B clean the river at least once a week.
"We want to make sure we do the clean-up so everyone in town is happy," LaPointe said. "We want to make sure everyone enjoys a great time on the river especially when it's busy on the weekends."
All the land along the river is private property. The state Department of Natural Resources developed a wet-foot rule, meaning if tubers keep their feet in the water they are permitted to walk along the river.
After a four-mile tubing ride, a shuttle bus will pick up visitors at a landing and give them a ride back to the tubing shop in Albany.
Tom Naegle of Belleville was tubing with nine co-workers from the University of Wisconsin-Hospital on Monday. It was Naegle's second time on the Sugar River. He's done tubing on various rivers about six other times.
"It's relaxing and a great way to hang out with friends and co-workers," he said.
The best part of LaPointe's job is seeing visitors with special needs or who are handicapped get their time on the river.
"The most rewarding part is the enjoyment I see from people when they get off the river," she said. "It's a great job. It allows for a nice winter of travel."
