Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise – First Lady

If this is your first time in Chi Town and you are not visiting for long, I recommend you take this hour long cruise. The boat is clean and very chic. Get your tickets early as they get sold out in the evening! Plus you need to get there 30 min before the boat departs.
My group was lucky enough to have a woman there from the architectural society who was so versed in Chicagos history. She was very entertaining and lively. The views were amazing and the history was nice to know.
There was alcohol served on the bottom floor so a group of 40 – 50 year old ladies were riled up behind me mimicking the tour guide… I wanted to turn around and push them off but I figured this was their mid life crisis release.
There was an opportunity to take a gong skyline pic and I will frame it soon. Best to go when the sun sets.

This is definitely a MUST when visiting Chicago. The docent is passionate and VERY knowledgable. It’s a 90-​minute cruise through Chicago River, out to Lake Michigan just beyond Navy Pier, and back, with a full service bar. If you get in line early then you can easily get yourself a good seat. I would also recommend purchasing tickets well in advance for the time of day that you would like. Since this was somewhat of an impromptu decision, we selected one of the later tours in the day because it was the only tour left on our last day and we were determined to make sure this was a part of our experience. Needless to say, it was worth every penny. We both wished that we had the time and money to do it again. When I return to Chicago, I hope to do this again but earlier in the day.

If you ever visit Chicago make sure you do a boat tour. The architecture of the buildings are amazing, walking by them does not give them justice.

I visited Chicago for the first time a few weeks ago and I am so happy we got tickets for this Boat cruise. It covers everything you need to know about the Architecture of Chicago and its Beauty. It was informative fun and a good way to get rest f you are a Tourist. It was my Highlight of the Trip. They have a full bar downstairs, You can purchase a bottle of champagne and enjoy it as you cruise around the city.
Tips
You can take Food on Board
Full bar
wear sunglasses, it can get sunny
enough chairs on the top level

$ 42 for a short 90minute boat tour sounds like a total tourist trap activity… however we thankfully took the advice of locals and repeat visitors and grabbed one of the last tours of the season (they close boats down in mid-​November until Spring). The top deck is the place to sit, and grab the front row if you want to lean back and not crane your neck too much. The volunteer docent was very good, and he mixed history with architecture and humor very well. We saw old and newly constructed buildings of significance and even got info on ones under constructions.

This is the best architecture-​focused cruise in Chicago, no question. Worth every penny.
My wife’s sister and brother-​in-​law from the Akron area visited us in May, and we wanted to show them that Chicago is an awesome city. This was a must-​do activity, partly because our brother-​in-​law is an architect. (Yes, we live in the ‘burbs, but don’t call us «suburban tourists.» Our jobs are not in the city but we’re down there multiple times a week, for anything from seeing shows at The Empty Bottle to movies at the Music Box to dinners at Longman & Eagle. Friends have called me an honorary resident of Logan Square. I know the street grid better than many city dwellers. Don’t judge.)
I had already been considering buying a Chicago Architecture Foundation membership to get free walking tours and Open House Chicago member access. The annual two-​for-​one deal on architecture cruise tickets sealed the deal. Plus I’d never been on the tour myself.
I went into it knowing a lot about Chicago history and architecture, but I still learned plenty. Our docent was knowledgeable and passionate about Chicago architecture, with some humor thrown in as well. All the CAF docents are volunteers and they know their stuff — these are not high school kids being paid minimum wage to read from a script. The tour departs from a dock at Michigan and Wacker, heads out toward the mouth of the river at Lake Michigan, north to Goose Island, south near Roosevelt Road and back to the dock. It was about 90 minutes long.
I recommend buying tickets in advance if it’s a weekend in spring or summer. Get there a little early so you can pick up your tickets and snag one of the side rail seats once boarding starts. Bring your camera, have a Revolution Anti-​Hero from the bar, and enjoy the tour!

This was one probably my favorite thing I did while visiting Chicago.
We bought tickets for an afternoon boat ride and we had perfect weather in October nearing 60 degrees. It was awesome to see all the different types of Chicago architecture and learn about all of the buildings. The tour guide seemed to know his information and he was a funny guy. They had great drinks on the floor below and were very reasonably priced. This was one of those activities you have to take if you haven’t been to Chicago before. Totally worth the money for the views.

The best architecture riverboat cruise in Chicago! Prices are a little steep but it worth the expense. I love architecture and the volunteer docents they have do a fabulous job sharing their passion and love for architecture and the city of Chicago. The tour flowed well and was full of wonderful history of Chicago, its businesses, and the buildings that has made it’s skyline famous.
Tips: Bring a jacket in the winter months. Take a cruise towards the end of the day you enjoy seeing the city change from day to night. Bring a camera or phone because there is a lot of beauty to capture. Get a drink or coffee at the bar downstairs. It will be a relaxing trip so take time to enjoy it. Pick seat away from children.

I can’t believe that I am just now reviewing this place! Let’s start with the location, very easy to find and very well priced I think for what you get. It was an even 70 dollars for both me and my daughter to ride and your the river and Chicago gorgeous views! The weather cooperated all the way up until later that afternoon. So that was a plus. I really enjoyed the MC he was a retired lawyer who knew a lot and a had a great way of explaining it.
The boat showed us all the big sites to see in the City trump tower, the newspaper building and of course the many sky scrapers Chi town has to offer. I really enjoyed the whole thing I would recommend this one to anyone and if I am ever in Chicago again I will be back on this boat

I went on the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s boat tour this morning at 10am. I’m in town for a conference, and originally heard of this tour from my roommate. I’m so glad that I made time to take it, as it has been, by far, the highlight of my trip to Chicago! While it may seem pricey at ~$ 50/​person, this 90 min. tour is well worth the money, and is head and shoulders above other city tours I’ve taken in Chicago and elsewhere in terms of quality.
I bought tickets online last night, and was able to board 10 min. before sailing without any problems. Based on the amount of empty seats on my cruise, buying tickets ahead of time wasn’t necessary, but later cruises seemed more crowded, so I’d recommend doing so to be certain to secure a seat on the cruise that you wish to take, esp. if your time is limited, as mine has been. The entrance to the cruise is on the riverwalk at Michigan and Wacker – go down the stairs and to your right, and you can’t miss it. If you buy tickets online ahead of time, you can proceed directly to the boat, and the attendant will scan your QR code for admission. Please note that tickets don’t ensure assigned seating, so it’s best to arrive ahead of time if you expect your boat to be crowded to ensure optimal seating. As others have mentioned, the upper deck seating is ideal, and there’s not really a bad seat up there that I noticed.
The tour starts by heading down the Chicago river away from Lake Michigan. The docent explains the features of each prominent building as the boat passes it. It’s really interesting to see how the buildings become progressively newer as you head downriver, and older as you head back upriver. It’s also really interesting to see the «dialogue» between the buildings, as my docent pointed out, with some buildings standing in stark contrast to one another, and others mimicking each other’s features. The docents also do a good job of explaining the context of Chicago history and its effect on architecture, as well as the general layout of the city of Chicago – including the river itself. At the end of the tour, the boat proceeds all the way to the end of the Chicago River, where it turns around to offer a stunning panoramic view of the downtown Chicago skyline before heading back into port.
Overall, this tour is unique to Chicago, and is well worth the money and time. In 90 min., you learn a great deal about the history of the city, as well as its present and future, and it gives you a real appreciation of the city’s development. Our docent ended the tour with a quotation from Mark Twain about Chicago, which I will paraphrase as «Chicago is a city that never stands still – this becomes apparent to the occasional visitor every time (s)he visits.» If there’s one activity that you will give you an appreciation for Chicago, the architecture tour is it, so be sure to take the time to take advantage of this gem during your visit. Enjoy!

What a beautiful way to see the city. I had a few hours between seeing friends and I had just enough time to catch this architecture tour that I’ve seen depicted in so many movies.
I was worried it would be too touristy, and to be clear, there were lots of tourists, including myself. But on a beautiful, sunny summer day in Chicago, I can’t think of a better way to see the city and hear about its history. I bought my tickets online, about an hour before my tour started on a Sunday afternoon. Tickets were readily available and you can avoid the lines at the ticket booth. I started queuing in line about 20 minutes before the tour started and there were probably about 60 people ahead of me. I still got a good seat and even some of the last people to board the boat also got good seats — I think there may not be any bad seats.
At about $ 50 per ticket, it’s on the spendy side but a unique way to see the city.

I’ve been on lots of guided tours of interesting places, but this was probably the best one I’ve attended in recent memory. First, perfect day for a river tour. Second, Chicago’s history is rich and interesting. Third, a Chicago’s architecture is probably the most significant of any American city. Lastly and most importantly our Docent, «Docent Bill, the former attorney», was mesmerizing! His energy, depth of knowledge and passion for what he was doing was overwhelming.
CAF Docents are volunteers and do not take tips so out of respect for Docent Bill and the work and effort he spent preparing for and leading our the tour, I will be joining CAF.
This tour is unique to Chicago, educational, fun and should be taken by all Chicagoans and visitors to gain a better appreciation of what a, world class city Chicago truly is.

I think it’s going to become a rule of mine that if I’m going to pay for a tour, it better be on a boat. Boats make every tour better.
This tour was a lot of fun. The docent was very knowledgeable and she definitely let her own personality show, which made the tour relaxing. She talked VERY fast though and it wasn’t always clear which building she was talking about. However, I liked that she asked everybody where they were from and during the tour pointed out the various architecture in Chicago that were inspired from that particular city.
We got to see a lot of the various architecture on the river and the docent was very good at pointing out the different styles. Even for someone like me, who knows very little about architecture styles, I definitely came away with an appreciation, and some great photos.

(PREAMBLE FOR TOURISTS! You get what you pay for from this not-​for-​profit [at least for the Chicago Architecture Foundation] tour. Eat Chicago dogs for a couple days if you need to stretch your cash – this one’s worth it.)
Been there, done that. That’s what I’ve been saying about the Architecture Foundation’s river tour. I’m a Chicago near-​native, I’ve been on it in the past, I saw the trip on Channel 11, and it’s expensive. ($ 44 for non-​members). Then again, my friend and her two kids (15 and 10) were here for a visit from Oakland, and there was no way they were going to leave Chicago without getting their learning on.
I’ve been a CAF member for some years; so I wouldn’t think of taking another river tour. That’s not because I feel like I’m part of a club; it’s because the volunteer tour guides are just as out of this world as Chicago is, whether they’re with a group of four or a boat-​full. In fact, I once took a few classes to be a docent once (work got in the way), and you have to know a ton of stuff to be one. Ask them your toughest questions, and I’d be surprised if they don’t know the answer. Even then, they don’t take tips, and I’m sure they’d give a lot of them.
You get to hear not only about the buildings, but fun inside scoop on the architects, and a lot of stories that take you from the original fur trading station, and how Chicago got its name, up to the present of The Donald invading the city with a much more impressive building than I realized (with 20% off its grade for the terrible spelling – Trump is spelled without a «T»).
And that’s where I’ve been a fool with my «been there, done that» prejudice. At least half of the tour was new to me. I knew a lot of buildings were going up, but I never stepped (rowed?) back to consider them as a whole. And the tour guide talks about how they relate to each other, pay homage to other architects, and fit in with the environment in which they stand.
Then again, I DO feel part of the club, and I suggest that you do too. I’m single and have a family membership; so I can go on walking tours whenever I want for free & take a guest. In addition, I get two buy one/​get one free passes for the boat cruise. So, if you’re going with four people, you pay $ 90 for the membership and get a $ 176 value – and can take as many walking tours as you want for free (and greatly-​reduced prices on all of their tours).
The top deck is best for the view, because you can see forward and back. The lower deck on the bow of the boat won’t be as good, because sometimes the tour guide talks about things you’ve just gone past and you won’t be able to look back.
Very-​highly recommended for turistas and residents alike (as are all of the dozen-​or-​so tours I’ve taken with CAF).

I can drink during the day while on a boat? Sure — I’ll take it: D
I’m not a big fan of boats. In fact, I borderline have a fear of them. Just because I’ve seen a lot of scary boat moves, haha. Lame, I know. But this boat isn’t as intense and very fun to ride on.
My friends and I were visiting Chicago for a Girls Trip and we were able to book a Tour a few months in advance. We weren’t sure if there’d be a wait or not when we arrived that day. I’d recommend doing this JUST in case. I also read something where you should arrive 30 mins before departure. (Might have been 15 mins? Let’s say 30 mins to be safe)
When you get on the boat — you can sit anywhere. There are rows and seat #s on your ticket, but really… once you get on, you are able to sit wherever you want. There are several rows and seats with great views.
Our tour guide was Harry… Hirsch (?). Ahh, forgot his last name. But he was pretty funny and very knowledgeable with Chicago’s history. He was able to answer questions folks had for him. He was really nice too. The tour itself took about. hmm… 90 mins?
If you’re looking to take some cool pics in Chicago as well, this Boat Tour is a good way to do it. I barely took any, but I saw a lot of folks take 45 483 530 pictures. My phone storage sucks. Oh — and the boat ride is smooth. The weather was so pretty when we went.
Thanks Harry! :D

«Dude, lots of chicks think architects are hot. Think about it, you create something out of nothing. You’re like God. There’s nobody hotter than God.» — Barney (HIMYM)
As an architect, I must highly recommend this tour during the evening sunset hours, on a warm day so that your face doesn’t fall off from the frigged lake air. Trust me, you think it’s cold on land, try sitting in an open top boat on an almost frozen lake going 10 knots over the lake with 20 degree air blasting in your face, it’ll make you want to tear your face off.
You’ll get to learn totally awesome but completely useless information about Chicago that you’ll never get to recite ever again except for that last night you’re in Chicago and you meet that guy/​gal at the bar and you turn over and say,“Hi there, when the Willis Tower, also known as the Sears Tower, opened in 1973, it was the tallest building in the world. It held this title until 1998, when it was overtaken by the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. However, it still holds the title as second tallest building in the US, and 8^th tallest freestanding building in the world.” … BOOM, laid.
Did you hear about the roof’s relationship? It was built on truss.

Design matters. When you can explore a major city’s architecture from the comfort of a pleasant boat ride, hear an informative and entertaining Docent share not only aesthetic but historical facts about the amazing architecture that surrounds you and walk away looking at the city differently that’s money well spent!
Our recent Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise was definitely the highlight of our quick visit to the city. My husband, along with our 14 yr. old son, thoroughly enjoyed the 90 minute tour with Docent Bob. I would highly recommend taking one the next time you’re in Chicago.

It was cold in April. I mean, cold for a Californian. Highs in the upper 50s. I would recommend that you do this once (but once only…), and make sure it’s on a warmer day. You learn a lot about the architecture of Chicago (of course…), and the river view of the buildings gives you a different perspective of the city.
–Buy your tickets early and then roam around the area while you wait for your cruise time — it’s a popular cruise and tickets do sell out!
–Any deck seat is a good seat.
–There’s a small snack bar inside. But nobody stays inside.
–Restrooms on the boat are actually super clean!
–Bring your camera!

Great 90 minute tour of the most significant architecture and buildings along the river. I thought it was pricey initially but found the volunteer docent onboard leading the tour to be super knowledgable and entertaining at the same time to make it more than worth the price of admission.
We had a lovely not too warm or cool day for the open top deck seating. But I could easily imagine though getting baked up there on a hot summer day. Fortunately, there is a full service bar below to quench one’s thirst. They had two beers on tap both including a local brew.
Their dock is easily found under the blue awning on the south side of the river along Michigan Ave. We showed up without reservations 15 minutes before sailing to easily buy tickets, board and choose from a selection of seats. I highly recommend this tour.

A must experience to do in Chicago!
A breeze to enjoy along the river while admiring the architectural buildings as well as learning about the history of the establishments!
It was pleasant and a definite to do when in Chicago as a first timer or if you have never been!

Dieses mal war ich das erste Mal im Sommer in Chicago. Sonst hatte ich nur das Vergnügen im Winter die Stadt zu besichtigen. Die Sonne schien und ich habe mir fest vorgenommen, diesmal gründlichst die Stadt zu erkunden ohne zu erfrieren!
Schnell kam ich an die Michigan Ave Bridge, von dort die Kanalrundfahrten auf dem Chicago River starten. Für $ 28, — kaufte ich mir ein Ticket für die 90-​minütige Rundfahrt mit Schwerpunkt Architektur entlang des Flusses.
Nach dem Borading der First Lady wurden wir vom Schiffspersonal begrüßt und es begann die Einweisung inkl. Saftey-​Tips und Werbung für die Drinks an der Bar. Ehrlich gesagt, hatte ich Angst, dass dieser selbst ernannte Clown, die ganze Fahrt das Mikrofon in der Hand behält! Ich hätte mit Sicherheit meine 28, — Dollar zurück gefordert.
Glücklicherweise kam alles anders: Eine Mitarbeiterin des Architektonischen Museums von Chicago sollte unser Tourguide sein. Man fährt entlang des Flusses in die Innenstadt von Chicago, an den Lake Michigan und wieder zurück zur Michigan Ave Bridge.
Sie hat mit sehr sehr viel Fachwissen interessantes zu den Gebäuden entlang des Kanals erzählt. Wirklich zu jedem Haus konnte sie die Geschichte inkl. Zahlen, Daten und Fakten erzählen. Da die Tour nur auf Englisch ist, muss man der Sprache gewachsen sein. Dennoch lohnt es sich auf jeden Fall, den nicht ganz günstigen Preis für diese Fahrt auszugeben.

Chicago, The Wind City, mit anderen Worten, auch im Hochsommer immer ein erfrischender Wind in der Stadt am Lake Michigan. Man sollte sich unbedingt das Aquarium am Pier anschauen, es ist einfach ein Traum, es gibt eine Walkman Führung, die Automatisch via Infrarot gesteuert wird. Wenn man einen dicken Geldbeutel hat, sollte man im Watertower Place einkaufen, neben Michael Jordans Golf shop gibt es dort (wie in fast jeder größeren Amerikanischen Stadt) den Warner Bros. studio store (man sollte auf die Sold ecke achten, da gibt es tolle GÜNSTIGE Sachen zu Kaufen!!) Wenn man mit Kindern reist sollte dann ist der Navy Pier zu empfehlen, dort findet man neben Wasserspielen indoor Minigolf und jede Menge tolle Shops, für groß und klein, dort steht übrigens auch ein tolles Riesenrad, (wirklich riesig). Wenn man schon in Chicago ist, sollte man auch gleich da bleiben, dort steht nämlich dass im Moment noch höchste Büro Gebäude der Welt, der Sears Tower, für ein paar Dollar sollte man dort unbedingt Hochfahren. Was mann jedoch nicht tun sollte ist, als Weißer in das Schwarzen viertel, welches ab der Roosevelt Street beginnt zu gehen, man wird dort beschimpft und sehr merkwürdig von allen Seiten angesehen, das kann gefährlich werden ALSO VORSICHT!!!
Wenn, man in die USA reisen möchte, sollte man dies am besten (günstigsten) über United Airlines tun, diese landen NUR in Chicago, dem größten Flughafen der WELT! Ein Wahnsinn, jeder Gate ist dort nahezu wie eine Kleine eigenständige Stadt, das sollte man nicht links liegen lassen.