- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Shoreline Sightseeing
Rating Details »
Categories: Boating, Boat Charters, Tours [Edit]
Neighborhood: Near North Side600 E Grand Ave
(at Illinois St)
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 222-9328
Architecutre Cruises util Nov. 30th
Still time to enjoy a Shoreline Architecture Cruise…
Announced 1 week agoMore »
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
52 reviews for Shoreline Sightseeing
This business is a Yelp Sponsor
8/21/2009
11/5/2009
10/26/2009
10/22/2009
10/28/2009
8/31/2009
9/11/2009
9/8/2009
10/18/2009
7/20/2009
7/4/2009
9/28/2009
9/8/2009
5/7/2009
9/5/2009
6/29/2009
5/9/2009
8/24/2009
7/28/2009
7/6/2008
5/26/2008
4/25/2009
6/17/2008
9/3/2008
8/5/2008
7/27/2008
8/22/2008
6/26/2008
2/19/2008
8/29/2008
5/11/2009
2/23/2009
1 photo
4/16/2007
1 photo
7/26/2007
6/15/2009
2 photos
4/24/2008
10/17/2008
8/14/2007
8/31/2007
5/29/2008
One of Shoreline Sightseeing's Favorite Reviews What's This?
I went. I saw. I conquered!!
I loved this cruise! We went this past Saturday on the 8 pm architectural river cruise (for 1 hour), which lead us along the river as the sun set in the horizon and the cool breeze blew through the air.
The boat's set up perfectly! There are seats to sit in and benches along the side if you want to peer down at the river as the boat strums you along.
The tour guide was factual, light hearted, and very knowledgeable and seemed to be a true Chicagoan.
To make things better, downstairs is a full bar where they willingly oblige in making your drinks strong...
Overall, a wonderful night in Chicago! Thanks to Groupon for the great deal and thanks to Shoreline Sightseeing for creating the beginning of a wonderful night!
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (2)
The boat sightseeing tours are the BEST way to see Chicago. Due to the massive heights of these buildings, a bus tour just won't do. I recommend the boat tours to anyone wanting to see Chicago.
I've done the "architecture" river cruise where the tour guide will cover the different buildings. Despite its name, it really does cover a variety of different stories to include Chicago history, news events, and of course information about the buildings themselves. Again, the best way to see all of the buildings from every angle! They also have a fully stocked bar as well as coffee and hot chocolate.
I've also done the lake tour and while not as interesting as the river cruise, the staff and boat used for these tours have not failed.
Inquire about discounts... Military receives reduced admission.
People thought this was:
- Useful (4)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (4)
We went on the Shoreline Sightseeing Architecture Tour because we were at Navy Pier. I wanted to try Wendella but didn't see it at Navy Pier and the Chicago Architecture Foundation tour is under THE Madison Ave Bridge - wish I did that one too. Limited time & energy so just did this one.
We bought the tickets at Navy Pier for $28pp on Sat 10/24/09. It's more expensive on weekends. Sucks for us. Then you gotta walk a bit down to where the boat is leaving.
Stop to take a picture. They do it for everyone, you don't have to buy.
Tour was given by a lady forgot her name - Tricia I think, not sure.
We were all seated in the middle of the boat w/ bars overhead. That's so lame. So you have to get up & move around to take better pics.
Info given too fast & hard to remember what's what. Oh well. Nice slow boat ride that doesn't go very far on the Chicago River.
Blah.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
I took the 60 minute architectural boat tour that goes down the Chicago River and it was great! I was in photography heaven. I'm really into cityscapes and landscapes. It's a lot of fun learning about the history of the different buildings that create the Chicago skyline like Merchandise Mart, Wrigley Building, NBC Tower, and the Sears Tower (not Willis).
I went around midday Saturday, but it was so cold and at times, windy. I was wearing two layers and a North Face jacket. I liked the boat we were on because it was one level, not two level, so you don't have anything obstructing your view. They don't offer any hot drinks on the boat, but they offer alcohol. You can get warm that way if you want. Our tour guide was very informative and made it fun.
If the Chicago Architecture Foundation's boat tour is sold out, this is the other alternative. Shoreline offers more timeslots for their excursions than CAF. I want to go back on this tour, but on a nice, sunny day or late in the day just in time to watch the sun setting.
This is a must-do in Chicago!
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (2)
The Shoreline Architecture Cruise is one of my favorite things to do in the city. I grew up in Chicago and I have been on it several times, and it is always worth the money. The tour guides are knowledgeable and hilarious. They encourage people to ask questions and are really engaging. The views from the river are breathtaking, and you see a whole side of the city that is impossible to find from the streets, all while learning about the city and it's people. Make sure to watch for the River Cottages, they are always my favorite part of the tour! The boat captains make sure to maneuver so that you get many different angles to take pictures of the buildings and the scenery. Also, there is a bar on board the boat, along with restrooms! I always try to get there a bit earlier so that I can one of the bench seats along the edge of the boat, those are the best!
Overall, the tour is a great value: great guides, great view, great price.
The architectural tour is the best tour value in Chicago, one of America's greatest architectural cities. Over the course of the brisk yet detailed tour, You'll learn a ton about Chicago history, how the city was built and then rebuilt after that business with the cow.
There are so many storied buildings (no pun!), all of them designed by heavyweights of architecture, down every vein of the river.
You'll learn how they redirected that Chicago River. You'll see the current tallest-building in North America.
You'll find out where all that Kennedy money comes from.
And you'll also remember Mies van der Rohe and why he's famous for the rest of your life.
Get a tour late in the day and it can double as a cheap date.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
The architectural boat tour along the river is great! It's about an hour long, the perfect length, I think.You'll find out the date many buildings were built, who designed them, and many interesting facts about some of the buildings and this great city that we live in.
All of the staff was really nice, it was a smooth ride down the river and back, and the tour guide was very informed and informative. This is a great tour for locals and tourists.
We took the architectual tour that departed from Navy Pier and it was great!
Often these tours are only as good as the tour guide, and our tour guide was fantastic. We were given a little blurb about almost every building along the river. The tour was an hour in length which is just right! I've been on arch tours that are 2 hours and that is just too long.
The boat itself was fine...a little cramped but not too bad. I would suggest trying to take the tour on a week-day, in order to have more room. The boat seemed very clean and there is a full bar on the lower level.
Perhaps the best part of the Shoreline Architectual Tour is the price....less than $30! I think it was $26.75 per adult, which isn't bad. A very inexpensive way to view such a beautiful city and its beautiful architectual landscape.
I'm pretty sure this company's architectural tour isn't as hyped as the one run by Chicago's historical society (whatever they want to call it). However, there is no long line down and around the corner. There is no one telling you tickets have been sold out since the beginning of the week. There is no one trying to get you to do a boat tour to somewhere else. You aren't in Chicago forever, so my friends and I took a chance. The tickets were cheaper, and we got a tour right away. Our guide ended up being knowledgeable and hilarious. Plenty of facts, beer and architecture. My local friends said it was the best tour they have ever been on. Lots of fun. Did I mention plenty of beer?
Usually I take another architectural boat tour on the river to see our fine city. But on this particular weekend, the out of towners that I was showing around needed handicapped access, and Shoreline does it best with their loading ramp by Navy Pier. No stairs to get down to the river. Yay!
We bought our tickets on line (save a little money as they give you a 5% discount) and be sure to read all the details as they have senior and kid rates as well (Adults run around $26). We picked our tickets up at the booth and were clearly directed as to which line to stand in.
They loaded the boat promptly and we were off to see the sights of Chicago. There is a cash bar (margaritas anyone?) downstairs, along with the restrooms (note that the restrooms are not handicapped accessible unless people can walk down stairs) On that note- I guess the bar is not accessible to the handicapped either! Boo! Also know that the top open deck is the best place to see everything although you can go downstairs in case of rain.
The tour goes through the central, north and south branches of the Chicago River and takes about an hour. And each person gets a map that clearly points out the various sights along the way.
Our tour guide was quirky and fun and told plenty of yarns about the "Second City". I felt that the style of this tour was better than other's I've been on- but that might just be a personality fit with this particular guide.
Oh- and don't forget to check out a souvenir for your guests. Every group is photographed when boarding the boat. For $20- you can pick up a 5 x7 and 2 wallet sized memories of your Chicago trip when you disembark. Cheesy, I know- but the older folk love it!
If you drive, you can park at Navy Pier, but because the loading spot is on the west end of the pier- parking in any of the outside lots off of Illinois are actually closer.
Shoreline Architectural cruises are a great way to kill an hour with those out of town guests who spend their entire visit staring up at the sky and pointing. Ahh . . .you gotta love tourist season in Chicago!
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (3)
I went with some guests for the 11:30 AM skyline tour today. None of us could hear the tour guide. The view was very nice and I appreciated that they let us bring drinks onboard, but it was just missing something without being able to hear the guide. It kind of felt like being on a bus or train, a little bit - like it was simply travel to a destination, which was not that great since it ends back where it starts.
It was sprinkling rain at the time. The loudspeaker (quietspeaker?) sounded like a tape. I didn't see the guide, but other reviewers mention that there was one. Maybe he was somewhere we couldn't see on account of the rain.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
The architectural boat tour.... What a great way to see the city! It was only an hour long which was perfect and it was such a unique way to see Chicago. The staff was very friendly and very informative; it's also a bonus that they serve drinks on board. I recommend this tour to locals and tourists. I certainly will be taking this tour again in the future.
Sometimes I forget about the things I can Yelp... someone else's review reminded me I did this a few weeks ago!
We were walking around downtown just hangin' out and decided to check out the prices for the tour. We always talked about going on it and it just happened to be right there. The prices were extremely reasonable... For $28/person we took a water taxi from Michigan Avenue to the tour start over by Navy Pier and the tour itself with Shoreline. Our tour guide was really informative and funny. I'm amazed at all the facts one person can remember and if you asked him a question he knew the answer. He also offered to find out more and email it to you if you wanted! It was great. For $3 more we took the water taxi back to Michigan Ave after we were done. The tour was about an hour and so relaxing. I really recommend taking your families from out of town here. Bring a jacket though it gets a little breezy on the water. The water taxi was an added bonus since I just love bein' out on any boat in any body of water :)
Full bar downstairs on the boat. The drinks were very reasonable. I had a knock-you-down jack and coke for $4. That's less than you would pay at a bar usually.
The staff was all extremely nice and very knowledgeable. There are other companies that do these tours too but this is the one I'd stick with.
What the hell is that floating in the lake!??! Just kidding, so it's getting to be that time a year again!! Put me on a boat (with a couple of drinks) out on the lake... heaven.
Probably the best cruise that is offered in this city, I say that because I haven't been on any of the others. But seriously it was sooo much fun, you get to see this great city from a completely different view. They serve drinks (full bar) and food (fruit, veggies, sandwiches), they play games but don't expect you to join in or to even pay any attention to them at all. It's two floors of fun and the staff is great. There are all kinds of people on board with you, couples, groups, maybe an office party. I recommend the sunset cruise it's romantic in it's own way, I mean there is really no where to go if you both want a quick fix or such.
It's worth the money and if you look around like http://timeoutchicago.com you will find even cheaper tickets.
People thought this was:
- Useful (5)
- Funny (3)
- Cool (3)
I just came back from my friend's wedding aboard the Shoreline and it was amazing. The experience lasted about 3 hours (a 3 hour tour, a 3 hour tour) and featured a tour through Chicago via the river followed by a venture into Lake Michigan. The boat and bathrooms were clean and the staff was friendly. The views were perfect. Great time!
Great tour!
I had a great time, learned a few things and gained a better appreciation of the Chicago skyline. This is a great thing to do with out of town guests.
I love the architectural boat tour!
I love it when I have out-of-town visitors because it's an excuse for me to take them and go on it again! I've been on this tour 3 times already and am probably going on my 4th soon :P Every time I learn something new--the guides are knowledgeable and funny and makes for an all-around great time.
Cash bar available too.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
I went on this tour on Saturday. I had purchased tickets for Cirque at Navy Pier and got a package deal for the skyline tour and ferris wheel. Totally worth the package price.
We did the 3 (or 3:30?) tour and enjoyed it. We were suprised to find out that there was a cash bar and that they had wine available, so we were even more excited about that. The seats are either long benches or cozy spots for two. I liked being able to have a short little bench to scoot closer to my honey and to get a better view w/o a bunch of high schoolers kicking our chairs...which leads me to my next point.
Watch where you sit down. Someone had previously mentioned not being able to hear the tour. I would agree with that if you sit in a big group of rowdies. If that's the case though, just move. There are plenty of seats.
The tour was nice, but we both live in the city and know the majority of the buildings they spoke about. The view was great, probably even better at sunset, so keep that in mind when purchasing tickets. Also, it's the lake...and it gets REALLY cold on the boat if you don't have a jacket. The sun decided to play hide-and-don't-seek while we were on the boat and it was pretty cold. Fortunately, we had jackets.
I would recommend the tour for those that are from out of town, or those that have kids. The architecture tour is much more interesting if you're from here b/c you may learn things you don't already know. That being said, we did enjoy it as a nice saturday afternoon activity.
It only lasts about half an hour, so it's perfect for kids or older members of the family that can't sit on a hard bench for long periods of time.
One other thing, the price is decent, but not worth paying. Go online before you go (http://www.navypier.com) or sign up for their email to see what kinds of specials/deals/packages they are running. You can save a boatload of money, and can get some activities included for the same amount of cash!
I have taken the architectural boat tour with Shoreline on two separate occasions. Once, two years ago and again this past July 4th weekend. Surprisingly I had the same tour guide. She is pretty knowledgeable and as an added bonus she speaks with a slight inflection at the end of her sentences that kinda makes her sound like a Valley Girl. The view from the river is spectacular, perfect for tourists and residents alike. I highly recommend this boat tour if you like architecture, Chicago history or a good boat ride.
Being a Chicago resident, its hard to get excited about the touristy things. I'd rather go to my favorite neighborhood spot without all the crowds, but my family was in town for the 4th, and conned me into going to Navy Pier with them.
My mom and I found the Shoreline Boat Tours along a string of tours, and decided to take the Architecture one along the river. $30 for adults for an hour- "this better be good." The tours leave every half hour, but get in line early to get a good seat up top (the bottom floor of the boat has bad views).
The guide was really informed and tried his best to be funny. As we passed our city's greatest hits of brick and steel, I saw them in a brilliant new way. Even as a jaded local, I was in awe. The views were amazing and made me fall in love with this city all over again.
I can't speak for the lake tours, but tourists and chicagoans alike will really enjoy this river tour.
People thought this was:
- Useful (4)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (4)
It's 10:58 AM and my boat leaves at 11:00 AM. I have the following options:
a.) Call my friend and tell her that there's no way that I'll make the boat and hop on the 11:30 one... and ride it all by my lonesome self.
b.) Cross my fingers and jump from dock to boat.
c.) Beg the walkie-talkie man to tell the boat to wait for me.
I chose option C.
This is how it works. You're supposed to print out your on-line confirmation receipt, arrive at the dock 20 minutes prior to departure, trade in your confirmation receipt for a ticket, board the boat, and enjoy a nice relaxing hour on the river.
This is what I did. I get there 2 minutes prior to departure. Cut the line and run up to the guy with the walkie talkie and practically beg him to let me on the boat. He walkies over to the guy at the boat and tells him to let this crazy person on the boat. I run over to the boat, they confirm that I'm the crazy person, and then let me on the boat. I then spent the hour on river glowing in my super-hero act of the day. =)
The tour is most definitely worth the $25. The tour guide was funny, the seating is comfortable, and the views are gorgeous. Chicago becomes 10 times more beautiful than it already is. =)
Bring something warm to wear cuz it can get pretty windy on the river. Bring a camera to capture the dozens of potential Kodak moments. Bring your hearing aide.. I learned a TON on this tour. =D Go!
People thought this was:
- Useful (4)
- Funny (4)
- Cool (3)
Lowest end boat ride you can get at Navy Pier. Good for a nice bar boat cruise at a good price. Cheapest beer on the Pier. I will warn you will get a canned tour rather than a live navigator telling you to look for. You get what you pay for.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
This review is for the water taxi.
While it's hard to find the information on its website, the water taxi leaves about every 20 minutes from Union Station to Navy Pier.
We opted to take the water taxi instead of 2 buses because it was relaxing, much more scenic, and it probably saved us some time.
It is $6 for adults and $4 for kids. I will certainly do this again with future out-of-town guests.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (2)
I grew up in Chicago, left for awhile, and moved back a couple of years ago. It's not as though I hung out downtown very often, though, so when a fellow native suggested the Architectural Tour, I thought it might be cool.
It was so much fun. I would do it every weekend if it was slightly cheaper and you didn't have to get near Navy Pier (aka Satan's Lair) to board the thing. I learned a ton (even though I missed about a quarter of what she said because she talked very fast so if my friend said, "cool building," we'd missed a whole story). And the river simply offers a neat perspective from which to view the city. Though I wish they had not destroyed our beliefs regarding the city's nickname; I plan to simply "forget" what they told us about the windy city.
Oh, and cash bar down below. The beer wasn't as overpriced as expected, either.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
Tonight I had my second experience with Shoreline, and it was a fantastic one.
I had been on one of their architecture tours a few years ago and loved it - even if you live in Chicago, I would highly, highly recommend doing one of these. You learn so much about our city that you never knew before and it's just a good way to spend an afternoon.
Tonight my company had a cruise out on the lake, and Shoreline was the boat we took out. It took a while to get out of the dock area and out on the lake, but once we were out there it was fantastic. It was a gorgeous night out, and I fell in love with this city all over again. We sailed south, north, and just looped around for two hours.
The crew on the boat was fantastic, friendly, and courteous. We had an open bar and the bartenders were fast and poured very generously. I stuck to beer, but they made sure my beer had no head on it before I walked away which was a good thing and a bad thing... They set up the top deck with tables to sit and enjoy the cruise, and downstairs they had tall bar tables so you could enjoy your drink and still look out on the water (although the ride was definitely more rough on the lower level).
We had Phil Stefani's catering - to be honest I don't know if that is something that Shoreline provides or if that's what my company chose, but either way it was delicious. We had a mexican spread and I admit I was wary of eating mexican food made on a boat, but it was some of the best food I'd have in a while.
Overall, tonight was a fantastic evening and I didn't want to come off the lake... The crew at Shoreline helped to make this a wonderful event that I don't think myself or my coworkers will forget for a very long time.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
We chose Shoreline for the combination fireworks (Venetian night) and architecture cruise. They have several boats and this one with long nice benches was good for the warm evening cruise.
The boarding was unclear as to which boat was for what cruise, etc. and there were lots of people. Signs; Give us big arrows, we're tourists at least for the day.
Of the boat tours, this one appears to have the weakest commentary. The tour leader had zero enthusiasm and only basic knowledge. She also had very little general Chicago knowledge. The views and the history speak for themselves at least so it was still enjoyable.
Obnoxiously for the fireworks the boat basically just goes right back to 50 feet from the dock. It spins around to face them but really I am not impressed. I expected it to move more toward them.
Overall, I'd suggest another tour operator. If possible the Chicago Architecture Foundation's cruises (Chicago's First Lady) are in a different league but you'll have to sign up far ahead of time. If not, Wendella was a decent alternative.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
The water taxi is perhaps one of my favorite modes of transportation - you can get the taxi from Museum Campus (right between the Field Museum and the Shedd), Navy Pier, Michigan Ave / Wacker, and the Sears Tower...once on board, enjoy a unique and wholly relaxing way to move to and from very hectic and chaotic places in Chicago.
The only potential downfall? Sweet jesus the Chicago River smells like 2 week old sushi at times...
People thought this was:
- Funny (1)
I took the Shoreline boat for the Fireworks last night where the boat goes onto the lake, travels north and south then comes to a stop for the firework show. There is no commentary and they play music from a local radio station - which i found a little lazy of them, they could at least burn some songs onto a cd and play that so you don't have to listen to adverts about carpets. When the fireworks are going off they play a compilation of songs which I could also have done without - it would have been much nicer to have been out on the lake without music to watch/listen to the fireworks.
It was a good evening but I don't think I'd use this boat for the firework show again.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
AMAZING. STUNNING. FANTASTIC. STUPENDOUS.
I cannot explain how awesome this tour is. You learn about the architectrual history and flavor of the city and it will stick with you. I know because I actually went 2 years ago and I still remember what that dude told me. In fact, I could probably post up old photos. The point is, take this tour and you'll forever remember bits and pieces. Those bits and pieces will totally help you out when you're talking to someone about chicago.
DEFINITELY GO.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (2)
We went on the architecture cruise departing from the Navy Pier.. It was a double decker boat with a bar on the lower deck.. **excellent bloody mary**.. We had a tour guide that looked and sounded like Al Franken. He was knowledgeable and played the harmonica and sang for us.
The boat went up and down the river so if your favorite building was on your opposite side, you would get a chance to see it on your side when it flips a bitch back to the dock.
the architectural boat tour is a must for any tourist visiting Chicago! you learn a lot about the history of the city and all the buildings plus you get to spend an hour or so on the Chicago river taking in the scenery. on a nice spring day this was a perfect way to wind down after a long day of walking/sightseeing. the only negative about the tour was the way the boat was set up...there were steel bars arching over the seats which got in the way of pictures if you didnt manuever around them to get your perfect shots. for this reason it could be more beneficial to sit on the wooden bench sides of the boat instead of the plastic chairs set up in rows. there is also a full bar on deck and the bartender was very generous with the pours haha. beers/wines/cocktails were only about $5! def makes the tour that much more enjoyable haha...the docking station for the tour is at Navy Pier so it's fun to walk around that area before or after the tour as well.
just a note: other yelpers have mentioned getting coupons for this tour but if you cant find any, just buy the tix online. it's actually 5% cheaper than if you buy them in person at their kiosk. we bought our tickets online about an hour before our tour
People thought this was:
- Useful (5)
- Funny (3)
- Cool (3)
My companion's company decided to throw a little booze cruise for it's employees. We got to see both sides of the Chicago river and go for a nice cruise along Lake Michigan. Did I mention there was booze on the boat? Luckily no one fell overboard. It was a beautiful summer evening and a great way for the co-workers to mingle, with plastic cups of booze in hand.
Apparently the natives hate going out to Navy Pier. I can see why - it's an oversized McDonalds theme park, meaning it's overrun with crazy kiddies. But there's one really good reason to venture out to Navy Pier, and that's for Shoreline Sightseeing's Architectural Boat Tour. Normally I'd be averse to going on a paid tour, but it was recommended by a native Chicagoan Elite Yelper, Kristin C.
It's slightly expensive at $22. It's incredibly cold the entire time. The boat has metal rods spanning overhead which obstructs most of the good photographs you could take from sitting on top of the Chicago River. However, it's all worth it, because of our tour guide.
Make sure you get him - he's the older gentleman in the blue parka, his picture is in the gallery. He gives you a concise rundown of the different architectural styles on display in the buildings and skyscrapers lining the Chicago River. He also describes the history of the city, including the Flood and the Fire, while capturing the mindset of Chicago's people in a way that made me want to become a Chicagoan too. While being informative like all tour guides should be, he was also really funny. He did some weird bird-chortling thing while everyone was taking pictures of the Sears Tower. At the end of our hour-plus long tour, he busted out a kazoo and sang a song to summarize everything we had learned about Chicago's history and people. Awesome.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Cool (3)
Did the after-work cruise that was hosted by Time Out Chicago yesterday....was very impressed. First of all, $25 bucks for drinks, food and a boat cruise is pretty damn cheap. I am not even sure how they broke even but hey, I got my money's worth.
There were about 150 on the boat and most of us hung out on the upper deck but the drinks are in the lower deck....HMMM??? There was music (I hate the Beatles and that is all they played for about an hour)....it was not the 21-25 after work crowd which made me very happy as there was no real obnoxiousness. Everyone had a really good time and was friendly. I was actually kind of shocked at that...
The crew from Time Out Chicago was the absolute best! They were handing out prizes and made everyone feel comfortable and welcome but not in a fake or phony kind of way.
My friend said they have these cruises every month in the summer so check it out next time and I will see you there!!!
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
We took this little cruise at 8PM because they have a special time-slot when it's sunset time wherein you pay the same price for 45 minutes instead of the normal 30 at every other time. The "cruise" was perfectly fine, it was very pretty and all that jazz...the only downside was that since it's cheap (or so is my assumption) it seemed to attract the type of crowd who would dish out that kind of money. So thats means young people who thought it was uber cool to sneak alcohol and families with little kids that really ruin the mood when they are screaming in your ear. I am yet to understand why parents are so oblivious to the actions of their children. If you're sitting shoulder to shoulder with someone and have your kid perched up right next to their head...when it screams, it's sort of deafening. The mother even had the nerve to tell him he could only do that one more time! Next time, I'm going to try out the Odyssey instead and hope that it's a lot more kid-unfriendly! Sorry moms and dads but those of us that are kidless aren't incredibly enthused to be around ill-behaved children of others.
I loved the architectural boat tour. I'm a civil engineer so I love hearing the interesting engineering solutions that people had to employ to create these buildings. On top of that, it really gives you an appreciation for the city of Chicago. It's beautiful and I don't think you realize it until the boat tour.
I also loved the "moral of the story". Our guide told us how other people might see Chicago as the city of failure, but he thinks that Chicago is really a story of ingenuity because after every failure, the city picks itself up and find a way to get the job done. Very uplifting indeed!
This tour was really fantastic. It's a really fun way to get to see the city and learn some Chicago history. Our guide, Kip, was super knowledgeable and really funny. There's roof top seating which is key to being able to look up at all the buildings. There's also a full bar on the lower deck. It's one of the cheaper tours that leave from Navy Pier but I can't imagine what the pricier tours could offer to make them worth the extra money. This one is great.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
I was very pleased with this tour of the architecture of the Chicago Downtown river front. The tour guide Kip was very informitave about all the buildings: architect, date, address, names, cost, history. It was a fun tour as well, and the guide was able to keep our attention constantly while adding an element of humor. Well worth the money spent, and even more engauging than the museums we saw that week.
Also we really didn't want to spend money on drinks so the bartender gave us tap water in ice for free. It was hot out, and muggy so the water was a nice heat deferant even though it was tap, and tasted sort of off. The bar doesn't take credit cards.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
For $26, we got a wonderful boat ride around Chicago as well as a crash course on architecture and local history. The route took us from Navy Pier, and past the Sears Tower and John Hancock Buildings. It showed us where where Batman Begins was filmed and where Al Capone used to smuggle his goods. It also taught us about how the Great Chicago Fire transformed the city.
Our particular tour guide was wonderful. (I wish I could remember her name!) She was funny, enthusiastic and really kept her audience engaged.
Overall, I recommend this to Chicago visitors. In one hour, you'll get a proper introduction to this gorgeous city.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
If you haven't been, SHAME ON YOU! This is a must if you are a local Chicago resident or an out-of-towner/newbie. We caught the boat right off Navy Pier and more than enjoyed the hour-long tour. You learn so much you would have never thought about the history of the city and notice so much more than you would just walking down the street. The tour guides are funny as hell and tell very interesting stories. I will definitely go again when I have friends visit Chicago. Such a great experience!
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
