- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Wendella Sightseeing Boats
Rating Details »
Categories: Boating, Boat Charters, Tours [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Magnificent Mile, Near North Side400 N Michigan Ave
(at North Water St)
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 337-1446
- Nearest Transit:
-
Grand (Red)
State/Lake (Orange, Brown, Purple Express, Green, Pink)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
Sponsored Result
You Might Also Consider
Chicago Hauntings Ghost Tour
- 23 reviews
- Neighborhood:
- Near North Side
"This tour is awesome if you're either a history nerd (check), into paranormal studies (check), or have a strong love for the city of Chicago…" read more »
116 reviews for Wendella Sightseeing Boats
my best friend's wedding is one of my favorite chick flicks, and my favorite part is when julia roberts and dermot mulroney are on the boat ride passing through the skyscrapers of chicago.
when i went to chicago, that was my number one thing on my to do list, number two being trying a deep dish pizza.
wendella's tours were informative in explaining the history of the beautiful buildings and architecture. do opt for the 90 minute tour which takes you out to lake michigan. the photo-op of the skyline is amazing!
Hour Ride for 25 dollars .....
At 9pm loaded the boat with friends.....
The cruise and the sights of Chicago were amazing.
The wait for the locks and the doors to open to go into the Lake Michigan really took about 15 minutes each way.
Being close to the Fire works on Lake Michigan was priceless.
Having a Japanese couple in front of me trying to block my view sucks more than a California roll at a grocery store.
Another couple making out in a stinky restroom very funny. I guess they didn't care if it smells like crap in the restroom.
I was expecting more but I guess the Fireworks show paid for it all.
While sometimes it's fun to act like a tourist in your own city, what's really enjoyable is to act out the part of a tourist - especially a small town Southern tourist in the big city. I've found you can get away with a lot more when people think you don't know where you're going. I had planned to do this on the Wendella cruise I recently took. However, due to my partner in subterfuge's (only imitating a city employee is actually a crime) inability to hold a drawl as we walked down the Magnificent Mile practicing (I in no way hold her not being offensive to Dixie against her), we instead pretended we were Canadian visitors as we boarded our architectural cruise.
Sitting along the rail (in case either one of us got seasick) though, I quickly discovered that there was no need to act out the part of an awed tourist when you're on a Wendella boat tour. The city supplies so much natural wonder (paradoxically through man-made buildings) that even a long-time resident can be overwhelmed.
We took the 8:15 p.m. edition of the cruise - and I hightly recommend this particular time slot. Wendella probably thought they were pulling a fast one when they made their recent half price Groupon only good for the 10:00 a.m. and 8:15 p.m. cruises. But, ha! Last laugh's on them. The late evening cruise (half deserted as actual tourists probably have better things to do), featured the last vestiges of sunset and the city skyline shimmering beautifully with lights after dark.
Being on the river provides a completely new perspective of the city that few people get to see. Buildings that I see every day walking to lunch present completely new faces as I stared up into the walls of the concrete and steel canyon on either side. There are so many details that only people who work in buildings that face the river get to see (and to see them at night would take working long hours - and who wants to do that?) that the boat tour exposes.
About the only major flaw was the organizational system. Since Wendella runs a flotilla of boats, often multiple time slots are at the pier simultaneously. They need to announce more clearly when each boat is boarding to avoid confusion.
And, unfortunately, I also found our guide slightly lacking. We got one named Bob who knew a lot about architecture but not exactly how to relay the information to people who are not inclined that way. His humor was also kind of absent. Still both my fact loving, Chicago native friend and I learned a lot of new things about the city from him (and that's most of the point I guess). Sometimes a jaded, "I have a friend who works in that building" or a "that's a terrible restaurant" would slip out but, in general we (or at least I) were back to being amazed by my own city. I was, seriously, "golly-geed" (wait, is that spelled different in Canadian?).
Though not golly geed enough to not go back to hating tourists the next day.
I was a little skeptical about the whole operation when a "joke" by one of the crew almost resulted in us literally missing the boat! Fortunately, that was the only bump we hit.
When one of the crew laughingly said "those of you here for the architecture tour over here (points) and those of you who don't care about that stuff and just want to see fireworks over there (points)" we thought he was kidding, after all the who arrives 45 minutes early for a Wednesday evening 8:45 boat tour! Answer: old people, a bus full of them! Luckily, we double checked and saved ourselves the embarrassment of watching our boat pull away without us.
Our tour guide, Bob, was quite engaging; he made jokes (most of them corny one-liners), answered questions and even did his best 'da Bears' impression. I know the Architecture Foundation's tour gets more props, but Bob knew his stuff too and I learned a few things. The architecture tour covers the North Branch up to about Chicago Avenue, the South Branch up to around Roosevelt Rd, and the East Branch up to the locks and Navy Pier ferris wheel. I really liked gazing at the buildings with the city lit up, it made every thing look pretty.
On a Wednesday evening the tour was pretty empty so you could move around easily if you wanted. The guide wears a mic so it's really easy to hear him wherever you sit, but I'd recommend up top. The boat itself was very clean and looked well maintained. They had a small bar with drinks, they're a bit pricey, but you're on a boat it's not like you can shop around for a better deal.
I know it's been a while since a certain tour bus incident. I'm not even sure which unfortunate boat line's passengers were hit, but I found myself making sure not to glance upward while passing under the bridges. I mean you never know when someone will decide to dump out their Starbucks; better than poop, but I still don't want to be wearing it!
Even though I've lived in the Chicago area my whole life, it's still fun playing tourist every once in a while and this was the perfect way to do it.
TIP: The boat gets chilly at night so come prepared with a jacket or sweater.
I found a groupon deal for a $12 river boat tour before my very first visit to Chicago- how perfect!
I did the evening tour and the view was absolutely beautiful! Our narrator was great- threw in some jokes and threw out interesting information about the buildings we passed!
It was a great way to see Chicago's great architecture - definately worth if it you are looking for touristy things to do.
Being from San Francisco, we're all about the water! So it was an obvious choice to view Chicago's architecture via boat and not bus!
Wendella was the only tour I found to cruise both the river and lake. It was a 90 minute ride narrated by an older guy... the facts were there, the laughs were not. All in all, we enjoyed the up close views of the buildings from the river and skyline from the lake.
Would recommend this tour to others!
This is about as touristy as it gets for Chicago.
If I'm a rubbernecking, sightseeing tourist who blinds people with my intense camera flash, well so be it. The views from the boat tour are well worth the cliche tourist label.
The significant other and I boarded the evening River Architecture tour, and it was absolutely magnificent. Our tour guide was great--very intelligent and informative over the history and facts of the Chicago skyscrapers. It was such an inexpensive way to enjoy such a beautiful view.
Forget the view from Trump's high class eatery; you can bedazzle yourself with gorgeous views of the skyline while drifting through the river. How romantic...ahhhh.
Taking their Architectural Tour along the Chicago River on a sunny Labor Day was a great idea!
For $22 you get a tour that lasts exactly 60 minutes and you get to sit in the sunshine and view and learn about some of the buildings that make up Chicago's spot as one of the premier architecture cities of the world. Not only it was it relaxing and informative but they also have a bar! As I only drink gin & tonics in the summer and I must be outside this boat tour provided an excellent opportunity.
For my girlfriend's 25th birthday we wanted to celebrate with some local tourism. We decided that the river would be the best place to do that, and after some digging found a great coupon for 2-for-1 tickets for the Wendella 90-minute Lake and River tour (the coupon can be found here: http://www.chicagooffi...).
We arrived about 30 minutes early for our tour and were surprised to find a massive group of students had already beat us to the line. The boat was so large that we still had plenty of seating to choose from by the time we boarded. Our tour guide, a bigger man with an impressive white beard, was top-notch. The Lake/River combo had an expedited architectural segment when compared to just the River tour, but our guide was still able to cram more interesting stories and facts into that half hour than I thought was possible. I learned more on his cruise than I did on one that was three times as long with another company.
After our brains were filled with juicy tidbits about the city we call home the boat headed out to the lake. I would highly recommend timing your tour with the sunset; it is truly a beautiful sight to see the skyline fade into the distance and light up as night falls. The guide said enough to keep the conversation going, but also left enough silence that you didn't get tired of hearing him talk. He was very friendly and even walked up and offered to take our picture for us.
I thought this tour was perfect and would definitely recommend it to locals and visitors alike!
If your goal is to take pics of Chicago's beautiful architecture, and lots of it, I definitely recommend taking the lake + river tour. The only caveat: Make sure the weather is a clear day the ENTIRE day, or you'll end up living a reenactment of the flooding scenes from Titanic, with the water deluging the steps from the top part of the boat. Lol.
Boy, did it rain! But that was only the first 30 minutes. So the lake part of the tour was just kaput. Fortunately, for the last hour, it was perfectly sunny skies, and we goto see the beautiful buildings up close and personal.
I decided on Wendella because they were the cheapest and we are not much of history or architecture buffs anyway. We were just there for the beautiful views.
Possibly one of the coolest tourist things I have done! We signed up for the 10:45a combined lake and river tour and were told to get there about 30 minutes early. By the time we got there (around 10:10) we were the last people in line! Lots of tour buses come here so be sure to get in line early if you want to sit on top, which I totally recommend.
Our tour guide, Ali, was informative and not the least bit annoying. She did quite a bit of talking and storytelling but there were also moments where she would take a break to give us time to just enjoy the view. Going out on Lake Michigan was a great addition to some of the other tours I looked up. Seeing the view of the city from that location was fantastic!
This 90 minute tour was packed full of interesting information, great architecture and beautiful views. A must for anyone visiting Chicago!
When you are a local, there are many touristy obligations you have toward your guests, and they get costly (as your guests hardly ever pay for you, phhtttt) and boring ( "that's OK, you go on up the Sears, er Willis, Tower. I'll wait." ). But these river cruises is the ONE thing I wouldn't mind doing repeatedly (but come on, where's the local discount or at least a 5-rides-with-1-free punch card?)
I had done the First Lady tour, and frankly, I don't remember how much I spent (one reviewer said it's a lot more than Wendella). Wendella's operations is berthed right under the Wrigley Building on Michigan Ave. Unlike the First Lady boats, there's no bad seat in the house on Wendella's boats. Every one gets the rooftop seating. If you can't bear the heat, head on down to the air-conditioned lower deck, where tables and chairs are set up near the bar. And the bathrooms look bigger than the First Lady' portal.
Back to Wendella, I had my mother-in-law as my guest, and she couldn't stand or walk too long. While I waited in line for both of us, I had the wonderful assistance of Wendella's staff to usher her to the start of the line to wait for me during boarding. They were so kind as to let her board first (not my intention at all).
The tour as usual is informative, and it truly is difficult to absorb every information. This is why I don't mind returning every now and then to enjoy the city, as well as to learn a little bit more about it.
We were there on the Chicago Air and Water Show weekend, and what a bonus that was. Not only do we get to go a little farther out to the lake, but we also had some of the planes zipping over us!
The 60 minute tours are about $22, which is less than the Chicago Architecture Foundation/First Lady tour both price-wise and time-wise.
Our guide did know a lot there were some times where I thought he could have given more information or cut out the cheesy jokes.
Don't forget to bring a jacket, it gets windy even when it is sunny.
I'm baffled at how many people seem to rave about this tour.
I only had a few hours before my flight and so I thought I can squeeze this in especially because I like boat tours and well because truth be told I love that scene in My Best Friend's Wedding when they're on the tour and go under the bridge.
I got a seat upstairs on the deck towards the back and within minutes of the tour starting I knew it would be beautiful but awful. No one could hear the tour guide and when I strained enough to hear bits and pieces it seemed boring, completely recited, and unmotivated.
At one point I could hear another tour on the boat behind us and that's when the real hurt set in...
My boyfriend dragged me along with his out-of-town family on the architectural tour. It actually wasn't that bad. The hour tour goes by surprisingly quickly. We had an upbeat tour guide, with impeccable timing - she probably had given the speech a million times and knew exactly what to say when. The best part was just taking in the beauty of the city from the river. I wasn't even that interested in what the guide was saying. Living here you don't usually find yourself looking up and admiring the skyline.
My only complaint is that you are packed in like sardines - the boat was probably at it's maximum capacity. They serve drinks on the lower deck, but it's nearly impossible to snake your way through the aisles of people and not spill anything.
The boat tour was still enjoyable...if you don't mind crowds, and if you're lucky, this is the kind of thing you only have to do once every few years when entertaining visitors. :)
My family and I did the Wendella Lake and river tour at the last day of our trip to Chicago. It was a beautiful day and the sky was the perfect shade of blue for photographs. We departed by the Lake as do many other tours. The ticket counters are easy and efficient and even have an automated machine if you don't like talking to live people.
We started the tour on time, the tour guide was young, fresh, funny and very informative. I learned so much about the history of Chicago and the story of many of it's famous buildings. The city is breathtaking.
The boats are clean and of a good size. We originally wanted to do a midday tour, but they get very packed, It was impossible at that time to get tickets for 7, so instead we opted for an early tour 11:45 am. We had time to grab a quick breakfast and 90 mins later we were done and finished.
I'd highly recommend taking one of these tours towards the beginning of your trip. It would give you a better appreciation of the magnificent buildings surrounding you. The view from the lake and river is a must do. It was also really awesome seeing the water level rise from the Lock while heading out to Lake Michigan! DO NOT MISS THE LAKE AND RIVER TOUR!
A perfect experience!
Did the sunset tour, which was beautiful! The guide knew a ton of information and I really enjoyed looking up at these beautiful buildings while listenting to her passionate and thoughful voice. There was a cash bar on board which was nice.
On the way back from the lake it did start to rain and I was a little uncomfortable but that is also my fault for not bringing a jacket when there is chance of a rain.
Didn't feel touristy or over-priced in anyway. Felt like I had a better experience then I would have on any other boat.
I would totally recommend the 60-minute Architecture Tour on the Chicago River to natives and tourists alike. You learn the history of basically each and every building up and down the river. Interesting for both architecture buffs and amateurs. There's even a bar on the bottom deck, I didn't check it out this time but it's nice to have an option to put yourself in vacation-mode. Afterwards hit up lunch at the Billy Goat Tavern, down the stairs underneath the road, it's a Chicago landmark.
The tour I was on was very informative and entertaining. I loved how the tour guide knew exactly what he was talking about; better yet, LOVED what he was talking about. I took the combination lake and river tour. For only a dollar more you get an extra 15 minutes and get to go out to Lake Michigan.
I would give them five stars if it wasn't for the flight of stairs we had to walk. I don't mind taking the stairs, but when you have a baby stroller it can be an inconvenience. I asked an employee how do they accommodate the disabled or the elderly and she said that they don't. Minus one star for that.
I can say, without any doubt in my mind, that Wendella Boat Tours is my favorite thing to do over a Chicago summer. Every time I have a friend in town, this is always on the agenda. I have done some of the other tours, but Wendella consistently has the best guides for the least amount of money (A lot of tourists go out to Navy Pier and spend more, but its not worth it)
I recommend the lake and river architectural tour. It costs $23 and worth every penny. You will spend about half of your time heading out/on the lake. You will get absolutely breathtaking views of the skyline. The other half is cruising down the Chicago river learning about the buildings and such. I always learn something new!
Here is the real deal - Take the 7:00 boat tour. They will take you down the river first and then head out to the lake around 7:45. You stay on the lake and watch the sun go down and the city lights take over. It is truly incredible and VERY romantic. Guaranteed makeout for this.
As a heads up, right at the beginning of the season (March/April) they will have deals on their web site. I bought some 2-4-1 deals in advance, and it will save me a bunch of money. Gotta keep your eyes open for this because I dont believe they advertise it.
Enjoy!
I love the architectural boat tours here, they never get old. BUT I did the Kafka wine tasting/boat tour at dusk cruise last week, and it ROCKED.
$59 gets you wine, the tour, and catered pasta/salad from buca di beppo.
Wines were great, 6 delicious ones, and if you buy a case you get 5% off. At first I thought it'd be totally impossible to get downstairs and get your glass refilled, but after the initial wave, it was no prob. I had more than my share of wine and it was fab.
The tour was great, we spent an hr on the river, and an hr out in lake michigan checking out that amazing skyline.
Pasta was very mediocre, but not a big deal.
Absolutely fantastic! Simply AMAZING!
Every tourist and every Chicago citizen should take a river and lake tour at least once. I can't tell you how BEAUTIFUL and GRAND Chicago and its skyline looks from the water. You can't get better views (nope, not even from the Sears Tower). There were many beautiful buildings that I never knew existed. The tour was also quite informative (but not comprehensive like a college lecture). We learned (or relearned) about the various skyscrapers and landmarks. Ninety minutes was long enough.
In all honesty, the river and lake tour was the best $24 I've spent in a long time. When I have first-time visitors over, I will force them to do it. For what it's worth, my father really, really enjoyed it. It was one of his most memorable travel experiences.
BOOK A TICKET NOW!
PS: I chose Wendella because their prices were more reasonable than their competitors. $24 per adult instead of $30+.
If ever you're in Chicago, this is a Do. Not. Miss.
Take the architectural tour, up the Chicago River. You'll see Chicago's magnificent landmark buildings......from the river.
When I was a little kid, growing up in Beverly, on Chicago's South Side, I rode my bike, for hours & hours, around the endless mazes of alleys that ran behind all the houses. I saw everybody's homes from their back yards, haha! And you just wouldn't believe how cool some of those backyard views could be! I'm talking about big 'ole historic houses on grandiose properties.
It was kinda like spying, and as a kid I loved it all to hell.
So.... the views of Chicago's big skyscrapers from the back is a sight you won't see....except from the river. The river winds around behind the buildings just like the alleys did. It's so cool, trust me on this.
On the boat ride, bring a warm jacket. Chicago has chilly winds, and you might get wet from the spray off the water. But the boat trip will be worth any suffering you endure.
Some of the boat tours go out onto Lake Michigan, and I also recommend seeing the city from offshore. I've been in many private boats out on the Lake, over all my years as a (former) Chicago resident, and it never ceased to be a thrill. The sight of the skyline at night would take my breath away.
Sweet home Chicago, how beautiful you are.
As far as tourist-y things go, I think this is one that you have to do if you visit Chicago during the warmer part of the year. The sights are breathtaking and you learn a lot of interesting information. I did this on my first trip to Chicago and my friends and I were totally and completely glad that we did!
What an amazing way to spend the afternoon! Wendella boat tours are well organized and clean. Our tour guide Phyllis was a hoot! She was not only knowledgeable, but seemed to really be enjoying herself. If she wasn't I was fooled. The staff really had their act together with the wide range of ages of people they needed to accommodate. I look forward to doing another one of their tours again.
The staffers at Wendella are SO nice! They were very welcoming and understanding when we ran up to the dock 10 seconds before it was scheduled to sail away...
For a 2+ hour boat ride priced at $25, I believe we got our money's worth in most aspects. Yes, there were beautiful views of the buildings from the river and the Chicago skyline from Lake Michigan. Yes, we learned neat facts about Chicagio's architecture that a normal tourist would walk by without ever knowing. Yes, we obtained a few save-able pictures from the 2 hour ride. However, despite all this, I was left feeling a little unsatisfied and I cannot place my finger on it...
We signed up for the 7PM departure, which I thought was perfect due to the great lighting for pictures of the building and we were also able to see the sunset from Lake Michigan. The best picture I took though was right at dusk when we were about to dock by the river. I'm pretty sure if we took the 8PM departure though we would not have had such great pictures.
All in all, the river boat tour is something every tourist should do at least once. On the plus note, the two hour boat ride did not seem like two hours at all. AND they have a full service bar downstairs.
As a resident of Chicago, I took the Wendella boat tour and was amazed at how much I learned!
This is a MUST SEE. It is only $23 for an hour and a half, which is a steal. The tour takes you through the river and out into Lake Michigan. The views are breathtaking and the tour is a reminder of what a remarkable city we have in Chicago!
By far my favorite thing to do in Chicago. The architecture foundation tours are amazing, and I learn something new every time I go. If the sun hits your face and the buildings at the same time, consider yourself lucky.
Make sure you don't get a loud talker next to you; sometimes the guide mics don't work well when the wind hits the chicago river....
After visiting Chicago my whole life and living here for a year, I finally went on a boat tour when my mom and her friend came to visit. We did the river + lake tour, which was great. I can't compare it to the river only/architecture tour, but I can tell you that I learned a lot about the city architecture. It was a beautiful day, our guide was great, and she included a lot of funny anecdotes about the city and those who helped to build it. I was rattling off the little facts about architecture for the next week when some friends and I went down to the mag mile--nerd? maybe, but it was pretty cool. Go with guests, or go as a local because this is just something that you should experience in Chicago.
Even though the Chicago Architecture Foundation tours are probably a little more "scholarly" - these tours are so damn fun. If you go, make sure you do the river + lake. It's just nice being on a boat, for starters!
I made the mistake of putting my parents in a set of seats that were a little noisy, and they couldn't hear the guide terribly well - so bear that in mind when getting seats....
The downsides? Tourists. They suck. Myself included, no doubt, but i am no longer a Chicago tourist so I am easily frustrated by people pointing at the Hancock building saying, "That's the Sears Tower." Oh sorry, Willis! And the Hancock Tower is not by Mies Van Der Rohe, the man was allergic to diagonal lines.
After the tour, if you're taking visitors around the city, it is obligatory to take them to the Billy Goat Tavern and subject them to the Double Cheeze! onslaught. They might be scared, but the burgers are good.
I am so with Joan S. and agree that when you're in Chicago that this is something you DON'T want to miss! I brought my lovely mom along with me on a business trip so she could indulge in some down time while I worked.
We took the river and architecture cruise and paid $23 per adult and sat on the top back deck! We had such a great time and took plenty of pictures ~ believe me you'll want to bring a camera with you!
This boat trip is very informative and will allow you to get a wonderful view of Chicago's beautiful Skyline. Remember to bring a coat cause it can get a little windy out there. Well worth the money! We had a great time!
I quite enjoyed my sight-seeing excursion on the Wendella boat. I learned a lot about Chicago architecture, didn't think I overpaid, and had an overall wonderful time. What more could I wish for?
The fist day of our trip, my friends wanted to take a boat tour. Having spent 15 summers in Illinois, and having been in Chicago probably 20+ times, I wasn't really into it. Finally, they wore me down.
I had a great time, really. We spent 4 days of hard drinking from morning until night, and a boat ride with bloody marys was just the thing we needed to get the lead out. They give a great opportunity to get pictures from the lake, explain why the rivers are there, and give great architectural history of the downtown area.
It's a pretty inexpensive tour considering what you get, and it is about 90 minutes long. Bring sunscreen and a camera.
We did the river and lake tour on a beautiful day. Couldn't have been happier. The tour guide was great, providing lots of interesting insights into the history of eveything. Very unique perspective on the great architecture of Chicago. A must if you're visiting Chicago
I have taken this boat tour three times now and really recommend it! I personally enjoy the river and lake tour because it is the most comprehensive and gives educational and fun information. This is a great way to spend the afternoon and learn a lot about Chicago and all of the tour guides I have had have been lots of fun!
A MUST FOR TOURISTS. This tour definately gives you info on buildings and the view is awesome! Great pictures for the skyline. Too bad it started raining on us during the tour but other than that the tour was great. Great view and very informative.
Wendella Tour (inserst "Greater Than" sign) Chicago Architecture Foundation Tour, IMO.
Our boat was pretty much empty, which meant I was able to listen to our graceful speaker without any distractions. I felt like I learned more about the beautiful city of Chicago through this tour. Our tour guide didn't even use note cards. He knew all the information by heart. Mad props for that. The sunset tour is amazing. It gets a bit nippy, but it's totally worth it.
The best part about the Wendella tour? It's eight dollars cheaper than the CAF's tours.
Really enjoy the Wendella boat tours. I LOVED the beer tasting cruise on June 4th 09. so fun and delicious. I think this is one of the most fun and reasonably priced boat tours in the city.
Hope you enjoy it too!
I was the local tour guide for our out of town guests! We did the 90 minute lake and river tour. 3:00pm, Saturday afternoon!
The tour guide was well informed and we learned much about Chicago!
The weather was near perfect for this and the city looks great!
Boat boarded quickly and took off on time, boat was clean employees friendly fast and seemed to love there jobs!
I went on a tour as a tourist on a school trip, and it was soo good. I was on the top deck and I got a great view, so bring your camera. Our guide was a trainee, and she was spectacular, so their experienced people must be excellent. We went through the lock out on the lake, all the time learning great fun facts. There were occasional breaks for pictures and refreshments (which were convenient, but overpriced). Then we went up the river to see bridges and buildings. Overall it was very nice. I got great pictures and facts. What's better? Check it out!
