During our second day, my best friend and business partner Marbelis and I decided to take the Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruise aboard Chicago’s First Lady. We arrived around 11:00 A.M. to the Chicago Riverwalk at Michigan Ave. and Wacker Dr.
Once we were inside, we were greeted warmly by the tour guide and she announced on her microphone, “Welcome these beautiful Panamanian ladies.” She made us feel special and we were so excited!
The boat was huge and fit so many people comfortably. We were very impressed by the Chicago architecture, history, and with our incredibly knowledgeable tour guide. We learned that the guides are volunteers, very passionate about Chicago, its architecture, and it shows!
During our 90 minutes tour, we learned how Chicago grew from a small settlement into one of the world’s largest cities in less than 100 years. Also, we learned about the architecture and design of over 50 buildings, as well as seeing all three branches of the Chicago River.
You can only really appreciate the city when you take a boat tour and this is the one to take if you decide to. At about 90 minutes, the length is perfect, and you get to see most of the prominent buildings, as well as those that are being constructed currently.
If the weather is nice, I highly recommend riding on the top deck of the boat, as this gives you the best view while the narration is going. Sitting inside is fine as well, especially if you want to avoid the elements. The speaker system is very good, so no matter where you end up, you will be able to hear just fine.
There is a bar on board, so drinks and snacks are available. Since it was a little chilly during our trip, we bought some hot chocolate to help keep us warm.
We really enjoyed our time on the boat. While I love driving myself, in a new city, it is often better just to be able to sit back, relax, and take in the sites without worrying about where you are going.
Don’t just take my word for how great this tour is, Trip Advisor users recently ranked the Chicago First Lady Cruise as one of the top ten tours in the U.S. For more information, you can check out their website HERE.
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