I called for information. The young lady, Colleen, who answered the phone was very helpful and…read morefriendly. I plan on sending my son there next year.

This lakeside club is the gem of Highland Park! The cozy clubhouse on Lake Michigan with canoes,…read morekayaks, sailboats and friendly members of all ages is our favorite place to be in the summertime.

This place is a hidden gem that's underutilized. For less then $300 bucks, a beachfront clubhouse…read morewith a huge deck including grills, tables, kitchen, showers, equipment, storage, and free to use club equipment such as kayaks, paddle boards, windsurfers... I'm here almost everyday. I can't understand why this place isn't completely packed with members all summer.

Adult Sailing Class Review…read more I just completed their four week adult sailing class and found it to be very enjoyable. Each of the classes cover basics and then (except for the first one) everyone participates in rigging boats and then it is time to go sailing to work on skills until the class ends. Mostly you sail a 420 (it is 420 cm long), which is a sailboat for two (or sometimes three) people. The in later classes you sail a laser, which is a boat for one person as well as some sailing on 3 and 5 person boats. With the class you get one month membership which allows you to use 420s and laser sailboats anytime the center is open and weather permits and the boats are available (i.e., when not in use and not reserved for a member or a class). The membership starts the day you learn how to upright a capsized 420. I recommend that at the first class you seek out potential sailing partners for sailing outside of classtime. The more sailing you do out of class using the one month membership, the better you will be. Sailing with friends is also allowed. I used the membership a lot! I was able to attend all eight scheduled classes, as weather was good enough to do so. If a class falls on a day that the weather is unsuitable for sailing (no wind or too-rough conditions or lightning in the radar area) they have the right to cancel up to two such classes without offering makeup classes. It is clear from my experience that the teachers and staff are friendly, competent and interested in being helpful. I highly recommend that you get a good book or two on sailing to read and refer to as you are learning. The class's emphasis (good!) is on getting you hands-on experience rigging your boat and getting you out on the water with basic sailing knowledge. You will want to supplement that with the knowledge you can get from a book or two so you have more depth. Happy sailing!

Very helpful and friendly staff. People are always watching if your in trouble and in general is…read morevery safe and beautiful.

There is some beatiful parks and lakefront property that Evanston can boast about. There are also…read moremany parks and walking trails that go all the way from the lakefront to Dodge Ave. On my last visit I was checking out the lush greenery and lakefront property that can be found by Sheridan/Church St. near the boat launch area.

Evanston has been a great balance of suburban life with hints of nature (the city's full of trees,…read moreparks, and a lakefront). I'm glad Evanstonians take their city's recreation seriously because it's really worth being proud about. Signed, Deprived Californian.

Went on the 2 hour sunset kayaking with a bunch of girlfriends recently and had an awesome time…read more Even though they provided maps as to where the boat launch would be--I still went to the wrong area--boo for me and directions. They provided all the equipment: lifejacket, oar, and kayak. I recommend water shoes just because Im not a huge fan of sand or rocks in between my toes. The fabulous trip leader gave us some instruction/safety and then we were off and paddling--ok maybe not at first :) The staff was so patient and nice---especially because I felt like the first half of the trip I definitely needed special attention--since we were veering in the opposite direction of the group---geesh who would've thought it would be so difficult to turn or keep going straight--but with the proper instruction and a little special ed tugging from one of the trip leaders---we were on our way to cruising on lake michigan. Being that this was my first time and I didn't fall out or become traumatized--I definitley will be doing this again.

I had my husband buy groupons for us because I'd never been kayaking & we thought it would be fun…read more It was! It was a gorgeous, sunny day on Lake Michigan with calm water. The instructors were very nice, the group was fun, & it was easier than I expected (laregly thanks to the calm waters). I would do it again in a heartbeat, and I would definitely recommend going here, in particular if you haven't been before. I would really like to do it again. The one improvement they can make is to ensure they explain how position your legs and help you adjust the seats & foot rest inside the kayak prior to getting in their own kayaks. We all got in our kayaks & the guides got in theirs, but some of the other kayakers weren't able to adjust the foot rest or seat. We asked for assistance and they readily helped, but if you aren't aware there's a problem till you're on the water it would be too late. It would be nice if they checked to make sure everyone was properly set up & positioned before take off and without us having to speak up.

Such an amazing experience!!! My boyfriend came across Captain Conway through a google search of…read morecharter boats in the Chicago area. He was looking for a romantic way to propose and nothing could have topped this!! Captain Conway was nothing but accommodating for the whole experience, serving us wine and champaign after my boyfriend proposed and captured some amazing pictures. The entire night was so private, romantic and amazing. 100% would recommend this experience for everyone looking for a private charter experience. Very affordable compared to other charter services and the experience was customized just for us. Thank you Captain Conway!!

So fun! Highly recommend this company. They take the time to call you beforehand to make sure all…read moreyour questions are answered. My family and I got captain Larry and he was so kind and told us fun facts about buildings that we passed by. I will for sure be doing another boat tour with them!!

One of the best things I did while visiting Chicago! I booked the 8:30 p.m. Tall Ship Windy sail,…read moreand it was worth every penny. We left around 8:30 to 8:45, and by the time the 9:00 p.m. fireworks started, we had a front row view from the water. It was absolutely incredible. The captain and crew were friendly, welcoming, and did an amazing job. The ship wasn't overcrowded, so there was plenty of room to walk around and take in the views. Watching the fireworks with the Chicago skyline in the background was unforgettable. After the fireworks, we sailed under the night sky with the sails up and great music playing. It honestly felt like I was in the Caribbean, except with an amazing city skyline all around us. I'm from New York and was in Chicago for work, and I have to say this was even more impressive than seeing the New York skyline from the water. I also own a sailboat, so I really appreciated how well the crew handled the ship. One of my favorite parts was that guests could even help hoist the sails. There was a full bar with a really good rum punch, and so many great spots to take pictures of the sunset and the skyline. The crew was also happy to take photos for people. If you're going, get to Navy Pier early and enjoy the restaurants and drinks before your sail. This is great for families, couples, or even if you're traveling by yourself like I was. It's a unique experience that you won't get on one of the regular tour boats. I would absolutely do this again the next time I'm in Chicago.

Staff was so amazing and kind, relaxing way to see the city on a calm and quiet sailboat so much funread more

The idea of buying a boat - canoe, kayak, or inflatable - is super daunting!!! Which is why I…read morewanted someone to walk me through it. Offshore of Lake Bluff has a solid selection of boats, and even in the off-season ( this visit is in January) there's decent variety in stock. Sam took me through the store and answered a ton of questions I had without pressure - selling. He's been boating since he was a tot and it's pretty clear that he loves his job as his eyes twinkled while he explained the ins and outs of different models of boats and gear. I was pleased to hear that while they have some boats in stock, they can usually order another if the one I want sells, since I should probably (I mean really) consider my income and savings situation before making a purchase. I will definitely be back when I know what I can afford. I am excited about getting out there in a boat I own instead of a rental. And I'll be proud to make a purchase here. It's always nice to support local businesses, especially if they provide excellent service, like they do here.

Offshore contacted Eddyline and changed their order with them so I could have two matching colored…read morekayaks, a Caribbean 12 FS and a Caribbean 14 FS, and delivered them to my home in Noblesville Indiana. My local Eddyline retailer was unable/unwilling to do the same. Great communication and pleasant demeanor. Highly recommend Offshore in Lake Bluff.

Loved our architecture tour of the river and lake! It was 90 minutes, full of interesting…read moreinformation. The views were gorgeous. Boat was super clean and they had several safety warnings/information. It was absolutely fantastic. Bobby was our tour guide and he was extremely knowledgeable, engaging and funny. Worth the price.

We got lucky and pulled the perfect day to be on the river, but even without a beautiful, temperate…read moreday I think it would've been fantastic. Our tour guide, Zack, was a wealth of knowledge, fun facts, puns, and recommendations for other Chicago activities. He was super passionate about the history of the buildings and the styles of architecture, which made the experience more exciting for those of us who (*cough*) don't really care about either topic. The boat was very clean, had ample bathrooms, a bar with all kinds of hard and soft drinks and snacks, and what appeared to be good safety provisions. Glad we didn't have to explore that issue further. 10/10, highly recommend Wendella!