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!

We bought tickets for a Sunday morning cruise (depart 10am) online and when we departed the boat…read morewas half full on the top level. We were blessed with perfect sunny skies and temps around 68-70 degrees the whole time. Our small group took up the one back corner of the boat and had a great time. The boat took us out through the lock into the harbor and then out around the breakwater into the open lake, around the lighthouse and then back through the lock (about an hour) to a nice cruise down river (30 mins). We turned around where the main branches come together at a Y. Along the way we learned about the history of the City, the great fire, why the lock exists, some local neighborhood history, reverse flow/pollution of the river, lots of building info/architecture new and old and about the lake. The lock and lake part of the trip was fun for the kids. I would recommend this type of tour if you have children so it keeps them a little entertained instead of hearing about buildings for 90 mins. The bathroom on board was clean. The bar area downstairs looked good, but we didn't drink or buy snacks. We walked from our hotel so I can't help you with parking. It's a couple flights of steps down to get to the loading area for the boat and the same steps back up to street level when you leave the boat. Last thing, when we got off our boat the lines for all the boat companies were long. If you hate lines, get the boat tour done early!! Thanks guys!

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.

I really liked this. Captain Steel and Siris were W. I really would recommend this and also those…read morelow reviews are not that real. Boat wasn't cancelled and I really liked it. 9/10

I had reached out ahead of time to see if they do fancy mocktails so I wouldn't just be stuck…read moredrinking a sprite on board. I quit drinking years ago but still want to have fun and fit in. The beverage manager assured me that they do offer a selection of crafted mocktails - so I was expecting a menu or at least the bartender having some knowledge. I asked and the bartender just pointed out the juices that they have. Now a lot of local establishments have created mocktails that have unique mixes to them that I don't know. So when he was pointing to the different juices I didn't even know what to ask for. He only suggested a Shirley Temple. So all in all, I was stuck drinking a Sprite and didn't feel to fit in. I didn't have much fun.

Almost everyone you meet in Chicago who loves their city will ask when you tell them you are…read morevisiting from out of town, "Have you done the architectural boat tour?" People in Amsterdam will also ask if you have done a canal boat tour - and you have to do these when you visit these cities. Our docent volunteer guide, Steve, was excellent. He was very personable and extremely knowledgeable about the city's riverside buildings and its history. The boat staff was also hardworking and ready to help with any issues, from getting a drink at the boat's downstairs bar to handing out covers when the rain hit us. For what we paid, the 1.5 hour tour was more than worth it. I recommend sitting at the top towards the back, as you don't have to crane your neck as much when he points out places of interest. This was a truly wonderful experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Not what I expected overall but it was still a very educational experience. Scoring tickets to…read moreChicago's Architecture Center through our hotel, we used the tickets as a good time filler. Not a must see or do attraction but a great day filler activity as you explore the city. Loved the wealth of information they offer as it's valuable to understand Chicagos importance from the ground up! I thought it would be more about highlighting the amazing architectural buildings around the city but nothing like that. It's was more about the environmental impact the city has and the hurdles when designing buildings around town. The staff were friendly at check in and provided great service overall as they were kind and helpful. Small center that you may explore at your own pace and may or may not be worth the admission price. But scoring free tickets it allowed us to be selective in our day or day plans to include the activity to pay it a visit!

I accepted an internship at Levin Associates/Pier-Port with the sincere intention to grow, learn,…read moreand gain experience. Unfortunately, my time there turned out to be deeply disheartening. One of the biggest lessons I took away was to be cautious when something seems too good to be true--and to never allow your employer to have control over both your job and your housing. Though the role was advertised as an internship, I was treated like a senior employee. I was the only person in my field--there was no team to learn from, no mentorship, and no one to guide me. While there was a formal onboarding process, there was no meaningful support. I had to teach myself difficult programs under pressure, with little clarity and no guidance. The expectations felt unrealistic and unsupported. Communication was inconsistent. Tasks were often unclear, with expectations that shifted randomly. When I asked for clarification, I was always met with frustration, raised voices, or cursing. The owner was frequently unavailable during the day, often arriving late afternoon when others were already leaving. This made getting direction or feedback extremely difficult. When I got very sick and needed three days off to recover, I was told by the owner that he was considering hiring someone else--described as an industry expert--for my role. As an unpaid intern from out of state, this made me feel like my position and housing were being threatened. I felt like the only way to avoid being left without a place to live was to stay and endure an environment that felt toxic and unpredictable. The housing provided was not what I expected. I was told it was professionally cleaned and part of a formal setup. What I arrived to was a neglected attic loft above his home's garage. It had no kitchen, the furniture was old and worn, and it was hard to live in. I found visible rodent droppings in the kitchen cabinets under the sink. No supplies or help were offered--I had to spend my own money to deal with the issue. It felt deeply stressful, especially as someone new to the state with no backup housing. Before accepting, I had a call with the owner where he made the company sound well-staffed and professional. He described a busy, structured environment. I also checked the company's staff page, which listed several people, reinforcing that idea. But when I arrived, the reality was very different. It was a small team, mostly in unrelated roles, and there was no support system for interns. I had no one to train me--just high expectations and constant pressure. From day one, the owner's tone felt harsh and unpredictable. There was no feedback loop--just ongoing criticism, often delivered in a way that felt demeaning. I also saw others treated unfairly. The workplace culture felt emotionally exhausting. I witnessed people come in for work and never return. While there was one person who had been with the company for a few years, it didn't appear to be continuous. To my knowledge, the most consistently present employee had only been there a little over a year. If you're considering applying--especially if you're from out of state and don't have support--I strongly encourage caution. In my opinion, this internship did not offer the professional, or educational environment I was promised. I left feeling drained, unsupported, and disappointed. Please think carefully, and prioritize your mental and physical well-being before accepting.

I spent $8000.00 on a pier shelter that broke down after three days, damaging my boat…read more The owner, Kerry Levin refuses to pay back the money after guaranteeing his product with a warranty. Call the better business bureau on him Fraud

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.

While in Chicago, my wife scheduled an architectural tour on the Chicago River. In the summertime,…read moreespecially, this is prime time to take one of these tours, where you can enjoy seeing the different architectural designs of the skyscrapers built over the past 100-plus years. When we went, the weather was gorgeous, but it was hot since it was early August. Make sure to hydrate, or at least bring some sort of beverage, even if it's an Aperol spritz. Our tour guide was great and explained the history and stories behind each building we saw, including the Chicago Tribune building. During the 90-minute tour, you go west, south, north, then east along the Chicago River to check out the various buildings and the stories behind them, as well as others under construction, like the Bally's Casino. As a sidebar, that building is pissing off the locals across from it because it is now blocking their view. Make sure you buy tickets in advance and arrive at least 15 minutes before the boat leaves, as the queues build quickly, and you will want a good seat on the top deck to capture the buildings around you and take pictures. Also check whether the staff creates a second queue as they take ticket holders from both at the same time, so if you are in the back of one, they don't go through that queue first before the other. In the summertime, the tickets will sell out quickly, so make sure you buy in advance if you're looking to take a tour.

We took a Saturday morning architectural cruise with Chicago line cruises. The check-in process was…read moreextremely organized, as was the boarding. We had great seats on the back of the boat and the staff was very helpful. After the safety briefing, we got underway. The guide was so knowledgeable about the history and the architecture of Chicago. Highly recommend! They offer free water, lemonade, and soft drinks, as well as alcoholic beverages for purchase. The tour guide was so funny and offered spare hats to the men who had limited hair on the boat to keep them from getting sunburned!

I can't say enough good things about Ben Watts Marina. From the moment I started working with them,…read morethey have been incredibly efficient, thorough, personable, and professional. What really stands out is how much attention they pay to the details. They went above and beyond to identify additional items on my boat that had been overlooked by others, which gave me a tremendous amount of confidence knowing that everything was being properly looked over. Their communication and service have been exceptional, and they completed the work even faster than I anticipated. Most importantly, I feel completely comfortable leaving my boat with them because I know it is in good hands and that they genuinely care about doing the job right. It's rare to find a marina that combines this level of expertise, attention to detail, responsiveness, and customer service. I'm extremely impressed with Ben Watts Marina and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a marina they can truly trust.

As far my experience, having kept my boat here for the last four years, this is a great place for…read morean annual slip as well as over the winter. I think there were some updates in management and they have been treating me really great. I always have something small that I need or requests or whatever it is, it gets handled. I appreciate their attention and care for my boat.

We bought a brand new 22ft Bennington Pontoon from Munson at the Chicago Boat show this January…read more The process could not have been easier. We looked all over the show but came back to Munson to buy. We got exactly what we wanted. Peter Biasco was awesome walking us through the process, options, etc. we was patient with all our questions. When the boat came in during March we went out to meet Adam and get all the final papers signed. They were all ready and we were in and out quickly, were able to see the boat, and set up delivery. We have a lake house on Lake Holiday (Sandwich, IL) so it is nearly a 2 hour drive from Munson to deliver it but Captain Bill brought it out, launched it, showed us all the ins and outs, and helped us figure out the best way to get it tied to our dock. He was great with us, and showed us everything we need to know about the new boat. Captain Bill spend a couple hours with us going around the lake, making sure everything worked and we were ready to take it on our own. I could not be happier with the process, service, and thoroughness of the team and we look forward to this summer and many more with the boat!

I went to Munson ski and was very grateful to have met Jenny, she helped me find a chaparral. She…read morewas really knowledgeable and sweet. She understands that this is a big purchase and made sure that I understood what I was getting into and what all my options were. I was on the fence on different models and brands and she helped me with a side by side comparison so I picked the right one with options that I need. It was a big purchase for me so she wasn't pushy, on the other hand she also welcomed me with open arms and made me feel comfortable since I have had trouble in the past with sales people not wanting to approach me since I don't have the appearance of being rich. She didn't hesitate to greet me and help me out. Later after we made sure that we had the right make and model she introduced me to one of the owners Matt. We sat down and he dialed me in with the price. It was like a no haggle thing since I was shopping and knew what this should cost and he was below anyone else. He was very very helpful and was a pleasure to do business with. This is a family business and they treated me like family. Not only do I recommend Munson to strangers on the internet but would recommend them to my friends and family. All of their boats and products are top notch and they been in the business for like over 60years (I think). So that tells you something right there they would not be around for so long if they didn't know what they were doing and doing things right.

Highly recommend this company. They go above and beyond and we always have the best time with them…read more Will continue to use them for our future boat rides!

From the owner: Affordably priced boat and yacht charters in beautiful downtown Chicago! Call or text 872-287-7999…read moretoday for more information!