The tour itself was great, and our guide was knowledgeable and did a wonderful job. We also had a great experience with the bartenders. Unfortunately, the accessibility side of the experience could use some improvement. We had someone in our group with a disability, and it wasn't very clear how to access the boat or where the accessible route was located. We did find the ADA information on the website afterward, so we recognize that we could have looked into it more beforehand, but it does take several clicks to find and could be made much more visible. The wheelchair-accessible ramp is also about two blocks away, which can be especially difficult for someone using a cane or with limited mobility. When we asked the staff on the dock for assistance getting down, we unfortunately didn't receive much help. Overall, we enjoyed the tour itself, but clearer accessibility signage, more visible information, and a little more assistance from staff would have made a big difference. We noticed that the sightseeing tour across the water had very clear handicap-accessible signage, which might be something worth considering. read more

We took the First Lady architecture tour while visiting Chicago with friends, and it was easily a 10/10 experience. The guides do a great job bringing the city's history and architecture to life, and the views from the river are unbeatable. One tip: even in the summer, bring a sweatshirt. It was a cool day, and I ended up heading downstairs for a while to warm up. Also, don't skip the bar. The drinks were surprisingly good and made the cruise even more enjoyable. A must-do if you're visiting Chicago. read more

We took a river boat tour through downtown Chicago with First Lady which is partnership with Chicago Architecture Center (CAC). It was both informative and enjoyable. It was a great way to learn about the city's rich history and iconic architecture. Our tour guide (I wish I remember his name- I believe it was Joe) was knowledgeable, engaging, and spoke clearly throughout the 90 minutes cruise. He shared fascinating stories about Chicago's history, the city's skyline, and the architectural landmarks we passed along the river. Overall, it was a wonderful experience, and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Chicago who wants to learn more about the city's history and architecture. read more

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Shoreline sightseeing is better We've been going on shoreline for over a decade and loved it - decided to try First Lady because they claim to be the best. Very disappointing here's why: - Ticket agent Fox was rude and condescending - Docent Sylvia was not that interesting and very long winded - kept saying wrong sides of the river, said she forgot some names and certain details etc.. - boat left late read more

My husband and I visited our friends in Chicago, who highly recommended to go on an architecture boat tour! We booked through First Lady and had a great time. It was 1.5 hours and our tour guide Amy was amazing! She had so many fun facts about each building and there was so much passion all throughout the tour. We had a great time thank you again! read more

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What a great cruise. Learned a lot from Ken/ Kent. The length of the trip was perfect. Weather was lovely and we enjoyed learning so much about the history of Chicago. We sat outside on the top and had a great 360 view. The only thing I would say was I couldn't really understand all the things he was saying -not sure if he was talking monotone but I got distracted a few times and missed a few things. Otherwise, highly recommend! read more

This tour is so good. I am such a geek when it comes down to tours and architecture tours I wanna know the who the what the win the way or the Y in the house and especially with Chicago being such an amazing town and just so rich of culture in history I wanted to partake in it. I can't really wait to do it again our tour guide John was so good. He was so good. He was really amazing and I when I come back I'm gonna ask and see when he's doing tours because I want to go on his tour. I really felt like I was in a classroom with virtual hands-on experience of the architectural building buildings. read more

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I was with a couple of friends visiting from out of state. One of them studied architecture and I thought this would be a great activity to do on Chicago. It was a clear, hot summer day perfect for a cruise. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and kept the passengers involved by asking questions along the way. We appreciate the architectural history and diversity of the Chicago ski even more after this tour. Most passengers were on the top level to enjoy an open view of the city. If you want to do the same on a hot summer day, make sure you book the 10AM cruise before it gets too hot since there is no shade or umbrellas on the top level. read more

First Lady - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Was a great time! Very informative/educational. I had a so much fun and would definitely suggest this to anyone going to Chicago. I'd do it again too. read more

Andy was amazing! Went on the creepy nighttime boat tour focused on Chicago crimes. His stories and personality are perfect and loved the cheesy bits he added in! Would highly recommend this tour to others! Still talking about his stories the next day. Also appreciated him addressing the people loudly talking and laughing right in front of him while he was story telling. read more

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This was definitely a highlight of our trip to Chicago. We bought our tickets online. The set up with getting a physical ticket, waiting on line to board and boarding was very smooth. Our docent was excellent. Siobhan Hartsell was passionate about Chicago history and architecture and it showed. We all got the benefit of that. We went at high noon in the summer- bring sunscreen and wear a hat! If ever back in Chicago, I would try the night time tour as the river and skyscrapers take on a whole different look. read more

Amazing views. Excellent speaker who knew all her histories on each and every building. She was amazing with her knowledge and facts on building. Service was great but it was cold. Overall wonderful time and amazing view. Highly recommend for the views and for relaxation with the family. read more

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Phenomenal architecture tours! We had Brad who is an architect who shared so much knowledge about the river high rises! The way he differentiated the architectural periods since the Chicago Fire taught us so much! If you have a choice of docents, try to get Brad! read more

You can't come to Chicago and not have a river boat experience and First Lady didn't disappoint. Prices are fair. We did the cheaper river sightseeing tour and got to go into the lake too. Well worth the time and money! Priority line was worth getting the seat I wanted. read more

First Lady - View from the boat tour - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Not only was my experience incredible, but everyone I ran into who had been on the tour said the same thing. I learned loads about the architecture of the city, and also about Chicago history, geography, and culture. I enjoyed the tour guide, Scott, who was entertaining, informative, hard-working and charismatic. read more

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It wasn't First Lady but it was Headout, the company that First Lady is partnered with. My time on the First Lady is always great. I've been on this boat times before. What was NOT great was that I attempted to cancel and even purchased protection from Headout (third party) that was supposed to allow me to be able to cancel without cause but found no way to do so. There was no clear instruction on how and all that I saw everywhere I looked was that the ticket could not be cancelled even after I paid for cancellation protection. I feel it was a rip off. I had no choice but to attend rather than reschedule. I will never purchase from this site again and will inform others about my experience. Headout's response: I completely understand why that felt like a lose-lose situation, and I'm really sorry you were put in that position after paying extra for protection. We checked your booking, and for this particular cruise the local partner's policy is strictly non-cancellable and non-reschedulable, so they were not allowed to cancel or move the date at all. So what I paid for was a scam.. I was ripped off. My suggestion.. buy your ticket at the First Lady office at 112 Wacker. Be aware people read more

Great tour and tour guide! Excellent experience! Education meets fun and Peter was the best! Definitely recommend to Chicago visitors!!

Had an absolute blast on our tour with Brad -- the man clearly knows his stuff and made history feel like a story instead of a lecture. He kept the energy up the whole time, threw in some great jokes, and had a knack for making even the driest facts fun. You can tell he genuinely loves what he does. If you're booking with First Lady Tours, ask for Brad -- he'll make sure you leave smarter and smiling. 10/10 experience! read more

Our guide, Amy, was superb. Very knowledgeable and made the tour very interesting. I was engaged the entire ninety minute ride listening to her explain the history behind the architecture along the river in Chicago. Highly recommend for a good experience and new respect for the buildings of the city. read more

First Lady - View from First Lady - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wonderful tour with a knowledgeable tour guide full of fascinating Chicago trivia to go along with the history of beautiful buildings along the riverfront. Thank, Dave! read more

First Lady - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This river tour was an absolute delight! Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and made the experience truly enjoyable. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a relaxing and informative river cruise. The tour takes approximately 80-90 minutes and includes a full bar with delicious snacks. The dock is conveniently located in the downtown area, and the tour departs almost every hour. read more

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Tour is a must. It was very interesting and informative. Weather was great. Views were awesome. There was a clean bathroom to use on the first level. read more

Great hour long tour, kinda pricey but worth it if you've never heard or read about the history of Chicagos very impressive skyline and architecture. read more

First Lady - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Excellent! We had a great time. I've never seen the city from this perspective. The boat left on time and got us back in time for our next adventure. read more

First Lady - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Booked this tour off the recommendation of our son who took it in the past. Kathleen and Capt John did a wonderful job taking us on journey of Chicago architecture and history. Our 90 minute tour was relaxing, interesting and informative. Overall, we had an excellent experience. read more

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Passing through Magnificent Mile in Downtown Chicago we were looking for a fun activity to pass some time and thank God we found the First Lady. The tour is ideally located right on the riverwalk (parking beware) and the buying process and wait were all incredibly smooth and easy. The price is well worth it and the staff is exceptional. The boat is clean and has a bar on it and both an outdoor roof seating area and indoor area if you like some coverage. The tour itself takes you down the branches of the Chicago river allowing you to see many neighborhoods and different perspectives of the city. Our docent, Mary Jo, did a phenomenal job of explaining the city's history and architecture, giving us a look into Chicago that we didn't even know was there. The entire cruise went very smoothly and the weather was fantastic, although they had mentioned that some days it does get to be very chilly. However, we think the views and commentary would still make it even. As you weave in and out of buildings, under bridges, and past other boats, you really start to understand what Chicago is all about; not only currently, but historically as well. There is a great amount of work put into this tour and you can see it. By the end of the tour we were incredibly happy we decided to go on it and by the end of our trip it was almost unanimously the highlight of it. Disembarking was quick and efficient as well. They even left us with a parting gift where if you bring your ticket into the Chicago Architecture Center you receive $5 admission in return! Just a great activity and great operator all around. read more

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Fantastic time on our Architecture tour. We booked (discount site) last minute because my friend wasn't sure if her motion sickness could handle it. Ultimately, it was a good time and the boat was a rocking but she didn't get sick. This is my 4th architectural boat tour. I like to vary the business so that I don't hear the same things and jokes. Our tour guide was good on this occasion, not too corny. Enjoyed the route that we took. Thanks Doug!!!! Usually, I do the evening tours but it was nice to do one during the day so that I could see the river/lake water levy system at work. Tons of good views, clean bathrooms. Free cold water and nice parlor bar for snacks if you are hungry. I would book this tour again if hosting visitors. read more

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'We checked the radar'. That was the only update. The Navy Pier wheel was struck by lightning. But we trudged on into the Lake. Into the storm. Only update was ponchos FOR SALE. Boat did not even match the pictures in the website. Not only was this not worth the money. It was NOT SAFE. Avoid this company like the plague! read more

Been to Chicago before--but never seen it like this! We were in town for a board meeting and took the First Lady Architectural Boat Tour as part of our group's planned activities. I've visited Chicago before, but this was my first time doing this tour. So glad we took advantage of this fun opportunity. Our guide (a docent from the Chicago Architecture Center) was sharp, funny, and knew their stuff. The focus was more on architectural styles and design trends than deep-dive history, which kept things moving and super engaging, even for someone who can't tell Art Deco from Brutalism without help. It was hot, but if you want to see the buildings properly, you need to be up top in full sun. Bring a hat, sunscreen, or a small umbrella unless you're aiming for a souvenir sunburn. Even as a repeat visitor, I learned new things and left with a deeper appreciation for the city's skyline. Highly recommend; especially with a breeze and good group energy! read more

First Lady - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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loved this boat ride and the experience! queuing in the line went pretty fast and since we were one of the first few groups to arrive we were able to get some solid seats. the history of the past, present and future architecture was so fascinating. the tour did a really great job overall and highly recommend. read more

So far, First Lady is my go to architectural tour. What really makes the experience unique is the your tour guide/docent. The deep insight of history, perhaps some trivia and humor. I've been on about 4 tours with First Lady and have I've enjoyed all of them. However, there was one that stood out the most. The docent was a retired ad man from Leo Burnett. He was knowledgeable, funny, talked about the Cubs, a good talker. read more

We had a pleasant walk to the river and bought tix in person. Got to sit on the top level with great views of the grand buildings of downtown and other neighborhoods. We learned a lot about the history and architecture of these iconic buildings. The speakers are trained volunteers who have passions to share their knowledge with us. I recommend this as a must-do activity for Chicago. read more

If you're going to do an architectural boat tour, this is the outfit to book. We chose a 7pm time to make the most of daylight, sunset and nighttime. Our docent was brilliant and had wonderful anecdotes to share. The sites are amazing! Also, this shouldn't be a one time thing, I plan to go every time I'm in Chicago ~ simply a must do! Be sure to bundle up if you're doing an evening tour, it's chilly to say the least. read more

First Lady - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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As part of a work event, we did a Chicago River cruise on the First Lady and guided by a docent from The Chicago Architecture Center. The boat was great with indoor seating and multiple levels of outside deck to sit or roam. Inside there was a small gift area and full bar. Bathrooms were cleaned and staff focused on great service. The guide was excellent (Bob?) and gave us a comprehensive history of the city and the architecture that makes up the cool Chicago skyline. While there was a light rain during our cruise, it didn't dampen our enthusiasm or enjoyment. I highly recommend you give this tour a try. read more

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Dave was great. I love my city. This was excellent. So engaging and beautiful. A must if you are a Chicagoan. read more

First Lady - Cousins, FAMILY - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We went on the architectural boat tour from the Wacker Dr / Michigan Ave location. Overall the boat was clean and well maintained. We were able to buy tickets online or via their ticket location, with standard or priority boarding. General seating only (no reserved seats, assigned seats). Our tour guide was Mark L from the Chicago Architecture Center and he was phenomenal. He was so knowledgeable and great presenter. We were able to ask questions about locations / buildings that were not on tour and he was able to provide knowledge on those as well. The tour was 90 minutes and there are bathrooms and a full bar on the lower level. If you sit on the top level, it's good to bring a hat and sunglasses. The lower level is enclosed if you need to be out of the sun and you are still able to hear the discussion. Overall, these tours are really well done. They are one of the more higher priced tours, but totally worth it. read more

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I got to experience lady on a sold out Lake House Effect EDM DJ show to hang out with my friend celebrating his birthday. What a great way to celebrate, great night skyline of Chicago, thrilling bridge crossings, and good vibes with great people enjoying the music! If you're looking for an easy convenient way to get out of city and see a different view of the cityscape, this event and the boat is a must! read more

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Best architecture tour I've ever taken. Cynthia narrated practically non-stop, always perfectly in time with the widely varying buildings we were passing. I was especially impressed that her cadre of tour guides doesn't accept tips; they do it for the best of reasons. And I must say, I came away liking Chicago a lot more. The only thing that detracted was a jerk behind us that felt the need to boo a certain tower and make periodic political comments. I mean, c'mon man - he's not here. Chill. read more

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Fabulous tour-- loved our guide 7/23/26. Definitely recommend to anyone who is new to Chicago!

Be sure to book _this_ 90-minute cruise (the Chicago Architectural Center First Lady), not one of the many other 2nd-best options. It's outstanding: fun and informative, Our docent guide, Lori, could not have been better. And since they have Bose speakers everywhere, even with my hearing aids I had no trouble following her every word. Also, take advantage of the discounted admission to the CAC itself - a very manageable introduction to the history of Chicago's stunning architecture. read more