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

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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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 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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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

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

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

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

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

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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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

'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

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

This is the official architecture cruise of Chicago. We went today and had Brad as our guide and he was simply amazing. I'm from Chicago and I learned things from him I never learned in 12 years of public school! I highly recommend this tour. It can be confusing since all the boat companies now offer "official" architecture tours but this is the one to be on read more

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

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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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

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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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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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

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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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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Really enjoyed the nice tour. Was about 90 minutes and the tour guides are volunteers. Some of the ticket costs go to support the Chicago Institute of Architecture. Lots of interesting fun facts, even if you aren't an architectural buff. Definitely deepens your appreciation for the city. read more

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What a fun way to see the Chicago River get dyed green for St. Paddy's Day! The package was a little pricey, so it was nice that we got a corned beef sandwich, chips, and two drink tickets/person. Loved starting the trip off w bagpipes, glad when they changed to more fun, danceable music! Would definitely do again. read more

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Great way to tour the city, hear the history, learn about the building. Very happy we did the tour while visiting Chicago for the first time. read more

First Lady - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great boat trip with an excellent guide. Very well worth the price! Very interesting information about this wonderful city, river, and all of the amazing buildings. Don't miss the opportunity to take this trip. I would recommend this tour/boat company and this was my third time over a period of about six or seven years to take this cruise which never disappoints! read more

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Fabulous boat tour on the river all about Chicago architecture! The ride was smooth and the tour guide was informative, well- and clear-spoken, and a little funny. I learned quite a bit about Chicago history and architecture. Highly recommend! read more

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Lydia was a great tour guide! This was such a good use of an hour and a half, taking a trip up and down the Chicago river and learning about Chicago architecture along the way. Don't forget about the seating in the front, I was basically alone for half the ride because people didn't know there was space there. They have late tours so great for an after work activity when many other museums close. read more

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Great tour 4 stars instead of 5 because it was pricey No kids discount Nothing included but a pamphlet & a guest architecture docent... very knowledgable btw Would recommend it but be ready to pay 90min tour Love the skyline from the water Makes chicago even more special read more

First Lady - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing boat tours. I went for the firework show and everything was awesome. The announcer was well informed on the history of the city and was incredibly entertaining. An excellent experience, would highly recommend! read more

This is one of the finest of these tours that I've ever been on. Thorough. Very complete and comprehensive. Well well well executed. Docent delivered the details of the buildings and the history and a cogent, thorough and impassioned way! You could hear her passion and love for the city in every aspect of her five star presentation! read more

Lovely day for a boat cruise. Great docent giving information on the history of the buildings and the city. read more

First Lady - Raised bridge - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Awesome!!! Big shout out to Russell for guiding us through the the "canyon of skyscrapers". This tour met every expectation and more. I wish I had done this tour the last year when I first came. Russell was very informative and enthusiastic regarding the massive buildings that our "rowdy" group were attentive and quiet. Thank you again First Lady and Russell for great experience. read more

First Lady - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois