Russ is absolutely INCREDIBLE!! So so knowledgeable and kind. I would recommend this tour to not only visitors but locals as well!

We took a 90 minute architectural tour with first lady cruises and really enjoyed ourselves. The narrator on the boat is a volunteer as I guess all the narrators are. These individuals actually get to meet with many of the architects and learn little details about the skyline and the individual buildings and how they were all designed and it really is an interesting and very fun day. The boat ride is 90 minutes and she talks the entire time you get to ask questions at the end of the tour. They have a full bar and bathroom on the boat also!! read more

Since the architectural aspects of the boat tour have already been discussed in previous reviews, this review will deal mainly with the CAF river tour onboard Chicago's First Lady -- with a toddler. Not only was it do-able, but it was enjoyable for both of us. On a hot summer day, my toddler can really appreciate feeling the breeze through his hair, the gentle motion of the boat slowly cruising through the city, and the sights and sounds of the trains and cars crossing each bridge we went under or seeing the ducks, colorful kayaks, and other boats sharing the river. Those were all extra perks. The main thing was I got to enjoy the architecture from the river and the excellent CAF docent's narration. Ticketmaster issues. There is a $5 discount for Tuesday and Wednesday boat trips, but it's not clear that the Ticketmaster site can process the 2-for-1 discount that CAF members get. So instead, we bought the tickets in person less than 1 hour before our Wednesday morning river tour. We got to the CAF around 9AM and walked out with tickets 5 minutes later. My almost-2-year-old and I used my CAF student membership to get 2-for-1 tickets for the 10AM river boat tour. The total cost was $35 for both of us. To avoid the Michigan Avenue stairs that lead down to the dock, we took a slightly different route. We walked north on the west side of Michigan Ave., crossed Wacker Drive to the northwest corner, and strolled west, towards Wabash Ave. There's a ramp that took us down to the dock. By 9:30, there was already a long line of people waiting for the 10AM boat. If I were to do this tour again and wanted to get the best seats on either open-air deck, I would aim to get to the dock by 9:15, or even 9AM. (Even on this hot summer day, nobody sat inside.) Just as I descended the ramp to the dock, I realized I had lost the tickets and receipt. Oops. A quick call to the CAF was the first step of the quick solution. No need to run back to the CAF to re-issue tickets! All I had to do was step up to the dock's ticket office, where I would explain my situation again and show them the credit card I used to buy the tickets originally. No problem. In less than 1 minute, they reprinted my tickets and we joined the line. Whew -- the day was not ruined. I am so glad that the CAF and Chicago's First Lady staff were so understanding; they said it happened all the time. Our stroller got us as far as the start of the line, but after the security bag check, we were advised to collapse the stroller. That was easily done, thanks to the Babyjogger stroller's one-hand fold and having the Ergo carrier to carry the kid safely. (If I were to do this again though, I would recommend the front-facing Baby Bjorn so the kid can see out too.) The guy behind the bar offered to guard the stroller "with his life" (his words). We kept it inside by the window, near the stairs. By that time (around 9:50), most seats were occupied. All of the upper deck seats were taken. We managed to find one seat, starboard side. Even though our seat was not the best seat -- I would've preferred to sit at the very front on the lower deck, we were able to enjoy all of the architecture and the river scene below with only minor visual obstructions. From where I was sitting, the biggest obstruction was my toddler's head :-) and the front of the cabin was blocking some of the lower parts of the river bank portside -- but who cares, right? Most of the buildings are situated higher up anyway. Seating arrangements: I wouldn't go as far as to say "there are no bad seats", since I thought the guy seated behind us couldn't see much and had to stand up often in order to see the buildings portside. But in case people are wondering about the seating arrangements on the lower deck (front of the boat)*, I will try to recall as best I can. There are two main sections of seats. The rows closest to the bow consist of 2 chairs each, and then there are several rows of 3 seats. Just in front of the cabin is a bench that I believe seats 4 people. On both sides of the cabin there are 2 individual chairs. *Sorry I don't remember the seating arrangements on the upper deck. Conclusion: For the best seats, go early. If your toddler is wiggly, keep him/her in a front-facing carrier. Collapsible strollers are okay, and they don't even have to be super-small umbrella type. CAF membership will save you a lot of money with the 2-for-1 discount, but the discount is greater if it's 2 adults rather than 1 adult+1 child. The tour is enjoyable and DO-ABLE for both the parent and the toddler. read more

Last year, I began searching for a venue for a 30th Birthday Party. After several months of searching, Chicago's First Lady ended up being my choice. I worked with Clare for almost an entire year, and she was absolutely fantastic! Not only was the experience itself incredible, Clare made planning very easy - she was quick to respond and extremely knowledgeable. From an event experience, this was truly one of a kind. This was a private cruise with approximately 60 people. On our three hour cruise, we enjoyed call-brand drinks, food catered by Harry Caray's, and commentary from a docent. The skyline commentary was a great way to kick off the cruise, I highly recommend it. We also spent the additional money to have two bartenders (upstairs and downstairs) and I recommend that as well. The set-up was easy (you don't need many decorations!), the captain (Keith) was great, and the crew were extremely helpful. This was a fabulous 30th bash and would be a great venue for any event! read more

I LOVED this tour. I can't believe that it took me moving away from Chicago to finally go on this tour, but it was wonderful. There were no shortage of seats on the deck and the boat was stable enough on the river that my motion-sickness-prone friend survived the ride. Dress warmly; it is Chicago after all. There's a bar inside with hot cocoa, regular and with Schnapp's, yummy :) read more

On each of my two trips to the Windy City I have managed to find the time to go on this wonderful architecture tour of the city by boat and both times it was a wonderful experience. The entire process from purchasing the tickets to being on the boat is made even better by a very friendly and knowledgeable staff and although the information can be quite overloading at times (they give you the construction dates and architects for just about every skyscraper in the city within sight), you will learn a lot out of it and discover a whole new side of the city that most overlook. The boat is very clean, not too crowded and the tour staff/guides are from the architectural society and know their stuff and articulate everything very well. It is by far one of the better sightseeing things I've done in any city. If I recall correctly, the tour is approximately 90 minutes long and for those with small bladders, a bathroom is available onboard. I'd definitely go on this tour again in the future once I return to the wonderful city that is Chicago. I can't wait! Especially now that I have a dSLR camera because that boat ride offers some incredible vantage points on the city, the buildings and the lake. read more

This was a great tour. I think everyone needs to go on this tour at some point in their life. The buildings in Chicago have so much history and stories behind them, plus they are beautiful. We had a great quarky little lady who loved her job. She kept everyone laughing while providing great information about the buildings. I would do this again in a heartbeat. By the way, they serve booze on the ship...can't get much better! read more

My review is for a wedding reception on Chicago's First Lady. Beautiful June Saturday night on the lake. What a funky, different way to celebrate your wedding reception! In theory, this boat is a wonderful way to see the city, have a great party and look really cool to your guests. However, I am not sure if the problems that arose were due to the boat coordinator or the bride and groom planning the reception. But, I think I blame the boat coordinator more for the problems since their job is to act as the expert and give their advice to the bride and groom. Although common sense should have kicked in during the planning process to someone about the problems. Anyway, the problem was there wasn't enough tables set up for people to eat at downstairs. I believe they were thinking that people would go through the buffet line, sit at the tables and eat, get up and go somewhere else...then the next group would come by and do the same. Except the problem was that no one got up from the tables. So, I was forced to eat on the open-air top of the boat, plate on my lap, drink on the floor. Spaghetti sauce and silk dress do not go well with each other. Not to mention I could barely eat because the wind was flying my hair all over my face. One glass of spilled wine and a fallen fork later, I gave up on eating. Bad idea when you are trying to take advantage of the open bar. They could have set up some high standing cocktail tables or something until people were done eating. It was just terrible planning. The boat was just too small to accommodate all of the guests. Also, remember to bring Dramamine if you are going to drink and be on a boat. Some people got really sick, there was no Dramamine on board and the boat didn't let people off for 4 hours. So, a wedding reception could be an awesome experience on one of these boats if it is planned correctly. Personally, I would go with a different company if I were looking for a boat. read more

Rain or shine. Great way to see Chicago architecture and learn about the history. They are all volunteers so you know they must enjoy their position. read more

Fellow Yelpers recommended this as the best River Architecture Tour. I worried that it may be a little boring but it was not at all. I have been wanting to do this tour since I moved here and finally did it last weekend with my sister who was visiting from San Francisco. We had a great time relaxing in the sun and listening to the docent who was funny, friendly and informative. I already forgot most of what I learned but that is OK. I know that it will be just as interesting next time. Its nice to know that I can take people on this when they come to visit and I will not be bored because I have already done it. (Growing up in San Francisco and taking visitors to Alcatraz and Fisherman's Warf became very boring for me as the host very quickly) I would recommend it to locals as well as tourists and cannot wait to do it again. read more

What a great boat tour. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because I think it's a tad overpriced and really limits who can experience it. I'm a broke a** grad student and I for one had to wait until I could talk my father into coming into the city for a day o' fun. Boat tour was compliments of Dad! They encourage you to reserve online and by the time you pay all the fees and price of the ticket it was about $45/person. That's hefty in my humble opinion. It ended up being a rainy day, but the 3 of us decided it added to the adventure. We got ponchos and made our way to the top deck. It was just rain, with no thunder and lightening, so it was fine and kept the boat from being overcrowded. We looked like rain soaked gnomes, but when in Rome... The guide was clearly a retired architect and was knowledgeable, humorous and a pleasure to listen to. He gets 5 stars. The boat goes down all three main forks of the river so you get a solid river experience. And I learned a lot! Bonus. The architecture in Chicago is tres fab and it's fun to "recognize" some of them now and be able to offer my own commentary. It's a must do for sure (assuming you can afford it or have access to a generous parent). read more

Staff were great and the tour was amazing. Definitely a must do for anyone visiting Chicago! Bring a jacket just in case, it gets pretty chili! Well for us anyway... It was hot and then cold hot and then cold. read more

First Lady - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Instead of pouring fuel on the already positive fire here, let me write a few tips 1. Book a twilight trip or something after 5PM in the summer. Otherwise the heat is pretty unbearable. Take hats, sunscreen and sun glasses. Umbrellas maybe. 2. Sit away from the speakers on the boat, they tend to get loud and are right next to the chairs. 3. There is a bar and restroom on board, but does not hurt to take some snacks. read more

I wouldn't have appreciated my Chicago vacation as much if I hadn't taken this tour. I would've just thought that hey, buildings are just buildings - we have them back in LA, big deal. The tour showed me otherwise. Our enthusiastic tour guide showed us that there's so much historical background and architectural significance behind the buildings and the context of Chicago itself. Also, to ride down the river in this river while getting absolutely beautiful photographs of the majestic buildings around me was just an experience in itself that you can't get anywhere else. This was definitely the best part of my Chicago vacation.. read more

A simple little boat, with the top deck crowded with cheap plastic chairs. A bar and some snacks downstairs, some restrooms. Standard. Nothing remarkable. Some of the staff was friendly, others quite surly. You're not going for the boat. You're going for the tours. read more

I enjoyed the first 60 minutes of the tour very much. Our docent was very knowledgeable and Chicago is a gorgeous city. The last 30 minutes I was so cold all I wanted was just to get off the boat. I was wearing many layers of wool and leather and it didn't matter. Can I make a suggestion? Offer blankets for the guests, even charge for them. I would have bought one. I realize you can go downstairs, but then you miss the tour. read more

I'm surprised this place doesn't have a unanimous 5 star rating! How could anyone give it anything less? I got to the ticket booth at around 2:56PM after lunch on Labor Day, no line. Bought tickets and ran to dock 3 where the boat for the 3PM tour was. Picked the last seats to the right side of the boat and started listening to the narrated architecture tour. Our docent, Val Adams, was super knowledgeable and energetic. It was so easy to tell that he loves what he does and is passionate about the history and architecture of every building on the River. I learned SO MUCH just from his pointing out things and telling random anecdotes. 90 minutes flew by without me noticing - I wish every class I had in college was like that! Although it costs ~$42 with tax included, it was totally worth it! I mean what's better than sitting back and taking in the sceneries from the best seats ON THE RIVER!? If you love being on the water on a hot day, or architecture, or history, or art, or just are a visual learner, you definitely DO NOT want to miss this! read more

Loved my tour!! So informative and so enjoyable. I think the price of admission is totally worth it...you get a great architecture tour from professionals. Nothing is done Half-@ss! If you need to do it, I totally recommend Chicago's First Lady!! read more

Was an amazing tour! So informational & our guide Leslie was so entertaining and knowledgeable! Would recommend to anyone visiting the city!

I dig that you can actually catch a lot of the downtown building history via this boat. It's also cool that the tour guide is a volunteer that richly knows their architecture history. However the really bad jokes and the tourists make this a crap shoot as to whether you're going to have a good 90 minutes or not. read more

This was interesting. Never been on the Chicago river cruise before. The woman that talked about the sights,buildings etc was very knowledgeable about the different building types, eras and background of the buildings. This is worth the 90 minutes if you want to see different building types and history of the places that line the Chicago river. My wife had 1 complaint besides it being very hot on the cruise. She is short and the seats are little uncomfortable for short legs. The lower part is air conditioned with a full bar. That's always a plus for a hot day. read more

Very chilly but dry day, first ones in line due to one in our company having some mobility impairment. The tour guide was very good despite lip numbing wind, lots of information, wonderful cruise, and not that crowded on a Friday before Memorial day. Pricey but worth every penny and a good thing to do for folks that don't like hours of walking, I would do it again next time, or another one of these fine tours. It would be nice if the hot cocoa/drinks were served in your seats. read more

Fantastic way to see the architecture along the river in Chicago. They had a great volunteer tour guide tell us about all of the important buildings along the way. I don't think there was a bad seat on the boat. It was very educational and entertaining. The boat was nice and large. It had bathrooms. I never felt like the boat was in any danger and the crew and captain were very professional. I'm very happy my friend signed us up for this tour. I'd gladly do it again. read more

I had not done this since high school, but 13 years later, after going on and on about it to my wife whenever we planned trips to Chicago, we finally did it. And my gosh, it was still great. I love architecture and urban design/planning, and clearly the guides do as well. They're knowledgeable, fun, funny, and friendly. They truly know architecture, they know the city, and they love them both. The boats - plan on them being packed. And the seating isn't great - basically plastic patio chairs. But so be it...the view is incredible, and commentary is great, and the price is fair. Enjoy! read more

Such a fun time! I took the river and lake tour which is more like sightseeing and fun. Also a little cheaper than the river tour. Our tour guide was so much fun she took pictures and talked with people while we waited in the lock to get out onto the lake. She was very informative but also hopped off the mic a couple times so that we could all take pictures and just hang out. Definitely recommend! read more

This was an amazing tour and also won me major brownie points with the parents. The docent was very knowledgeable from mid-century architecture to current trends. Eco Deco, anyone? As an architect's daughter, this tour was a no-brainer for their visit. Even the architect was happily satisfied and did not pipe up about any inaccuracies. It is the pricier of the architecture boat, but well worth the extra cost. We lucky took the tour on a gorgeous day in Chicago. Our docent had mentioned just a week ago it had been cold and rainy. He had to hold his mic and umbrella during the downpour. Now that's dedication. The captain was also great stopping for the cannon at the fountain of the main branch to shoot out for everyone's perfect photo opp. Needless to say, I was extremely satisfied with Chicago' First Lady and couldn't recommend it any higher. read more

I attended a private party on this boat and it was a GREAT time! It was an evening cruise, leaving at 7 and returning at 10 and dinner was served. It was catered by Harry Caray and everything was delicious! There was a bartender upstairs and downstairs and many crew people around to help you out if needed. The women's bathroom was marble and granite with 3 stalls and was very clean. The boat ride was exactly the same route as the day trip (no tour guide) , but we got to see the sunset and the Chicago skyline at night. The big Ferris wheel at Navy Pier looks so pretty from the water. While I was at the party, I felt like I should be on The Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous! So if you have a special occasion to celebrate, this is the way to go! read more

This is one of those rare touristy things that everyone tells you to do, but still manages to blow you away. A very articulate, smart, VOLUNTEER architectural history buff will literally look up at some random building and give you its historical context and style. For 90 minutes. They do let you bring food and drink on board, or you can buy theirs. One word of caution... you might want to avoid hot, sunny days! There is no shade on the top level of the boat. read more

AMAZING tour! 90 minutes of Chicago beauty. Tour guide was absolutely fantastic. She was a volunteer from the Architecture Foundation; very knowledgeable and passionate. This is a great way to see the beautiful architecture of Chicago and learn about the cities history. I really enjoyed it because of the narration from our tour guide and the fact that I could sit and really study the buildings in detail. This is a Chicago must-do! Especially with this company. It's worth every penny! read more

First Lady - Ready to go! - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Definitely worth the trip. My friend and I had a limited amount of time to enjoy the city of Chicago, and wanted something more than just walking by buildings and reading plaques or pamphlets, so this boat tour was the perfect solution. 90 minutes on Chicago's First Lady takes you up and down both the North and South Branches and out to the mouth of the Chicago River. There isn't really a bad seat on the deck. Most of your attention is directed towards your left so you could always hustle for a seat on that side if you wanted, but no spot will really be so obstructed that it will get in the way of picture taking from your seat. I think what really made the trip was the extremely well-versed docent who guided us along. I'm impressed that they are volunteers, as they are certainly well practiced and give you JUST enough information to feel like you learned something new, but not so much that you feel like you are being overwhelmed by irrelevant minutiae. Overall, a great way to spend the afternoon and gain a deeper appreciation for the city of Chicago! read more

Took the city tour on a Sunday afternoon and it was super cool! Loved seeing the buildings from the river and the history behind them. It was nice to get some sun and they service drinks if you'd like them. Two people cost $112 and it was about 90 mins long. read more

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I really liked this tour. Our volunteer guide, Kathy was very knowledable and explained everything in a way that made me wish I lived in this city. My buddy, (who's from Chicago and just accompanied me) fell asleep for 15 mins of it of course, but even he said he learned a lot from it! An hour and a half of smooth ride and great story/history lesson. Bring a hat otherwise you'll melt to death. read more

I really enjoyed this tour. The guide was engaging, funny and full of knowledge. He had the whole thing down pat, was able to tell some great stories about one building as we went by and go effortlessly into another. The timing of it really impressed me. The ride itself is very pleasant and gives a great view of all the riverfront buildings. We chose this particular one because we wanted to enjoy cocktails while riding around. They have a limited bar menu, and it's a bit pricey, but not prohibitively so. Service is friendly. The only issue I had is that we were sitting on plastic lawn chairs. It would have been great to have more comfortable seating, but you get over it quickly (though there is that initial shock you get when you sit on a plastic chair that's been heated by the blazing sun) read more

Where do I begin... We were sooo excited for this tour! We got their early, we were the first ones in line and all. I studied architecture and design in college and I was so looking forward to seeing the great architecture of Chicago, especially on a boat! Well, it was pretty chilly during Memorial weekend. Of course the First Lady can't control the weather, BUT it'd be a great idea for them to invest in space heaters on the seating area. I mean, Chicago is pretty damn cold haha. Just a suggestion. The actual tour was amazingggg! The speaker was super informed and gave so much insight. The boat was clean and comfortable. It was definitely worth the money. Now, why the 3-stars? The tour we ended up on had a pretty serious hiccup. Apparently there was some issues with the engine and we didn't get moving until 30 minutes after the scheduled take off. The shitty part was, the mishap was like a secret; they weren't telling us what was wrong. We could've been sinking the whole time! It was cold, we weren't told what was wrong and that was pretty annoying. Ask if the engine is ok before you get on the boat! Other than that, get on the damn thing and experience the beauty of Chicago. read more

We did the 90 minute tour of the river and lake, and what could be better than getting a chauffeured and guided tour while kicked back with a drink in your hand and the breeze in your hair? Not much, because we have decided this tour was one of the best parts of our trip to Chicago. Shout out to our tour guide Jennifer and bartender from Arizona (whose name escapes me, but who made a damn fine Bloody Mary.) Tickets were reasonable, the boat was clean, all the staff were friendly and upbeat, the beer selection was decent and we got a wonderful introduction to Chicago architecture! PS Remember to tip your guide! read more

Excellent experience!! My mother and I took this tour during our visit to Chicago. Most definitely worth the money! Very knowledgeable staff and a fantastic way to experience Chicago! A+++ read more

First Lady - On the boat! - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was a delightful and informative tour of the architecture of downtown Chicago. The guide discussed architectural eras, architects, and design themes. The boat had a restroom and bar as well as an indoor staying area. I will definitely this again next time I'm in town. read more

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Are you looking to rent out a boat on the Chicago river for a private event? I can't recommend Chicago's First Lady enough. As a 3rd generation family owned business, Holly Agra and her staff go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure your event is well-executed and unforgettable. As a former member of the Chicago Architecture Foundation and past tourist on one of their cruises I have to say that for visitors to Chicago this should hands-down be your first pick in cruising. read more

Well worth it and a must do if you are in Chicago. Takes you up and down the river and a volunteer narrates facts about the architecture of the city. I recommend grabbing a seat on the left side of the boat. read more

My husband and I got married on Chicago's First Lady in September. Captain Ralph was phenomenal. He recommended a beautiful spot on the river for our ceremony and then took us for an amazing cruise of Lake Michigan, complete with a fireworks display. There were two bars set up and the staff was very helpful. One bartender wasn't quite as jovial as the other, but overall, the experience was superb. The boat has very nice "facilities" and although the chairs are plastic on the upper deck, no one cares or notices because the view of the City is so incredible. It was an unforgettable night. read more