Highly recommend the First Last Architecture River tour. Dave our docent from the Chicago Architect Center was very knowledgeable and passionate about the city and the buildings. We enjoyed his insights and facts about the city's architectural history and design. The 90 min tour flew. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us! I know there's lots of options for architecture river tours, but this one was to be the best option for me due to our schedule, the location- which was away from the start of the other tours- and that Dave was a docent from the Chicago architecture center. Highly recommend this tour for all! It's a Must do for first timers in the Chicago area. read more

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The advertisement said it was a creepy cruise and that buildings would be illuminated Halloween colors! Total deception!! Not worth it! The tour guide's stories were not even scary! I'm sorry but we were disappointed!! read more

Our guide, Deb, was friendly and so informative! She provided details about the emergence of the river - past and present. Her commentary on the architects and architecture was entertaining as well as educational. I learned so much and all of it is great context for a visit to Chicago. Definitely worth doing. read more

Terrific river cruise with a wonderfully knowledgeable and personal docent, Harry. We've taken several and this was the best.

Emily obviously cares that her tour attendees learn the city icons, and speaks knowledgeably, comfortably, personably, and fluently. Impressive stamina--bravo Emily! read more

There is a lot to see and do in Chicago, but an architecture tour by boat is an absolute must. When deciding which architecture tour would be best, I saw that Chicago's First Lady boat tour is the official tour of the Chicago Architecture Center, which sold me. You can get tickets ahead of time, which I recommend doing if you're going with a group and want a specific time. However, for the four of us, we were able to get tickets half an hour before the 6pm tour, which is the last for the day. The ticket window is near the dock/entrance of where the boat takes off from. Tickets were about $50 per person. Line up early for the best seats since tickets do not assign seating. The architecture tour was about 90 minutes and is narrated by a volunteer who tells you about Chicago's history and the background of the many buildings that you'll see along the cruise. It really is the best way to learn about the historical buildings and skyscrapers, and Chicago's past. I recommend anyone visiting Chicago to partake in an architecture tour by boat, especially through Chicago's First Lady. read more

First Lady - Touring - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We got Andy for thr creepy cruise and he did an amazing job, kept all of us engaged with great and really funny stories. We can't wait to come back! read more

Excellent tour and the guide was extremely knowledgeable! The weather was perfect. We went on the 7 pm tour. Can't wait to go again.

I researched the architectural tours prior to going with the First Lady. The First Lady is associated to the Architect.org which you can tour also at 111 Wacker Drive. This tour is awesome, being raised in Chicago I learned more about the buildings built on the river than I learned while studying in the city. The little tidbits of information on how decisions were made really made this an interesting tour! The ship/boat that takes you out is classy, the wood on the lower level is rich and gives you that feel of old time sailing. I would take this cruise again and again ! read more

First Lady - Emily is great! - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Tim was a wonderful tour guide!!! So Informative and casual in nature. The city was beautiful!

We did the architecture cruise on a sat evening. It was a beautiful evening to enjoy the city's architecture. The volunteer who narrated was very good. The boat crew were very friendly and check process was smooth. Overall an amazing way to Njoy the city, would highly recommend it. read more

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This was by far my favorite tourist attraction in Chicago. We basically covered a large portion of downtown Chicago in only 90 min. My girlfriend and I took some great selfies and the views alone are worth it. They also have a bar in the first floor just in case you want to enjoy a refreshment while on the tour. Our tour guide was a volunteer who truly loves her city and was very knowledgeable on the subject. It didn't feel like a boring lecture in school, it was actually entertaining and I'm happy to say I left the tour knowing more about Chicago than I did entering. Definitely recommend if it's your first time in Chicago and you're trying to cover as much as possible in a short time. read more

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After some research, I decided to purchase tickets for the architecture tour, and I am so glad I did!! What a wonderful way to see the city. It is 90 minutes long, but it goes by so quickly. It was also nice to sit down for some time since there is so much walking in Chicago lol. Our guide was a volunteer and was funny and very knowledgeable. The tour was informative about not only the architecture of the major buildings but also about the history and other fun facts about Chicago in general. Definitely recommend doing this tour if you're looking to do "touristy" things in Chicago. You also get a discount to the architecture center if you buy this tour! read more

First Lady - Views on tour - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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It was a great tour- the female docent was very knowledgeable. I think the price is a little steep for what you get, and I get that prices vary depending on day , but the "51 and up" seems so random. We enjoyed it overall, but I think this tour should be priced a little lower for what you get. Boat staff was all amazing- attendant at window was not so great. read more

The docent was EXTREMELY knowledgeable and made the 90 minutes fly by. The staff were professional. Highly recommend!!

Barbara, our dossiers, was excellent and informative. A family friendly, smooth ride listening to the architectural growth of the great City of Chicago. read more

First Lady - Dossier, DuSable bridge raised for sailboats to pass - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The guy who narrated the tour was articulate, easy to listen to, and really knew his stuff. The architecture in Chicago really is STUNNING. Not sure it is worth the extra money to get priority seating. If you show up a half hour before the sailing time, you will get a good seat. Sit on the top deck, near the middle. The left side of the boat seems to get more attention. read more

Nick was informative and fun. We enjoyed him. Also, his voice reminded us of Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon (bonus).

This was our favorite tourist activity in Chicago! Mark, our guide, was funny, witty, and full of interesting Chicago history and info. The views were incredible. We stayed at the front of the boat and avoided a lot of the sun and crowd. There's a full bar on board! read more

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My team outing on this boat was amazing. Mary's knowledge and explanations about the architecture were so meaty. She provided historical context with a touch of wit. We were laughing and the 90 minutes flew by. I highly recommend this tour and especially the great Mary as the tour guide. Best read more

We loved this tour. Our guide, Alice, did a great job and we learned a lot, all while having fun. We'd do this again but would either dress warmer next time, or wait until later in the year (we did this the first weekend in April). read more

Recently booked a private event on the Chicago's First Lady. The group sales person, Mary, could not be more accommodating. She worked with us to meet our budget. Friendly staff, beautiful Chicago River views and all had a great evening. Highly recommend. Only reason 4 vs. 5 stars is it's expensive, but it's online with the Chicago expenses. read more

What a great experience! A river cruise is a must when in Chicago and this was our first time. Chicago's First Lady did not disappoint. We sailed with Charles and he was so knowledgeable about everything. Who knew there was so much to know about a building?! It was a beautiful day, not cold and smooth cruise all the way down. I cannot vouch for drinks but I know they sell them. A fantastic experience overall and would absolutely do again if I'm ever visiting Chicago again. read more

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Gary was great! Loved the tour. Recommend to see and hear about great architecture in Chicago!

What a lovely experience!! Didn't do any research but the timing was right given our location and no regrets about this spur of the moment decision. We did the architecture "three C's" tour; the tour guide was fantastic, cocktails tasty and reasonably priced, and just an overall wonderful time. Would highly recommend. Can't beat those views!! read more

First Lady - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing tour full of fascinating information...highly recommend! The volunteer guide was super knowledgeable and very informative! read more

First Lady - The new St. Regis residential tower. - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I loved this tour! Our guide was a fascinating and informative volunteer from the Chicago Architecture Museum, and you could tell she loved her work. The time flew by, and the architecture along the river is truly stunning. Highly recommend. read more

Wonderful tour of some of Chicago's amazing buildings along the river. Kasey was spectacular; informative and passionate. Highly recommend.

My husband and I were lucky enough to attend the CAC First Lady boat tour on Saturday 8/19/23 at 11:00am. We had the pleasure of having Patricia as our docent. We were so impressed with Pat's knowledge of the buildings, history, and architecture. She has so much passion. It was if she was telling the history of the buildings to guests for the very 1st time even though she has been doing this for 17 years! She also added a great sense of humor. The Air and Water show was also taking place and the Blue Angels added an entertainment bonus. Again Pat-thank you for making our day! Jim and Tamora read more

We chose the 7:30 PM Architecture River Cruise with priority boarding. It was AMAZING! This was one of our most favorite things we did while in Chicago. We chose the last row of seats on the upper deck so no one was behind us, and we had the best wide opened views. It was truly spectacular. We learned so much about the history and architecture of Chicago. Our tour guide was Lydia, and she was exceptional. We HIGHLY RECOMMEND this tour! read more

First time visiting Chicago and found this little gem of a boat tour. The whole ride and the guided tour was fantastic. Jacob in particular was spectacular in narrating the history of Chicago and the architecture. Overall 10/10 recommend if you want a comprehensive and interesting lesson on Chicago, and photo sessions. read more

First Lady - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was such a fun way to see the city! Our Docent was Gary and our Captain was Lee. Gary was so fun and knowledgable. I highly recommend if you are looking to go on a river architecture cruise! read more

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Really enjoyed this tour of Chicago from the river. Learned a lot and appreciated all of the guide's expertise and narration. Definitely check it out if you're spending a weekend in Chicago or want to know some cool tidbits about the city and it's architecture! read more

First Lady - Chicago skyline - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We did a 7:30pm cruise and it was perfect! We had amazing weather! Georgia was our tour guide and she was great!! Can't say enough good things!! She was so knowledgeable, genuinely excited to tell you about every building and so easy to listen to! Would definitely recommend this to anyone visiting!! read more

First Lady - Panoramic view from the boat! We did a 7:30pm cruise and loved it!! - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Super in depth and interesting river tour of Chicago. It really shows you another side of Chicago that you can't learn by yourself. Learned a ton about the different buildings and the architects and their influences on the Chicago skyline. The tour guide was super nice as well and very knowledgeable. Well worth it as a way to discover Chicago! read more

First Lady - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Number one certified group architectural tour! The 1st Lady offers large group tours. Line up accordingly b/c how you place in line determines who you sit by on deck. (Best stand near those you wish to sit by.) Drinks are available on tour! Canned beer, tea, etc.. Extremely knowledgeable on interiors and exteriors of buildings along the shoreline. I learned so much about Chicago taking this tour. Ticket costs: We payed $50 per person for our tours. read more

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Unfortunately, it began raining while we waited in line to board but the STAFF were great and had us board early. Regrettably this impacted my ability to obtain quality images for my food and travel blog post. Such is life. At least I took many architectural shots from land in the days prior. The docent was very good and very knowledgeable giving us the details on the Chicago Tribune, various architectural styles (Art Deco, Mission Craftsman, modern etc.). It was not always the easiest to hear because we were located inside. The boat is a standard older style 2-hour boat cruise style. We have done boat tours in Tahoe and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. They have nice restrooms, a bar and indoor and outdoor space with seating. I was able to get some shots from underneath the overhang outside when the rain lightened up. read more

What a fabulous tour that the Chicago Architecture Center provides! We had Steve as our guide on the most recent trip, and the energy he brought to the tour was incredible. Such an amazing experience to get to see so many iconic buildings from a whole new angle. If you have friends in town that have never seen Chicago, take them on the CAC's Architecture Tour. It can't be beat! Thank you CAC, Steve, and all of the volunteers and workers who make these tours so amazing! read more

Highly recommend this cruise - our tour guide person Joni was born and raised in Chicago, very informative and fun! Enjoyable cruise offering adult beverages and snacks :) read more

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Phenomenal tour! Captain Jorge gave a funny and informative speech about our tour, the boat and what to expect. Then the mike was hand to our docent. She clearly knew a lot about the buildings/architecture and general history. The ride was smooth and comfortable (minus the wind). The sun came out a few times and warmed us up. read more

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