Chicago: Historic Architecture Chicago River Small Boat Tour

Chicago’s iconic skyline is a testament to the city’s rich architectural heritage, and the Historic Architecture Chicago River Small Boat Tour offers a unique opportunity to explore it from a captivating perspective. Guests float along the Chicago River, taking in over 50 skyscrapers while learning about their design, architects, and innovations. The intimate setting of a historic yacht, led by a knowledgeable guide, promises an engaging and educational adventure. With complimentary refreshments and skip-the-line access, this tour provides a personalized way to discover the city’s architectural marvels. But the real question is, what secrets might these towering structures reveal when viewed from the river?

This experience made our list of the 20 Best Historical Tours In Chicago.

Key Points

• Intimate, 1.5-hour historic architecture cruise along the iconic Chicago River, showcasing over 50 skyscrapers and their captivating design details.
• Knowledgeable live guide provides fascinating insights into the city’s rich architectural heritage and the pioneering architects who shaped the skyline.
• Guests can enjoy complimentary Starbucks beverages and snacks while exploring the river’s perspective of landmark buildings like the Merchandise Mart and Wrigley Building.
• Visitors can skip the line and enter through a separate entrance, ensuring a hassle-free experience on a historic yacht.
• The tour offers an immersive and educational adventure, allowing guests to appreciate the city’s architectural marvels in an intimate and personalized setting.

You can check availability for your dates here:

Overview and Duration

The Chicago River Small Boat Tour provides a 1.5-hour historic architecture cruise along the city’s iconic waterway.

During this immersive experience, guests will float past over 50 skyscrapers and learn captivating details about their designs, architects, and innovations.

The smaller, historic yacht offers an intimate setting to truly appreciate Chicago’s renowned architecture up-close.

Throughout the tour, a live guide will share fascinating information, bringing the city’s rich history to life.

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a local, this compact yet comprehensive tour is an excellent way to discover the architectural wonders that line the Chicago River.

Cost and Booking

Pricing for the Chicago River Small Boat Tour starts at $59.00 per person, allowing visitors to reserve their spots now and pay later.

Guests can easily book their tour online through the provider’s website, enjoying a hassle-free experience from the comfort of their own devices.

The tour offers great value, providing access to a historic yacht, a knowledgeable live guide, and complimentary beverages and snacks.

Visitors can skip the line and enter through a separate entrance, maximizing their time on the water.

The affordable cost and convenient booking process make this tour an excellent choice for those seeking an immersive experience exploring Chicago’s renowned architecture along the iconic river.

Activities on the Tour

During the Chicago River Small Boat Tour, guests can cruise down the iconic waterway and learn about over 50 skyscrapers lining the riverbanks.

The live tour guide provides fascinating information about the designs, architects, and innovations that have shaped Chicago’s renowned architectural landscape.

Attendees will discover the unique stories behind landmark buildings like the Merchandise Mart, the Tribune Tower, and the Wrigley Building.

The tour offers an immersive experience, allowing visitors to appreciate the city’s rich architectural heritage from the river’s perspective.

Whether you’re a history buff or simply looking to explore Chicago in a new way, this 1.5-hour cruise promises an engaging and educational adventure.

Architectural Highlights

Along the Chicago River, iconic skyscrapers dot the skyline, each with its own captivating architectural story. The Merchandise Mart, a massive Art Deco structure, once held the title of the world’s largest commercial building. The Tribune Tower, with its neo-Gothic design and iconic flying buttresses, is renowned for the embedded fragments from famous structures around the globe. Nearby, the Wrigley Building‘s striking white terracotta facade and twin towers have become a beloved landmark, showcasing the city’s commitment to innovative design.

The grand vision of pioneering architects who shaped Chicago’s iconic skyline.

The intricate details that bring these architectural marvels to life.

The rich history that has made the city a hub of innovation and design.

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The Yacht Experience

Aboard the historic yacht, passengers embark on a captivating journey down the iconic Chicago River, immersed in the city’s architectural grandeur.

This smaller, intimate experience offers a unique perspective, allowing guests to skip the line and enter through a separate entrance.

The live tour guide provides fascinating insights into the designs, architects, and innovations behind over 50 skyscrapers lining the riverbanks.

The yacht’s cozy interiors and outdoor decks create a comfortable setting to enjoy Starbucks coffee, sodas, lemonade, and even beer, wine, and cocktails available for purchase.

This historic yacht tour offers a personalized and enriching experience, highlighting Chicago’s architectural marvels from the serene waters of the river.

Tour Guide Expertise

The knowledgeable tour guides on the Chicago River Small Boat Tour provide captivating insights, expertly bringing the city’s architectural marvels to life through their engaging narratives. They effortlessly weave together the stories behind over 50 iconic skyscrapers, leaving passengers spellbound.

The tour guides’ passion for Chicago’s history and design shines through as they share fascinating details about:

• The architects’ innovative approaches to conquering engineering challenges.
• The groundbreaking construction techniques that allowed the city to reach new heights.
• The cultural and economic influences that shaped the skyline’s evolution.

With their extensive knowledge and skilled storytelling, the tour guides elevate the experience, transforming a leisurely boat ride into an immersive exploration of Chicago’s rich architectural heritage.

Included Amenities

Passengers on the Chicago River Small Boat Tour can enjoy a selection of complimentary refreshments, including Starbucks coffee, sodas, and lemonade, as they take in the city’s architectural marvels.

Along With these beverages, the tour also provides snacks to fuel your exploration.

For those looking to indulge, a bar on board offers a variety of beer, wine, and cocktails available for purchase.

The smaller historic yacht experience ensures a more intimate and personalized tour, and the skip-the-line access through a separate entrance means you’ll spend more time admiring the stunning skyscrapers and less time waiting in lines.

With these included amenities, the Chicago River Small Boat Tour provides a well-rounded and enjoyable experience.

Getting to the Tour

To reach the Chicago River Small Boat Tour, visitors can conveniently find the meeting location just steps away from the iconic Wrigley Building. The tour’s separate entrance allows participants to bypass long queues and quickly board the historic yacht for their architectural sightseeing experience.

Passengers can:

1. Easily access the embarkation point from the nearby Riverwalk, providing a seamless start to their adventure.
2. Enjoy the flexibility of the tour’s convenient schedule, with multiple departure times throughout the day to accommodate various schedules.
3. Relish the hassle-free experience, as the tour’s dedicated entrance ensures a smooth and efficient boarding process.

With its prime location and streamlined access, the Chicago River Small Boat Tour makes it easy for visitors to enjoy the city’s stunning architectural wonders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is This Tour Wheelchair Accessible?

The tour is wheelchair accessible. The smaller historic yacht has ramps and space to accommodate wheelchairs, and the tour guides can provide assistance as needed to ensure all guests can fully enjoy the experience.

Are Children Allowed on the Tour?

Yes, children are allowed on the tour. The tour website states that the tour is family-friendly and welcomes guests of all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult during the tour.

Can I Bring My Own Food and Drinks?

Generally, passengers are allowed to bring their own food and non-alcoholic drinks on the tour. However, the tour operator may prohibit outside alcohol and encourage purchasing drinks from the on-board bar.

Are There Any Discounts for Seniors or Students?

The tour company offers discounted tickets for seniors and students. Seniors aged 65+ and students with valid ID can receive a 10% discount on the tour price. Guests should inquire about these discounts when booking their tickets.

Can I Get a Refund if the Weather Is Bad?

Most tour providers offer flexible booking policies that allow for refunds or rescheduling if inclement weather disrupts the tour. Customers should check the provider’s cancellation policy prior to booking to understand their options in the event of poor weather.

Recap

The Chicago: Historic Architecture Chicago River Small Boat Tour provides an immersive experience to explore the city’s iconic skyline.

Guests float past over 50 skyscrapers, learning about their designs, architects, and innovations from a knowledgeable live guide.

The intimate setting on a historic yacht, along with complimentary beverages and snacks, offers a unique and personalized way to appreciate Chicago’s rich architectural heritage from the river’s perspective.

You can check availability for your dates here: