Chicago River, Illinois, United States
4.5 (2.020 reviews) Spent 1-2 hours Ranking #8 in Chicago Bodies of Water
Amazing
We parked right at the marina and were greeted by friendly, helpful staff. Our tour guide, Hillary was outstanding, full of fascinating information about the history and the city, the buildings, and the architecture. She delivered the information in a fun, but informative way so it was never dull or boring. The views from the boat were incredible. We brought our teenage daughters and they loved it as much as we did. I highly recommend this tour !
Address
, Chicago, Illinois, United States.
Mobile
Website
http://www.chicagolakefrontcruises.com
Current local date and time now
Saturday, April 27, 2024, 23:15
User Ratings
4.5 based on (2.020 reviews)
Excellent
75%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Reviews
-
5Taylor B 5:00 PM Nov 27, 2022
Chicago's No. 1 tourist attraction
According to the Illinois Office of Tourism, the Chicago River is the No. 1 attraction in Chicago, not Cloud Gate or Navy Pier or Wrigley Field or the Art Institute of Chicago or the Museum of Science and Industry. While most people perceive the Chicago River to be the 1.5-mile main stem that flows west from Lake Michigan to Wolf Point in downtown Chicago, passing beneath the Outer Drive, Columbus Drive, Michigan Avenue, Wabash, State, Dearborn, Clark, La Salle, Wells and Franklin Street bridges, where it converges with the North Branch to form the South Branch, which flows southwest and empties into the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. Along the way, it affords views of some of the city's great structures, including Tribune Tower, NBC Tower, Wrigley Building, Trump Tower, Marina City and Merchandise Mart. In fact, the Chicago River is a system of rivers and canals with a combined length of 156 miles that run through the city of Chicago, including its center (Chicago Loop). It is not especially long but it is notable because it is one of the reasons for Chicago's geographic importance, a link between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River Basin and the Gulf of Mexico. The river was crucial in the city's development as a major center of the lumber and meatpacking industries during the 19th century. The Chicago Riverwalk has been developed on the south bank of the main stem to provide dining, entertainment and recreational opportunities for Chicagoans and tourists.
-
4Janet M 5:00 PM Sep 17, 2022
Still not the cleanest but worth Kayaking on at least once a year!
We launched at the put in right behind REI on Kingsbury and paddled all the way to navy pier then back around south to see Chicago architecture from a different viewpoint. It was the air and water show but the weather was not great this year, so we did not see as much as in years past. Make sure you know how to handle your kayak because some of the large sightseeing vessels make large wakes, and you definitely don't want to capsize. The river is cleaner than it used to be but still definitely not clean enough for a dip unless you want to get sick ? We own our own kayaks but if you don't own your one you can rent from REI or book one of their experiences with their guides. If you are a coop member you get a rental/trip discount!
