A Photo Essay of our Chicago Architectural Cruise with Shoreline Sightseeing.
Emma and I recently spent a long weekend in Chicago and one of the priorities on my itinerary was taking an architectural cruise. I had enjoyed one years earlier on my very first visit to Chicago but hadn’t had the opportunity to repeat the experience on the many off-season trips that we have since taken.
Emma and I paused to watch the boats cruising the river several times but opted to wait until Saturday morning to purchase tickets as the weather forecast sounded like it would improve. We were glad we did because we had ideal conditions for our cruise as a result of waiting.
Watching boats on the river
We chose Shoreline Sightseeing for our 60 minute architecture river cruise and our lovely guide, Carisa, did a wonderful job of both entertaining and informing the passengers about Chicago’s skyscrapers and American architecture. One of her best stories involved the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Carisa is an O’Leary and her family has been in Chicago for generations so she felt compelled to set the record straight about Mrs. O’Leary and her cow. It seems that the tale about the cow starting the fire was fabricated by a newspaperman and it made such a good story that it has been repeated ever since but Carisa felt like she needed to set the record straight and salvage her family’s reputation.
It was a beautiful day to be on the water and we learned a bit of history about Chicago’s skyline while basking in the summer sun. There weren’t many children on the cruise but Emma enjoyed herself and was completely engaged by Carisa’s commentary. According to Emma, “lots of tour guides are boring but Carisa was fun to listen to”.
Emma with our Shoreline guide
These are a few of my favourite photos from our morning cruise on the Chicago River.
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What You Need To Know
- Shoreline Sightseeing is the largest touring fleet in Chicago, has been family owned and operated for more than 70 years and offers tours, taxis and charters;
- Architecture Cruises are 60 minutes long and travel several branches of the Chicago River;
- According to the website, architectural cruises leave from Gateway Park at Navy Pier, however, we purchased tickets and boarded our cruise at the Michigan Avenue Bridge;
- Ticket prices can be found on Shoreline’s website and Tickets purchased online are discounted by 5%;
- Tours are conducted in English. There is a Shoreline Tour Translations iPhone App which translates the tours into French, Spanish, German or Mandarin Chinese.
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jan
I liked all the photos from your cruise. My favourite was the reflections on the building. Very creative.
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Jan – that building is gorgeous, isn’t it? It is even better in person – I didn’t do a great job of capturing it as there were two many heads between me and the building! 🙂
Muza-chan
Great photos 🙂
Tracy
I love river cruises with kids in the city. It’s a great way to see everything without tiring out little legs. It looks like you struck a magical day for it. There’s not a single cloud in any of your photos.
jenny@atasteoftravel
What a great way to see the city. Its great to see that some of the beautiful old buildings have been kept and its not all modern skyscrapers. It’s been so long since I was there, I’m sure the city has changed dramatically.
Dick Jordan
Did that cruise five years ago — a great way to see Chicago
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Muza-chan!!
Leigh
Cruises are such a great way to see the city. You got some great shots too under very sunny skies. I’ve only done that in NYC but that cruise too was wonderful.
Cathy Sweeney
Oh my — you know that these Chicago posts always get to me! I love the architecture tour. In fact, I want to do it again. Awesome city, awesome boat tours.
Mary {The World Is A Book}
Beautiful photos! You ladies had a nice day on this cruise. I love scenic cruises like these especially if it has a great and informative tour guide. Lucky for you! I did this tour pre-kids a long time ago and I’m way overdue for a Chicago visit.
eileen at FamiliesGo!
I always encourage parents to do stuff they want to do on vacations and trust that the kids will find a way to interest themselves (or be bored for an hour or two). it’s important to show kids what you’re interested in and expand their horizons a little. Good for you!
Travel50States
Gorgeous photos!
Becca@RWTYM?
I would have loved this cruise- I love learning the history of places I visit!
I’m sorry I’m just now getting over to visit – I was out of commission the past 2 days! Thanks for linking up!!
Sonja
I’ve never been to Chicago but my brother just returned from his first trip there and raved about the city and especially the architecture. He thinks I’d love it there and I think he’s right! I better plan a visit!
Steve
Chicago isn’t one of those cities where a river cruise would leap to mind for me, but your pictures make it seem like you got some great vantage points. Certainly better views than I got riding the “L” across town.
Lisa Goodmurphy
Tracy, I definitely agree – it can be exhausting to sightsee in a city and a river cruise can be a welcome break for everyone in the family!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Jenny, I think Chicago is a beautiful city for architecture buffs for just that reason – so many different styles of buildings in the downtown area.
Lisa Goodmurphy
The first time that I went on this cruise was in 1994 on my first visit to Chicago. I have visited the city many times since but always during the off-season so this was the first chance that I had to cruise the river again – loved it!
Lisa Goodmurphy
The day was absolutely perfect for taking pics. If I could have had the boat to myself to get all the other heads out of my shots then it would have been even better! 😉
Lisa Goodmurphy
I agree completely – LOVE Chicago!!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Definitely time for a return visit! I did this tour a couple of years before Katie was born and hadn’t done it since despite having visited Chicago at least 7 or 8 times. I wasn’t sure that Emma would like it but she quite enjoyed the cruise and seeing all the different buildings.
Lisa Goodmurphy
Eileen, that’s my philosophy exactly! I would be bored out of my mind if I had to do “kid” things all day long. My kids have learned to adapt and have fun visiting places that weren’t designed for kids.
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thank you!!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Hope you are feeling better, Becca! And yes, I think you would love Chicago and this cruise!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Chicago is one of my favourite cities in the world, Sonja! We have been 7 or 8 times and I never grow tired of it. You should definitely plan a visit!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Definitely better views! The first time that I visited Chicago (in 1994) I was completely taken aback at how beautiful the city was with the river and drawbridges. I hadn’t expected it at all – in fact, I don’t think that I even knew that there was a river in Chicago before that first trip.
Michele @ Malaysian Meanders
I’ve mostly only been to Chicago as a transit point on my way somewhere else. This cruise looks like a fabulous introduction to the city and its history.
Margaret
I’d love to go on an architectural cruise! What a great idea for a tour.
Sophie
Interesting! I’ve done river cruises in Europe and Asia, even Canada, but never really thought to do one in the USA. And I must admit, even though I’ve been in Chicago, I wasn’t aware of the river, either. Suppose the lake overshadows it, eh?
Zoe French
I’ve never heard of an architectural cruise, but it sounds really cool! And there’s no better place to do it than Chicago! Very fun!
Lisa Goodmurphy
It’s a fabulous tour – the buildings along the river in Chicago are amazing!
Lisa Goodmurphy
I think it’s easy to forget about the river in Chicago because it’s lower than street level. With the hustle and bustle on the streets you just forget that you are crossing over bridges.
Lisa Goodmurphy
It was fun and our excellent Shoreline guide made it all the better!
Lisa Wood
Looks like a great cruise to be on – and yep most guides are boring! Nice when you get one that is 1. educational 2.funny at the same time 3. smiles 🙂
Cheryl @ KidsOnAPlane
Chicago has been a city I have been wanting to revisit (last time was in high school). Especially for this cruise. I think I might have seen it or something similar in my fave movie of all time – My Best Friend’s Wedding 😉
Great photos
Tonya @ The Traveling Praters
I’ve wanted to visit Chicago for so long. If only I could convince my husband that it’s a place we need to visit. Oh well, he didn’t want to go to NYC either and that didn’t stop me. I’m sure one of my teenagers would love to accompany me. The architectural cruise would be right up our alley. Thanks for linking up to the Best of the USA blog hop! And for adding the button. I’ll be sure to have the kinks worked out with the button before next month. 🙂
Lisa Goodmurphy
Lisa, this guide definitely scored high on all three points – we loved her!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Thanks, Cheryl! Chicago is one of my favourite cities – we go back again and again! You should definitely plan a visit – you will be surprised at how kid-friendly it is!
Lisa Goodmurphy
Tonya, I’m sure your husband would love Chicago too – but if he doesn’t want to give it a chance then by all means go with out him! Chicago is one of my favourite cities and I go whenever I get the chance! Looking forward to the next Best of the USA blog hop.