Chicago Urban Adventure River and Lake Cruise

Overview

Our popular 90-minute daytime river and lake tour, the Urban Adventure Cruise, delights family members of all ages with incredible views of Chicago's world-renowned architecture and stunning skyline. Lively, knowledgeable tour guides bring Chicago’s rich history to life with fun stories and interesting facts. Relax and unwind on a scenic tour of the city from the unique perspective of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. Welcome aboard!

City: Chicago

Fri 27 Dec

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $42.00

Make a reservation

Fri 27 Dec

Starting at $42.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

All taxes, fees and handling charges

Live commentary on board

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Discounted parking available at 111 E. Wacker Drive. Please visit the dockside box office for parking ticket validation

What To Expect

Lake Michigan

Travel along Lake Michigan to view the Chicago Skyline!

Chicago River

The tour cruises through the main branch of the river. You will hear information about Chicago's famous architecture.

Marina City

View the unique architecture of Marina City, a building complex which is its own self-contained community.

Skydeck Chicago - Willis Tower

From the lake, view the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere!

Wrigley Building

The Wrigley Building was built to house the corporate headquarters of the Wrigley Company.

Navy Pier

View Navy Pier's 50 acres of parks, promenades, gardens, shops, eateries and attractions, especially the 15-story Ferris wheel.

Buckingham Fountain

Located in the center of Grant Park. Dedicated in 1927, it is one of the largest fountains in the world!

Field Museum

One of the largest natural history museums in the world!

Shedd Aquarium

Shedd Aquarium was once the largest indoor aquarium in the world.

Adler Planetarium

See this famous planetarium in the heart of Chicago's museum campus.

Soldier Field

Soldier Field is a Chicago landmark and home to the Chicago Bears.

The McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum

At river level, visitors can view the massive gears of Chicago’s most famous movable bridge and then journey through time as they experience the story of the Chicago River. Once at the top of the Bridgehouse, visitors are treated to magnificent 360 degree views of the city and river, and will gain a whole new perspective on the beauty and complexity that is Chicago.

Navy Pier

Navy Pier is a 3,300-foot-long (1,010 m) pier on the Chicago shoreline of Lake Michigan. Navy Pier currently encompasses more than fifty acres of parks, gardens, shops, restaurants, family attractions and exhibition facilities. The ferris wheel it is currently the sixth-tallest wheel in the United States.

John Hancock Center

The John Hancock Center is a 100-story, 1,128-foot[6] supertall skyscraper located in Chicago, Illinois. Located in the Magnificent Mile district, its name was changed to 875 North Michigan Avenue on February 12, 2018. View from the lake.

Chicago Riverwalk

The Chicago Riverwalk is an open, pedestrian waterfront located on the south bank of the main branch of the Chicago River in downtown Chicago, Illinois. You can find dining, entertainment, shops, boat tours and breweries.

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Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (185)

Birdnerd376

Jul 2019

My husband and I took the Mercury Urban Adventure cruise the day after we took another company's fireworks cruise. We were worried that this would just be a repeat of the previous night's cruise, only without the fireworks. However, we were pleasantly surprised. This cruise went farther up the river and made a wider loop into the lake, so we learned about quite a few buildings that the previous cruise didn't mention. Plus, even when we were looking at the same building we had seen the night before, we still always managed to learn some interesting nugget or fun fact that we hadn't heard before. In addition, there had been a few times on the previous night's cruise when the guide was explaining something about one of the buildings, but I wasn't quite sure which building she was talking about. On the Urban Adventures cruise, I didn't have this problem at all. Our guide, Bree, had a real knack for being able to point out clearly which building she was talking about. Her remarks were always interesting and informative, and you could tell that she genuinely loves Chicago. The 6:15 time slot was also great, because it allowed us to see the city both in full daylight and also at sunset.

Moners2012

Jul 2019

Fabulous cruise along the river and lake on a stunning Chicago day. Jordan our host was super informative but didn’t talk the whole time, a great balance. Our kids aged 10 & 11 were engaged and enjoyed the experience too. Got a great deal saving $10 off adult tickets and $5 off kids tickets by taking 10.15am sailing and showing a coupon from the This Week in Chicago publication. Boat wasn’t overcrowded so lots of room to move around. Highly recommend.

Dreamer795470

Jun 2019

We had a great time even in the rain. The guide continue to provide great information while being poured on. Many folks retreated to the spacious cabin below deck.