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)

DC-Foodee

Jun 2019

We went on the Mercury Skyline Cruiseline "Urban Adventure Cruise" which does a short bit in the river and then a swing past the skyline in the lake. If I do this again, we'll opt for a river-only cruise. We thought the views of the buildings and architecture from the river was super intersting, and were less impressed with the time on the lake. In addition, getting to the lake, and then back from the lake to the river, is a boring 15-20 minutes each way waiting for the lock to cycle to the direction your boat needs; a big part of the 90 minute cruise is just sitting in line for the lock, waiting for the lock to fill or drain, and then exiting the lock. The commentary from the guide was ok, not great, but mostly interesting. The Chicago skyline is terrific ... and any boat ride on a nice day is a wonderful way to see any city, anywhere in the world.

marleney

Jun 2019

I have been to Chicago many times, but this was the first time to do a boat tour. Thoroughly enjoyed it. It helped that we had a beautiful day. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and fun to listen to. I feel we learned a lot about the city and the buildings. The tour we took was the Urban Adventure River and Lake Cruise and it was 90 minutes long. I would do this tour again just for the fun of it. It was easy to find the dock and afterward we walked down the River Walk to State Street and went up from the river there. Price was good too! Do the tour, you won't regret it and you'll have some good memories of your time in Chicago!

Sadie M

Jun 2019

Wonderful tour. Dawn, the tour guide, was very informative and did a fantastic job. I would recommend Chicago Urban Adventure River and Lake Cruise to everyone!! Sadie McIntire [email protected]