Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Party. Children are allowed, with some restrictions; otherwise, book a sitter and
hit one of the cruises. However, this can be a fairly pricey night out if you go for
the whole dinner package.
Departing from Navy Pier.
&
866/211-3804.
www.spiritcruises.com. Lunch cruises $35-$45, dinner (seated)
$75-$95, sunset and midnight cruises $32. Ask about children's rates. Daily year-round.
Wendella Sightseeing Boats
All ages.
Wendella is the granddaddy of all
sightseeing operators in Chicago. Started in 1935, it's run by the original owner's
son, Bob Borgstrom, whose own two sons serve as captains. You won't find a
more authoritative source on the Chicago River than Borgstrom.
Wendella operates a 1-hour water tour along the Chicago River, and a 1
1
⁄
2
-
hour tour along the river and out onto Lake Michigan (One of the highlights
for kids is passing through the locks that separate the river from the lake). Boats
run from late April to early October. The 2-hour sunset tour runs Memorial Day
to Labor Day starting at 7:45pm. Scheduling for cruises depends on the season
and the weather, but cruises usually leave every hour during the summer.
Departing from Michigan Ave. and Wacker Dr. (on the north side of the river at the Wrigley Building).
&
312/
337-1446.
www.wendellaboats.com. Tickets $18 adults, $16 seniors, $9 children under 12. Daily Apr-Oct.
Windy
Ages 8 & up.
One of the more breathtaking scenes on the lake is
watching this tall ship approach the docks at Navy Pier. The 148-foot-long,
four-masted schooner (and its new sister ship, the
Windy II
) sets sail for 90-
minute cruises two to five times a day, both day and evening. Of course, the
boats are at the whims of the wind, so every cruise charts a different course. Pas-
sengers are welcome to help raise and trim the sails and occasionally take turns
at the ship's helm (with the captain standing close by). Ask about “Pirate” cruises
for the kids. The boats are not accessible for people with disabilities.
Departing from Navy Pier.
&
312/595-5555.
Tickets $25 adults, $15 seniors and children under 12. Tickets
go on sale 1 hr. before the 1st sail of the day at the boat's ticket office, on the dock at Navy Pier. Reserva-
tions (except for groups) are not accepted. Call for sailing times.
CARRIAGE RIDES
Noble Horse
(
&
312/266-7878
) maintains the largest fleet of antique horse
carriages, stationed around the old Water Tower Square, at the northwest corner
of Chicago and Michigan avenues. Each of the drivers, outfitted in black tie and
top hat, has his own variation on the basic Magnificent Mile itinerary (and can
also do tours of the lakefront, river, Lincoln Park, and Buckingham Fountain).
The charge is $30 for each half-hour. The coaches run year-round, with con-
vertible coaches in the warm months and enclosed carriages furnished with wool
blankets in winter. There are several other carriage operators, all of whom pick
up riders in the vicinity.
SPECIAL-INTEREST TOURS
NEIGHBORHOOD TOURS
It's a bit of a cliché to say that Chicago is a city
of neighborhoods, but if you want to see what really makes Chicago special, that's
where you have to go. And if you're a bit intimidated by public transportation
and getting around a less tourist-friendly area of the city, an escorted tour is the
perfect way to see places you'd otherwise miss. Sponsored by the Department of
Cultural Affairs,
Chicago Neighborhood Tours
(
&
312/742-1190;
www.
chgocitytours.com) are 4- to 5-hour narrated bus excursions to about a dozen
diverse communities throughout the city. Embarking from the Chicago Cultural
Center, 77 E. Randolph St., every Saturday (not on major holidays and not
during Jan, generally, so call first), the tours visit different neighborhoods, from
