The first Chicago Architecture Foundation architecture river cruise of the season is April 30 and tickets are available now. The architecture river cruise is offered aboard Chicago’s First Lady Cruises luxury cruising yachts, with open-air decks as well as air conditioned interior seating.
The cruise features the incomparable Chicago Architecture Foundation docents and is a favorite with seasoned cruisers as well as first-timers. “Date night” cruises every Thursday and Friday evenings at 5:30 pm start in June.
Seeing the buildings and bridges from the vantage point of the river gives a whole new feel to the experience. The cruise includes all three branches of the Chicago River and highlights 53 historic and architecturally significant sites including: the Trump Tower, Merchandise Mart, 333 W. Wacker, the Wrigley Building, the Tribune Tower, the Willis Tower (You can see people out on the “ledge”), River City, and Marina City. The cruise also includes the North Branch of the Chicago River with buildings such as The Montgomery, the Chicago Tribune printing press plant; Goose Island; Kinzie Park development; Riverbend and the clustered glass River Cottages.
All Chicago Architecture Foundation cruises depart from the lower level and southeast corner of the Michigan Avenue Bridge at Wacker Drive. The staircase to the ticket window and dock is marked by a blue awning. The 2011 Tour Schedule runs through November 20.
Advance tickets and information is available at www.ticketmaster.com/rivertour or www.architecture.org. The print-at-home option allows quicker check-in for passengers at the dock. Tickets are $35/person and are also available at the Chicago Architecture Foundation Shop, 224 S. Michigan Avenue, at the Chicago’s First Lady ticket window at the dock or by calling 1-800-982-2787. Group Rates/groups of 20 or more: 312-322-1131.
