First Lady

Really , really, really impressive experience. We learned a lot, while enjoying the sites all at once. Docent was well informed and interesting. Full bar downstairs. Fantastic views up top. Definitely a MUST DO in Chicago.

This tour was amazing. The tour guide was very knowledgeable of every building and knew the history in great detail. Many great opportunities to take some great pictures. This tour was worth every penny. I gotta include the fact that the main strip (Michigan ave) was very very clean, and the flower decorations in flower beds were amazing. This city beats New York by a lot in cleanliness and police presence, at least downtown area. If you have not visited Chicago, you should and you should take this boat trip which is a must.

The tour was absolutely amazing! Yes, the price is a bit higher than some of the other tours, but it is worth every single dollar. The experience feels premium from start to finish. Our guide, Sonia, was exceptional!! incredibly knowledgeable about Chicago’s architecture, history, and all the little stories you’d never hear anywhere else. You can tell she genuinely loves what she does, and her passion makes the tour even more enjoyable. The route was beautiful, the narration was engaging, and the whole experience felt very well organized. If you’re visiting Chicago, don’t miss this tour. It’s truly one of the best ways to see and understand the city. I highly recommend booking it before sunset so you get the magical transition from daylight to nighttime, the skyline looks stunning in both.

Amazing tour!! Doing the night lake tour is so unique. Looking at Chicago's skyline all lit up is really special. I have done both, day and night tours, and they are both just as good. The tour guides share a lot of interesting information. The architecture boat tour is also amazing!! Can't go wrong with First Lady.

While visiting Chicago, we decided to take the First Lady Architectural Tour—and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip. Located right on the Riverwalk, the setting was beautiful and easy to access. The weather was perfect, which made the experience even more enjoyable. Our guide (whose name I wish I could remember!) was phenomenal—so knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly passionate about Chicago’s architectural history. She brought the city’s skyline to life with fascinating stories and insights that made the 90-minute tour fly by. The boat itself was spotless and comfortable, with both indoor and outdoor seating. The onboard bar was a nice touch, offering drinks to enjoy while cruising past some of the city’s most iconic buildings. I’m so glad we did this tour, and it’s absolutely a must on any Chicago itinerary. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a local looking to see the city from a fresh perspective, this experience is well worth it.

This is the right tour to choose! First Lady Architecture tour is amazing on a bright sunny summer day. I’m sure it is OK other times too, however this summer and now is the best time to be there! Our knowledgeable tour guide/docent/volunteer Dave was really amazing. His story for full 90 min kept us engaged and entertained! That’s not easy on any given occasion, and Dave delivered that with the ease, talking 90 min straight! History is fascinating, and there is so much to see and hear here. Many stories about different eras of the city’s development and hard moments, paint the picture on the basis of the backdrop which is already an art piece. Very highly recommended!

You get to ride in a boat, you get to learn things, and you get to see amazing stuff. What's not to like? There are a number of businesses that run these tours but to my knowledge this is the only one run by a non-profit, the CAC. The CAC's mission is to celebrate and promote Chicago as a center or architectural innovation, to promote the building of vibrant communities, and to inspire all (especially youth) to unlock their hidden talents and vision in making our city a better place. The tour is what you would expect - a ride down the river and then back out onto the lake before returning to the dock. A very well-informed docent leads the tour. I'm not sure about their entire fleet, but the boat we were on had a completely open-air top level. This was great for us because the weather was nice but be aware that there's the possibility of being exposed to the elements (not just rain, but also hot/cold temps). There are obviously lots of tourists from all over the world on the boat, but there are also native Chicagoans who simply want to remind themselves of what a spectacular place we live in. Hearing adults ooh and aah over the grace and beauty that is our skyline is simply wonderful. None of the boat tours are cheap, but remember that in this particular case, your ticket cost is helping to support an organization that is not seeking profits but rather seeking to promote a better understanding of Chicago itself. For my money, that's a win. Amazing experience!