Enjoying a Chicago River tour… in the rain
Surprise, Surprise!
Sometimes the best way to see something tall is at sea level. A shame the weather decided I needed extra water to enjoy a Chicago River Cruise…
Editors Note: IMAGE HEAVY
In this surprise-laden adventure
- We all know the drill by now… don’t we?
- The early morning road to nowhere (and Heathrow Terminal 3 first thing in the morning, with an equipment change shock)
- Morning Lounging at the Cathay Pacific and American Airlines Lounges
- AA87 London Heathrow to Chicago O’Hare – Main Cabin Extra
- Into the USA and The Crowne Plaza O’Hare
- Hyatt Regency O’Hare
- Airplane Art Special from the Hyatt Regency O’Hare
- Various nibbles around Chicago
- An Instagram Trap? Coffee at Brü
- Chicago Classics: Giordano’s Deep Dish Pizza
- Enjoying a Chicago River tour… in the rain
- Back to O’Hare and the British Airways lounge
- BA296 Chicago O’Hare to London Heathrow – Club World (Club Suites)
- Racing across Heathrow… but where’s the coach?
- To onward surprises
Chicago Boat Tour
Wendella Tours & Cruises – $44
Chicago is a city rich in architecture and design – from the tall towers to the smaller landmarks.
One of the best ways of seeing the Windy City is with a Chicago River Architecture boat tour – although there are those who prefer the big bus tours that occupy at city.
Me? Give me something wet and wobbly that’s entertaining.
There are at least three operators of tours on the Chicago River
It pays to research what you’re looking for – some tours vary from the technical side, some more historical and some seemingly for the whimsy.
I neglected to prebook, so it was a case that I would jump on the first tour I could find, and that was within easy reach from Clark and Lake Blue Line Station – that would be Wendella, which is accessible from North Michigan Avenue near the Wrigley Building.
Hey. It worked for me at that moment in time.
For this tour, it was $44 for a 90-minute tour. I could handle that.
Maybe, what I could not handle was the change in weather conditions, which were… variable, gaining from dry to wet and dry again.
But I am British – dealing with the inclement weather is a done thing. Although I wish I brought an umbrella at that point. I certainly wasn’t going to buy a branded poncho for $5 that looks like a white trash bag.
Umm. No.
Even I have limits on single-use plastics. And going downstairs on a tour where “looking up” is pretty core to the entire tour is a no-go.
For the tour, I mostly shot it on my Canon EOS R50, this time paired with a 17-40mm f4 L series lens. It’s slightly wider at the wide end -but less wide at the telephoto end compared to the kit lens, but it gives a lot of heft compared to the kit lens – and a lot less vignetting.
Don’t get me wrong, the RF-S 18-45mm lens makes the Canon EOS R50 pocketable – but to do serious stuff with it, popping on a converter and L series glass makes a big difference.
I’ve butchered the route the tourboat took along the Chicago River.
Map: OpenStreetMap
The commentary was informative and thankfully – not dry (which can happen when going through the different architects and their designs).
This tour guide explained the history of Chicagoland why there’s a link to onions) as well as access to the river (with some gated communities in the way) and some of the reflective design.
It wasn’t as deep as the Chicago Architecture Tour in terms of the architecture notes, but it a lot was more entertaining.
The route took us down the river, branching right towards the Chicago Tribune Printing building – the second uglies in the city (according to the tour guide).
Here are some pictures from the tour.
Marina City. Jetsons flying cars might work here – the curret range of eVOTL ones probably won’t
This building is not symmetrical.
The Merchandise Mart – or a building that once had its own zip code.
This gym is famous for famous people exercising here (Opreha and Barak Obama in particular)
The second ugliest building in the City of Chicago. I’d go as far as to say it’s functional – and that’s it.
The boat doubled back and headed south of the river, past the West Loop – just a little further south than Mannys Deli is located and past the Amtrak/BNSF yard.
I don’t ever want to feel like I did that day… Take me to the place I love, take me all the way (Under the Bridge – Red Hot Chilli Peppers).
You’ve got to love how glass is used to reflect other buildings
It’s art.
Vacant. Both in leadership and soon, this building
You are here.
Reflections
If the style of this building is familiar, is by the same designer who did Marina City
What do you do with a landmark? It was a coal-fired power station and part of the city’s history. But what to do now, bear in mind it’s full of coal dust.
Quality Train Content
Pagoda
A lift bridge for trains.
It then double-backed into the city, heading through the city towards the locks of Lake Michigan, again adding colour to the sights of the city and how it’s designed.
Passing Ping Tom Park
The West Loop is in the distance as the boat begins its return journey up the Chicago River
Competitors under a bridge
The Wills Building… or Sears Tower. It’s still the Sears Tower, just like Maceys on State Street is still The Marshall Field and Company.
You’ve got to look up on this tour.
The old IBM |Building
Just making a design change, like stair design can make a difference from a building being a box to something remotely interesting
North River on the left,
Passing back Marina City. Amazingly no cars have ever reversed out of the building by accident. And its the amazing how may rain drops get on the lens without me noticing.
Part of the Riverwalk
It’s a battery on top of the Carbide and Cabon Company Building.. .
You can squeeze a highrise in anywhere.
The Wrigley Building. The other building is on the left.
The Tribune Tower
I love the waves in this building. Stands out from a box.
Crossing back onto the main branch of the Chicago River, the boat made its way alongside North Wacker Drive and the high rises of the city, going under North Michigan Avenue and towards the locks that separate Lake Michigan from the Chicago River.
A rear view of the skyline.
Navy Pier
The locks to Lake Michigan
Turning for the City.
Fire boats
Back towards the landing
After a short time here, and with more rain, the boat turned, heading back towards the building next to the Wrigley building, allowing us to disembark
I should have wiped my lens at this point. Meh.
Forward.
It’s amazing what hides out of sight
Heading under North Columbus Drive.
Returning to North Michigan Avenue.
The Jerry Spring Show was shot here.
Past the Tim Cook donation fund store- somewhere I’m trying to avoid going until at least October.
I thanked the guide and headed off – some things needed to be done before I headed to the airport.
Back on level ground
And besides, I needed to do damage to my step count.
Are there cheaper options?
Yes. If you’re not into commentaries but enjoy time on the water Wendella operates the Chicago Water Taxi.
Chicago Water Taxi docked at West Loop.
This operates between North Michigan Avenue to Ogilvie / Union (West Loop – Near Union Station and the old Boeing Building), and Chinatown, docking at Ping Tom Park – south of The Loop.
Tickets start at $6 per person one way, $10 for a full day of unlimited travel or a $25 10-ride pass which is valid for weekday use only.
Of course, if you plan you can probably get tickets a lot cheaper in advance. But that’s if you have the one thing I lack some days – planning skills.
Next:
Time to start heading east – back to O’Hare for… another surprise.
And a good one at that.
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I love the Chicago river tour, the city has such variety and quality in architecture. Seeing Boeing there made me sad (and this was before the bad times really got started) and the building for The Orange One just made me mildly nauseous, but this was before his…administration? Flaming dumpster fire? Whatever. That. I’d want to throw things now.