Architecture River Cruise

For first-time visitors to the city, there is no better introduction to the marvels of Chicago’s world-famous skyline than the ninety-minute boat tour given by the Chicago Architecture Foundation. While you cruise the Chicago River in an open-topped boat, a docent fills your head with a wealth of information about dozens of the city’s greatest hits, including the Sears Tower, the “corn cobs” (Marina City), the Wrigley and Tribune buildings and the influential skyscrapers that line Wacker Drive. Not only are the buildings easy to see and admire from this vantage point, but you’ll learn interesting tidbits about superstars (Mies van der Rohe; Skidmore, Owings & Merrill) and styles such as Art Deco and postmodernism (the latter “more a state of mind than a style of architecture,” our docent said). The Architecture Foundation also offers more than 85 tours, including bus and walking tours. The boat tours are popular, so it’s best to buy tickets online a few weeks in advance.