Everyone Should Go on the Architecture Tour

April 11, 2014: My parents came to visit!  It was a short trip, but we had a great time trying a few new restaurants (Bistro Campagne in Lincoln Square was a big hit), hanging out, shopping (well, my mom and I shopped, anyway), and going on the super awesome Chicago Architecture Tour courtesy of the Chicago Architecture Foundation.  (If you have booked tickets for a non-CAF boat tour, you are on the wrong tour.  Get a refund, go to the CAF, and get your tickets for the correct tour.)

The Architecture Tour is one of those touristy things that even the locals think is the coolest thing to do.  In fact, the Architecture Tour is listed as the #1 thing to do in Chicago by US News and World Report and many other publications.  I can't tell you how many people have asked us if we've gone on the Architecture Tour yet, so now the answer is officially yes.  And we will both join the litany of asking people, "Have you done the Architecture Tour yet?  You should!  It's awesome!"

Now, I should be clear.  There are lots of architecture tours put on by the CAF.  Pedway, Segway, walking, bus, all sorts of tours.  But when people talk about THE Architecture Tour, they are talking about the river cruise up the north, south, and main branches of the Chicago River through downtown Chicago.  What can be better than spending an hour and half riding lazily down the river in nice-ish weather looking at beautiful buildings?  Not much.

The day dawned bright, sunny, and warm.  We met my parents at the Water Tower near their hotel on the north end of the Mag Mile.  We took a lovely stroll down the Mag Mile to the dock at the corner of Michigan and Wacker and got in line to board the First Lady boat.  Our volunteer docent from the CAF was Barry, a slightly nerdy middle aged man who loves Chicago architecture and was one of the best boat tour docents we've ever had.  (This is high praise.  My family likes boat tours a lot.)

The weather quickly turned overcast, the clouds almost black at times, and the wind was blowing, causing a noticeable drop in temperatures near the end of the tour when we were on the lake.  However, it created a very dramatic backdrop to Chicago's skyline and architectural gems.  I don't remember what all of the buildings are, but here are plenty of shots to give you a taste of what you'll see on the tour.

 On the boat!  Without jackets!

 Mom and Dad!

 Trump International

 The fire boat!

 The Wrigley Building

 The Chicago Tribune Tower

 The underside of the bridges looked cool!

 

 I liked this one a lot.

 Merchandise Mart!  (Candor Headquarters in the Divergent series)

 Boeing Headquarters

Now we head from the main branch to the north branch of the river.

 Bridge that is almost always left up.  The railroad lowers it and drives a handcart across is once a year to retain control of this particular bridge.

Now down to the south branch.

 

Boeing again!

 The Civic Opera House, home of the Lyric Opera of Chicago.  It is massive!  And you can live in apartments above the theatre!  Michel, why didn't we think of that?

The former Mercantile Exchange

This is an apartment community in an S shape.

Now it's time for the many views of the Sears Tower.  (Yes, I know it's technically the Willis Tower, but it will always be the Sears Tower to me.  Barry even took a vote of the passengers to find out what he should call it--Sears Tower won.)

Those white things hanging out at the top are those observation decks that you can walk out on and look straight down to the street.

Back to the main branch and out to the lake.

 Though we didn't find this out on the tour, this gold-covered building is the Carbide and Carbon Building.  

 Wrigley Building again

 The Tribune again

 The building with the yellow dome in the back is the Intercontinental Hotel.

 The official end of the river.  Lake Michigan is on the other side.

 

All in all, it was a fantastic tour, and we highly recommend everyone do it!!!