We will be visiting Chicago June 19-24(no kids) and would like to get a great tour of the city. Can anyone recommend one? Our travel books say the water tours are the way to go.

I would highly recommend the Architecural Boat Tour.

Would you still recommend the boat tour for kids? One, age 9.

Second the motion for Architectural Tour and think kids would enjoy it too. Very interesting and great views of the city

I've heard good things about the architectural boat tour. You might also look into the Chicago Greeter program that was recently started up www.chicagogreeters.com or other tours given by the Chicago Architecture Foundation www.architecture.org

My wife and I took the architectural boat tour when we visited Chicago in 1999. I was very impressed. It's a boat ride if you just want that (for the kids)...but an archetect comes on board and does a great job talking about the buildings. The tour we took (I don't know if there's more than one) took us down the river and out on the lake

The Chicago Architecture Foundation Boat Tour is excellent. Get tickets in advance for a summer weekend. And do not be fooled by the other tour operators; they are for-profit, and CAF is all volunteer, trained docents (not all architects, although some certainly are.)

Regarding the boat tour for a 9 year old: please think this through. You know your child best. He/she may be fascinated by the buildings and stories, but many children are bored. The tour is designed for adults with an appreciation of history. Since you are on a small boat that is full of other passengers, it is important that you consider how your child's behavior will affect the others. It's not as if anyone can leave if the situation gets difficult.

There are tours such as the Ducks off of Navy Pier that are more family friendly.

My mother-in-law was scheduled to come to Chi. for a visit from FL the Friday following 9/11. Needless to say, she cancelled her trip, but we had advance tickets for the architectural boat tour for her, hubby and I, and our 8 and 5 year-old boys.

We went anyway, it was a gorgeous September day, and the company was gracious enough to refund my MIL's ticket even though their policy is no refunds except in the case of rain.

All four of us had a fantastic time. I expected that the boys would find the boat ride fun and the "building stuff" boring, but they really surprised me. My 8 yr old, especially, was very interested in the tour (especially the Sears Tower).

Be sure to bring along a camera -- I took some post card-quality pix.

The architectural river tour is the best-since the river cuts through downtown, you get a better view of the beatiful buildings on the river that on a tour bus going down a crowded street. The architectural foundation also used to run a history boat tour, but I don't know if they still do that-which was similar but went out into Lake Michigan. Check with the Chicago Architectural Foundation-they offer other tours besides the boat tour and also offer walking tours. Children will also enjoy all their tours.