Dear Chicago experts,
We leave in the morning for Chicago, and I've gotten some great advice from this board. The forecast for this weekend sounds pretty good for a boat cruise (high 50s, low 60s -- I'm a Southerner & we've been in the high 70s, so it will be a shock even in the low 60s, but I'll try to dress right!). But I've found two cruises & am not sure which one is better. Do you recommend the CAF tour or the Shoreline tour that leaves from Navy Pier??? Or is one about as good as another? If any Chicago experts can respond sometime today it would be great -- we leave early tomorrow. Can't wait!
Thanks so much,
Ellen

For me, CAF one, for sure. I always thought that they ended those in October. Great weather so far, good luck.

Thanks so much, JJ5. Interestingly enough, the CAF one is a little cheaper ($25 compared to $28) according to the Web. We'll just keep our fingers crossed that the weather holds.
Thanks again,
Ellen

If you are interested in architecture, definitely take the CAF tour. You'll get lots of great commentary.

If you just want nice sites, a boat trip that goes on both the river and the lake will suffice, and it probably doesn't matter too much which company you use.

eab, the weather has been glorious. Last night we were supposed to get a tornado or a severe thunderstorm and instead got a breeze that just blew most of the leaves down- NOW in Nov.!

I still have some tomato plants in the ground and turning red OUTDOORS, and some zinnia / roses in bloom. My girlfriend has some crab apple blossoms opening. I hope this holds out for you throughout the weekend.

Is this the CAF that goes down the river? That's my favorite of all. Or is it another shoulder season that goes out through the locks? Probably the river. You will LOVE it.

Hi again,
Yes JJ5,it's the CAF cruise that goes down the river. This time of year they only do three a day (weekends only).

I'm really looking forward to the cruise. I remember taking the boat tour in NYC & thinking it might be cheesy, but seeing Manhattan from the water was a totally different perspective on the city. I loved it.

I saw those "severe weather" reports for you guys last night & am so glad it was a non-event.

This time tomorrow we'll be there. I'm getting excited now!

Thanks again JJ5 and jlm_mi.
Ellen

CAF the one that departs at the base of the Wrigley Building? If so, that is a dandy.

eab, Ellen, you will love that one- it is my absolute favorite. And to get it now at the very end of the season- it will be fantastic!

When you pass Wacker and Lasalle (there is a big turn- and lots of buildings from the river angle)- look up at One North Wacker. Just 10 days ago I saw thousands of people at the windows pouring out ticker from windows/roof everywhere. Oh, it was spectacular! And you can see I'm still remembering how it felt. Like heavy snow that wasn't cold!

Have a ball! I just looked at the weather because I'm going to MI and for downtown and for me, it may rain a bit on Sunday- so take some light rain gear or buy something marvelous to wear. LOL!
It's supposed to hold over 55 degrees though. GREAT!

Yes I like that idea of buying something marvelous to wear I'm not a huge shopper, but I do have Marshall Field's on my list for the day we go to the Art Institute. That sounds like a must-do!
Ellen

If you haven't done so already, purchase your tickets for the CAF tour ahead of time. Granted, it's November and the demand might not be as great, but when I went in October, they were sold out for many of the time slots for the weekend. I went there on a Friday and Saturday was completely sold out. I found a time slot on Sunday and the cruise was great. You can purchase tickets at their main location, I think it's across the street from the Art Institute. Or you can purchase them on line.

I too would recommend the CAF tour which we took a couple of weeks ago. We booked at the office which is across from the Art Institute and the cruise seemed full -- weekday at 2 PM.
I've talked to others who have done the ones from Navy Pier and found the CAF far superior.
We were impressed with the knowledge of the "guide" who is a volunteer by the way -- someone who "lives" architecture -- not a paid guide with a memorized spiel.

Thanks everyone! Your comments are SO helpful. I was slightly concerned that we would feel like we were missing something by taking the river cruise (without the lake) but after reading your posts, it sounds like the CAF tour is the one we would enjoy most.

I think tomorrow is supposed to be cooler than Friday, so we may do the Art Institute tomorrow & get our boat tickets then. Thanks for suggesting the advance purchase!

I'm looking at my map now & it looks like the dock is not far from the Comfort Inn (15 E. Ohio) where we're staying. We're big walkers, so that should be an easy walk -- especially if it's 60 degrees. Wonderful!

Okay. I'm ready to get on the plane NOW.
Ellen

I think the most wonderful docents in the world are volunteers at the CAF. AND KNOWLEDGEABLE!

And I was lucky enough to be in Italy by a fluke with one who is also an ex-prof. at our jr. college and secondary school teacher. He runs CAF el tours on the orange and red lines and does some of the walking tours. GREAT stuff.

The docents at Brookfield Zoo are excellent as well- unpaid and mostly ex-teachers and profs in biology or botany.