At 23 bucks a pop, an architecture tour may not be at the top of your Chicago to-do list, but fist-time visitors will quickly learn the importance that architecture plays in understanding this beautiful city’s past and present from Wendella’s Chicago River Architecture Tour. Hardly first-time visitors to Chicago, but new to Wendella’s tours, my parents I were lured to this tour on a perfect summer day when we spied the dock across the river from our hotel, just below the bridge that spans the Chicago River at Michigan Avenue. The ticket booth located at the ferry dock was pretty crowded, so I would definitely recommend purchasing your tickets ahead of time, and since the tours run every hour to hour and a half, you should expect lines for each time slot start forming about an hour in advance.

Upon entering our ferry for the 11am tour the ferry quickly became crowded. Because the upper deck was open, everyone wanted to be there, but in place of benches or sturdy seats, flimsy plastic chairs were tightly scrunched together in narrow rows. This was a rather challenging seating arrangement for larger or elderly guests. The ferry was in good shape otherwise, and snacks and beverages were available for purchase on the lower level.

The tour guide was definitely the shining star of the whole experience. A long-time Chicago resident with a degree in art history, a love for urban landscapes, and a knack for public speaking, our guide made Chicago come alive in this hour-long tour. She highlighted significant historical impacts on Chicago’s architecture such as the Great Chicago Fire and the 1893 World’s Columbian Exhibition, and brought us to present day with insights into the city’s efforts to "go green." We had breathtaking views of the Civic Opera House, the Wrigley Building, and many of the coveted condominium buildings. She also introduced us to the amoeba-shaped Lake Tower renowned for its famous tenants. 33 Whacker Drive was my favorite because of the artistic reflection of nearby buildings its all-glass exterior rendered. Of course we also got a great view of the Sears Tower, John Hancock building, and Tribune building. I remember thinking to myself that even though people can’t help but stop and gaze at Chicago’s beautiful buildings, we would have missed so many nuances regarding their construction and history without our knowledgeable guide.

For me, Wendella’s Chicago River Architecture truly captured Chicago as one that embraces the new, which is clearly reflected in its stunning and meticulously-planned array of architectural feats. During the rest of my stay in Chicago, I found myself appreciating the Chicago architecture that wasn’t visible from the river like Millennium Park or even the spacious design of Lincoln Park. So jump on the nearest Wendella’s ferry, get your facts straight, and have a blast exploring the many structures of the famous Chicago skyline.

Learn more or buy your tickets at www.wendellaboats.com/chicago.htm.

We could not have picked a more beautiful day. It had been raining on and off the whole week, but we lucked out with partly cloudy.

The Chicago River Architecture tour runs about 1 hour and costs $19 per person for adults, $17 for seniors, and $10 for children. There is a daily schedule on their website so you can plan your trip. See http://www.wendellaboats.com.

Whether you like the river, boats, or history of the buildings, this tour has something for everyone. You will find out about architects, their style, and the challenge they were faced with to build better, higher, faster, and grander. You will learn how they devised a structure and why. Did you know that the Boeing building actually is hanging in its frame and not mounted from the ground up? How about the story about the city of Chicago trying to reverse the flow of the river? My favorite was how the term "in the limelight" was coined. This tour was entertaining as well as informative, and our tour guide was happy to answer questions. If you are in the Windy City, make the time to add this tour to your schedule. You'll love it!

The Wendella boat was docked at the Wrigley building. We walked down the stairs from Michigan Avenue while a guitar player sang at street level in front of Wrigley, his voice echoing along the dock below. Even though we had no advance knowledge of the tour schedule, we managed to arrive 15 minutes prior to departure, which was plenty of time to buy tickets and board. There was an upper deck, uncovered seating, and lower deck, covered seating, depending on your preference. We chose upper deck because it was a beautiful day. There were also restrooms and a snack bar (that served cocktails!).

Our guide was a young blonde woman who knew her architecture, but her jokes were older than she was and completely unnecessary. She was pleasant enough without reciting the corny jokes.

The tour started with Chicago's newest building, right next to the dock, a building so new it's still under construction - the Trump Tower Chicago (the one being managed by that "Apprentice" guy the woman next to me whispered). It was being built on the former site of the Sun-Times newspaper offices. The Sun-Times had renovated and moved to another building just down river, which oddly enough had a Holiday Inn perched on top of it. The tour started on the Upper River, which the tour guide told us had become the hot new condo district in downtown Chicago. Turn-of-the-century warehouses had been turned into luxury condos and several new high-rise condos had been built, many with waiting lists of people to move in. The new buildings on this side of the river were less than 3 years old. The south side of the river was the business side. Boeing, the US Post Office, and Sears Tower dominate this part of the tour. As the boat traveled back toward the dock, it continued to the canal that separated it from Lake Michigan. (Did you know that the Chicago River flowed backward? Take the tour and find out why, unless you're from St. Louis, then you don't want to know.) From here the tour wound up with information on the Lakeshore Towers, where all the celebrities in Chicago live. The tour takes about an hour and is a wonderful and educational way to spend the afternoon. Now, I know nothing about architecture, but I do know a good-looking building when I see one and Chicago has some of the best. I would highly recommend taking the tour on a sunny day to catch the reflections of the north buildings on the beautiful curves and glass of the 333 Wacker Dr. Building. Exquisite!

We loved the boat tour. It was kind of a view of town from the outside. You are able to get views of neighborhoods, buildings that you couldn't get just walking around. Also, you'll learn a lot about the architecture and history behind these buildings and neighborhoods. It's also a good way to relax and give your feet a rest. I would like to try and evening fireworks tour out to Navy Pier next time.

The five GREAT LAKES of North America? Most of us learned (and forgot) about them in fourth grade:

1. Lake Erie (No longer "dead"!)
2. Lake Superior
3. Lake Huron
4. Lake Michigan
5. Lake Ontario

Canadians and Americans hold these majestic waterways near and dear to the heart because deep water access from the Atlantic Ocean led to the center of North America on watery avenues for harvesting -- fur,feather,fin--and vast quantities of lumber. Chicago, on Lake Michigan, (the only lake within US borders) grew strong at the central heart pumping commerce and people across the land.

The Wendella Boat tours sail with 67 years of historical experience under their (life)vests. There’s a feeling of awe as you pass under the double decker Michigan Ave. bridge and glide into the Locks. As the Captain slips past Navy Pier, remember that when I was a child there were ocean freighters that still docked here amid steady decline. The new 100’ Ferris wheel allows a birdseye view of the city but when my mother was a child it was twice that size! My heart catches in my throat at the grandeur of the Pier today! We sail North first to see the amazing architecture of the John Hancock building (go later and have a drink at the 95th floor bar) and the Prudential Building before heading South to view the:

• Adler Planetarium
• Field Museum
• Shedd Aquarium
• Soldier Field. (under construction)

Next is Grant Park and Buckingham Fountain, which is a much larger replica of the fountain at Versailles. If you take the Wendella’s 2 hour cruise at 7:45pm, you will see this fountain lit-up like a confection under pink, blue, and green lights. Grant Park is the phoenix that rose from the ashes of the Chicago Fire. All of the rubble from that destruction is the foundation of the Park. Recent construction of the parking garage and the Museum of Art has unearthed artifacts from that time. If you are a visitor to the city, Grant Park is sure to be hosting SOMETHING every summer weekend…. from concerts to festivals.

Re-entering the Chicago River gives us time to study architecture spanning the generations with too many for me to report in earnest with this word count! Highlights are the:

• Tribune Tower- with those gothic flying buttresses
• Wrigley Building- find the bridge of sighs within the courtyard
• spaceage Marina Towers
• Merchandise Mart -so large it has it’s own zipcode!
• Jewelers Building- where Al Capone used to watch liquor sail down the river
• Civic Opera House -built like a huge seat with it’s back to city hall in contempt
• Sears Tower-still the largest building in the world!

Sunshine gently warmed my skin while I sat on the foredeck relaxing and listening to the commentary. What a relaxing and entertaining way to enjoy Chicago!