Fourth of July weekend was one for the books. It began with some sightseeing with friends before embarking on one tourist activity I don’t mind doing regularly: the architecture cruise on the Chicago River. We chose the 7:30 p.m. cruise on Friday to start our Fourth of July celebration.
Instead of boarding on Navy Pier, which I was sure was insane packed, we chose the Michigan Avenue boarding location. It is more convenient to access from the L train, too.
Fourth of July in Chicago has an indescribable energy. Chicago wore its Fourth of July best. I loved the flags; patriotic attire; and red, white and blue lights on the buildings. And the weather was absolutely perfect.
The tour guide’s script is just about the same as in the first tour I went on, but I picked up on facts I missed the first time around. You will always learn something new. And your seat choice gives you a unique perspective.
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| 35 E. Wacker Drive, aka the Jewelers Building |
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| A mirror of the Chicago River. |
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| Merchandise Mart has its own ZIP code. |
Our tour boat was not too crowded; we had plenty of room to move around. We took advantage of the lower level to take photos from other vantage points.
Once you get to the lake, the boat turns around and you see an amazing skyline and Navy Pier.
Again, I could do this every weekend. It’s worth every penny of the $35 I paid.