First time on the architecture boat tour on the recommendation of a bunch of friends who had…read morealready taken the tour in the past. Personally, I was pleasantly surprised. The words "architecture" and "boat tour" don't immediately spell a fun time in my mind. But this tour is 1) a pleasant way to see the center of Chicago from the water, 2) actually interestingly informational, as the tour guides are extremely on top of their game, 3) much more dense that you expect (these guys are talking non-stop), and 4) surprisingly good views, especially when you get all the way out into the edge of the harbor! Finding the place was a bit roundabout, but once we got there, staff were super friendly, and it was easy to get on the boat and off to our next stop afterwards. Parking suggestions on the site are solid too. I'm not sure whether I'd do it again, but I'd definitely recommend it as a must-do stop on any visit!

90 minute Architecture tour…read more It was a cloudy, windy, and cold day in June. Even with the clouds rolling in & out and blocking a lot of the views it was still interesting and our awesome guide, Bobby, was knowledgeable, funny, and kept it interesting and flowing for adults and kids. The tour starts on the river heading towards Lake Michigan. The ride into the lock was a little lengthy as we had to wait for them to fill it with boats first. Once we made it onto Lake Michigan it was very chilly, but I'd rather be freezing than sweating like crazy on a hot humid day. We were on a smaller boat which was nice. - upper deck: Seats long the outside and chairs in the middle. Only wish they had cushions. - lower deck: had some small seating outside and standing bar tables - lower deck: indoor restrooms and bar area - snacks, drinks available for purchase If rain is in the forecast bring paper towels to clean off your seats. I also saw some people with Wendella rain ponchos, but not sure where to get them? Really fun and beautiful way to see the city! Highly recommend!

This lakeside club is the gem of Highland Park! The cozy clubhouse on Lake Michigan with canoes,…read morekayaks, sailboats and friendly members of all ages is our favorite place to be in the summertime.

This place is a hidden gem that's underutilized. For less then $300 bucks, a beachfront clubhouse…read morewith a huge deck including grills, tables, kitchen, showers, equipment, storage, and free to use club equipment such as kayaks, paddle boards, windsurfers... I'm here almost everyday. I can't understand why this place isn't completely packed with members all summer.

One of the best things I did while visiting Chicago! I booked the 8:30 p.m. Tall Ship Windy sail,…read moreand it was worth every penny. We left around 8:30 to 8:45, and by the time the 9:00 p.m. fireworks started, we had a front row view from the water. It was absolutely incredible. The captain and crew were friendly, welcoming, and did an amazing job. The ship wasn't overcrowded, so there was plenty of room to walk around and take in the views. Watching the fireworks with the Chicago skyline in the background was unforgettable. After the fireworks, we sailed under the night sky with the sails up and great music playing. It honestly felt like I was in the Caribbean, except with an amazing city skyline all around us. I'm from New York and was in Chicago for work, and I have to say this was even more impressive than seeing the New York skyline from the water. I also own a sailboat, so I really appreciated how well the crew handled the ship. One of my favorite parts was that guests could even help hoist the sails. There was a full bar with a really good rum punch, and so many great spots to take pictures of the sunset and the skyline. The crew was also happy to take photos for people. If you're going, get to Navy Pier early and enjoy the restaurants and drinks before your sail. This is great for families, couples, or even if you're traveling by yourself like I was. It's a unique experience that you won't get on one of the regular tour boats. I would absolutely do this again the next time I'm in Chicago.

Staff was so amazing and kind, relaxing way to see the city on a calm and quiet sailboat so much funread more

Joseph and Niall provided excellent service to me, definitely enjoyed myself & will look for…read moreanother one in the future

I really liked this. Captain Steel and Siris were W. I really would recommend this and also those…read morelow reviews are not that real. Boat wasn't cancelled and I really liked it. 9/10

A beautiful day on the Lake Michigan. Had a blast on Veteran-owned FIREBOAT-TOURS today! Such a fun…read moreafternoon soaking up Chicago's history and architecture from the water. The itself was comfy and solid, and it's pretty cool to think this fireboat served the city's fire department from 1937 to 1981. Lucky us, we caught a perfect day light winds and clear blue skies. Thank you to Cliff, our tour guide, who had serious knowledge of Chicago history and a fun vibe was fabulous. The bartender, magic manning, was a total character, bringing good energy and making sure everyone had a good time. In fact, the whole crew was super welcoming and made the experience even better. Next time we are going to try the sunset cruise and do this all over again.

This fireboat tour was spectacular! My friend and I both had a wonderful time and can't recommend…read moreit highly enough. The length of 2 hours was perfect so we didn't feel rushed. We motored around near Navy Pier and on the river. While I'm generally not into architecture, the buildings were beautiful and interesting to learn about. I expected that the tour would include a recording of the information about all the sights, but the person narrating the tour did so live. He came up and chatted with all the passengers a couple of times. We felt very well cared-for. Word to the wise though, it can get a bit chilly so wear layers if possible. Highest recommendation!

NYE party was crazy, that boat rocked back and forth at nearly 45 degrees never again will I board…read morethat ship

Not happy with the services received. Company is a mess and it affects their services to…read moreclients. They manage from out of state and it's an obvious issue.

All aboard! The Titanic is an iconic movie, and my husband and I have been seeing ads for the…read moreexhibition and decided let's go see what it's all about. The Titantic Exhibition is located in Old Orchard Mall right next to Nando's. There is plenty of complimentary parking as it is in the mall. We love going to exhibitions to learn more about a theme, and they are all styled in a similar way. When we arrived, we checked in at the ticket booth. We pre-purchased our tickets online a the time slot so that we can ensure we wouldn't have to wait in a long queue once we arrived. When we checked in we were given a boarding pass of someone that was on the ship so that we could follow along their journey as we continued through the exhibits. It started by taking us through the build of the ship, and first class. Showing us the different china, set ups, and bedding that were between the classes. We learned fun facts like how many life savors and spots on the boats vs the passengers as the boat was designed not to sink. A fact that I has no idea about was that they kept the gates locked for the third class to keep them from wandering second and first class, and that was a huge part of why so many of that class were not able to make it out. As we went through the exhibits we visited the difference classes. I also read that some of the survivors wrote books about their experience, I absolutely want to check some of those out. As the exhibition continued we walked through the iceberg timeline and how they received noticed ahead of time and how quickly they had to react. They also had a plate for us to feel how cold the iceberg and water was, as well as a seat for us to see the ship sink from the safety boats. Once we go through, you see the ship underwater. It was a true sensory experience. And we got to learn whether or not our given boarding pass member survived or passed. I was a engine crew member and I survived despite the engine room being one of the first to be flooded with water. After we learned all the that Titantic had to offer, they also had an exhibition for the Chicago Titantic which I knew nothing about but learned so much. The only bone I had to pick was how insanely hot the whole exhibit was. It was hot outside, and to come inside and need some relief but be uncomfy because it was so stuff and hot was no ideal since no beverages were allowed. The exhibition ended with various movie props and scripts and we exited into the gift shop. Overall we had an incredible time and I would absolutely recommend it to other if you're into this type of experience.

This attraction is located in a large mall. its main entrance is located off of a courtyard that…read morefaces a patio/lounge area chairs and large Legos to play with. Being that this place is located in the mall, there is tons of parking available. I recommend parking either in the orange garage or in the area of the parking lot near the courtyard entrance. You can pre purchase your tickets for a select time slot online or take your chances and purchase them when you get there. If you wait to purchase your tickets, you may not be able to get the time slot that you want though. As soon as you are admitted into the museum, you are given a card with the name of a passenger on the Titanic, including their class. In the middle of the museum, in the lifeboat exhibit, you can see if the person on the card you were given survives. Only one person in my group of 4 survived. My littles were bummed that their person did not make it. The first thing that you do when you enter the museum is to take an overpriced souvenir photo on a mock bow of the Titanic, like Rose and Jack. You can purchase it for $25 at the end of the tour if you would like. After the photo you get in a line and wait to be let into the standing room only movie. I really enjoyed the movie. It was pretty modern and informative. It lasted about 7 minutes or so. After the movie, you start your self-guided part of your tour. The museum has many replicas of artifacts from the Titanic. It should be noted that they do not have many, if any actual artifacts from the ship. However, they do have some items from the ill-fated ship's White Star Line sister ships. Some items would have captions like "the same china and silver were used on all 3 ships." You will also find a replica hallway, a starry night promenade deck replica, a boiler room and first-class cabin. I like the information placards placed around the museum that detailed certain aspects of the ship and highlighting passengers. There is an iceberg exhibit that was supposed to show you how cold it was when the Titanic sank by putting your hand in one of two slots. However, the freezer element was not working on it. Other Museum exhibits include the exploration of the Titanic wreckage, a short movie showing the Titanic sink, from a lifeboat point of view, a timeline of the Titanic sinking, coal power exhibit, the ship in film and television, including James Cameron's 1997 hit movie Titanic, construction of the titanic, and lifeboat exhibit. You can also take a photo on a replica of the Titanic's grand staircase, but you are limited to going no higher than the 3rd step. Additionally, the museum has section dedicated to the local ship tragedy, the sinking of the SS Eastland in 1915, at a pier in the Chicago River. It is located near the end of the tour and is also where you will find the men's restroom. I found this exhibit interesting. I had never heard of this maritime disaster, and was amazed that it was partially caused by improvements made in response to the Titanic tragedy. I also found the link to George Halas and the Chicago Bears very eye opening. Unlike the Titanic exhibits, this exhibit has actual artifacts from that ship and videos of what happened and the link to the Chicago Bears and George "Papa Bear" Halas. You exit the museum through the........yep, you guessed it, gift shop. The shop is grossly overpriced. I compared some of the items in there such as the Heart of the Ocean Necklace, to the same items online and found them much, much cheaper on there. I also felt that they did not have a good selection of items in the shop. They have a few books, shirts, bags, hats and other trinkets, but nothing really good. You can also purchase an add-on VR experience of the Titanic here. This museum is good, but I have seen much better. I spent about a little less than an hour here. Compared to other Titanic museums that I have visited and what this museum could be makes this attraction just "good" for me. I was not wow'ed and we breezed right through it. Of course, attractions like this are money traps, but this one seems even more so. I probably would not visit here again, but I will admit that it is a nice change of pace from the downtown Chicago attractions. I would definitely seek out discounts such as a Groupon, prior to my visit though.

Bell Wholesale travel agency has not provided a trip to Israel which was to occur in October of…read more2023. I have contacted the travel agency on numerous occasions regarding the status of the trip. The travel agent simply states that the trip is suspended due to war and that they are moving the trip to a cruise in Greece. In addition, they are asking me to file a claim with the insurance company. I paid $5855 to the travel agency for a trip that I NEVER received a boarding pass, hotel reservations, nothing. There is no proof that the travel agency used the funds to prepare for the trip. Then the war occurred and I have waited patiently for a refund of $5855. Instead, they are trying to force me to take a trip to Greece, a cruise, which I am unable to do. I reached out the insurance company that was provided by the travel agent and the insurance company confirmed that they (the insurance company) will NOT issue any refunds because of the war in Israel. In addition, the insurance agency stated that it is the responsibility of the travel agency to REFUND my money because the TRAVEL agency did not provide the contracted service. I did NOT cancel, and since I did NOT cancel, I cannot use the insurance. I have requested a refund in writing and have not received the refund. This travel agency should refund the $5, 855.00 that I gave to them in exchange for a trip, because they have suspended the trip due to the war in Israel. This company is NOT trustworthy. I was told on 2/20 that I would get information in 3 weeks. I am still waiting. I have emailed on several occasions and they are unable to answer with a direct question, this is deceitful behavior. There is no information, they are trying to force me to take a cruise instead of refunding the money that I spent on a trip to Israel that did not happen and I did NOT cancel. Kindly refund my money.