A 3 hour workout dodging floating trash, through smelly landfill air, passed dirty river raccoons, sore shoulders & a numb lower half... all this & I actually had a smile on my face?!? No I wasn't at a garbage dump, I was paddling along with Kayak Chicago. This tour allows you to see the city from a different perspective. You could hop on the architectual boat tour & essentially see the same sights, but you take much more in & appreciate the greatness of each building more so on the kayak. Although the trip was terribly exhausting for a first-time kayaker like myself, it was also very energizing. The staff was extremely friendly & helpful. They were quick to offer advice & were encouraging when I just wasn't understanding the "side sweep stroke". The fireworks are the same ones you can see any Wednesday night from Navy Pier but the show's much more enjoyable when you've worked so hard to get there. It's such a relaxing feeling when you're floating there, no screaming children or annoying crowds to deal with. For only $50, this experience is well worth the cost. read more

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I was back in Chicago for a week after moving away, and a few days before leaving again I was asked to go on Firework paddle. I can't believe I'd never done it before! The experience was uniquely Chicago. You're active, you're interacting with peers, and you're seeing the city from such a unique perspective. And mid-way through the paddle, you get to stop and watch the fireworks at Navy Pier! There's nothing like it and I think it's something that should be experienced regularly. This is NOT a one and done. Rather than taking your friends from out of town for pizza - take them on the water. I mean, the river is NAMED Chicago! The pizza is generic deep dish. The hot dogs on the other hand... After the paddle, you're in such a convenient location to stop at a bar or restaurant for a beer and some food. And trust me, you'll need it. It's not easy. But it's also not difficult. You need NO EXPERIENCE to do this. The instructors clearly love being on the water and introducing new people to the sport. You'll have a great time no matter the experience and/or fitness level. read more

Went on the 10am Sunday architecture tour on opening weekend. It was INCREDIBLE!! I can't believe we have been living here and haven't done it sooner. Obviously the views were breathtaking, this is Chicago after all. So I will review the tour and crew rather than the sensational ducks-eye view we had during the tour. 1. David, Sam and Matt were our guides (if I am remembering correctly). David led the tour- he was funny without being cheesy and was thorough and knowledgable when it came to explaining the history of buildings. The other two gentlemen made sure we stragglers were safe and watched for water traffic while providing informative and fun conversation throughout. Delightful- A+ crew. *BRING SOME CASH TO TIP! We didn't even think about it but luckily had some on hand to be able to say thanks! 2. The tour was long enough to get to see everything and take it all in, but not so long that we couldn't paddle our way back. It was DEFINITELY a workout, do not book this thinking it will be like sitting on a Wendella boat taking a nap. That being said, I am by no means a super fit human with insane upper body strength and I survived. You feel a sense of accomplishment after kayaking 5 miles through Chicago! 3. Don't do a tandem kayak. I went with my boyfriend and we each had our own kayaks. We were able to explore how we wanted and at our own pace while still being together when we wanted. The tandem people seemed like they had a harder time navigating and they ran into me a few (dozen) times. Haha It's so serene and amazing being in your own little boat on the river, why ruin it fighting with your babe about whether or not you're paddling in sync? If you live in Chicago and haven't done this you're missing out. Not the typical tourist attraction. If you're a tourist in Chicago, do this instead of the big boat tourist attractions. Thanks again Kayak Chicago! read more

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I highly recommend the sightseeing tour. It's about six miles of kayaking over three hours and it gives you a tremendous workout. It's interesting seeing the river from water level vs from the shore or from a big tour boat. The ideal temperature to do the ride would be about 70 since you'll have a life jacket on. When I went, it was about 80 and I was sweating. There were several people in our group that had never kayaked but they picked it up quickly. I had only kayaked once about 30 years ago but I kept up with the lead group. Give it a try. It's a great way to get a fun workout! read more

I'm so glad we did this! I was a little worried that we wouldn't make it through the entire trip, but the Chicago river is very easy to kayak (albeit, kind of polluted). The guides were funny, knowledgeable, and helpful. Even if you're not a strong kayak-er they will guide everyone to a specific spot, stop, then give you the details of the architecture. All the guides were good, but I found Eric to be particularly funny and helpful. Before you start, you can choose a single or tandem, and they will outfit your kayak to your height. The one very helpful thing about their tandem kayaks is that they have a special rudder that helps you steer. Then, they make sure you know how to paddle correctly on land--then they have everyone go into the water and practice. Overall, it was a really great experience and a unique way to see Chicago! read more

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On my visit to Chicago, my buddy and his friends decided it be a good idea to go kayaking. I've never been yaking, so i thought id give it a go! Being a noob in all, it felt kinda sketchy getting in the river w/o prior experience. The knowledgeable staff were helpful and explained everything in detail of what to expect. What they fail to tell you was the horrid smell of grimey sewer water that was draining into the river, GOD forbid u get thrown overboard in that stench (although acouple of ppl did fall in HAHAHAH). Getting pass the smell was the easy part, just getting in the kayak while its in the water was another story. After watching acouple of ppl try and fail. i finally got the nerve to get in, it took alot of skill and balance ,but i survived what i thought would be the hardest part, but damn was i wrong. After about 1 1/2 hr. of riding waves, dodging boats, bobbing and weaving passed other yakers, we finally reached our destination. Once there, they had an awesome display of fireworks which lasted for about 30mins, then it was time to head back. No one told me id be working out on my vacation! My bottom half was so sore and numb, i was actually the last person out of 50 ppl to arrive back at the dock. Just goes to show how outta shape i'm in, i guess. All in all i thought it was a great experience and if i had the chance to do it again I probably would. read more

Kayak Chicago - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Super fun night during doing the fireworks paddle with my roommates! The trip down the river at night gives you a wicked gorgeous view of the city from the water...count it as your workout for the day too because this one takes a little while. This was my second time doing this kayak tour and both times, the crew was amazing (except for one girl with red hair wearing a black Loyola long sleeve shirt who kept calling me out for smiling and laughing - watch out for her because she's totally bad news ). 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking for a new way to see the city at night! read more

It was fun! First time, single kayak. Class starts with a safety lesson, including how to properly wear your life vest. Then all your injuries and allergies in case you end up in the water and someone has to rescue you. Guides don't mess around with safety and wear safety kits including an EpiPen. We stopped for a history narrative 3x on the way and paddled all the way back without stopping. It is not as strenuous as canoeing or paddle boat. 20 people and three guides who skillfully kept us in tow and formed a wall around us from competing River traffic. Dave (lead guide) was experienced & interesting. Bring: sunscreen (!), sunglasses, hat (optional), water, ziplock bag for your phone & clothes you wouldn't mind getting wet from the Chicago River. You can also keep your belongings with the desk. Plenty of street parking. read more

Kayak Chicago - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is the worst kayaking experience I have ever had in the city of Chicago. We made a reservation the day before for 3pm, per the email, we arrived at 2:45 for check in and an orientation so that we could be on the water at 3 to make reservations we had nearby for 4:30pm. When we arrived, we were told to go check in at the hut. When we got to the hut, a very rude man told us we needed to fill out waivers. We did as he said, and then were told to just "find someone in a blue shirt for orientation." There was a tour kicking off at the time we arrived (not advertised when we made the reservations) so everyone in a blue shirt that we spoke to said they were going to find someone for us. Finally a very nice man who seemed like he actually knew what he was doing told us what to do and where to go. Upon getting our life jackets we found out there were not enough paddles or kayaks for our group. At this point we questioned why we even made reservations. Again the man that actually knew what he was doing magically found paddles and kayaks for us to use. Eventually we made it onto the water (at 3:20, so 40 minutes of waiting for the company to figure out what was going on). I would not recommend this company for kayaking in Chicago (especially with how many the city has to offer). The only reason they're getting two stars is because of how much fun my family had when we finally got on the water. read more

I took the fireworks tour with two friends. I was a little apprehensive at first (I'm not great around water and it was my first time kayaking). It's definitely a workout and I was the slowpoke at the end of the pack. But I had a blast. A big thanks to the entire group guiding us (there were a few, and shame on me for not getting names). Not easy to keep track of 86 people but they were outstanding. They gave us the necessary instruction before we got onto the water and if I had any other questions, I just asked one of them on the river (I need to use my core more when I row). And a special thanks to "Bear" for giving me a tow when I was lagging behind. The fireworks show was spectacular. I live here, so I've seen it before, but it's something special from the water. No, the Chicago River is not the cleanest. You get over that quick (at least I did). So happy I did this and thanks to Kayak Chicago for a memorable night :) read more

Just finished night city lights tour, it was amazing and the staff was very professional and helpful. Parking is free, and had and absolute blast on the water! read more

Kayak Chicago - City Lights Tour - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have now made this a yearly event to take someone from out of town on the Kayak Chicago Architectural Tour. This year wasn't as good as last year by far. I didn't care for our guide this time in comparison with the guy that we had previously. This trip was more hustled than the last time, and I didn't feel like they really did anything but drag us up river and hustle us back. Every once in a while you want to be next to the person you came with to chat about everything. Last time that was cool, this time they broke us apart, and made a joke that we'd never make it if we continued to paddle next to each other. Thinking about it again, I feel like with the right guide, this trip could've been as good as always. read more

Such amazing and friendly staff! They were all super welcoming and helped out any instance they could. They were super informative on what to see as well as where we could or couldn't go. For almost 3 hours of kayaking, we were given a great price! Another plus, is there is an adorable pup there just hanging out! I totally recommend this company for kayaking the river! read more

I admit, I have pretty horrible coordination & kayaking proved to be fairly easy to pick up, I only bumped into a concrete wall ONCE all day. So proud of myself. Good: -Guides explanation on how to maneuver & keeping the group from getting run over by a motor boat. -Pretty, pretty river and kept me cool. -Different way to see the city. Needs improvement: -Smaller groups -More stops along the way, especially the way back, my arms were killing me. -More touristy knowledge. read more

Ok, so I'm not a kayak person and spent my time in fear of falling into the gross river, but this spot is neat, sort of hidden (don't you feel like a super spy going here?) and the staff is really friendly. So, if you like kayaking and don't mind the river, head on over! read more

Great kayaking tour group. It's a gentle paddle, though, so don't expect a strenuous workout.

I really have no complaints about this kayaking experience, and it was a fun 1-hour excursion for our group that went very smoothly. I was debating between renting kayaks at this location which is on the Northern end of the Chicago river and the Urban Kayaks location at the Riverwalk. While the sights at the Riverwalk are definitely more impressive, I wasn't super keen on dodging the large cruise boats on a busy weekend afternoon. We chose this location instead, especially after we called and confirmed that Urban Kayaks require everyone to pass an introductory kayaking test before renting recreational kayaks. Everyone in our group had kayaked before, but the sound of a test made some of us scratch our heads to think about potential questions. And we didn't want to run the risk of doing the introductory paddle, whereby we would need chaperoning by an instructor and cut into our 1-hour rental time. The staff here are really chill, and will give an orientation to kayaking to all participants beforehand. No kayaking test required. I would recommend doing a tandem kayak, which goes for $40/hr, as opposed to a single kayak, which is rented for $30/hr. After signing waivers and purchasing a locker rental for some of our belongings, we were ready to go. I would recommend wearing shoes that make it easier to go barefoot in the kayak (flip-flops), and clothes that you're not afraid to get a little wet. While I didn't want to bring my non-waterproof phone into the kayak, my friends brought their phones and took many Instagram-worthy photos. We even had a GoPro documenting our adventure! For a 1-hour trip, our staff member recommended circling around Goose Island, and essentially keeping to the right during the entire kayaking excursion. This worked perfectly, as we hit the 1-hour mark right on the dot. This is with some stalling and picture-taking, and nowhere near-rigorous paddling. The sights aren't quite the Riverwalk, as you'll see more trees and debris in the water than nice architectural buildings. It is still quite pretty, and you'll get to see more of the backdrop of downtown skyscrapers the farther South that you venture down the Chicago River. Plenty of free parking right before you turn into the kayak shack. We weren't sure about the free parking spot availability, and went ahead and booked a garage via Spothero. read more

Kayak Chicago - My brother and I kayaking along the Chicago River! - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I booked a kayak architecture tour, and it was great! Beautiful views, exercise, and quite the lesson on Chicago history! We were the only group, so it ended being a private tour. Our tour guide (I'm totally blanking on his name, possibly Adam?) was great, very knowledgeable and a great story teller. We will definitely be back next time we're in town for a night tour! read more

They were all really nice! I just was a little upset because I had a reservation for 3:15, but they let other people go in front of us and we didn't get on the water until 4. Also, I don't know if I just picked a busy weekend, but it was extremely disorganized. They seemed like they didn't really know the next steps at times or other what was really happening. I'd advise going on a day they're not busy because they seem like they were overwhelmed. read more

I lovely experience and knowledgeable staff, me and my family felt safe and secure while paddling down the Chicago River. We had such a great time, we signed up for the lessons and a tour on Lake Michigan. We are planning to do the fireworks paddle in the next couple of weeks. read more

My family and I had a great time on the City Lights tour. Staff was awesome! We strongly recommend Kayak Chicago. We will come back again soon. read more

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The staff is a very chill group and very informative. I loved the guy with the accent cracking jokes all the time, unfortunately I didn't get his name. I bought 2 two hour kayaking sessions for my boyfriend and I last Sunday and it was a lot of fun! This location is quite far from the loop, but that's also why it's not as expensive as kayaking places that are located in the loop. It took us about an hour to get to the randolph street bridge. From there we just floated around and enjoyed the scenery and didn't go much further. However, on the way back was the most difficult. Our arms were tired, abs and thighs sore from all the movement. It seemed like the wind was going against both ways and it didn't make it any easier with all the waves from the big boats. Kayaking really is a hard sport! The Chicago river was dirty and smelly. I wish I could get a group of people to help clean it up. Overall, awesome experience and would love to do it again! read more

Kayak Chicago - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Terrible experience renting kayaks at Montrose Beach. The staff worker who was instucting us was super condescending and rude, took up 25 minutes when he could've gotten the instruction done in 10 if he left out all the rude remarks. They charged us for a full hour when we only actually got to be in the water for less than 30 minutes because they count the start time as soon as you sign papers before the instruction. Save your money and time! read more

Uhh, our tour guide--McGabe? McVey? MacGruber? was pretty douchey and not very knowledgeable at all. I went on the Architectural Tour with a few friends and was disappointed not in the company, but the actual tour (and tour guide). Our experience started out great--everything was well-organized and the people working were helpful. But once we launched our kayaks into the water and were stuck with this dude who acted like just because he kayaked backwards the whole time and wore a Jimmy Buffet-inspired visor which highlighted his 1992 hairdo, we were supposed to kiss his slimy Chicago River-moistened butt. That ain't happenin', brah. Especially after the crappy historical information you gave us on the tour. First of all, apparently we got gypped from a few architectural stops, like the Opera House, because one of the members of my party had been on this tour other times and said the tour was MUCH more informative and actually included more stops. Then the dude kept saying "Hey, I can't give you a tour of EVERY building in Chicago, so I'll just talk about the important ones." Well, you know what? You didn't have to talk for 15 minutes about the history of the modern Wrigley research and development building. That's the other thing--it wasn't really an "architectural" tour. It was more of a repetitive quiz of this guy asking us "What happened in 1871 that was important to Chicago?" and "What happened in 1893?" OK, WE GOT IT. EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT THE CHICAGO FIRE AND THE WORLD'S FAIR. We weren't ESL and I'm pretty sure everyone on the tour was a Chicago local. A group of us in the tour kept joking that this guy was looking stuff up on Wikipedia because he kept stopping to look at this phone--which, even if he was just texting, is quite unprofessional. You're on the clock, bro! Plus, lots of his info was incorrect. He said NO buildings survived the Chicago fire. Um, what about the old Watertower building?? And I'm pretty sure Old St. Pat's did, too. I mean, I ain't no Chicago historian, but I don't think the Chicago Fire just rampaged every damn thing in the city. Oh, and he was talking about the areas of Chicago and said, "There's a north side, a south side and a west side. There is no east side because of the lake." Dude. There is definitely an eastside of Chicago. Apparently, you've never been on the skyway or have eaten at Calumet Fisheries. LEARN YO' NEIGHBUH-HOODS. Then this guy had the balls to ask for tips at the end of the tour. The other two guides accompanying us were really nice and helpful and not pretentious at all. THEY deserved a tip, not the blond Joey Fatone. Also, there were like 30+ people in one tour group. That's sort of a lot to keep track of. It was almost too many for the tour to even be enjoyable. I know it was a hot day and they tried to pack in as many people in the morning session as possible, but it's not like you gave us half-priced tickets or something. Don't rip us off with a crappy tour guide and a half-assed tour! It ain't kew. Again, I think that the company is probably pretty legit. I'd like to go on a different tour (hopefully with a different guide). I can guarantee I'd have a much better experience. read more

Ok..the 4 stars go to the staff who are actually in the water with you .. boats are ok, vests, and these types of stuff is what you expect in any business like that... they are good, they are fine... Now...Are you visiting Chicago? Like my poor momma was? Don't do it. why? STINKY! STINKY! STINKY STIKY STINKY! AWFUL! I saw a condom floating by me and I thought to myself " God forbid me getting in this water..." a couple minutes later a poor Indian guy flipped his kayak upside down..and then it was a mess... The poor guy didn't speak any English, and he had the hardest time to understand what our guide was saying... I was so sorry for him! ugh.. just remembering the smell of that water makes me sick! If you are into adventures no matter what...this is for you! If you're a little afraid for your health and well being this is not for you. read more

I invited Kayak Chicago into my life and they had me walking on water. I heard the word from Groupon. It cost me $20 for two hours of stand up paddle boarding on Lake Michigan from Montrose Beach. Kayak Chicago outfitted me with a board, paddle, and life vest that had zippered pockets. They put my belongings in a cubby safely kept behind the counter. The board had a strap that velcroed to my ankle. They gave a quick message regarding the mechanics of how to paddle board and some suggestions for navigating the waves. Other people did kayaking and jet skiing. At first the swells were too much for me and I knelt on my board and paddled to a horse-shoe shaped dock that provided a reprieve from the waves. I guess I had to crawl before I could walk. Once I came out I stood strong and lambently finessed the surface of the water. Although it's a whole-body work-out, it was especially hard on my legs and feet from standing and balancing the whole time. Two hours is definitely more than sufficient for an amateur like me. I came back to land within an hour and half. The guy told me that they don't really keep track of how long folks are enjoying their Christ-like experience so long as they aren't too busy. Maybe I'll be able to stay out longer with more practice. read more

I've now done an architectural tour with both Kayak Chicago and with Urban Kayaks and it's very simple why Kayak Chicago is not the one to go with. With Kayak Chicago, you start your tour at North Ave and Magnolia. This is nearly two miles up the North branch of the Chicago river from the main stem. They try to put a nice spin on this by telling you that this is the "nature" part of the tour but the truth is that this section of the north branch is an industrial crapway. There's nothing natural about it and it is very polluted. You have to kayak past a bunch of factories and a waste management facility before you get to the main stem which has all the architecture and buildings that you actually want to see. This isn't that big of a deal when you're starting off the tour heading downstream, but when you're done seeing the main stem and you've got to kayak upstream back to the dock it becomes a bit strenuous. I had fun for most of the tour but the entire the experience was ruined for me on the way back. Two miles of paddling upstream when you're downwind from a waste management facility kind of sucks. The strain isn't really the worst part; if you're in decent shape you can handle it, but in our 3 hour tour we only spent a maximum of 20 minutes inside the main stem of the river and we didn't even go as far down as Michigan Ave. before we turned around. The difference with Urban Kayaks is that you're in the main stem the entire time. You begin on the east side of the main stem and kayak to Wolf's point and back so you get to see the whole thing, stopping along the way for the architectural talks. This is critical for three reasons. 1. You get to see way more of the buildings you came to see in the first place and talk more about them. 2. You don't have to kayak miles upstream at the end when the good part of the tour is over, you're in the Main stem the entire time and it is not strenuous. 3. The Main stem is mostly lake water. The North branch is river water. While it's certainly not pristine, the water in the Main stem is FAR cleaner than the water in the North branch and this is very noticeable. I'll finish by saying our guides were great and fun to be around. They're not the most organized but they make it work. Just know though that there is a big difference between this architectural tour and the one from Urban Kayaks. read more

While I enjoyed my trip to kayak chicago and loved being on the river, there were definitely some things they could do a LOT better. First what was great: -- guides good about safety talk and keeping track of people and following rules of the river -- excellent scenery and route -- helpful staff at the dock What could be done far better -- WAY too many people on a trip. 45 people on our trip. Way too many people to herd, especially with varying degrees of skill and a bunch of people who truly never saw a kayak before -- Impossible to hear the guide explain the architecture on the tour. I went for info as well as paddling and with large group & river traffic I could hear nothing even though the guide was hollering on the top of his lungs -- At the end of the trip no one could help us call or get a cab back to our hotel. Seriously people - many tourists come for your trip couldn't you at least have a taxi cab phone # available so we could get one instead of having to walk blocks upon blocks in the heat looking to hail one? What I glad I went - you betcha! Would I go back? I would just rent my own boat... if I'm not getting any info or added value for having guides, at $50 per person I would rather rent our own gear. read more

Did the architectural tour on a beautiful Saturday morning. There were 3 guides with us, probably because our group was so huge (20 - 25 people). Knowledgable, friendly, fun - definitely the types of guys you would expect to be working at a kayak joint for the summer. The workout is no joke. The northern part of the river isn't bad (although the water is much more disgusting) but once you get down into the loop, you're fighting with other boats and all their waves, which is terrifying and exciting at the same time. Kayaking the Chicago river is not for the weak. The tour lasted exactly 3 hours, although it felt like years by the home stretch, but when it was all over and done with I was super happy we did it. Lots of fun! There's room in the boats to bring snacks, water, sunscreen - and I highly recommend stashing all three by your legs - you won't regret it when you're an hour and a half from getting out of these tiny boats! read more

Prepare to paddle your arms off! I am so happy to have found Kayak Chicago here on Yelp. My fiance's brother was visiting us from Botswana (where he works for a non-profit) and he's a pretty adventurous guy, so we wanted to find something unique to do with him while he stayed in Chicago. Kayak Chicago is the perfect day trip for the adventurer in us all! This is a really unique way to experience the beauty of the city of Chicago. No experience is necessary - all you really need is a tiny bit of upper arm strength and confidence. Being in a kayak is a little weird and sometimes you feel a bit too close to the water, but it's super fun and great for any ability level. The prices are nice, as well. We were out for about 3 hours and paid around $40 per person. The equipment is provided for you and they give you a small lesson about how to paddle before you go. There's nice folks at the dock to help you launch on your journey and they give you a few pointers. You're welcome to stay out as long as you like and you can go all the way to the Lake (just not through the lock). I recommend spending some floating time in the Loop - the views of the city are phenomenal and unlike any other you'll ever experience. So much fun! read more

Did the fireworks tour and everything about these guys was awesome. The guides are cool, the instruction is easy to follow, the kayaks are in great shape, and the scenery is better than any boat you'll go on cause you're right on the water. Only problem though is that it is LOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNG. You leave from North Ave and head all the way to Navy Pier and back which I think they mentioned is a 6 mile trip. You get more for your money than other companies, but that's not necessarily a good thing when half way through you're exhausted and drenched in Chicago River water. read more

So much fun North Carolina Sam and Alabama Dave were our guides. Beyond helpful, professional, and straight awesome. Some tips (note: this is my 2nd time kayaking ever) - Have pre-workout food - wear clothes / shies that can get wet and dirty - bring a wind breaker or parka - wear gloves it have athletic wrap for your thumb - don't be scared it's super easy to navigate and the guides are amazing - Bring sunglasses - wear sunblock - if you need to use the portapotty check for teepee before hand lol They provide zip lock bags (sandwich size) for things you want to carry or you can rent a locker for $1. HAVE A BLAST read more

I bought a deal off Goldstar for the Fireworks Paddle for almost $40/person (including the service fee). We started in the Chicago River on North Avenue (kinda by Goose Island), and went towards the Navy Pier area. It was 6 miles round-trip. They gave us a quick crash-course in kayaking, which I thought was more detailed/helpful than the instructions I've received before from my one other kayaking experience in Hawaii. The head tour guide, David, was super animated and energetic. The group was pretty large. Definitely more than 40 people, and maybe about 50. Timing for the night-time Weds Fireworks Paddle trip: 6:45 PM - Expected time of arrival to the location to check-in, fill out a liability waiver, get fitted for life vests 7:15 PM - Advertised "start time" on the website. We all got a brief intro to kayaking. 7:45 PM - Time that our large group finally *all* made it into the water. 9:05 PM - Arrival to our little area by a side pier near Navy Pier (total actual kayaking time of 1hr 15 min) 9:30 PM - Fireworks! 9:45 PM - Start kayaking back. 11:50 PM - Arrival back to our original location. (Total of 1 hr 5 min.) It was faster for us to get back, rather than going there, but my mini-group of friends were faster than others. The rest of the group probably trickled in within 5-10 minutes later. Some random thoughts: # DON'T WEAR JEANS/DENIM OR ANYTHING NICE. OMG. The number of people that wore long jeans and sneakers or nice-looking flats astounds me. You will definitely get wet. Every time you bring your paddle up to stroke, you will get drops of water on you. It adds up. My shorts were soaking by the time I got back to land. # This is a 6 mile trip. Yes, this requires some upper body strength, although ideally you should be using your "core" muscles when kayaking to reduce some of this fatigue. Probably more than 90% of us were using "improper" form, including myself. My brother went from zero (the trailing kayak) to hero (speed racer) after he got some coaching on correct rowing techniques. The lesson is, you don't need to have experience or significant upper body strength, but having just ONE of these is probably a prerequisite. # The water is pretty calm. You probably won't fall into the water. # Don't get into a tandem kayak if it's your first time, or if both you and your partner are uncoordinated. You will just end up moving nowhere. It's really not cute/romantic. You guys will just be annoyingly slow. # If you are an experienced kayaker, it may be less annoying if you just rent a kayak on your own (instead of going with the group). It did get crowded, and many times, this did become an annoying game of "bumper kayaks". # Bring water and a snack with you. They sell water in their shack, but "better safe than sorry" # Kayaking in the Chicago River has been on my bucket list for the longest time. I'm VERY HAPPY that I did this, and it was immensely enjoyable, but I will NOT be kayaking in the Chicago River ever again. Like I expected, the river is super filthy and smelly. Maybe it was better that I did this at night so that I wouldn't have a better visual of the garbage in the river. read more

I'd heard some good things about Kayak Chicago and read these reviews, but I'm going to have to say, NO THANKS! I definitely wouldn't recommend this place for kids and anyone concerned for their health and well being. Once we got into the kayaks the guide explained that the dopey (smelled of pot smoke) guy we met in the beginning was the owner and runs the place apparently into the ground or should I say into the water. The life jackets and gear smelled like they'd been in "garbage truck juice" and the guide seemed clueless, as anyone of us could have fallen in without them noticing and we had to yell for people in the back to catch up. The guide explained that (Gilligan) co-owner was regularly in a bad mood and took it out on him, so even he wasn't happy with Kayak Chicago. Too many people not enough guides - proceed at your own risk! read more

Tons of fun for $15 an hour on a rec kayak!! Yes the water is nasty, but what do you think you're getting in downtown chiccago? This ain't the rapids in Colorado with clear mountain run off! The views are great and the vibe is chill. A very easy ride for beginners. The people working were quite nice and helpful. read more

Kayak Chicago teamed up with Helios to offer a paddleboard pilates deal through Living Social that I purchased to check this combo class out at Montrose Harbor. Check out this link for more info: http://www.kayakchicag... We were 30 minutes late for the class as it was nearly impossible to spot the tiny Kayak Chicago sign or The Dock restaurant which is not visible from the street. However, once we arrived, the Kayak Chicago guys were friendly and accomodating! This was a great welcome and got us off to a positive start. HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: DIRECTIONS - From Montrose Ave, turn RIGHT on Montrose Harbor Dr and you will see the Kayak Chicago sign on the left side in about 1 block. There is a lot of free street parking. Walk towards The Dock restaurant and you will find the Kayak Chicago beach shack. LOCKERS- There are lockers on the beach that you can pay to rent. Or Kayak Chicago has cubby holes behind the counter and they will store your belongings at no charge while you are paddleboarding. We did this and all of our items were safe and secure (purse, camera, beach towels, clothes, etc) BATHROOMS/FOOD- There are clean bathrooms on the beach and a cafe called The Dock. THE PADDLEBOARD PILATES CLASS- Half of the class is spent learning how to stand on board and different paddling techniques. This was pretty cool! It's tough to find a quiet spot in the water where you can hear the instructor and keep a group of 10 students together to do pilates without drifting off. They recommend that you go with the flow and stay in position even if you start to drift. There was a paddleboard instructor and pilates instructor that stayed with the class. Awesome bonus to have two fantastic instructors! Both instructors were super friendly and made the class fun! I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to stand on a surfboard and paddle. I did fall in once, but it wasn't a big deal at all. Pretty easy to get back up on the board. read more

I participated in the sunset kayak Chicago River tour and absolutely loved it! In particular, there was a male guide who used to be a teacher and was extremely patient with my gal-pal and me! We made the mistake to use a double kayak and realized we did not have all the arm strength required to propel the both of us forward at an acceptable speed. Needless to say, we were bringing up the rear the entire time, but the guide made us giggle the entire tour and helped us NOT realize how much we were struggling together. Once we got to the midpoint of the tour, the skyline was breathtaking. What an awesome way to see Chicago. Several weeks later, a group of us decided to find our "zen" and paddle boarded on Lake Michigan for another sunset adventure. Again, the staff was professional and welcoming and helped put everyone at ease during the event. I would used this company for any adventure offered in Chicago! read more

We rented kayaks for the hour and made our way downtown. Such a beautiful experience for my husband and daughter to have before she goes away to college. read more

Greg and I did the Architectural Tour, which was an easy trip, and the guide provided a lot of interesting facts about the city as we went down river. The tour itself was fun. I liked paddling down the Chicago River, and seeing the city from a different view. The guides did do a good job of keeping us away from the other water traffic. What I didn't like was how huge the tour group was. The problem was that whenever we would start getting a good momentum going for rowing, someone would run into our kayak with theirs. My recommendation is that you take a lesson, and just rent a kayak and go at your own pace down the river, without the constant disturbance from other kayaks. read more

This place is fantastic. They have tons of Kayaks from doubles to singles and you can do a tour if you choose. I prefer going it alone, but this is the best in Chicago. Enthusiastic and knowledgeable. I recommend them to everyone. Also, if you own one, you can put in here for only $15. read more