Chicago has an amazing skyline. It's stunning and utterly diverse. One of the best ways to view the skyscrapers is by boat on a river cruise. During our brief trip to Chicago, we did the tourist thing and took the Chicago Line Cruises Architecture Tour.

We took our tour midday and when we set out, the air was crisp, but the skies were still mostly blue. Our tickets were $40.00 each for the ninety minute tour. We arrived early and as we waited for the cruise to begin, there was a selection of complimentary cookies and coffee in the ticket office.

Armed with our tickets, we were ready to learn about architecture.

Here's our boat. It ended up being about half full with other tourists.

Here is our group (Dan, his parents and me) at the start of the tour, all smiles.

Dan took a ton of pictures and I, his unbiased wife, think that they are all fantastic. The tour did have a guide, but honestly, I don't remember any of the facts. My biggest take-away from the tour was a general feeling of awe at the beauty and range of Chicago's architecture. I also left with an overwhelming desire to make enough money to have an apartment with a personal boat dock!

Over the course of our tour, the clouds moved in and the skies grew increasingly darker. In the last twenty or so minutes of the tour, it started to pour rain. We were sitting on the upper deck, with no coverage. Luckily the boat staff came prepared with clear plastic ponchos and the day was saved.

I highly recommend the Chicago Line Cruises Architecture Tour as a wonderful way to view this unique city.