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 CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE CENTER (CAC) RIVER CRUISE ABOARD FIRST LADY

Voted #1 Boat Tour in North America for Third Year in a Row

USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Award Recognize CAC River Cruise aboard First Lady as “Best Boat Tour”

Today, the award-winning Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) River Cruise aboard First Lady just added another accolade to its ledger, as the cruise has been named “Best Boat Tour” in North America in USA TODAY 10BEST 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards for the third year in a row. The CAC River Cruise was also awarded the honor in 2021 and was among the top 10 in 2022 and 2023.

In addition to the USA TODAY 10BEST ranking, the CAC River Cruise aboard First Lady consistently receives national and local recognition as one of the country’s premier travel experiences.

Nationally, the cruise was just ranked the #4 Top Experience in the U.S., in TripAdvisor’s 2026 Travelers’ Choice Awards, as well as the #2 Sailing & Day Cruise in the world and the #1 Sailing & Day Cruise in the U.S, reflecting its consistently high guest ratings and national appeal. 

Locally, the CAC River Cruise aboard First Lady has been a Chicago favorite for more than a decade, earning Chicago Reader honors including Best Tour, Best Boat Tour and Best Outdoor Attraction. The experience has also been recognized by publications such as the Chicago Tribune as one of Illinois’ premier architectural attractions and by Time Out Chicago as one of the city's top boat tours.

The CAC River Cruise aboard First Lady sets the standard in Chicago. The 90-minute tour, led by expertly trained CAC-certified docents, brings Chicago’s skyline to life through storytelling and history, creating an engaging and accessible experience for guests from all over the world.

Entering summer 2026, Chicago tourism continues to show strong momentum, with Choose Chicago reporting a 2.3% increase in 2025 hotel room demand and a new leisure travel record of 8.2 million room nights. As Chicago prepares for this influx of visitors, the CAC River Cruise aboard First Lady showcases Chicago’s architectural history through the fascinating stories behind the iconic buildings along the Chicago River and the legendary visionaries who shaped them.

CAC River Cruise 2026 Boarding and Ticket Information

• Location: Northeast corner of Michigan Ave. and E. Wacker Dr (112 E. Wacker Drive). Look for the black awning at the stairway entrance.
• Pricing: Tickets start at $57 and can be purchased in person, via phone or online through architecturecruise.com.

• Note: Because tours frequently sell out, advanced ticket purchase is recommended, especially on weekends, on holidays and evening tours.

• Ticket Upgrade: Visit the award-winning CAC for an additional $5 (regular price $15) by adding a ticket as an event extra in your Ticketmaster cart.
• Priority Boarding: Tickets start at $72 and include access to an exclusive early boarding period and admission to the Chicago Architecture Center Exhibits.

For additional information on the 2026 season, tickets, boarding location, parking, and other details, please visit architecturecruise.com.