Chicago River Kayak Tour

March 1st - November 30th

Limited Handicap Accessibility

Group will be picked up in a clean school bus and transported to the North Pier Docks at River East Art Center - just west of Navy Pier. The group will be met by a certified tour guide and escorted to the kayak staging area. Paddle instruction, safety talk, life jacket fitting, launching and landing will be provided.

This three (3) hour tour will take the group on a self-propelled cruise from a natural setting of herons hunting and turtles basking to one of the most unnatural river canyons in the world. This trip passes south through downtown, past the Willis (Sears) Tower and River City before landing at Ping Tom Park and the famous Pagoda on the edge of Chinatown.

ADDITIONAL ADD-ON: Lunch or dinner will be served at an authentic Chinese restaurant in a private party room. Menus are pre-selected for the group and offer a variety of menu choices to accommodate most dietary requirements - menus can be customized. Each meal will include unlimited water, coffee, and soft drinks; appetizer; entree; dessert.

 

ADDITIONAL ADD-ON: Group will be met by aprofessional City of Chicago tour guide and escorted through Chinatown to learn about the unique people, structures, and events that have developed this intriguing neighborhood.

 

Our Chinatowntourwill give the casual observer as much of an insight into Chinese culture and iconography as is possible for a non-Chinese during a few hours of visiting and observing.

 

The basic stops of the tour are the Nine Dragon Wall on Cermak, the Chinatown Gate, On Leon Center, Bowman's Funeral Home, the exterior of the Emperor's Choice Restaurant and other buildings on Wentworth, several buildings including Madonna Incorranota Church on the side streets off Wentworth, Chinatown Square on Archer, and Ping Tom Memorial Park.

 

Our knowledgable guidesdiscuss the symbolism to be found on the buildings, as well asthe changes that the neighborhood has undergone over the years.

 

The basic walking tour willtake about two to two and one half hours. The full-blown event with food requires four or more hours.