About Chicago's Lakefront Area

Right on cue, Labor Day weekend saw temperatures drop about 20 degrees from recent weeks. What better way to enjoy these refreshing cooler days than a nice walking tour of Chicago's iconic drawbridges over the Chicago River?

Beginning in September, visitors can go on two Saturday tours which coincide with "drawbridge season," when boaters begin taking their boats from Lake Michigan, up the river into winter storage.

photo courtesy of AntoniO BovinO (Creative Commons)

8:45am - The Meet The Bridge Lift Tour takes place on Saturdays in September and continues into October. The tour costs is $10 and lasts approximately 75 minutes.

photo courtesy of jatherton (Creative Commons)

10:00am - The Loop Bridges Walking Tour take place each Saturday in September*. This tour is $12 and lasts approximately 2 hours. The walking portion will cover about 1.5 miles. The tour concludes with a free water taxi ride back to the starting point. *This tour does not extend into October.

photo courtesy of Bernt Rostad (Creative Commons)

Both tours are sponsored by the Friends of the Chicago River and reservations are required. Reservations can be made by calling 312-939-0490, ext. 23.

photo courtesy of John Picken (Creative Commons)

Every year, Chicago hosts many entertainment and recreational events along the lakefront. One of the most popular is "Bike The Drive." During Bike The Drive, Lake Shore Drive is closed to automobile traffic and turned into a bicyclist's paradise. Cyclists will gather either just north of Millennium Park on Randolph or just south of Grant Park at Roosevelt and wait to be escorted onto the Drive after all vehicular traffic has been cleared.

This year's Bike The Drive will take place on Sunday, May 30th. Bring the entire family and begin the day with a pancake breakfast. After your ride, enjoy an activity filled post-ride festival. Full details can be found on the BikeThe Drive website. Registration is open until May 29th. The cost is $45 and proceeds benefit Active Transportation Alliance. The all you can eat pancake breakfast is an additional $7.