Scott S.
Google
You get to ride in a boat, you get to learn things, and you get to see amazing stuff. What's not to like?
There are a number of businesses that run these tours but to my knowledge this is the only one run by a non-profit, the CAC. The CAC's mission is to celebrate and promote Chicago as a center or architectural innovation, to promote the building of vibrant communities, and to inspire all (especially youth) to unlock their hidden talents and vision in making our city a better place.
The tour is what you would expect - a ride down the river and then back out onto the lake before returning to the dock. A very well-informed docent leads the tour.
I'm not sure about their entire fleet, but the boat we were on had a completely open-air top level. This was great for us because the weather was nice but be aware that there's the possibility of being exposed to the elements (not just rain, but also hot/cold temps).
There are obviously lots of tourists from all over the world on the boat, but there are also native Chicagoans who simply want to remind themselves of what a spectacular place we live in. Hearing adults ooh and aah over the grace and beauty that is our skyline is simply wonderful.
None of the boat tours are cheap, but remember that in this particular case, your ticket cost is helping to support an organization that is not seeking profits but rather seeking to promote a better understanding of Chicago itself. For my money, that's a win.
Amazing experience!