Chicago/DuSable Harbor - Tips for a first timer?

Late in June I'll be taking a trip from Grand Haven to Chicago. This will be my first trip into the windy city via boat.

Any tips from the CSR folks that have been there, done that? My crew will consist of three humans under the age of 10 so I need to keep everything PG-13 rated.

I'm looking forward to a dinghy ride through the locks, exploring downtown a bit from the water. I also plan to walk over to Navy Pier and likely the "bean" in Millennium Park. Otherwise that's about it. Any other must-do activities relatively close to DuSable?

Thanks in advance for any tips!

Stee6043 said:

Late in June I'll be taking a trip from Grand Haven to Chicago. This will be my first trip into the windy city via boat.

Any tips from the CSR folks that have been there, done that? My crew will consist of three humans under the age of 10 so I need to keep everything PG-13 rated.

I'm looking forward to a dinghy ride through the locks, exploring downtown a bit from the water. I also plan to walk over to Navy Pier and likely the "bean" in Millennium Park. Otherwise that's about it. Any other must-do activities relatively close to DuSable?

Thanks in advance for any tips!

Click to expand...

I work right next to Dusable, but keep the boat at Diversey, just north of where you'll be. Dusable is a pretty protected harbor and a great jump off point to see the city. There's lots to do very close to where you'll be, so you can walk to most everything. The kids will get a kick out of Navy Pier for sure, lots to do including the big Ferris wheel with pretty spectacular views. You can walk right on the lakefront path to get from the harbor to navy pier. Millenium/Maggie Daley park are definitely worth a walk through. There is a mini golf course set up just east of the "bean" that the kids might like, as well as a climbing wall. if you have an evening with the adults and want to keep it close there is a bar at the Chicago athletic association called Cindi's. it's on the rooftop and the views of the park/lake are fantastic. If you want to get the kids on a full on sugar high, they just built a Nutella cafe on Michigan ave, just north of randolph, another quick walk from the harbor. Feel free to PM me with any specific questions you have and I'll try my best.

John

stg099 said:

I work right next to Dusable, but keep the boat at Diversey, just north of where you'll be. Dusable is a pretty protected harbor and a great jump off point to see the city. There's lots to do very close to where you'll be, so you can walk to most everything. The kids will get a kick out of Navy Pier for sure, lots to do including the big Ferris wheel with pretty spectacular views. You can walk right on the lakefront path to get from the harbor to navy pier. Millenium/Maggie Daley park are definitely worth a walk through. There is a mini golf course set up just east of the "bean" that the kids might like, as well as a climbing wall. if you have an evening with the adults and want to keep it close there is a bar at the Chicago athletic association called Cindi's. it's on the rooftop and the views of the park/lake are fantastic. If you want to get the kids on a full on sugar high, they just built a Nutella cafe on Michigan ave, just north of randolph, another quick walk from the harbor. Feel free to PM me with any specific questions you have and I'll try my best.

John

Click to expand...

Outstanding! Thank you for these tips. This is awesome!

We took the boat from Manitowoc to Chicago. DuSable was awesome! Very friendly people and great location. Navy Pier shoots fireworks on certain nights and you have front row seats from the boat. Everything is within walking distance. Be sure to take the boat thru the lock and take a little stroll on the river, its pretty neat, just watch out for the crazy water taxis

Shedd Aquarium is nice. The water taxis are perhaps problematic when you're in your own boat, but they are a fun ride. The top of Hancock or Sears towers is also fun. From the top of Hancock it's fun to watch the fireworks (Wednesday & Saturday?). You end up looking down on them.

Chicago during the summer is awesome. Everything above is good advice. The museum campus is walkable and has the Shedd Aquarium, Planetarium, and Field Museum. It's hard to tell someone to spend a day inside in Chicago during the summer, but if it's raining those are all great attractions.

if you want to see the city, you can go up to the top of the Sears Tower (no, I'm not going to call it the Willis Tower), but I like the view from the top of the John Hancock building better, because you can really see the lakefront. It really gives you a perspective of the size of Chicago and how it integrates with the lake.

Plenty of restaurants just west and north of there. Whatever type of food you want you can find, but for Chicago pizza I would recommend Uno's or Due's. I would skip Geno's East these days - it's not what it used to be. Chicago is a great city for Italian food. The "real" hot dog places aren't in that area anymore - that would be an Uber ride.

The river has a lot of traffic. I wouldn't take a dingy through the locks, but others might have a different opinion. I know people kayak, etc, but you have water taxis and plenty of recreational boats and plenty of idiots, and it can get really choppy. Also, that water isn't the cleanest, and I wouldn't want to take on that splash.

Enjoy!

A river cruise would be a great half day. A dinghy might be a bit small for the river. I’d bring the big boat. The lock can be challenging if single-handing. The lake level is so high that the current in the lock when the gates open can be pretty strong. Holding on to the ropes to keep the boat secure along the sidewall can take some muscle. With 2 people, total non event. Lock rules state that all occupants must have a life vest on while in the lock. You can dock on the river at City Winery, reservations via Dockwa. There are a handful of restaurants in the immediate vicinity. Fireworks are Wednesday and Saturday nights after Memorial Day. Saturday’s are later at night than Wednesday. For views, go to the 96th floor of the Hancock building. The observatory is expensive (and I believe on a lower floor). The bar on the 96th is free to enter; just buy a drink. It’s a lounge, so kids would be fine during the day.

Yep, everything said above, great location.
Try to avoid a slip at the end of the dock (furthest from shore) or the T head, chicago’s finest run Past the outer docks at all hours and they don’t care about their wake. Love Chicago, try to get on the architectural boat tour.

With kids under 10 head to the Lincoln park zoo. I think it's still free. Small and easily walkable. 5 min cab bus uber ride

This is all really great stuff!

I was hoping to leave my boat at the dock and dinghy through the locks just for the pure stress-free aspect of the dinghy. My gas powered 400 is not exactly nimble with her tiny props. But I don't want to get swamped in the dink! hmm. And now I'm a bit bummed about my slip to boot. I am on a T-Head....and here I thought that was a big win for views and ease of docking. Now I'll be dreading the police boats. Such luck! I guess I'll toss a couple extra bumpers in the trunk.

That said - thanks for some amazing tips on things to do, fellas. This is super helpful, exactly what I was hoping for. I really hope the weather works out for this trip. With the above tips this is going to be a great family trip.

To put a close to this thread - we completed our trip to Chicago last week and it was an outstanding success. I wouldn't change a thing. A great boat trip. Being on the end of the dock was a non-issue and taking the dinghy through the lock and into the river was one of the highlights of the trip. We had a blast.

DuSable was an awesome location for our trip. We ended up extending our stay to a third night because we were enjoying it so much.

If any future travelers may find this thread I'll leave the following thoughts:
-DuSable has a considerable seagull problem. It's not a big deal for a transient user unless you're planning to sit on the back of the boat and enjoy a quiet evening sipping a cocktail. I believe this may be a seasonal issue? But man alive...I've never heard so much noise from birds in my life. Hundreds...and hundreds of seagulls...
-DuSable doesn't have much of a "marina vibe". It's a series of finger piers with large, locked gates that directly access the Chicago walking/bike path. The docks/piers do not connect and all have different access codes. In three nights we saw very little social activity on the docks. Nearly zero. It's more of a place to park your boat but not much of a community from what I gathered.
-The staff at DuSable was awesome, very helpful. And the location just can't be beat if you want to get into the heart of Chicago on foot.

When we left Chicago I went up to Belmont for fuel. If/when we return to Chicago I think I'd chose that marina for a different experience. It looks like there is more open space, a park, and it's not far from a nice beach. Not walkable to downtown, for sure.

Thanks again for all the tips above. I hope all of you Chicago boaters were able to enjoy the 4th!

Glad you made it and had a good time!

We stayed at Belmont last summer, had a great visit. You are a 15 to 30 minute walk to a lot of food and shopping. We were at the end of a T dock and had no complaints. Plenty of marina type folks to visit with.

I think it was Belmont where a fried of mine had his boat in the 70's. Once, on his boat, I remarked "why are all those uniformed Chicago city employees cleaning boats?" His reply: "Quiet. Those are mob boats."

We used to keep our boat at Montrose harbor. One of our favorite place to eat was Rocky's Bait shop near the locks by the Navy Pier. They sell huge streamed shrimp, Perch sandwiches, smelt as well as bait. You can tie up there and wait inside while your order is prepared. Prices were very good. It's still open after all these years.

sbw1 said:

View attachment 72238 It's still open after all these years.

Click to expand...

Closed in the 90's.

Was really the only place to grab something to eat by boat back then. Now there are a few places on the river to stop at.