I awoke the morning of my scheduled hot tub boat giddy — then looked out the window. Snow had blanketed the ground overnight. It was still falling. I checked my phone: 22 degrees Fahrenheit with gale force winds approaching.
This mission would require my furriest hat.
Chicago Boat Company’s hot tub boats run rain (or snow) or shine as long as temps stay above 20 degrees. Though our forecast was right on the edge, my group of six set sail on the Chicago River just after sundown.
The steaming tub kept us warm as we drifted out from the dock at Marina City. We were nervous at first — there’s no real captain. One of us had to use the tiller to slowly steer the boat. Luckily my buddy (and fashion entrepreneur) Kone handled that. I was too busy drinking Daisy Cutters.
Captain Kone Ranger. (Emmi Mack / Hey Chicago)
Yes, the boat rides are BYOB. That night, birthday girl Cori was grinning ear to ear as we passed under some of Chicago’s iconic bridges.
We didn’t travel far — the bridges at State and LaSalle were our official boundaries, plus the boat travels at one mile per hour. But we saw plenty. The Reid Murdoch Building was lit up in blue and orange. (We queued “Bear Down” on the bluetooth speaker.) Joggers on the Riverwalk waved. The city reflected against the water.
Eventually, our point person back at the dock, Devonte, radioed in to tell us it was time to come home. That was probably for the best. I could barely feel my hands. Our friend Austin said it was the most fun he ever had with cold shoulders.
Cori agreed: “No better place to spend a birthday on the river in January."
Afterward, as we walked to Monk’s Pub, my damp hair began to freeze. I didn’t care. I shoved the blond icicles back into my hat and ordered a platter of onion rings. Those were five stars. Meanwhile, I’d give the hot tub four — down one only because I definitely caught a cold.
TLDR: For about $50 per person on a weeknight, this is a really unique way to soak in Chicago. (Get it? Get it?)
