Illinois Travel Guide 2009 - (Page 28) 28 ILLINOIS. MILE AFTER MAGNIFICENT MILE. ROBERT GARCIA COURTESY OF CHICAGO RIVER CANOE & KAYAK Top to Bottom: Take an urban paddle with Chicago River Canoe & Kayak, help hoist the sails on the Tall Ship Windy urban adventure that navigates through the city via the Chicago River and passes by thrilling sights such as the Sears Tower a n d stately moveable bridges. Or you can sign up for the Moonlight Dinner Paddle and enjoy a riverside picnic during the trip. Chicago’s Navy Pier is home to several sightseeing and dining cruise ships. But if you’re in the mood for a bit of swashbuckling, set sail on the Tall Ship Windy, a traditional American fourmasted schooner. Riders can help raise the sails as Windy shoves off for one of its afternoon, sunset or moonlight cruises on Lake Michigan. Daredevils will want to take a spin on the Seadog or the more intense jet-propelled Seadog Extreme, two brightly colored speedboats that race along the lakefront. Join Fever River Outfitters in Galena for a fun canoe or kayak trip down the Galena River, which made this historic town a major steamboat hub back in the early 1800s. Today you’ll travel along a lush waterway dotted with blue herons and the hilly scenery of charming downtown Galena. Go scuba diving at the 12-acre, spring-fed Haigh Quarry in Kankakee, which teems with a variety of fish and features sunken mining equipment. Scuba gear rentals are available, and a concession stand serves up burgers and brats on weekends. Rent a canoe or kayak from Reed’s Canoe Trips in Kankakee and take a two- to six-hour ride on the crystal clear Kankakee River, which is gentle enough for first-time boaters. Along the way you’ll encounter quiet backwaters and ancient limestone bluffs. One of the most scenic parts of the trip is a pass through Kankakee River State Park. Rock the Illinois River with a speedboat, pontoon or jet ski rented from Starved Rock Adventures in Ottawa, near Starved Rock State Park. If you’re really serious about a vacation on the water, take the wheel of a houseboat and cruise through the Illinois River Valley. Hold tight on a wild white-water rafting ride through the rapids of the Vermilion River with Vermilion River Rafting in nearby Oglesby. The average rafting trip takes about three hours, and its class 3 rapids are suitable for beginners. In LaSalle, take a one-hour ride on the LaSalle Canal Boat, a full-size replica of the horse-pulled canal boats that traveled along the I&M Canal during the mid-1800s. Onboard guides, dressed as enjoyillinois.com http://www.dnr.state.il.us/worldshooting http://www.dnr.state.il.us/worldshooting http://www.enjoyillinois.com
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