MOST ICONIC CITIES TO EXPERIENCE BY BOAT

Ditch the Ubers, bikes and electric scooters. A marine-centric metropolis should be seen from the water. It’s a tour of three of America’s bestknown waterfront cities—all from a boater’s point of view.

- SHAWN BEAN

CHICAGO

This city of 2.7 million doesn't become an American metropolis without the water. Lake Michigan connects to the Chicago River, which connects to the Mississippi River, creating a shipping superhighway through the heart of the country-Chicago to New Orleans, without a stop.

Reversing its flow and dying it green might impress everyday folk, but for mariners, it's the ease of access to the city's core that makes the Chicago River a boon for boaters. Among the highlights: the Chicago Riverwalk and historic downtown highrises (among them the Home Insurance Building, America's first skyscraper). Add to that the 26 miles of lakefront that provides boater access to Soldier Field, Burnham Harbor and Navy Pier, a hub for dining, shopping and people-watching.

For this day cruise, our vessel of choice was the Aviara AV32, an open layout with luxe cockpit seating, a triple-touchscreen display at the helm and serious power-on plane in 3.7 seconds. It's a proper dayboat for a tour of this windy-and waterfront-city.

NEW YORK

A megalopolis with more than 8 million residents and 520 miles of coastline. A city centered around a 22-squaremile island with 789 bridges and tunnels that connect five boroughs. For boaters, New York City is big, far beyond just its apples.