You spent all winter just staring at the frozen lake through your office windows. No more.
“Now it’s time to actually use the lake and enjoy it,” said Maggie Lumkes, sailing director with the Chicago Yacht Club.
Don’t have a boat? Don’t let that stop you.
Go big: Grab 48 of your best friends and sail down the Chicago River on a 60-foot yacht. SunSea Yacht Charters will provide the captain (and the eats, if needed). The yacht has a sit-down bar, formal dining area, four double rooms and three bathrooms. You’ll leave from Burnham Harbor and head north past Navy Pier toward North Avenue Beach. $250-$400 per hour depending on the number of people, plus catering costs. yachtparties.com
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Go it alone: Set off on your own private 40-foot sailboat. Windy City Sailing’s boat fits up to six people and has two staterooms, a dining area and a kitchen with an oven. $200-$225 per hour with a three-hour minimum. You can also rent the boat overnight for $700 for a complete bed-and-breakfast experience. Special events cost extra. windycitysailing.com
Go to a different lake: Go solo with a personal watercraft, or invite some friends and rent a pontoon, power boat, fishing boat or deck boat and check out the different lakes of the Chain O’ Lakes in Fox Lake. Fishing boats are $25 per hour; other boats including the personal watercraft are $90 per hour plus gas and a $15 towline fee; four-hour minimum on holidays and weekends. jetfunnrentals.com