Wateriders' Chicago Kayak Tours Saturdays and Sundays through October. No experience is necessary for the two-and-a-half-hour trips, which start at 900 N. Kingsbury St., take in all three branches of the Chicago River and focus on architecture/history or "Shady Chicago: Ghosts and Gangsters of Hustlertown" (a Nelson Algren term). Corporate group tours are available. New this year are kayak rentals, but you have to show you can handle the boat.

http://www.wateriders.com

I've done some boating and canoeing on the various branches of the Chicago River, very fun. Kayaking would be a hoot.