Water taxis return to Chicago River on first day of spring

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The official Chicago water taxi season kicked off on Monday, the first day of spring.

ABC7 rode along for one of the first water taxi rides of the season! Watch as Captain Nels answers questions from our Facebook fans below.

The taxis make seven stops as they take people on a scenic trip along the Chicago River.

Downtown stops include: Ogilvie/Union (West Loop), Michigan Avenue, LaSalle (River North), Riverwalk Clark Street. Later in the season, the taxis also make trips along the North Branch of the Chicago River to Chicago Avenue and North Avenue/Sheffield, and along the South Branch of the river to Chinatown.

A one-way ticket costs $5 and all-day passes are $9. Ten-ride and 31-day passes are also available.

You can view the full schedule online at https://www.chicagowatertaxi.com/.

Navy Pier is in bloom as many are celebrating the first day of spring at the Chicago Flower and Garden Show.

SPRING RETURNS TO CHICAGO

Officially, spring began in Chicago at 5:28 a.m. Monday, when the sun appeared directly overhead at the equator.

Perhaps the surest sign of spring is the Flower and Garden Show, now in full swing at Navy Pier. It's one of the only shows in the country you can walk through the gardens and experience them like you're in your own backyard. The show is open to the public through Sunday.