North Avenue is the most popular place to watch the Chicago Air and Water Show and for a good reason. The waterfront spot is located right in the middle of the action and is considered “show centerpoint” for aerobatic maneuvers, parachute landings, and other demonstrations. The beach is also home to the most concession stands as well as two VIP viewing areas at Castaways and Shore Club. North Avenue Beach gets very crowded during the show.

For a bit more breathing room, consider watching the show from Theater on the Lake. Here, you can drop $20 on admission into the Lakefront Restaurant’s three-acre beer garden or $125 on a catered VIP experience. If that’s not really your thing, grab a spot on the surrounding lakefront parkland near Diversey Harbor and watch for free.

Even further from North Avenue Beach and its crowds is Belmont Harbor. Here, groups of onlookers gather on the stone steps of the lakefront revetment. If your pup’s not afraid of loud afterburners and sonic booms, you can also swing by the nearby Belmont Harbor dog beach.

Though not quite are close to the action as the North Avenue or Oak Street beaches, this sandy—albeit somewhat smaller—waterfront spot north of Navy Pier isn’t a bad choice for watching the show. Caffé Oliva offers all-you-can-eat and open bar packages starting a $134. Nearby Milton Lee Olive Park is another decent viewing option.

Located a bit further inland and directly west of North Avenue Beach, this outdoor venue atop the Hotel Lincoln offers an elevated vantage point with sweeping views of Lincoln Park. Reservations are required for tables and standing areas are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The iconic skyscraper offers two spots to watch the show from more than 1,000 feet up. The 360 Chicago observatory is a fantastic place to watch the show and is popular among professional photographers. Tickets range from $7 to $25, but spots along the windows can fill up fast. Meanwhile, the tower’s 95th-floor Signature Room restaurant offers $175 tickets which include reserved seating and a gourmet buffet and drink package.

Navy Pier tends to be a crowded tourist trap every summer weekend, and this is especially true during the Air and Water Show. With that being said, the pier offers a unique mix of family-friendly activities and primo location when it comes to flyovers. New for this year’s show is Offshore, Navy Pier’s massive rooftop and bar terrace. The venue is offering a ticketed viewing party with brunch and BBQ stations.

The annual Air and Water Show is one weekend during which having a boat—or better yet, a friend with a boat—really pays off since the view from Lake Michigan is hard to beat. But for the rest of us, there are still plenty of options when it comes to booking a cruise with companies like Odyssey and Spirit. Fancy being your own captain? Check out these spots to rent a boat.