During Parents' Weekend at the University of Chicago, the university offered tours of the neighborhood through Chicago Detours. My wife did this tour a couple years ago and highly recommended it, but I wasn't especially interested because I had also gone to school here and figured I knew enough about Hyde Park already. However, she insisted that it would be worth our while and so I agreed to climb on the bus. And it was the absolutely right decision, because the tour was excellent. In fact, it wasn't just a tour of Hyde Park. It included the surrounding neighborhoods of Washington Park, Kenwood, Jackson Park, and Woodlawn. Since this was a UChicago sponsored event much of the information related to the University's investment and involvement in the area. Our tour guide and founder of Chicago Detours, Amanda, is herself a graduate of UChicago and thus she had some additional insight into the relationship with the community. Though the 75-minute tour felt a little slow-going at times, there was much to learn about the vibrant but sometimes troubled history of the area. Amanda has tremendous knowledge and the excursion was both fascinating and entertaining. I can imagine that Chicago Detours would have equally interesting tours of other neighborhoods in this diverse city. read more

Virtual tours are such a cool thing to do right now. I attended a Yelp Elite event that was a virtual food tour of Chicago. It was incredibly informative and a good balance of history and current trends. Looking forward to attending more virtual tours, like the World's Fair and the Cruise From Your Couch Boat Tour. I loved seeing the pictures of the in-person tours and can't wait to attend some of those too. read more

Chicago Detours - Virtual Yelp Elite event: A Deep Slice of Chicago Food History - Food Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Man what a great way to get in some steps on my Fitbit, catch up with friends, learn a little history and eat/drink. We did the Historic Bar Tour and it was great. We visited Billy Goat's, Lawry's Prime Rib and the Intercontinental Hotel. We met up at the Fannie May shop on Michigan Ave. Alex was our tour guide. He was very organized, getting us all checked in. This was an usual tour because out of the 14 people in attendance, 12 of us knew each other. The other two people were a couple from Canada visiting Chicago. Alex was very knowledgeable, with a great speaking voice. He kept the group engaged and was engaging. Although there was designated stops for the tour, he was a wealth of information about other architectural structures on the way. There was one building in particular that I see all the time on lower Rush, Phil Stefani's 437 Rush Restaurant. I had no idea of the historical significance of the building and the fact that is is not designated as an historical landmark. Some of the history of the places we visited I was aware of, but it was fun to experience it during the tour with friends. For example, who knew that Lawry's use to be a 3-4 story building. For the Intercontinental Hotel, I knew of its connection to the Shriners and all of the King Arthur, Egyptian connections, but didn't know that it was originally a club for the Shiners or the swinging parties that they had. The tour was well organized; every place we went to was ready for us with drinks and snacks. There was enough time for me to get my own burger at Billy Goat's :-) And I liked the fact that they had different drink options. FYI, you pay for the tour but the drinks are extra and cash only. There was the option of getting beer, wine, water or soda. And that is for every location you attend. You hit three bars, but get 2.5 drinks...two full drinks and a half drink at the last location. Overall it was a fun time and it was a perfect day for it. I could see myself doing this again. read more

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I've never been on a guided tour but it was a rare warm spring day in Chicagoland so I decided to throw the Little One in the car and spend the day in the city. I've never been on an organized tour anywhere but spur of the Took the Loop Architecture tour with Chicago Detours and was pleasantly surprised. Two hours and a mile around downtown, learned some little known facts about Chicago and really liked how our tour guide kept encouraging us to look at our surroundings in a different way. Babygirl hung in there pretty good but I wouldn't recommend it for younger kids as architecture might not keep their attention She was squirrelly about an hour in but our group helped entertain her lol (Also not the greatest for strollers with the stairs but it was manageable with an umbrella stroller) But at the end the tour guide asked her what her favorite part was and she said "looking at the ceilings", so guess she was paying attention to some of it! (Saw some amazingly beautiful Tiffany mosaics) We hit the Marquette building, civic center plaza, Chicago Temple, old Marshall Field's, Chicago Pedway (an underground walkway that connects over 5 miles of businesses - I had no idea this existed!!), and ended at the Chicago Cultural Center. It was cool to slow down and observe these buildings as art, rather than take them for granted as I'm rushing by. Can't wait to go on another! read more

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The year: 2020. Global pandemic. A couple of years ago, this might have sounded like the intro to an action movie, but alas, it's real, and we're alllll experiencing far less action in our lives in multiple ways in order to keep the folks we love as safe as possible. But we miss our friends, our family, our loved ones. There are TONS of virtual events out there, but a lot of them just feel like lectures, and that one-way ness and lack of physical place just becomes a bummer when you're already shuffling through a handful of work Zoom meetings each week. I've been on a few Chicago Detours tours over the last decade, and was always impressed by how they managed to make the experience fun and feed my curiosity while never making things feel dry. No matter the topic, I was psyched to be learning/listening, and that's SO important in the world of (walking) tours. The Badass Women of Chicago History event (party? felt like a chill party) at the Hideout a few years ago struck just the right tone. This year, Chicago Detours has gotten scrappy and creative in their pivot to online tours. I've done a lot of different online events, and both their Happy Hour tours and their Holiday Happy Hour were some of the best thought-out and most fun. Particularly with the Holiday HH, it seems like the team has put into practice everything they've been learning over the last 8 months about what works to keep people engaged. I did a Holiday HH with a few friends (as part of a larger group), and it was by FAR the most fun Zoom thing (up there w/Jackbox game night etc) I'd done in awhile. For Christmas, I bought a few gift cards for family/friends who either live in Chicago or have some connection to the city. I KNOW that they'll have a great time whether they choose a Happy Hour or the upcoming Badass Women's event -- it'll give them a chance to do something a little different together, and as a bonus, I'm very, very glad to support an indie business that's been holding it together in this challenging-ass year! read more

As a food tour enthusiast, I was not sure how a virtual tour could compare. From the host, to the amazing stories behind the city, I cannot wait to spend some time in Chicago exploring. I am super excited to participate in their other tours as well as the tour left me wanting to learn more. Price for admission is definitely worth the amount of knowledge shared. Kudos to your team for putting together a great presentation. read more

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This review is for the virtual tours Chicago Detours has been putting on, as opposed to in person, due to COVID. I must say, I was skeptical at first how engaged and entertaining a "tour" would be via Zoom, but boy was I wrong! I was SO impressed with the level of organization, detail, and knowledge I obtained from attending two of their tours! Being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, the tours that most interested me were center around that subject in Chicago. I attended both the History and Pride tours and really learned a lot about our beautiful city. Both lead by tour guide Marie, who was so informative, nice, and really kept the whole things moving while being engaging. While it wasn't a tour in the traditional since, Marie lead us through history with a powerpoint slide. I walked away with a wealth of knowledge, and even more Proud to be a Chicagoan! Most of their virtual tours are donation based! Meaning their tour guides are hosting this just out of good, so if you do attend, I encourage you to give what you can. They do have more in depth tours now that cost a small amount, such as a river cruise and architectural tour. I look forward to attending one of those in the future. And when safe, can't wait to attend one in person! Thanks Chicago Detours for keeping me entertained and informed from the comfort of my home. read more

Took the Historic Bar tour last weekend. Wasn't really sure what to expect, but was definitely pleased afterward. Not much walking as the bars/restaurants that are visited are very close to the meet-up point. Tour guide was very informative and educated on the material. The iPad that was carried along and used as an aid to the tour was a very nice touch. Appetizers and drinks were good. Maybe only thing I would change would be to have a themed drink or something relevant to each location. The beer and wine option were fine, but a cocktail option would have been welcomed. read more

Chicago Detours - Billy Goat Tavern, this sign relates to a Saturday Night Live skit about the place. - Food Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I am fascinated by Chicago history, and if you're looking for a fun company outing, I highly recommend taking a Detour with Elizabeth! I recently went with my co-workers on the 1893 World's Fair Tour and absolutely LOVED my experience. My grandmother was at the 1933 World's Fair, so I couldn't wait to learn more about the history of 1893. With a perfectly-sized group of 12, we started out at the Congress Hotel and worked our way around the area. Elizabeth had two iPads, one for each group to view photos and maps to accompany the tour. Without going into too much detail, I loved learning about underground passageways and seeing an alleyway stop I had no idea even existed! If you're an architecture buff you'll love this tour, because the stories all relate to the Fair. One of my favorite stops was at the Berghoff, where we got to sample some favorites off the menu. Fun and games along the way made it possible for us to connect with the tour...but I won't tell you how. Elizabeth is knowledgeable and easy to engage. Detour also has other tours, and I hear the south side one is a blast! read more

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I took the Inside the Loop Interior Architectural Walking Tour with Elizabeth on a Friday afternoon. I wasn't quite sure what to expect but it turned out great as the tour lead us through a handful of historic buildings which are more off the beaten path. Highlights include the Macy's building (originally Marshall Fields), Chicago Cultural Centre, the sky church at the Chicago Temple Building, Block 37, stories on the public transportation system and much more. A sample of a local frozen kefir cafe (like frozen yogurt) was also set up which was a nice touch. I was surprised to hear that most people on this tour are from the Chicago area. It says a lot about the quality of Chicago Detours that locals are even signing up to take this tour of their own city. If available, I would recommend using a two for one on any of the deal sites. $26 is steep for a walking tour but for two people, it's for sure worth it. read more

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The Inside the Loop tour is a great tour, even for Chicago area residents. You walk about .5 mile in two hours. Amanda, our guide and the tour originator, is a wealth of information of the history and architecture. We began in the Chase Building with a description of modernism in architecture. She parallels this with the small building (Italian Village) across the street. They use four I-pads to demonstrate the history and other aspects using photos and videos. You learn so much about the history! The First Methodist church is fantastic. You hear about the history of the Picasso. There are a few places to rest along the way. The pedpath through and under buildings is very cool. Few of us knew it was all there even though at least half the group were Chicago residents. The tour ends at the Cultural Center--which is amazingly beautiful inside. I highly recommend this tour for visitors and residents alike. They also have a jazz/blues bus tour and this spring will start a tour of historic bars. And at the end she gives you coupons for some local businesses. read more

I went for the historic pub tour and it was not at all what I was expecting.... It was much more architectural than I expected and I was pleasantly surprised!! Our tour guide was outstanding, very funny, knowledgeable & really focused on getting everyone of our 5 person group to participate in the tour by asking us to point out what we noticed about specific buildings and getting us to guess what the building were used for when they were 1st built. We had appetizers at three of the places we visited that were included in the cost of the tour, they were ok but nothing I would have ordered. I chose to give the additional $18 for 2.5 servings of beer at the same three places where we got the food. The beer was basic and nothing too great... If there was one thing I would suggest for the tour company it would be to allow the person to chose either light beer or dark beer, just like there was an option for red wine or white wine. But other than that I was a really good tour!! I would for sure suggest Detours for anyone in Chicago and I hope this company adds other cities! read more

Chicago Detours - Food Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is the kind of tour you want to take someone on when they visit Chicago. This is no stuffy all buildings tour. Amanda uses Ipads to show what used to be where the current architecture sits. Wandering under the city is also a very fun way to guarantee your booked tour will not be all wet. Showing the inside detail of the stained glass inside Mormon(?) church across from Daley Plaza shows you things about the history of Chicago I have never known. The art that is now hidden forever in Block 37, the mystery of the movie theater in the same building. Standing inside Macy's and remembering the times of Marshall Fields and a very different Chicago. Bonus! I learned about 2 other free tours on this tour. I got a map of the underground pedway system and now know where to enter it around the city! read more

Pedway cruising and a trip to the odd and perhaps a little bit modern creepy block 37 made this tour fun! (Inside Architecture). Great for a stroll through the parts unknown. We got a great map of the pedestrian system (If you can even follow that) and a surprise for Pastoral!). Loved it! read more

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Well-run show. Enjoyed all the audience participation opportunities and the hosts kept the mood cheerful and bright. It was much needed holiday fun. read more

I've been to Chicago several times, but the historic walking tour gave it a different perspective. We participated in the evening tour which started off at the Chicago Tribune tower. Our tour guide was so knowledgable and engaging! For the price of the tour that includes appetizers and drinks, it was so worth it. We stopped by at least 5 places, including the infamous speakeasy that Al Capone was a regular at. I highly recommend this tour if you're looking to get more history information about Chicago! read more

Chicago Detours - Food Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I found this co. on Instagram and have tried to make their virtual tours *literally* every day, ever since. Everything about the tours is exceptional! The tour host really knows her stuff and she shares rare, local tidbits that you wouldn't hear from more corporate-type tours. I have lived in Chicagoland for 50 years and have learned ridiculously cool things on these tours! I have shared this site with all of my friends and I strongly recommend it to visitors and locals, alike. I recommend these tours %1000! read more

Loved the Holiday Happy Hour. We had a blast. So creative and much needed in the days of Covid. Thank you!!!

the trip is as good as you can imagine. the guide told so much history and interesting stories about an old polonian community that I learned a lot while enjoyed the time. This is my very first chicago detour experience and is sure not going to be the last one！ read more

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We took 34 students to Chicago for purposeful travel and we partnered with Chicago Detours to provide some customized in depth tours which touched on themes of gentrification, the great migration, architecture and historical information. Amanda especially worked with us very patiently as the itinerary took on many forms and she provided several thoughtful, unique, interesting and very engaging tours for our students. She also found local, warm, off the beaten path dining experiences as well. We 100% endorse Chicago Detours for any tour they offer. They research and pull out interesting facts and they are run by a badass group of women. Big thank you to Elizabeth and Marie as well. read more

Awesome tour!! Marie was incredible and extremely informative!! My wife and had an incredible time!! We loved the Methodist Church!! read more

Chicago Detours - Food Tours Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've lived in Chicago nearly all of my life, and as such I don't really "do" tours here. I usually find contentment in walking around in various neighborhoods, gawking away at (or more realistically, bustling along with the herd and not paying much attention to) the architecture and history around me. But, when an opportunity to go on the Historic Chicago Bar Tour presented itself, I jumped at the chance, because let's face it--I'm likely to spend a few hours on a Monday night having some wine, so I may as well learn something new while I'm at it. Here's the thing: Chicago is an enormous city. It has lots of buildings. And history. And neat things to learn about. This is NOT a tour that will teach you everything there is to know, or show you every spectacle. If, however, you would like a detailed description of a select number of interesting buildings and places, spaced over a couple hours with drinks to boot, then this is a terrific option. Amanda was our guide and she was incredibly knowledgeable, giving us some history about Chicago Detours (which she started herself some years ago after being a tour guide in several countries as well as a history scholar), as well as numerous tidbits about interesting architecture and structures that I frankly have walked by dozens of times without a second thought. We started at the Tribune Tower lobby, then made our way to look at the exterior of the Intercontinental Hotel (which we would visit as the last stop of the night and indulge in some delicious drinks and appetizers--that fondue, dear lord!). We visited several other places within about a 1 mile radius and learned about one of the original jazz birthplaces as well as the legend of the Billy Goat (I'm a Sox fan, so I'm a bit bummed that curse finally broke). There were around 7 stops total, 3 involving drinks and some snacks included, at a max cost of $22 for wine (and only a few bucks if you chose not to drink anything, but if you do that you might be missing the point of a bar tour...). The drink + apps price is a downright bargain for imbibing downtown, and the price of the tour itself was well worth the value and expertise. The pace was good (a little over 2 hours) and felt like the perfect speed and consumption rate for our group of about 14 folks. Oh! And half of their tips were going to benefit Chicago area students with an interest in history and the arts, and we all scored some great coupons for local businesses. Love supporting a local, woman-owned business, and can't wait to check out more tours. read more

My son and I really enjoyed the Old Polonia and Wicker Park tour. Although we are frequently in and about the Wicker Park neighborhood, we learned interesting facts that we didn't know. Amanda was a very friendly and personable tour guide. She's a great conversationalist and clearly enjoys her work. We loved the food too! read more

A great tour through the history of the 1893 Worlds Fair. Our tour guide Elizabeth was wonderful. She is very friendly, pleasant, funny and extremely knowledgeable. We visited several historic building, played fun interactive games, had a couple of drinks, and learned a lot about the Columbian Exposition and Chicago's history. read more

During my quick visit to Chicago I did the Interior Architecture Loop Tour and the Historic Chicago Bar Tour. Both were fantastic. I loved the offbeat approach that Chicago Detours takes. I explored parts of the city that I wouldn't have come into contact with and learned interesting facts. The guides on both tours were knowledgeable, personable, and enjoyable. I'd definitely take another tour from Chicago Detours on my next visit. I have recommended Chicago Detours to friends and they also really enjoyed it. read more

We went for the historic bar tour with a few friends and had Elizabeth as our tour guide. What a fun experience. Elizabeth was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic...very refreshing. This is a great way to learn about some of Chicago's history and have a fun time. Bars were accommodating and everyone was friendly. The amount of money you pay for tour is well worth it!! read more

We love this tour company! We loved our in-person session a couple years ago, and in this time of physical distancing, we enjoyed our virtual group tour of Chicago from the comfort of our own home! It was engaging and dynamic; playful and well-coordinated, with plenty of audience participation. We took the tour of Chicago's holiday-time history, and learned plenty of new fun facts - the tours are secretly educational as well! Can't recommend them enough, they are a delightful outfit read more

Great find in the Windy City. #Belovedlifepartner found this when we were looking for an afternoon activity. The fantastic walking tour combined history, architecture, festive drinks in a classic - and crowded - tavern, and some very interesting facts about Chicago. Guide (and company exec director) Amanda was very knowledgeable; she kept everyone in the group involved and engaged. One of the best city-tour experiences I've had - strong recommend. read more

Amanda, owner and tour guide of Chicago Detours, knows her stuff. And, anything she didn't know, she researched really well! We took the "Our Chicago Sound: Jazz, Blues & Beyond" tour. My husband is a saxophone player in, what are we up to now, 7 different bands. He also majored in music in college. When I heard about this tour, I thought he'd really enjoy it, and figured I'd learn more about what makes my honey tick. I was hoping he'd learn something new as well, and it wouldn't be boring for him. (OK,full disclosure. When researching the tour, I read that they stop in a bakery and you get to sample a red velvet cookie. I was instantly hooked!) What an amazing adventure we went on! 2 1/2 hours of jazz and blues history (or is it blues vs jazz? Yes, it's discussed here), on a comfy air conditioned bus that whisks you from north side to south and in-between, all while learning about the history of music and culture in Chicago. Amanda shares her wealth of knowledge on the subject, and pauses to hit her points home with the additional video clips on the bus. Another really cool thing about the tour, if you're not a native Chicagoan, this tour takes you to neighborhoods the typical tourist would never see; the "real" Chicago. Some highlights for me: Learning more about the Green Mill. I've been there so many times and was taught things I never knew. The mural in Bronzeville, the red velvet cookies(!) and finally, the harmonica lesson at the end. Amanda also sends you home with a list of additional businesses to check out and some discounts you can use at the shops for taking her tour. Another highlight, my husband who knows everything about jazz in Chicago even learned new things! Something that surprised me was out of the 30 or so people on the tour, only 4 or 5 were from out of town. The rest were all locals like us. After taking this tour, I'm ready to sign up for the walking tours as well. Whether a local or tourist, you will have a great time on Amanda's tours! I highly recommend Chicago Detours to show you around Chicago. read more

Went on the Interior Architecture tour. Original research makes Chicago Detours super engaging and you're essentially guaranteed to learn some fascinating new things. At one point a bystander assuming we were just another tour group was wisecracking "hope you get your money's worth" to the amusement of the group (we were definitely getting our money's worth...) read more

Before I moved to Chicago and was just a visitor, I went on two architectural tours - on the boat that goes down the river and a walking one that goes through downtown talking about modern skyscrapers. When I signed up for this tour though Yelp, I was hoping it would be something different and I certainly wasn't disappointed. Owner and tour guide Amanda gave a fantastic tour that incorporated video and pictures on iPads (three were used) and I loved how she combined art, history, humor, and architecture. Tour Stops: * Chase tower * Chicago temple building * Block 37 * CTA * Macy's (Marshall Field's) * Pedway * Cultural Center I never been to any of these places with the exception of the Chase tower and Macy's, so it was nice to check some new spots especially the Chicago temple building. Who knew there was a sky chapel in downtown? One of these days I need to check it out. Also I never knew about the history of Marshall Field's. I'm looking forward to other tours that Amanda has to offer in the future. Definitely worth it! read more

I bought this tour with a Groupon, and it was definitely money well spent. We did the "Inside the Loop" tour, and in spite of having spent most of my life as a Chicagoan, I saw and learned some new things. And when I say "new" I mean, "old, but new to me." I guess the exception would be Block 37, because it's pretty new and I'd walked through it before so it was old to me, but pointing this out makes me sound a little Rain Man, so let's move on. Our tour guide was Phill and he brought a good mix of knowledge, crowd-management and humor. The tour felt pretty fresh, so I didn't get the feeling he'd done it 300 times before. If he has, then he really is a gifted actor. He also reminded me a little of my older brother, which is neither here nor there. The highlights for me were the story of the First United Methodist Church (Chicago Temple Building) and the commissioning of the Picasso. We also took a spin through Field's - yes, Field's - and some of that history was neat, too. Most of that was from the slideshow on the iPads we carried (note: if you go, volunteer to carry an iPad because 1) you will see everything on it and 2) it will eliminate the awkward pause at the beginning when the guide asks for volunteers and no one steps up. Man up and carry the iPad). The fact that my husband set foot in Macy's after having vowed not to, was a highlight in a way as well. I mean, that he survived it was a highlight. I know he didn't enjoy it. One minor suggestion would be to start the tour moving a little quicker. This is partly because it begins inside Chase Tower and the security guards there have no problem holding a conversation from 30 feet apart. So it would be great to get out of the way of their very important, very loud business. We could have also spent a few more minutes in the Cultural Center, where the tour ends. It is such a tremendous place, and the library side in particular deserves some attention. Otherwise, a great time. Recomiendo! read more

You've read The Devil In The White City? Cool. A lot of people have. Chicago Detours' 1893 tour is way more fun that paging back and forth in that brick of a book trying to remember which architect did what and where for whom. Our tour guide Elizabeth was great about showcasing the inner workings of the culture and vibe of various downtown buildings during the 1893 World's Fair. We were able to compare images on the (Chicago Detours provided) iPads to actual buildings we walked through. There was also a handful of trivia, games, etc. that kept the content engaging and light. And there was food. At Berghoff. Never a bad thing. If you're looking for an interesting tour with great, engaging content, give the Chicago Detours World's Fair a go. It's the nice mix of history, culture, food, and fun. read more

I did the Historical Pub Crawl Tour. Overall, it was a worthwhile experience, though I wasn't exactly blown away. Pros: This tour was very rich in history, which is a huge plus. The stories built on top of each other, so they flowed rather nicely throughout the tour. I also like that the tour was interactive with mini trivia games and an iPad for us to follow along with the stories. Seeing lots of places in a relatively short amount of time was pretty cool too, many of which had tasty snacks for us! =D Cons: I expected to have some ethanol history. For instance, I expected to hear, "so-and-so place is known for their so-and-so beer/wine." At the very least, I'd like to know what it is that I'm drinking. I got the white wine option, and basically went from place to place drinking mysterious white wine. In fact, there was no interesting or meaningful mention of alcohol at all! If alcohol is to be the main feature of this tour, I expect a little more than simply to be handed a few drinks to down. I also thought our guide was a little curt. For example, the iPad showed a photo that was intended for a trivia game we had just finished playing. One of the guests asked about the photo when it popped up. Instead of just spending the 30 seconds to give an abbreviated answer, or say something like, "it's really not fun to talk about outside of the trivia game", she gave a bit of attitude and said, "that's not what we're on right now." I totally understand the need to keep things moving, but there are always ways to do so tactfully. So overall, not a bad experience, but fell a bit short on expectations. read more

Arrive early and grab a Starbucks from the lobby or check out the cool mural outside (it's "Four Seasons" by Marc Chagall) Aside from that, there's not really much else I can add that others haven't already pointed out. The tour was just the right amount of time, we saw some pretty interesting sights that I would have NEVER thought to do on my own. The church was cool, but I toured so many churches on european vacations that I've sort of reached my life quota on that type of experience. Had we been able to go to the top of the tower, however, would've made the experience awesome. But, you can't always get what you want. Loved the Chicago Cultural Center, which was the also the last stop on the tour. The Tiffany dome is super cool. Also enjoyed the multimedia aspect with the iPads. One thing I would loved to have more of is information on the major architects that shaped Chicago, really dive into their ideas, influences, who they were. There's definitely a fascinating narrative to be found there. But I have also have a big boner for auteur theory. So that's just me. Overall, worth your time and recommended if you're in Chicago and into architecture. read more

This isn't a tour just for out-of-towners. In fact, I'd say it isn't for out-of-towners at all. The tour was about looking at familiar things the average Chicagoan sees everyday and learning about it's history and development. We went into places and saw amazing things that have been right under my nose all along. I really enjoyed the iPad displays as well. Two of the tourists get to hold iPads filled with images and videos of the city that really help you get a sense of what life was like in Chicago before modern times, it's really eye opening to be standing in the place where a photo was taken 100 years ago... It was apparent that our guide was not just someone doing this to make a living, regurgitating a list of dates, but someone who is really passionate about history and architecture. She has done her own research and has come up with her own theories and ideas about Chicago. I'm kind of a huge nerd, so when my boyfriend got us tickets to a tour of my own neighborhood, I was actually really excited. And Amanda, our tour guide, exceeded even this geek's wildest dreams. I've recommended these tours to EVERYONE I know. If you are a Chicagoan, you really need to do this. And soon. read more

My sister and I took the Historic Chicago Walking Bar Tour with Pawel as our guide. He was very informative, funny, and made the tour very entertaining! We enjoyed looking at some of Chicago's historic buildings through an architectural lens and enjoyed learning the history of the buildings and taverns we visited. We highly recommend this company and this tour in particular. Ask for Pawel and tell him Banana Bush and Bacon Eisenhower sent you! read more

Great tour guide, virtual presentation covered so much information with enthusiasm and she did an excellent job engaging the participants.

Wow, went on my second tour with Chicago Detours this weekend and was equally impressed. I can't stop raving about how awesome this tour company is! Whether you're a local or a tourist, forget all the other tours, go with this one!!! There is so much interesting information packed into both walking tours and the fantastic thing is that the tour guide does not just bombard you with data, she presents it in a way that you actually remember it! History, culture, economics, architecture all weaved together in a fascinating way. I've been to the Mag Mile and the Loop countless times, but these tours make me see both places in a completely different light and with new appreciation for the history of this city. Can't wait for them to offer additional tours!! read more

My first trip to Chicago was an amazing experience, heightened by two tours with Chicago Detours. My husband and I took the Inside the Loop tour which explored the inside of several historic buildings as well as the outside. The next evening we were fortunate to be a part of the Good Times Historic Bar Tour. Elizabeth was our guide, passionate and filled with information about Chicago's rich history. I would recommend joining a tour early on in your trip. It lets you in on many inside stories of the buildings and architecture you will no doubt be walking by several times during your stay, allowing you to get your bearings and relish in each poignant story. Included in the tour is a list of recommended restaurants, bars and shops which give a fresh and local experience. We went to several of those recommended and they were spot on. I LOVE THAT! Thanks again Elizabeth and Chicago Detours for a memorable trip. Every city should take note! read more