The Holiday Zoolights have been a feature of Lincoln Park Zoo for thirty years. The zoo of course is much older but the Zoolights remain a popular event, with many different colours and shapes to enjoy. Some of the lights illuminate a building, drawing the attention to its presence even in the dark. Others represent animals, most of which can be found in the zoo, or well-known fictional characters, instantly recognisable to those who have read the books or seen the films. Many are patterns, creating a beautiful and magical experience. It is very easy to forget that the zoo is in Chicago. Chicago doesn't exactly have the reputation of being a quiet city and there is certainly always a lot happening on the streets during virtual tours of the city. The zoo, however, was quiet. If it wasn't for the occasional faint views of the skyscrapers of Chicago, it would be easy to believe we were somewhere else entirely. At this time of day in particular, seeing even one animal is a bonus. Lincoln Park Zoo, which is also involved in zoological research, helps to ensure the animals' comfort by giving them places to hide away from humans. Nevertheless, one bird in particular was enjoying the attention and a few other birds were just about visible in the darkness. As Mike walked around the zoo, he talked about the zoo's history, including its beginnings, its first animals, and the ways in which the zoo has changed over time. He showed us where the animals lived, and explained the former functions of various buildings. Mike has put together another very enjoyable tour. Even with almost no animals, it is an absolute visual delight and a truly fascinating place. read more

If I could give "Tours With Mike" 10 stars, I would! I recently went on Mike's LGBTQ+ history walking tours, and they were absolutely phenomenal. The first tour took us through downtown Chicago, where Mike shared powerful stories and pointed out locations that are rich in LGBTQ+ history. His passion for preserving and sharing these stories is contagious--it felt like we were transported back in time, connecting with the struggles and triumphs of those who paved the way. After our downtown experience, we joined Mike for his Boystown tour, and once again, it exceeded every expectation. Mike's knowledge is vast, and his commitment to the LGBTQ+ community shines through every word. His storytelling brought the history of these neighborhoods to life in such a meaningful way. Beyond the tour, Mike inspired us to become more active in LGBTQ+ activism ourselves. His message of keeping history alive and honoring those who fought for equality resonated deeply with us. If you're looking for an enlightening, emotional, and educational experience, "Tours With Mike" is it. Mike is a passionate, knowledgeable guide who truly deserves all the praise he gets. I recommend his tours to anyone wanting to connect with Chicago's LGBTQ+ history on a personal and powerful level. Thank you, Mike, for a memorable experience--keep doing what you're doing because it's making a difference! read more

Mike just gave me my 6th private tour. We did the Downtown LGBT stories. I'm always trying to learn something new, especially when it's far removed from my own life. Mike initially focused on architecture and I am an addict. But he has expanded my vision to include art and history. We started our tour in thr Wabash Arts Corridor. I admired the murals while Mike provided their background information. I learned that Columbia College is responsible for the artwork. He then featured several Columbia alum, including Emmy award winner Lena Waite. Mike spoke about various personalities like DJ Ralphie Rosario Chuck Renslow, Dom Orejudos, Albert Cashier who passed as a man fir over 40 years in the army and Jennifer Pritzker and her transition from male to female and from the army to a successful career in business. Then there were the closeted couples like Jane Adams/Mary Rozet Smith and Margaret Anderson/Jane Heap. I also learned JC Leyendecker did more Saturday Evening Post covers than Norman Rockwell and that Rockwell considered him his mentor. And to tie it all together there are 2 books I plan to read: Bertram Copes Year by Henry Blake Fuller Secret Historian by Samuel Steward Mike has an encyclopedic knowledge and has the ability to adjust to his audience. He makes it seem like you're strolling and talking to an old friend. read more

I absolutely loved this tour. I had the opportunity to take a free tour and leaving the tour, I was ready to pay for Mike's other tours. Mike was very personable throughout the tour which made it seem like you were being led by a very knowledgeable friend rather than a tour. The tour itself was very informative. Whenever he brought up a new term, he gave concise definitions using the buildings to highlight the architectural styles. He also uses the tour to discuss ugliness in relation to form and function, which invites participants to view the city and these building in new ways. He also asks us to vote whether we thought the building were pretty or ugly and asked us why we thought so which further pushes participants to really think about these buildings. I learned a lot about multiple aspects of architecture, planning, and history. I also finally noticed a lot of these buildings that I never really looked at before. Amazing tour, and I can't wait to take others. read more

The "Ugly Buildings" tour with Mike exceeded my expectations! I thought it would be fun and quirky, but it was so much more than that! Mike is incredibly knowledgeable about architecture, design, history, real estate and property marketing, so he was able to go beyond pointing out what was aesthetically unappealing to explain why buildings were built the way they were and how they missed the mark on any number of aesthetic, design, economic, environmental, practical, and social dimensions. Yet, his style and sense of humor make this tour great for people who know very little about any of these things. Because of Mike's knowledge and delivery style, this tour is perfect for a huge range of people: those just looking for a fun tour as well as those with a lot of technical knowledge. No matter where you fall on this spectrum, you will enjoy learning new and unusual things about Chicago architecture on a Tour with Mike! read more

Tour Review: LGBTQ History Bus Tour of Chicago's South Side I recently had the pleasure of participating in an exceptional two-hour bus tour led by Mike, focusing on the LGBTQ history of Chicago's south side. The tour traced the region's rich queer heritage from the 19th century through the present day, offering a captivating journey through time. Mike's expert narration skillfully wove together stories of politics, the Great Migration, house music, and the gay liberation movement. His engaging and energetic delivery kept the entire experience both informative and entertaining, making the two hours pass quickly. This tour is highly recommended for anyone interested in learning about the cultural and historical contributions of Chicago's LGBTQ community. Mike's knowledge, enthusiasm, and storytelling make it a must-do experience for visitors and locals alike. read more

I recently booked Mike for a private walking tour when my father-in law from the Boston area was in town with a friend. I've lived in Chicago my entire life and work as an event Dj at many of the downtown buildings so I figured this was just a fun thing for the out-of-towners. Boy was I wrong; It was super fun for me too! I learned so many new and fascinating details about buildings I'd seen probably hundreds of times before. I also gained a deep appreciation and breath of knowledge about architectural styles in our brief two hour tour. I'll honestly never look at buildings the same way again. Mikes passion and enthusiasm shine through on his tour and he manages to explain big architectural design concepts in an easy and accessible way. I cannot recommend this enough and can't wait to join Mike for another of his tours in the future. read more

Mike is an amazing tour guide! He has an incredible wealth of knowledge, and his tours showcase so much more than just Chicago's amazing architecture. He brings the diverse culture and history of the city to life with stories that are provocative and engaging, while remaining empathetic and conscientious of the experiences of Chicago's residents both past and present. He is friendly, warm and engaging- an absolute delight, and with the combination of both his in person and virtual tours, he has made the city of Chicago accessible to everyone. Thank you, Mike! Going on virtual tours with you has provided an opportunity to explore my long distance partner's childhood city with them, and it's brought the two of us even closer together- which is something I will always be grateful for. read more

We recently took the "Incredible Interiors Walking Tour" in Chicago and it was a fantastic experience. Our tour guide, Mike, was incredibly knowledgeable about the history, architecture, and interiors of the buildings we visited. His passion for the subject was evident throughout the tour and his ability to bring the stories behind these spaces to life truly impressed the entire group. Having grown up, gone to college, and worked in Chicago for several years, I've walked past these buildings countless times without knowing the fascinating history behind them. Mike's insights made me see my city in a new light. I highly recommend this tour to both visitors and locals--it's a unique opportunity to discover the hidden stories behind Chicago's iconic buildings. read more

The most recent Tour with Mike that I attended was his Ukrainian Village Tour. I have attended many of his other tours including the Architecture 101 series. Every tour with Mike is a beautiful reflection of my home city, Chicago, and continues to show me parts of the city I've never really seen, along with a lot of great information on each. I have learned more about Chicago from Mike's tours than I did living there for many years. He is personable, responsive to attendees questions, and his subjects are very well-researched. Photography is always interesting and highlighted places in the tours are presented well. When visiting Chicago, you must have a tour with Mike. He has many interesting and fun ones for you to choose from. You will not regret it!! read more

I had the pleasure of joining Mike on a recent Choose Chicago Route 66 Neighborhoods by Trolley Tour. It was a great day spent learning about the history of Route 66 as well as learning about a Chicago neighborhood (Little Village) that I knew very little about. As always, Mike had done his research and provided a plethora of tidbits, background, and trivia for our group. It was different than most tours I've taken with Tours With Mike because the majority of the tour took place on a Trolley car following the historic Route 66 through Chicago neighborhoods. What wasn't different from any other tour I've been on with Mike is that I learned plenty about the history and background of the things we saw and the places we visited. Highly recommended! read more

RE: The 12 Virtual Days of Christmas tour in Chicago conducted in December 2025: Mike is very knowledgeable about the topics his tours cover and the topics all vary but are centered around life in Chicago. You can hear the enthusiasm (and giggles) in his voice as he narrates those places the viewer is seeing, either via live stream or on past videos. I have learned so much about Chicago (having lived in Philly and NYC) that after watching his virtual tours, I want to go there (and take a tour with him personally) one day. He is professional, very personable and adds levity at times to the tour so that it is not boring with just factual information provided about the places visited. He is truly a fine representative for the city of Chicago. read more

My girlfriend and I went on Mike's Incredible Interiors tour and had a blast! Mike is extremely knowledgeable and energetic. His background and experience in real estate and as a tour guide really shines through during the tour. It was great to get a mix of both architectural styles over the years as well as a bit of Chicago history. This was a great winter activity, as the name suggests you're shielded from the weather during the stops. We also went early-ish in the morning on a December Saturday, which was great to avoid navigating crowds. The final stop lets you out in a great part of the loop for dining, shopping, etc. All around a great way to spend 2 hours downtown and learn something new! read more

My husband and I just did our 2nd tour (Incredible Interiors) this past weekend. It's certainly not going to be our last tour with Mike. Whether you are a Chicago native or visiting, I highly recommend checking Tours with Mike out. I love his unique perspective on the city and because of his thorough research I learned a lot of new things, despite living near the city my whole life. Mike is a storyteller. He has such an engaging presence and he clearly knows his stuff backwards and forwards. I've seen him field random questions without any hesitation. I've passed along his name and information to several friends and family members and will continue to do so! read more

Mike was SO knowledgeable! A walking encyclopedia of Chicago. The tour was fun, filled with great information about all kinds of things Chicago. I've lived here all my life and I learned a lot on the tour that I didn't know about Chicago. We went through neighborhoods I've never been in and learned some really important history of those neighborhoods. A lot to be proud of! I was on the tour with 10 of my girlfriends (from grammar school!!!) and we had so much fun we are already making plans to do another one of Mike's tours. It was GREAT! Mike was very energetic, kind and courteous, and a lot of fun! read more

It was so great to get to learn so much history about Chicago and the underground system they have going on. It was also surprisingly fun to hear how the underground ties in with the rats as well as all the interesting facts about them. Mike is a great tour guide and very interested in sharing his knowledge about the city and it's underground with those who book a tour with him. I am so glad my family scheduled a private tour with him! If we are ever back in the city I would definitely consider booking one of his other tours. read more

We did the incredible interiors tour with Mike and had a great time. We got to go inside a lot of buildings that I had only seen the outside of - totally missing so much of the beautiful architecture inside the building. Mike was super knowledgeable about the history of each building and different design styles & philosophy. Engaging & very thoughtful about pointing out areas to sit and rest and restrooms along the way. This would be a great tour if you're a chicago resident or just visiting. read more

I've taken several tours offered through Tours with Mike and each one has been stellar. Mike weaves interesting stories and historical perspective to his architecture tours. Not only do you learn about the buildings and the city, but the people behind the design, commission and construction of those buildings. He has so much knowledge, and passion about architecture and Chicago and it really shows through in his tours - but he does an excellent job keeping the tours fun and interesting. read more

I usually don't leave reviews but Mike really impressed me and my friends! He was very genuine and knowledgable of Chicago. He was able to spit out facts on buildings and art installations that weren't even covered on the tour. This is a great tour wether you're a native or a tourist! I love how interactive it was. Mike stirred up a conversation of each building and it gave me nostalgia from art school critiques. I will definitely be paying attention to more ugly buildings in the future. read more