Braeden was a touristic tour guide. Very witty commentary and knowledgeable about the general…read morehistory of Chicago. His pride in the second city is contagious. If I wasn't in love with Alaska, I would consider relocating.

Review for the WALKING TOUR: went with my family. The stories and the locations were not the only…read morehighlights, but the skill and presentation of the storyteller as well. Sophia was amazing, engaging and was full of energy/passion. We saw a deal at Groupon for $28 and we decided to take a chance on the activity. You don't go in any buildings, except one - the Palmer House Hotel. It was a good place for a break in the tour, though no scary stories were told about it. My feedback for the tour company is to add more stories if possible, I feel like there could be a little bit more added compared to the other tours I've been on. Parking: Use spot hero beforehand to find the best deal closest to Hoyt's tavern (meet up spot). Picked the spot near Dunkin Donuts for $10.99 and 5 min walk away. FYI: The tour does NOT circle back close to where they originally started. We ended the tour about 20 min walk away. So just keep that in mind. We were fine with it and even got to stop by one of our favorite Gelato places in Paris, Amorino on the way back. Discovered they have a store here along the walking tour.

This is a must-do when you visit Chicago. The architectural tour was very fascinating and…read moreinformative. While the tour is an architectural focus, Chicago's history is intertwined, and it was interesting to see how historical events influenced design and the planning of the area. Our tour guide, Jessica, was so knowledgeable and a great speaker. The tour lasted almost 90 minutes, and traverses the three branches of the Chicago River. The boat offers seating on the top deck and inside. For the best views, the top deck is better. We took the 10:00 tour, and there was ample seating in early June.

If you're in Chiago you have to do the Architecture tour at least once. If you're in Chicago…read moreduring the Summer as I was you can seek sanctuary in the air conditioned lower level. I wish the audio was a little bit louder on that level due to the sound of the fans and people talking. If you like my reviews, consider "following" my profile for reviews all across the SF Bay Area . Why "follow" someone? It causes the person you follow's reviews to tier to top when you pull up a business. I find this very handy when researching venues. Rod's Review grading scale explained. Essentially I personally base it on the likelihood of a return visit and I try to be stingy with 5 star reviews since they should be "special" in my eyes. Price/Value also play a role obviously but there are $ and $$$$ littered across my grading scale. 5 stars - "I'll go out of my way" (approx 6 % of my reviews) 4 stars- "If I was in the area I'd go here and would recommend", (approx 38% of my reviews) 3 stars "Maybe if was nearby", (approx 37% of my reviews) 2 stars -"Would likely not return, Only if you want to go", (approx 16% of my reviews) 1 star -"No thanks, even if I was hungry", (approx. 3 % of my reviews)

During Parents' Weekend at the University of Chicago, the university offered tours of the…read moreneighborhood 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.

Virtual tours are such a cool thing to do right now. I attended a Yelp Elite event that was a…read morevirtual 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.

I recently went on Chicago for Chicagoans tour of Hegewisch and thought it was incredibly…read moreinteresting and well researched. I lived most of my life in Chicago and knew very little of this neighborhood, and tour guide Emily did an amazing job of presenting both the history of the neighborhood, and issues that Hegewisch is currently addressing.

Every tour I've been on has been organized, professional, and well researched. At the same time…read morethey are also very personal because the guides have a real connection to the neighborhood. I am the biggest fan and recommend this group to everyone! Thank you to all the volunteers who keep this amazing group running.

This is one of the best tours I've ever been to. It was magical and the owner is so generous to…read moreopen up the home to the public We were enthralled with the fantastic wonders that exist here. It's 3 hours and worth every minute The less you know the better. It's a fantastic surprise once you've entered into this excellent experience

The Sanfilippo Foundation (de la musique) has limited tours of their beautiful and amazing estate…read more It's located in Barrington Hills on over 57 acres. The 52,000 sq. ft Tudor style home has so many unique musical, one of a kind and ornate items that you really have to see to believe! We went on the tour yesterday and it was really enjoyable. They have so many historical Calliope's from Europe and US on the premises. Also many other items including Tiffany lamps, steam trains/engines, a perfume museum and a restored carousel in its own building that is really something to see! It's truly a fascinating tour and very tastefully done. They only collected the very best top of the line pieces for the collection. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. Pictures and reviews really don't do this place justice. You need to go and see everything for yourself! It's definitely worth it and you'll leave feeling dazzled!

This was probably one of the best tours I've been on, and my fiancé (who has very high standards…read moreabout these things) agrees. We booked a tour for Saturday at 2 pm. There were some technical difficulties and the TV system on the bus ended up not working. Mr. Frank Calabrese Jr was very professional and good-humored about the situation. He offered everyone on the bus the opportunity to come back free of charge so that we may have the full experience with the photos he had been intending to show us. He proceeded to do the tour without the presentation, which honestly was great in itself. He is a very good story-teller, and had a great narrative. He had notes with him but only referenced them a few times to make sure he wasn't forgetting anything. Everything was super authentic and off the cuff. I loved that we went around Chicago and we were able to get glimpses of how the city was like in the 60s-90s. What made this tour so great was that these stories were first-hand. It didn't come from someone who spent hours studying the history; this was his real life. He was very genuine about his experiences, and his anecdote about his kids at the very end of the tour made me tear up a bit. He even invited us to stay for happy hour at the Chop House to have a drink with him to talk. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone, regardless of whether you know the mob history or not. I personally didn't know too much, and still was captivated by his stories. He does have a book (which I definitely intend to read) and a movie in the works!

I'm a huge fan of true crime and Chicago history, so I'm surprised to say that this was my first…read morecrime tour ever. But everything happens for a reason, and it seems that reason was that I was meant to wait until the perfect one came along -- that, my friends, happened to be the Family Secrets Tour. I met Mr. Calabrese Jr. weeks ago when he presented some of his intriguing life stories at an event at Chicago Chop House, and I knew that evening that I had to book and experience the real deal, aka his bus tours. My friend and I booked a tour for a Friday afternoon recently that started at 2pm, and though there was a bit of a delay because our bus's TV monitors weren't working, Mr. Calabrese Jr. smoothly filled the time with some behind-the-scenes stories he said he usually doesn't share on the tour. I was hooked immediately. To be honest, before this tour, I had no idea the stories his family was involved in were so high-profile (I even talked to my family afterward, and they ALL knew every detail and were mad I didn't invite them! Sorry family!). But even while he showed us news clips, a lot of photos, and told all of his stories, he remained modest, which made the entire experience endearing. Mr. Calabrese Jr. is super charismatic and a great storyteller, and you can tell he genuinely loves telling his story and showing everyone around the neighborhoods where he grew up, and where big moments happened in history to people who were in "the life." I truly enjoyed this tour and I recommend it for anyone who wants an real, honest, non-theatrical recap of Chicago's mob history. The Family Secrets Tour is engaging and delightful. Thank you so much for captivating us, Frank! Can't wait to bring my family along some time!

Route 66, also known as "The Mother Road", officially begins in downtown Chicago. The starting…read morepoint is marked by a sign & plaque on Michigan Ave, near the intersection of South Michigan & East Adams; across from the Art Institute of Chicago. The route originally ran from Chicago to Los Angeles, California

Route 66 starts, or ends, in Chicago at the intersection of Jackson and Jefferson and ends in Santa…read moreMonica, CA. Today, 85 % of the original roads are still drivable. "Get Your Chicks on Route 66."

All aboard! The Titanic is an iconic movie, and my husband and I have been seeing ads for the…read moreexhibition and decided let's go see what it's all about. The Titantic Exhibition is located in Old Orchard Mall right next to Nando's. There is plenty of complimentary parking as it is in the mall. We love going to exhibitions to learn more about a theme, and they are all styled in a similar way. When we arrived, we checked in at the ticket booth. We pre-purchased our tickets online a the time slot so that we can ensure we wouldn't have to wait in a long queue once we arrived. When we checked in we were given a boarding pass of someone that was on the ship so that we could follow along their journey as we continued through the exhibits. It started by taking us through the build of the ship, and first class. Showing us the different china, set ups, and bedding that were between the classes. We learned fun facts like how many life savors and spots on the boats vs the passengers as the boat was designed not to sink. A fact that I has no idea about was that they kept the gates locked for the third class to keep them from wandering second and first class, and that was a huge part of why so many of that class were not able to make it out. As we went through the exhibits we visited the difference classes. I also read that some of the survivors wrote books about their experience, I absolutely want to check some of those out. As the exhibition continued we walked through the iceberg timeline and how they received noticed ahead of time and how quickly they had to react. They also had a plate for us to feel how cold the iceberg and water was, as well as a seat for us to see the ship sink from the safety boats. Once we go through, you see the ship underwater. It was a true sensory experience. And we got to learn whether or not our given boarding pass member survived or passed. I was a engine crew member and I survived despite the engine room being one of the first to be flooded with water. After we learned all the that Titantic had to offer, they also had an exhibition for the Chicago Titantic which I knew nothing about but learned so much. The only bone I had to pick was how insanely hot the whole exhibit was. It was hot outside, and to come inside and need some relief but be uncomfy because it was so stuff and hot was no ideal since no beverages were allowed. The exhibition ended with various movie props and scripts and we exited into the gift shop. Overall we had an incredible time and I would absolutely recommend it to other if you're into this type of experience.

This attraction is located in a large mall. its main entrance is located off of a courtyard that…read morefaces a patio/lounge area chairs and large Legos to play with. Being that this place is located in the mall, there is tons of parking available. I recommend parking either in the orange garage or in the area of the parking lot near the courtyard entrance. You can pre purchase your tickets for a select time slot online or take your chances and purchase them when you get there. If you wait to purchase your tickets, you may not be able to get the time slot that you want though. As soon as you are admitted into the museum, you are given a card with the name of a passenger on the Titanic, including their class. In the middle of the museum, in the lifeboat exhibit, you can see if the person on the card you were given survives. Only one person in my group of 4 survived. My littles were bummed that their person did not make it. The first thing that you do when you enter the museum is to take an overpriced souvenir photo on a mock bow of the Titanic, like Rose and Jack. You can purchase it for $25 at the end of the tour if you would like. After the photo you get in a line and wait to be let into the standing room only movie. I really enjoyed the movie. It was pretty modern and informative. It lasted about 7 minutes or so. After the movie, you start your self-guided part of your tour. The museum has many replicas of artifacts from the Titanic. It should be noted that they do not have many, if any actual artifacts from the ship. However, they do have some items from the ill-fated ship's White Star Line sister ships. Some items would have captions like "the same china and silver were used on all 3 ships." You will also find a replica hallway, a starry night promenade deck replica, a boiler room and first-class cabin. I like the information placards placed around the museum that detailed certain aspects of the ship and highlighting passengers. There is an iceberg exhibit that was supposed to show you how cold it was when the Titanic sank by putting your hand in one of two slots. However, the freezer element was not working on it. Other Museum exhibits include the exploration of the Titanic wreckage, a short movie showing the Titanic sink, from a lifeboat point of view, a timeline of the Titanic sinking, coal power exhibit, the ship in film and television, including James Cameron's 1997 hit movie Titanic, construction of the titanic, and lifeboat exhibit. You can also take a photo on a replica of the Titanic's grand staircase, but you are limited to going no higher than the 3rd step. Additionally, the museum has section dedicated to the local ship tragedy, the sinking of the SS Eastland in 1915, at a pier in the Chicago River. It is located near the end of the tour and is also where you will find the men's restroom. I found this exhibit interesting. I had never heard of this maritime disaster, and was amazed that it was partially caused by improvements made in response to the Titanic tragedy. I also found the link to George Halas and the Chicago Bears very eye opening. Unlike the Titanic exhibits, this exhibit has actual artifacts from that ship and videos of what happened and the link to the Chicago Bears and George "Papa Bear" Halas. You exit the museum through the........yep, you guessed it, gift shop. The shop is grossly overpriced. I compared some of the items in there such as the Heart of the Ocean Necklace, to the same items online and found them much, much cheaper on there. I also felt that they did not have a good selection of items in the shop. They have a few books, shirts, bags, hats and other trinkets, but nothing really good. You can also purchase an add-on VR experience of the Titanic here. This museum is good, but I have seen much better. I spent about a little less than an hour here. Compared to other Titanic museums that I have visited and what this museum could be makes this attraction just "good" for me. I was not wow'ed and we breezed right through it. Of course, attractions like this are money traps, but this one seems even more so. I probably would not visit here again, but I will admit that it is a nice change of pace from the downtown Chicago attractions. I would definitely seek out discounts such as a Groupon, prior to my visit though.

Eric was a very good speaker and staff war very nice, the entire thing was very informative thank…read moreyou guys so much!

Jim was excellent on the Architecture Tour. We travelled from Sheffield, England, and this was our…read morefavourite activity of the week. Jim was passionate, funny, and knowledgeable. The route was stunning, a great way to see the city. Great value for money. He also let us know about the $7 tickets for the lake cruise that we wouldn't have done otherwise.

So much fun to do this with my scary friends... they ended up having an amazing time as well so…read morethank you very much for a great time and experience

I would say I have an avid interest in the paranormal. I've always loved reading about ghost…read morestories, shadow figures, apparitions, orbs, and other phenomenons that challenge the logical mindset. When I saw that Haunted Hometowns had a ghost tour, I booked one and had a really interesting experience. The Tour itself lasts about 2 hours with different stops in the historic Naperville area. Diane is the owner and was our guide for the night. She told ghost tales of horror (did you know there was a huge train crash in Naperville?) as well as stories of history (we learned about the history of Naperville's buildings and its inhabitants). The coolest part of our tour was that one of the other people in the tour had an ovilus device. This uses energies for ghosts/spirits to manipulate words that appear on the screen. My EMF (electromagnetic field detector) which was quiet for most of the night started to go off at a random bush in the historic district. The other guy pulled out the device and the words "Map" and "Priest" came up. The area we were in was right by the old church which was really cool. All in all, it was a decent tour. The stories were fascinating but to be honest I was expecting more of a "ghost hunt" tour (like checking out an abandoned building- minus one star) as opposed to ghost stories at different locations. We learned a lot and had fun! Thanks again.