Travel Planning Guide for Chicago, Illinois: Tour Packages

Chicago CityPass is the best deal in the Windy City, giving you discounted admission to five of the city's premier attractions. The Chicago CityPass ensures you'll get the most out of your vacation - yet it is so compact it will fit into your back pocket. It's all you need to see the best of Chicago!

Chicago CityPass includes entry to:

• Hancock Observatory including Sky Tour OR Sears Tower Skydeck
• Field Museum including Underground Adventure
• Museum of Science and Industry including Omnimax
• Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum including Sky Theater Show
• Shedd Aquarium: VIP entry including Oceanarium, Wild Reef, Amazon Rising and Special Exhibit

This is the best way for you to save time and money. Each ticket booklet is packed with useful information, including hours of operation, contact and transportation information and insider tips.

Save over US$60 on five attractions with one Chicago CityPass  that's a 47% saving, plus you won't wait in long ticket lines!

Most venues included in the pass have different minimum ages for free entry. It is your choice whether you purchase a pass for infants and children to avoid standing in ticket lines to verify ages and pay admission upon entry. You may purchase a Child Pass for infants and children, however this may not be cost saving.

Hop on the most innovative tour to hit Chicago in years! Gliding around the Windy City on your very own Segway, you'll see all the famous sights - Buckingham Fountain, Navy Pier, Lake Michigan and more. Be one of the first to take part in this unique, unforgettable experience!

The 3 hour morning tour begins with a 30 minute training session. You'll glide from the peninsula through Museum Campus to the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum. Then you'll cruise along Lakeshore Drive at the edge of Lake Michigan all the way to Millennium Park at the foot of famous Michigan Avenue. You'll see Navy Pier, the Lincoln statue, Buckingham Fountain and of course, ride the coolest machine in the world the entire time!

As you cruise along Lake Michigan, through Grant Park and the Museum Campus, you will receive a great orientation, informative historical and current-day information, heaps of unique and fascinating stories, fantastic photo ops and superb personal service from your guide. The Segway is the first of its kind - a self-balancing, personal transportation device that's designed to operate in any pedestrian environment. It's new, it's cool and a ton of fun!

All 3 hour tours are limited to 8 clients with 1 guide so you can count on a great, intimate experience. Discover what it's like to be a Windy City celebrity as everyone turns to watch you glide by!

City Segway Tours are proud to be the first guided tour using Segways in the world! No one can match their experience. Be sure you glide with the original!

HIGHLIGHTS:
The Lakefront, Museum Campus, Grant Park, Buckingham Fountain, Chicago's breathtaking skyline and more!

All riders must be at least 12 years of age to participate.

Hop on the most innovative tour to hit Chicago in years! Gliding through the Windy City on an eco-friendly Segway is the coolest ride of the 21st century! Far easier than walking, and more unique and personalized than a coach tour, riding a Segway personal transporter is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

You'll see all the famous Chicago sights light up for the night Buckingham Fountain, Navy Pier, Lake Michigan and more. The tour begins with a 30-minute orientation session, then you'll be cruising on your Segway along Lake Michigan, through Grant Park and the Museum Campus.

There are fantastic photo opportunities, plus you will receive a great orientation of Chicago from the informative commentary highlighting the city's past and present history and stories.

The two-hour evening tours are limited to just eight passengers, so you can count on having a great, intimate experience. Discover what it's like to be a Windy City celebrity as everyone, yes everyone, turns to watch you glide by!

The Segway is the first of its kind a self-balancing, personal transportation device that's designed to operate in any pedestrian environment. It's new, it's cool and it's a ton of fun!

All riders must be at least 16 years of age to participate.

See all the sights of Chicago at your own pace! On a Chicago City Hop-on Hop-off Tour you can get off the bus at any scheduled stop to visit Chicago's most popular attractions, then pick up the tour where you left off or get on at any other regular stop on the route. For individuals and families, this is the best way to see the sites in a day!

Your fully-narrated trolley (heated in winter) or double decker bus will tour 13 magnificent miles of Chicago's downtown and The Loop, taking you by the city's premier shopping, dining and attractions. The tour is about two hours if you do not get off.

The Go Chicago Card is the perfect way to save on your Chicago vacation. You'll get FREE admission to over 25 attractions and tours for one low price! Chicago has dozens of great attractions, so the Go Chicago Card has something for everyone.

With the Go Chicago Card you'll enjoy the ultimate in freedom, choice, flexibility and value in the city. It gives you over $500 in value and savings at shops and restaurants, FREE gifts at select attractions, and a full-color pocket guidebook to Chicago.

The Go Chicago Card is an all-inclusive visitor pass which gives you unlimited admission to over 25 attractions, including:

• Adler Planetarium
• Shedd Aquarium (includes Skip-the-Line admission and souvenir photo!)
• Museum of Science and Industry (includes Skip-the-Line admission!)
• Kohl's Children's Museum
• Museum of Contemporary Art
• Field Museum
• Art Institute of Chicago

The Go Chicago Card also includes a pass to ride all five of Navy Pier's attractions: the Carousel, Cliff Climb, Wave Swinger, Adventure Golf and the famous Ferris Wheel.

There are many other great inclusions:

• Two-day Hop-On Hop-off Trolley Pass
• Skyline Cruise
• Architectural walking tours
• Admission to the Hancock Observatory and SkyDeck Chicago
• FREE day trips including the North Shore Tour and South Side Tour
• Savings of up to 20% on shopping and dining throughout the city

See 'Itinerary' below for complete list of inclusions.

Welcome to the only speakeasy dinner show in Chicago Tommy Gun's Garage! Just say the password and you'll be transported back to the roaring twenties. You'll be entertained by gangsters and flappers, dancing the Charleston to the music of Cole Porter and George Gershwin. It's a night out in Chicago you'll never forget!

Entering Tommy Gun's Garage through the "El" tracks, you'll swear you've time traveled back to the 1920s and the era of speakeasies! You'll see silent movies playing, memorabilia from the 1920s, the Boss's 1928 Model A Ford car, a replica of the wall from the St. Valentines Day Massacre and pictures of gangsters and coppers from those times.

The "Mugs" and "Molls" dance and sing to Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington and more ... All played by Chicago's Sinfully Orchestra.

After a great dinner of pasta, steak, fish or chicken, join "Vito", "Gloves", the "Mugs" and the "Molls" for non-stop comedy and dangerous fun, as they entertain you with singing, dancing, and a LOT of audience participation!

You'll be raided by the cops, complete with raid sirens and flashing lights. Perhaps you'll even be pulled up onstage to perform a hilarious sobriety test given by Officer Murphy, and be "interviewed" by Vito!

After dark, hit two of Chicago's hotspots for the best in blues and late night entertainment. At each club you will be treated to some of the City's popular Blues artists and entertainers. Transportation, admission and a drink (beer or wine) will be included at each club.

This is the perfect chance to experience the sounds of the Chicago Blues. You will visit two of the city's local Blues Clubs for a night on the town.

At each club you will be treated to some of the City's popular Blues artists and entertainers. Transportation, admission and a drink (beer or wine) will be included at each club.

Please Note: You must be at least 21 years old to participate in this tour.

See Chicago from the land and the water on this scenic half-day tour. This comprehensive tour shows you the South Shore business district, the Loop and the exclusive shopping areas and neighborhoods. Then, you will see Chicago from the water as you cruise past the shoreline in a beautiful streamliner yacht!

From the lake you'll see lakefront views of the Chicago River, the city's bridges and the famous Chicago Locks. There's also Navy Pier, the Coast Guard Station and other points of interest lining the shores of the longest lake in the world, Lake Michigan.

The tour ends at the boat dock at McClurg Court & Illinois Street adjacent to Michigan Avenue and its exclusive stores.

South Side sights:

• Grant Park
• Soldier Field
• Adler Planetarium
• Joseph Petrillo outdoor band-shell
• Art Institute of Chicago
• Orchestra Hall
• Shedd Aquarium
• Field Museum of Natural History
• South Commons
• Jackson Park
• University of Chicago
• Museum of Science and Industry
• Lake Point Towers
• Navy Pier

This comprehensive half-day tour is the perfect introduction to the Windy City. From the highlights of the North Side and South Shore, to driving virtually the entire length of the scenic Outer Drive, you'll come away with an overview of the best Chicago has to offer.

The tour takes you to Chicago's beautiful Lincoln Park, Washington Park and Grant Park. A stop will be made at the fascinating Lincoln Park Conservatory and there's a camera stop at the Adler Planetarium (or substitute stop) for breathtaking views.

North Side sights:

• Loop and State Street
• Richard J. Daley Plaza with its Picasso sculpture
• Wacker Drive
• Chicago River
• Wrigley Building
• Magnificent Mile and Michigan Avenue
• Water Tower Place
• John Hancock Center
• Lincoln Park
• Wrigley Field
• Botanical Gardens
• Chicago Historical Society
• Newberry Reference Library

South Side sights:

• Grant Park
• Soldier Field
• Adler Planetarium
• Joseph Petrillo outdoor band-shell
• Art Institute of Chicago
• Orchestra Hall
• Shedd Aquarium
• Field Museum of Natural History
• South Commons
• Jackson Park
• University of Chicago
• Museum of Science and Industry
• Lake Point Towers
• Navy Pier

Chicago is renowned for its stunning and original architecture, and the most relaxing way to see it is on a cruise on the Chicago River! You'll learn all about Chicago's history and landmarks before the tour's grand finale, a thrilling speedboat ride on Lake Michigan.

From the boat, you'll see and hear about the dozens of skyscrapers lining the Chicago River, including the Sears Tower and the Tribune Tower.

Then, for a spectacular view of the Chicago skyline from Lake Michigan, you'll take a thrilling speedboat ride along the lake. From the water, you'll see Buckingham Fountain, Grant Park, beautiful Chicago Harbor and Chicago's Museum Campus.

Your best choice for experiencing Chicago, this tour combines coach and boat travel. It's the only tour that takes you from the lakefront, through the locks and along the river.

Along the way, you'll:

• Learn when and why the flow of the Chicago River was reversed
• Learn how Chicago architects pioneered skyscraper construction
• Learn why the beautiful Chicago lakefront is almost all parkland
• Learn about an $80 million dollar skyscraper construction mistake
• Travel through the historic Chicago River Locks and up the Chicago River to Sears Tower

Enjoy the Grand Tour of Chicago and a visit to the Hancock Tower! See the sites from one of Chicago's tallest landmarks.

It takes the world's fastest elevators just 39 seconds to take visitors to the 94th floor to The Hancock Observatory. On a clear day you can see up to 80 miles away and view four states - Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. Experience the open-air Skydeck, 1,000 feet above Chicago's Magnificent Mile, where you can feel the wind, take in the sun and check out the dynamic city below.

Enjoy a scenic tour of Chicago's lake front and downtown area aboard the Trolley buses and the New Upper Deckers!

The Hop-on Hop-off Trolley and Upper Decker Tour allows you the chance to get on and off the Trolley Bus or Upper Decker in order to visit the Field Museum of Natural History, the Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium, the Art Institute and other famous city attractions such as the Sears Tower, the John Hancock Tower, the new and fascinating Navy Pier, the North Pier, Water Tower with its famous shops and many other highlights. You have 8 hours to enjoy this hop on/hop off feature.

Here is a tour full of interest, history, and beauty. You'll travel through Grant Park, the front lawn of the city and site of Soldier Field, Adler Planetarium with its sky dome, the Joseph Petrillo outdoor band-shell where Chicagoans listen to fine music throughout the summer nights, the Art Institute of Chicago, world renowned for the largest collection of impressionistic art, Orchestra Hall, home of the famous Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the world's largest aquarium, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Field Museum of Natural History, renowned for the size and scope of its collections. And looking over from these sights you'll see the 80 story Amoco Oil Building, completely faced in white granite. Then you'll travel through the South Commons a new 'close- in' residential community.

You will travel through beautiful Jackson Park where the Columbian Exposition of 1893 was held to celebrate the founding of America 400 years earlier. Then you'll pass through the University of Chicago with its elegant English style architecture, and pass the Museum of Science and Industry, a tribute to man's ingenuity and inventiveness. You'll see the world's highest apartment building, Lake Point Towers, an architecturally stunning building of glass and curves adjacent to Navy Pier, Chicago's inland port. A camera stop will be made at the Adler Planetarium for its breathtaking view or a substitute stop will be made.

Step aboard the Chicago Dinner Cruise and enjoy a three-hour escape on Lake Michigan. Relaxing in the elegant ambiance that only a true luxury cruising vessel can provide, you'll sail along the lake shore and have unmatched views of the world-famous Chicago skyline.

For an experience that begins well before the cruise departs, arrive early dressed in your most festive attire. Enjoy the electric atmosphere of Navy Pier, alive with wandering entertainers and remarkable views that offer a taste of the experience to come.

The Captain and crew will greet you as you step aboard, and the ship's photographer will record the moment for your party. Once on deck, your host will greet you and escort you to your private table, where your wait staff will introduce themselves and give you the opportunity to decide how you'd like them to pace your service. From the three climate-controlled dining decks to the Observation deck, the dinner cruise offers a unique setting with understated Art Deco accents, reminiscent of the classic ocean liners. Be sure to visit the Captain's bridge, open to all passengers throughout most of the cruise.

A menu of creative seasonal hors d'oeuvres, appetizers, entrees and desserts is freshly prepared onboard daily, perfectly complemented by an excellent wine list. With soft piano music, spacious dance floors on each deck and live music provided by a five-piece band, the entertainment doesn't end until well after the ship returns to the pier. Dance to everything from classic jazz to contemporary favorites.

Welcome aboard Chicago's largest luxury yacht at Navy Pier! Tantalize your taste buds and discover Chicago's wonderful city skyline on this two-hour lunch cruise. While you cruise, and enjoy a freshly prepared three-course meal, you'll enjoy magnificent views of the Windy City skyline and hear your favorite music from a live trio.

Your cruise experience begins as you board the luxury yacht at Navy Pier. After a quick stop for a commemorative boarding photo, you host will greet you and escort you to your private table.

Relax with a beverage or tour the ship's three climate-controlled decks. Watching the boat cast-off from one of the observation decks is a great way to start your afternoon cruise.

When you are ready to begin lunch, order your meal from the extensive menu of creative appetizers, entrees and desserts. Bring an appetite as the food is delicious, plentiful and prepared freshly to your specifications.

Throughout the cruise the live trio sets the mood...Enjoy a wide range of music, from classic jazz to contemporary favorites.

Return to the pier relaxed and refreshed. As you depart, you'll find your boarding photo ready for purchase.

Medieval Times is an adventure unlike any you have ever experienced before. During each live performance, guest enjoy an authentic medieval four-course feast while valiant knights battle to the death on horseback. Brilliant costumes and famous Andalusian horses add to the splendor of your visit. Cheer your brave knights to victory as they compete in games of skill, hand to hand combat and the joust!

North America's favorite dinner attraction, Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament, is an exciting evening of quality family entertainment based upon the glory of the Middle Ages. Journey back to a time when valiant knights battled to become the personal champion to the King and Queen!

See spectacular pageantry, dangerous sword fights, dramatic horsemanship and an authentic jousting tournament whilst you enjoy a hearty feast and cheer on your favorite champion. Make this a 'knight' the whole family will remember!

Experience Chicago's amazing skyline views from a unique vantage point on board this unforgettable 2 hour brunch cruise. With unsurpassed views of the Sears Tower, the John Hancock Tower, to the Museum campus and the Aon Center, you'll be seduced by the luxury and spaciousness of the three climate-controlled dining and observation decks while sailing on the world-famous harbor.

Step Aboard...
You cruise experience begins as you board the luxury yacht at Navy Pier. After a quick stop for a commemorative boarding photo, one of the hosts will greet you and escort you to your private table.

Explore and Enjoy...
Enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne or tour the ship's three climate controlled decks. A great way to start your afternoon is by watching the boat castoff from one of the observation decks.

Indulge your senses...
Bring your appetite when you return to your private table, the Executive Chef and galley staff present you with an imaginative buffet of appetizers, entrees, salads and desserts that is sure to please any number of tastes.

Throughout the cruise our live jazz trio sets the mood...
Enjoy a wide range of jazz from artists such as John Coltrane, Miles Davis and Branford Marsalis.

Take home a memory...
Return, hours later. Relaxed. Refreshed. As you depart, you'll find your boarding photo ready for purchase.

Feel the need for speed? This exhilarating speedboat ride takes you out onto Lake Michigan for the ride of a lifetime. Experience the roar of the 2000-horsepower engines as you race along Chicago's famous Lake Michigan. The best way to view Chicago is always from the lake!

Your exciting speedboat ride along the shoreline is combined with informative and amusing descriptions of the world-famous Chicago skyline.

As you depart Chicago's Navy Pier, your Captain will tell you interesting facts about the Pier and Chicago's Lake Michigan. Then, with the music cranked up, you'll race south past Navy Pier to Chicago's Museum Campus. The tour pauses here so you can hear about Chicago's interesting lakefront landmarks, architecture and history.

Then you'll race north past Navy Pier to cruise the Magnificent Mile, providing unique views of the Sears Tower, Buckingham Fountain and Grant Park along the way!

Finally, you will race back to Navy Pier to the thrilling sound of turbo-charged engines!

Purchase the Chicago Party Pass and party like a VIP at 11 of the Hottest Nightclubs in Chicago. Receive special offers such as: Free Entrance, No waiting in line and a free drink at each nightclub.

With your Chicago Party Pass you will also receive a free Chicago Nightlife Guide which lists all the nightclubs, bars and parties in the program. It also lists the address, telephone number, type of crowd and music at each location.

Your Chicago Party Pass is valid at:

This is the tour for those looking to experience the vitality and excitement of Chicago. You'll tour through Chicago's main business section, one of the financial centers of the world and always bustling with activity. You'll tour the famous "Loop" and State Street - the great street where Chicago's fame began.

Travel by the striking Richard J. Daley plaza with its acknowledged masterpiece, the Pablo Picasso sculpture, created specifically for Chicago. You'll take a ride on Wacker Drive, the double-decked thoroughfare that wends its way under the city.

Then travel over the Chicago River, made to flow backwards by one of the world's greatest engineering feats. You'll see the famous, white Wrigley Building announcing the beginning of the Magnificent Mile and Michigan Avenue where Chicago's most exclusive stores exhibit their wares. You'll see Chicago's elegant seven-level shopping complex the renowned Water Tower Place alongside one of the tallest buildings in the world, the John Hancock Center.

You'll continue through Lincoln Park, a thousand acres of greenery, lagoons, flowers, and zoo. You'll see Wrigley Field - home of the Cubs (not on game days) - the Botanical Gardens, Chicago Historical Society, Newberry Reference Library, and an IndianTotem Pole. A twenty minute stop is made at the Lincoln Park Conservatory.

Head to Chicago Premium Outlets for an unparalleled collection of 120 designer and name brand stores offering savings of 25% - 65% every day!

Stroll through this Prairie style outdoor center featuring Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani, Versace, MaxMara, Kate Spade, Calvin Klein, Coach, Villeroy and Boch, Jones New York, Diesel, Dooney and Bourke, Salvatore Ferragamo, Nike, Miss Sixty/Energie, Waterford Wedgwood and more. It is easy to see why Chicago Premium Outlets has quickly become an international shopping destination. Book now and shop til you drop!

You will also receive a complimentary VIP coupon book featuring hundreds of dollars in additional savings at over 90 participating stores.

Add a new adventure to your Halloween festivities this year. Come join all the fun on a haunted one hour speedboat cruise on Lake Michigan.

You will be welcomed by a ghostly character who will narrate the speedboat cruise and inform you of interesting supernatural and odd occurrences that have taken place in Chicago since the city's inception.

This is a frightfully exciting experience for the whole family with kids encouraged to come in costume.

Attractions:
LEGOLAND Factory Tour: Join Professor Brick a Brack and learn exactly how LEGO bricks are made - from the raw materials to the perfect finished product. See close-ups of all the manufacturing stages, with machines, animated workers and sound effects. You'll even get your own special LEGO Factory brick to take home with you!

4D Cinema: Enjoy the thrill of LEGOLAND's medieval adventure film, full of eye-popping, mind-boggling 3D special effects in amazing 4D that keep you on the edge of your seat! Go right into the heart of the action with 'Spellbreaker 4D' and join your hero, the clever Blacksmith, as he uses his wit and bravery to rescue the princess - then battle against the vile wizard and his scary skeleton army.

Jungle Adventure: Get your trekking boots on for your quest through the jungle with Johnny Thunder! Meet curious LEGO characters and creatures along the way and take the quiz card challenge - will you be able to find all of the answers and unlock the secret of the Jungle?

Miniland: Think small! See Chicago in miniature and perfect in every detail. Made from nearly 1.5 million LEGO bricks, you'll enjoy a day in the life of the city and its inhabitants. The smallest model in Miniland is the parking meter, which is made of just three LEGO bricks! The Sears Tower used 190,000 bricks and weighs over 200 pounds!

The Technicycle Ride: Spinning in circles, cycle as fast as you can, and see how high you can go!

Model Builders Workshop: Learn from a Master Model Builder. If you have a special model in mind they will guide you to build it, or simply follow the model of the day workshop to create a special model invented by a Master Model Builder. Workshops run daily.

Accept no imitations! This tour is what made Bobby famous, taking you off the tourist beat and onto the quiet neighborhood streets, city parks, and packed beaches of the North Side of Chicago, giving you a glimpse as to how Chicagoans enjoy their beautiful city. This tour is for all ages and fitness levels.

This tour is seasonal and operates from late March to November only.

Bike through Chicago's most attractive locations at night and discover her charming neighborhoods.

Enjoy a leisurely and informative biking experience as you see some of the most beautiful sites of the Windy City such as Buckingham Fountain, Millennium Park and Museum Campus. 

Wednesday and Saturday nights include the fireworks display from Navy Pier. This tour is for all ages and fitness levels.

This tour is seasonal and operates from April to October.

This tour explores the art glass designed, crafted or installed by the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company, Louis Comfort Tiffany and his contemporaries, in four late 19th Century Chicago landmarks:

• The Art Institute
• The Marquette Building
• The Chicago Cultural Center
• Macy's on State Street (historic Marhall Field's store)

Discover mosaics, lighting fixtures, vaults and domes, as well as the buildings in which they are housed, recent restoration efforts, and the history behind this dramatic art form.

This tour includes general admission to the Art Institute for the tour and one other day, plus a visitor's gift courtesy of Macy's on State Street.

Explore Chicago's prettiest shopping neighborhood - Lincoln Park. Your shopping guide will take you to the neighborhood's most unique boutiques where you can find local designers and all the latest trends. This unique Chicago Shopping Tour leads you to all the hard-to-find boutiques that you won't find back home or on the Magnificent Mile.

This Chicago Shopping Tour begins at a local cafe where you will meet up with the other members of your group before heading off on foot to shop the urban boutiques in these beautiful neighborhoods. You will receive VIP treatment including a personal shopping stylist, updates on Chicago designers, and perks and pampering including coffee drinks, champagne toasts, and discounts and gift certificates to the hottest boutiques.

Choose from a 2 or 3.5 hour tour, depending on your shopping needs. As your walking tour is guided there is no need to bring a map, leaving your hands free to carry your newly acquired purchases!

Learn about post-WWII developments and the impact of technological and zoning changes. Admire the stainless steel cladding on the Inland Steel Building, the whimsical post-modern designs of the Harold Washington Library and 190 S. LaSalle, and contemporary buildings like One South Dearborn, Blue Cross-Blue Shield and the Art Institute's Modern Wing.

Explore Chicago's hippest shopping neighborhoods - Bucktown and Wickerpark. Your shopping guide will take you to the neighborhoods' most unique boutiques where you can find up-and-coming designers and the latest fashion trends. This unique Chicago Shopping Tour leads you to all the hard-to-find boutiques that you won't find back home or on the Magnificent Mile.

This Chicago Shopping Tour begins at a local cafe where you will meet up with the other members of your group before heading off on foot to shop the urban boutiques in these joining neighborhoods. You will receive VIP treatment from local shops including personal shopping stylist, updates on Chicago designers, and perks and pampering including coffee drinks, champagne toasts, and discounts and gift certificates to the hottest boutiques.

Choose from a 2 or 3.5 hour tour, depending on your shopping needs. As your walking tour is guided there is no need to bring a map, leaving your hands free to carry your newly acquired purchases!

Perhaps Chicago's most identifiable claim to fame resides in its architecture. The prototype of the modern industrial metropolis arose from the charred landscape left by the Great Fire of 1871. Many of Chicago's surviving buildings are the forefathers of the great modern skyscrapers and on this walking tour you will discover the historic beginnings of the Chicago School of Architecture and the earliest skyscrapers, built between the 1870s and the 1930s.

The tour features numerous buildings in Chicago's Loop that were built in this era, including:

• Chicago Board of Trade Building, one of the city's finest examples of Art Deco architecture
• The Auditorium Building, a Louis Sullivan masterpiece
• The Rookery, a National Historic Landmark

Learn about the architects who influenced the city's architecture and view their creations on this guided walking tour, sampling Chicago's rich past. As they say in Chicago, "The City is Our Museum" so come walk with the experts!

Discover the opulent exteriors and interiors of the Roaring '20s Jazz Deco and the classic finishes of Art Moderne buildings in this 2 hour tour. Learn of Chicago's influence on the international Art Deco movement, and trace the history of lively architectural heritage.

During the period between the two World Wars, an eclectic design style developed that later became known as Art Deco, used to refer to a mix of styles from the 1920s and 1930s. Through the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Art Deco style infused the everyday world with an elegant style of cool sophistication.

What characterizes Art Deco design most is its geometry and simplicity, often combined with vibrant colors and simple shapes that celebrate the rise of commerce and technology. From luxurious objects made from exotic materials to mass produced, streamlined items. Chicago's Jazz Age architecture was simply called Modernistic when it was created in the 1920s, and Moderne as it evolved into the Swing era of the 1930s. Whether starkly cubistic or smoothly streamlined, the new office and apartment buildings that redefined the skyline embodied the new language of building until the 1950s.

On this tour you will discover the opulent exteriors and interiors of the Roaring '20s Jazz Deco buildings and the classic finishes of Art Moderne buildings. Learn of Chicago's influence on the international Art Deco movement, and trace the history of this short-lived but lively architectural heritage. Come and experience the very essence of Art Deco!