I just did the "Inside the Loop" tour with my 13 & 16 year old. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Everything about the tour was better than expected, we learning about the history of the city and enjoyed the sights from places I would have never imagined going to.. Our tour guide knew all of his stuff and I was surprised to find out that many of the things we learned about, my native Chicagoan brother in law had never heard of. Take the time and see the sights and sounds. read more

Unsurpassed experience! The name truly matches the tour - "For curious people"! We did the "Historic bar tour" and it was fabulous. Not only you get to learn about the history, drink and visit significant to Chicago places - you also meet some cool people. It is perfect for someone who is new in town and craves socializing! We enjoyed it a great deal: phenomenal tour guide, interesting narratives, wine and apps - what could be better on any night in town? At the end we even got some extra goodies as gifts from Amanda - but I won't be spoiling it for you - go find out for yourself! Will be taking visiting friends and family members for sure! read more

My wife and I did the Chicago Architectural and Pedway Tour on December 6th. Our guide, Elizabeth was awesome. She treated us to a very knowledgable and entertaining view of a number of the city's most interesting buildings. Her delivery was witty and fun and kept us intrigued for the entire two hours. I would highly recommend this tour to visitors and locals alike. Not your typical 'touristy' type of tour. Chicago Detours is definitely a Chicago gem. We'll do the bar tour on our next visit. read more

We did the 1893 World Colombian Exposition Walking Tour with Food and Drink. We were super excited because it combined four of our favorite things: Chicago Architecture, the 1893 Colombian Exposition, Food, and Drink. It turned out the food and drink didn't live up to expectations, but the tour more than made up for it. We signed up for the tour New Year's Eve Day and thought it would be a great way to send out what had been a really shitty 2016. We were told to meet in the bar in the lobby of the Congress Hotel and we were welcome to grab a drink. Our first disappointment: the bar was closed. I guess because it was New Year's Eve Day and the Hotel was preparing for NYE. Our tour guide, Alex, showed up and deemed surprised the bar was closed. I think he arranged for them to at least sell us wine and beer out of the restaurant, not the fancy cocktails we had hoped for. Oh, well. And the day before we had received an email that the Berghoff, a major stop on the tour for food and drink, was going to also be closed and that we would get a partial refund. So, I was kind of thinking this was going to be a bummer tour, but boy, was I wrong. We each had a single cocktail meatball on a toothpick and passed around a bag of popcorn as Alex talked about the Hotel and the Fair. Once Alex started telling us the history of the Congress Hotel, he really brought the hotel and the World's Fair era to life. We were a fairly large group (about a dozen) and Alex's narrative was supplemented by a couple of iPads that we passed around. Next, Alex took us past the Auditorium Theater to the Fine Arts Building where we got to ride up one of the last human operated elevators in Chicago. This was my favorite stop. We looked out over Grant Park from the Tenth Floor windows and here Alex really made the Fair come alive. We played a Scavenger Hunt type game where we got to know the others on the tour with us, but also this magnificent old building. Then a walking tour past another old building from the late 19th century tucked away in the Loop and the Magnificent Monadnock Building where we played another game. All the time we were walking, I found myself noticing architectural and other details I had never taken the time to notice even though I had walked these streets many times before. From the Monadnock, we went to Sullivan's Carson's building, now a Target, and played our last fun game in the grocery aisles of the Target. I ought to say, not only were the games fun, they reinforced what we were learning on the tour. Finally we end up at the Athletic Club where we got to explore the building before ending the tour with (finally!) a delicious cocktail. I would recommend this tour to any one who is interested in or wanting to learn this important period of Chicago's history. Our tour guide was the perfect mix of Cub Scout Den Mother and Historian Geek, keeping the group together but also sharing his infectious excitement and even genuine passion about what he was showing us. read more

What a great time! My wife and I took the 1893 World's Fair tour. Alex, our tour guide, was fantastic. Informative, interesting to listen to, and funny! I will definitely do another tour, and highly recommend it to native Chicagoans and tourists alike! read more

I went on the Historical Bar tour. It was okay. It's certainly NOT worth the cost though. The tour guide was good (which is the reason for 2 stars instead of 1), but having to pay additional money before the tour started for 2.5 beer samples on a bar tour? $36 plus the cost of drinks is absolutely NOT worth it. This is maybe a $15 dollar tour at best. The place I booked it through upcharged $12 so it was $48, PLUS drink costs. Save your money and just find info on Google. Other tours might be worth it but I'm skeptical. read more

My girlfriend and I recently attended the historic bar tour. Our tour guide was Sophie. We had a blast. We were very pleased with the amount of information, as well as drinks and snacks we received during the tour. The iPads were a great touch. Being able to see the original building/construction while standing in front of the current structure made the tour. We will definitely take the other tour on our future trips. Keep up the great work. read more

If you're going to do any tour in Chicago, this is the one to do. I'm shocked at how much I enjoyed myself during these 2.5 hours and I actually wished the tour was longer. Amanda, the owner of Chicago Detours and our tour guide for the night, is incredibly knowledgeable of the history of Chicago. I was a little bummed at first at the fact that our Good Times Historic Bar Tour started so late (8:30PM on a Saturday night), but quickly appreciated it soon after. We had a small group of 4 girls from California + Amanda so it made the experience really intimate. Amanda told us that she can have up to 16 people in a tour and that's usually at the 5:30PM time slot so the 8:30PM tour typically has a lot less people. I don't want to spoil the details for you, but this tour is well worth your money. I had a Google deal ($32 for two people) and paid $18 for wine at all the stops we were going to. It was an amazing time -- 5 girls sipping on drinks, nibbling on appetizers, and discussing Chicago's deep-rooted history. I love learning about history and Amanda really put things into perspective for us when she showed us pieces of Chicago's past. This tour digs a little deeper by showing details from Chicago's past and tying it together with how the city is in present day. The architecture in and on these buildings is incredible and I love how we learned the back story for each. I doubt the locals even know most of the information she told us. At the end of the tour, Amanda even gave us gifts to take home with us. She is so sweet and we actually told her that she isn't charging enough for her tours because the amount of stuff that's included is way more than what we paid. Words cannot describe how great this tour is and you wouldn't know what I was talking about unless you experience it for yourself. If you can get the later time slot for the tour I recommend it because I think a big reason of why I enjoyed this tour so much is because we were a small, intimate group. Drinks and appetizers are served at all the restaurants so come hungry and thirsty. The smaller your group is, the more there is for you to eat! ;) I cannot wait to come back to Chicago and do Chicago Detour's other tours, I bet they're just as amazing! read more

The Loop Architecture and Pedway tour tour was awesome!! Alex knocked it out of the park! You are transformed to different time periods while touring hidden gems throughout the Loop. Alex was not only able to provide historical context about each spot but also included not-so-well-know facts and tidbits about each stop. I am completely hooked on Chicago Detours now. I can't wait to do another tour with them! read more

Super cool tour. I've lived in Chicago for 13 years and have learned a lot about the history of the city, but learned things I'd never heard of on the interior loop tour. Did you know that there's a church inside a skyscraper downtown? Or that you could wander for 5 miles in the loop without coming above ground? Our tour guide was Alex and he was wonderful. I'm thinking of trying their tours of other neighborhoods since I knew the most about downtown already - could probably learn a ton of weird stuff going into the neighborhoods. read more

I've lived in Chicago for 13 years, but had a friend visiting and decided to do the tour with them, and glad I did. This tour was a trifecta, I got to see the city, learn things about the architecture and the past, plus taste food and drink while doing it. It was amazing to learn some really unique facts about places I've passes 100 times and never knew their past. Super interesting and fun tour. I highly recommend. read more

We enjoyed our interior loop tour tremendously. Alex was fascinating to listen to, felt engaged from the beginning to the end. He clearly knows his history and it shows. We were so pleased we booked this last minute! read more

I went on the Inside the Loop Interior Architectural Tour and enjoyed it very much. The guide was knowledgeable, personable, and encouraged dialogue and discussion. One of the highlights was the Chicago Temple - United Methodist Church. I have walked by it countless times but have never been in it. I'm usually in a hurry when I'm in the Loop. This tour gave me the opportunity to slow down and see some of the great sights that I often rush by. It was also interesting exploring the pedways under the city. I would recommend this tour and will try other tours offered by Chicago Detours. read more

I've taken 2 tours through Chicago Detours (Southside Bus Tour and World's Fair Tour), and both tour guides Amanda and Elizabeth were very knowledgeable and great at engaging the tour group. I'm a Chicago local and through both tours, I learned so much history about the city and buildings I pass by everyday. The Southside tour was through my school's alumni event, and although you stay inside the bus most of the time, you get a lot out of learning about the context of buildings and neighborhoods while also getting to see a lot of it from the bus. The tour ends with a really delicious meal in Pilsen and a hot chocolate dessert to top it off. The World's Fair tour has some snacks that are tied into the tour's theme, and an optional beer (pay on your own). It takes place in downtown in context of the World's Fair, and it was amazing how all the buildings I pass by everyday to and from work have so much history and cool facts embedded within. iPads were provided to show historical photos of the places we were visiting, and I thought those supplemented the tour well. The scavenger games throughout were really fun, and Elizabeth was great at being super engaging and keeping the tour interactive. At the end of the tour, you receive a little souvenir which is a nice gesture from the tour company! Both times I have gone solo, and I had a lot of fun and plan to go on more tours through Chicago Detours. read more

Not your average tour for not your average tourist. Original, fun, and informative. Even long term residents of the city could learn something new from this tour--it will make you look at the streets you pass by daily in a completely new light. Especially recommended for history/culture buffs. read more

Hands down the most intelligent and insightful tour of Chicago. Amanda's passion and love for the city of Chicago truly shined through with every location we visited. I would recommend this tour to anyone that wants to actually get to know our city as opposed to a hop on - hop off script read tour on a big red convertible bus. Seriously do yourself a favor and take this tour if you are visiting Chicago or if you are a local resident that love's our wonderful city! read more

I am a life-long Chicagoan, and I realized once again that just because I live here doesn't mean I know this city or notice everything. Amanda does her homework - she really provides an education for both the tourist and the resident. She gives interesting facts and solicits audience participation through games. Prices are very reasonable also. Highly recommended! read more

Amanda took us around, inside and under some of the historic stops around Michigan Avenue -- having great drinks and food along the way. Any tour that mixes cheeseborgers, Shriners and puppet theater is great in my book. read more

My boyfriend and I just experienced the "historic pub tour". Our tour guide was Elizabeth and she could not have been better. She was excited, enthusiastic, and knew what she was talking about. The tour was very interactive and social. The food was good for small bites. It's definitely not dinner but a good jump start to a night out/dinner. I would recommend this to anyone going to Chicago who enjoys a little mix of history and drinks, who wants to learn a little about the city they live in/visiting. read more

Having just moved to Chicago from Kansas City, we were looking for something fun to do on a Sunday morning. We signed up for Chicago Detours and a 2-hour tour of the loop. Amanda's knowledge of the city, the pedway, and architecture made the tour very informative and fun. She was able to discuss alot of the history of Chicago, and we especially enjoyed her insights on the First United Methodist Church of Chicago, which is inside a skyscraper. We are looking forward to our next tour with Chicago Detours. read more

when owner and tour curator Amanda, promised us an eye opening experience while mostly being warm, myself and my friend were skeptical. The temparature was after all in the teens, we were doing a walking tour of downtown Chicago. Besides, I lived in the south loop and worked downtown. What more can there be to see, I walked to work in summer and had seen all that there was to see. But hey, I got one of those yelp special deals, so I was willing to give it a shot. Boy, was I surprised! Here are some of the notable things I enjoyed in the tour - 1. Amanda used the theme of contrasts through out the tour. Whether switching our views between the modern and the ancient architectures, the guided spaces versus the open spaces, the artistic versus the functional, all the themes were juxtaposed and made for a very enjoyable walking tour 2. We used ipads (provided in the tour, 3 for the group) to augment the present vision with interesting tid bits of information 3. Other than the entrance to the Chase Towers and the brief detour outside the federal building, I had not seen most of the other stops, and even in the former, not the view we were seeing. 4. We were really warm, most of the times 5. Usage of humor, interactivity and games kept the whole tour very interesting We finally ended our tour viewing the bean and the jay pritzker auditorium in the millenium park from an elaborate, historic and ornate room in the Chicago Cultural Center, which capped off the whole theme of contrasts. Very enjoyable experience and I would highly recommend it, even if you live in the city. read more

I went on the Historic Chicago/Prohibition Bar Crawl with Elizabeth and it was great! I'm a new resident, and with having visitors come to town pretty often it is a bit of a struggle to do new activities without getting bored of them. I decided to take a friend on this tour, since we both are interested in history and it was a great experience. Elizabeth showed us the inside and outside of several buildings and bars which I wouldn't have normally taken time to look at. The stops were great, our drinks were already waiting for us as she would call in orders as we walked around. Highly recommend this tour and am looking forward to taking more! read more

CHICAGO Walking ARCHITECTURAL TOUR - our tour started at 10 South Dearborn St. Chicago, (312) 350-1131 chicagodetours.com Tour Overview: Step inside magnificent lobbies, corridors, and the underground Pedway system for an in-depth, personal approach to a Chicago architecture walking tour downtown. Available six days a week, the Loop Interior Architecture Walking Tour takes you on a creative route that weaves through buildings and secret short-cuts. Tour guests get to share iPads with archival images like maps, historic photos and documentary video clips while the tour guide shares stories of Chicago history. For the next level of connection with architecture, go inside of the buildings. You will appreciate Chicago architecture from new perspectives. From the interiors, you experience architectural space rather than from the more isolated perspective of a downtown sidewalk. All guests receive the gift of our color-printed map of the Chicago Pedway System and complimentary offers to our favorite local restaurants and businesses in the Loop. Q-TIPS SAY: A 2 hour tour with a total of a half mile of walking. Mrs. Q suggests: Getting a Living Social deal or other deals offer 2 for 1 - Otherwise the tour is $26.00 per person - Seniors $24.00 per person. 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. Alice 34203 and 60660 read more

While visiting Chicago for a conference, we decided to do an interior walking tour. Learning about the architecture of many of the buildings and some history was very interesting. Our tour guide was excellent! He was very knowledgeable and entertaining. I'd highly recommend this tour to anyone. read more

Awesome city pedway tour. Great knowledge of Chicago architecture and historical significance of the buildings.

I loved my tour! I just took the Inside the Loop tour last week and it was such a great experience. I only visit Chicago once a year, but have always wanted to learn new things about the city. Amanda, the owner and our tour guide, took us through modernist architecture, gothic churches, the beautiful Marshall Fields, and into the maze of the underground pedway. The tour is more than just a recitation of things that happened at certain places, it is about how the shape of downtown shapes our experience of downtown. I would recommend it to anyone interested in discovering Chicago for the first time or to natives who just want to explore the city from a new angle. read more

My girlfriends and I went on the walking bar tour while in Chicago for the weekend and had a blast! Elizabeth was our guide and we absolutely loved her- she was full of historical facts and fun tidbits throughout the walk. She made it feel like we learned so much in such a short distance. This tour was worth way more than we paid! Thank you! read more

Got this due to the Groupon offer, which is becoming a great way to experience new things in Chicago. I was surprised to find that the owner Amanda was our tour guide, and that this is a pretty new operation that she has founded as a passion project, having worked for Rick Steve's in the past, which gave a nice introduction to her expertise in travel and tourism. What followed was a 2 hour (went faster than I expected) tour of the Magnificent Mile: not the touristy stuff but the back/off the street really interesting historical things about old Chicago that I would have never really known about. Great experience and well done, with 7 stops and different presentation styles. Highlight was seeing Mario Van Peebles eating in the Viagra triangle (a term she used which seemed to really piss off the group of elderly Viagra users sitting in a table behind us). She gave a couple bonuses such as coupons, tips on places to check out, and free chips from the Lowry's steak house (which is a luxurious old building with an interesting history of puppets!). The only thing I didn't think worked as well was the iPad aspect, we had to carry them around and turn them on for videos and pictures from time to time, hard to see with the glare and just waiting for someone to snatch it out of my hands. Seems more trendy than practical....but yet it a sign of the forward thinking adaptions that define this company. Will definitely check out their other tours! read more

We had such a lovely time on the "Good Times Historic Bar Tour" this weekend! My parents and brother were visiting from Indiana to celebrate my birthday and we've done all the big tours up here. I was wanting something a little different and this did not disappoint! As a Chicago resident of 4 years, I wasn't sure what to expect but I had a great time. I actually learned quite a lot about an area I've spent a lot of time in. And it was great for all of us to go on a tour that touched on things the others hadn't already. Plus we had some great samples of beer and wine and appetizer snacks. Definitely come hungry! That was our only mistake. Amanda was knowledgeable and friendly and provided great conversation for our group. Definitely recommend this tour company, regardless of your familiarity with Chicago. Even locals will learn a thing or three! read more

Love, Love Love Chicago Detours! I have now Explored the Loop with Amanda twice. I first took the tour about 2 years ago as a newly minted Chicago resident and immediately felt like I knew things about the city that many lifelong Chicagoans might not! Now a little more seasoned in my Chicago-ness I took the tour again and realized just how much I learned that first time around. My out-of-town guests that Explored the Loop with me got a 2 hour introduction to the city presented in a way that isn't designed to make you feel like you know everything, but instead make you even more curious. read more

I had a friend visiting me from Phoenix so I bought two tickets to the Inside Chicago Detours tour on a groupon. It was worth every penny.. It is supposed to be a 90 minute walking tour but it lasted just over 2 hrs. Our guide was excellent, a history graduate from the University of Chicago and was engaging and knowlegable. I lived in Chicago many years back in the late 70's and early 80's and till didn't know some of the stuff included in this tour. We had a full crowd and most of the people were locals and had never heard of some of this stuff about Chicago, like the underground pedway. Ending up on the second floor of the Cultural Center in the Bradley room was awesome. All in all, I would recommend this company to anyone who wants to learn a little bit about Chicago. On the same par are the many architectural boat tours that everyone should take!!! A beautiful city. read more

Wow!!! As a native Chicagoan I thought going on this tour I would have known most if not all of the pertinent info. I was wrong. Amanda does a great amount of research and really is enthusiastic and passionate about giving accurate information and details surrounding the times, people, history and buildings. I was blown away and can't wait for my next tour! Amanda has integrated technology on her tour flawlessly; the ipad's were a great and useful tool throughout the tour. I felt like a part of the tour and could freely interact with her on getting more detail. What a great time and knowledge given about such a wonderful city. Simply put... sign up for a tour now! read more

We enjoy walking tours in nearly every city we visit, but this HISTORIC CHICAGO WALKING BAR TOUR..... just WOW! Exceptionally fun and packed with intriguing details about Chicago that simply are not readily found on the internet. We must thank Morgan, our passionate and informative tour guide, she was a true delight! Chicago Detours is known for its intellectual staff (the founder and many guides are UChicago Alumni) who relish in peeling back the layers of Chicago's hidden history. My husband, 22-yr old son and I had a spectacular early evening, with plenty of time remaining for dinner and nightlife following the tour. Don't hesitate! read more

I took the Loop Interior Architecture Walking Tour while on vacation in Chicago, and it was terrific. Ellen, the guide, was well informed, entertaining, informative and engaging. I'm 70 years old and had no problem keeping up. There were at most a flight or two of stairs, and most everything else was flat. We moved at a leisurely pace, too. The building interiors were beautiful, and I learned a lot about Chicago and architecture history. The other participants were from all over the world - it was a very congenial group. I'd recommend this tour to anyone. read more

Was very happy with the Inside the Loop tour with Amanda. With my in-laws traveling to Chicago from Italy for the first time, it was important to me that they get to know the city from a real expert. Boy, was this more than expected! We toured several buildings that might not have been on a normal tour, which was actually refreshing. Amanda's overview (in Italian, I might add!) was informative and helped us all get a good grasp on the history and timeline of Chicago's architecture while also tying into modern day Chicago. The information on the recent Block 37 and Pedway renovations was relevant and started lots of conversation topics at dinner later! We will definitely consider using Chicago Detours for future visitors to Chicago. read more

My husband I took the interior architecture tour this past weekend and it was a really great way to get some interesting knowledge of this beautiful city. Our tour guide, Elizabeth, was very knowledgeable, friendly, and fun! We had a great time and highly recommend this tour. read more

My 17 year old daughter and I did the "Loop Interior Architectural Tour" on Sunday! I highly recommend this tour! It was the perfect amount of time for a walking tour. The tour went by really fast! We are lovers of the city, but learned so many new things while going on this tour. It was wonderful to see the architecture in a different way. For me personally, I was fascinated by the discussions on Frank Lloyd Wright, the steel industry, and seeing the photos of the ComEd sub station. My husband and I were married at a Frank Lloyd Wright home and I work for a steel company and he works for ComEd. So, it all came together perfectly. Our tour guide, Elizabeth, was bright, witty, and very intelligient! You could tell she really loved what she was doing! Great tour!!!!! read more

We had a wonderful time on our "1893 World's Fair Tour with Bars" tour!! Our guide, Elizabeth, was fantastic in every way. Not only was she knowledgeable about the historical aspects of our tour, we threw her questions about Chicago history in general and she caught them all. She also did a wonderful job navigating our XL group through the streets of Chicago, and she elegantly handled a run-in with a heckler. I will definitely recommend this tour to friends and look for other Chicago Detours to attend! read more

I had a fantastic time! I learned some things about Chicago that I hadn't known before (and I've lived here for 6 years), and my friend and I enjoyed some delicious beers along the way. This is a wonderful evening activity with a friend or spouse, regardless of your familiarity with the city. read more

Alex was an excellent tour guide and clearly knew his stuff! The tour was fun and interactive (you won't get bored, I promise!). It was a great way to further explore and learn about a city I already love. Looking forward to taking one of the other tours next time I'm in town. Highly recommend! read more