Took the Art Deco tour yesterday, what a great way to learn about some of the history of Chicago as…read morewell as the gorgeous buildings!! Our guide was knowledgeable and kept the tour interesting. Unfortunately I flew out yesterday afterwards, but will definitely be back to check out the Center as well.

Entry to the museum is only five dollars if you show them your ticket from the First Lady boat…read moretour. The ground floor has a short eight minute clip with information about the city. There is also a great display of the city as well as a Wrigley ballpark exhibit. Unfortunately, the upstairs is currently being renovated, so there was not a lot to see this trip. They have a great gift shop.

Wow, what a great experience. We stumbled on this unique tour while looking for things to do in…read moreChicago. I've been to the Art Institute many times, but this was a completely different experience and well worth the price. Museum Hack offers unique tours of museums with the goal of making the experience both entertaining and informative. Our guide, Colin, took us around and showcased several pieces of art by telling us the stories behind the works. This really brought the art to life for us. His tour was informative and fun. It was also interactive. We were joined by a drag artist about halfway through the tour and that was a really interesting experience. They took us to several of their favorite pieces and talked about how the art they chose fit in to their experience as a drag performer. It was fascinating. We were lucky because we were the only 2 slots booked for our tour. The maximum group size is 10 and the minimum is 2. This meant we got a really personal experience with our guide. A tour like this will really help you see the museum in a new way. It's pricey, but worth it. Museum admission is included in the package and at least on our tour we did not meet at the main entrance. We entered by the modern art wing. I really have nothing but good things to say about the tour and our guide. He kept us informed leading up to the tour and kept us entertained during the tour.

Had a great time with Museum Hack and their team. Colin was a great rep and show our management…read moreteam an exciting and educational time. Was a great experience and would recommend to anyone.

How lucky are we to live in a city that house the incredible, iconic, and historic artwork that…read morefinds a home within The Art Institute of Chicago. I've been here many-a-time throughout my years. Some highlights include: Georgia O'Keefe's NYC series and Henry Matisse's Jazz cutouts. Come here to see other classics such as American Gothic, Nighthawks, and A Sunday on La Grande Jatte. You can spend a full day here, so plan accordingly. Also, if you live in Chicago or Illinois, consult your public library for free passes!

The decision to go to Chicago meant that I immediately began looking up landmarks from movies that…read moreI love, so obviously we had to make a trip to The Art Institute of Chicago. And was it incredible to stand in front of A Sunday on La Grande Jatte after watching Ferris Bueller for decades? Of course. It was an awe-inspiring experience that gave me literal goosebumps and even got me a little emotional. But the rest of The Art Institute is incredible, too. We barely scratched the surface and yet managed to see several iconic paintings -- including American Gothic and that famous Van Gogh self-portrait. Obviously we should've planned more than a couple of hours in the place. I feel like you could spend a week wandering around the place and you'd still feel like you hadn't seen everything. I really can't wait to go back someday.

It was my first trip to Chicago and everyone was telling me to do the architecture river boat tour,…read moreand they were totally right! Our tour guide was Nathan and he was very personable, funny, and informed. The tour was more beautiful than I imagined. We also went at 6:45pm which was definitely worth it to see the sunset. The tour started out in daylight and ended in twilight, it was glorious.

10/10 would recommend. Love, love, love this tour. Doug was the best tour guide, friendly and…read morefunny. The views are amazing. Great to see the skyline. Good information as to what we were seeing. Going through the lock was fun and unexpected. As a first-time visitor to Chicago, this is some of the best vies of the skyline.

I LOVE taking the subway. Easy to use. Helps with getting around town. You can take subway into…read moretown if you wish. Was a great time!

My boyfriend's company gets a lot of fancy fringe benefits and one of those is special tickets to…read moreshows, tours, and other fun things. On Friday we got to experience this fun tour with Margaret as our guide. The tour was about 90 minutes long as we weaved throughout the pedway system of Chicago covering about 1.5 miles. Everyone on our tour was local, some of us knew of the pedway, some had never been on it before others were quite familiar but wanted to know more, while still others had no idea about it! I was happy to venture down into the undergrounds of the city with some a well educated tour guide. I am a Chicago history mini-buff and she definitely knew her stuff about a lot of the famous architects of our town which pleased me. Our tour guide Margaret was full of energy and very enthusiastic in telling us all about the pedway. Once she told us she was a theater major, ah yes, it all clicked into place! She was a very thorough and clear guide though giving me a bit of information I haven't had prior. Once the tour is done, you'll know a bit about the paths under the city that connect some important government buildings to fancy department stores (and more!) and feel totally comfortable walking & navigating them yourself. There is virtually no crime on the Chicago pedway!!! Yay Chi Town! You will also come away loving the pedway for what it is! Nothing more, nothing less than an interesting walkway than can be beautiful at times - smelly at others - but like Margaret says, is it's own little Chicago neighborhood!

Statue Stories is a unique opportunity to learn more about the various public art on display in…read moreChicago via your cellular telephone. It was initiated in 2015 throughout the City of Chicago to engage the public in learning about all of the "public art" displayed throughout the city. Look for the sign(s) associated with the piece of public art then use your cellular telephone to scan the QR code which is a square box shaped black code...then answer your telephone when it rings and you can listen to the history and interesting and fun facts about the piece of public art on display....in this case statues! See the web site for the map and all of the public art with this audio tour... http://www.statuestorieschicago.com/statues.php FYI-other cities such as Philadelphia utilize this tool for the public as well.

From the owner: Using drama, humor and location technology, Statue Stories Chicago breathes new life into the…read morecity's marvelous public art collection. Swipe your smartphone on a nearby tag and get a 'call back' from the likes of Abe Lincoln, Paul Laurence Dunbar or a regal bronze lion.

Awesome experience! I took a flight with my aunts for their birthday. The helicopter fit 7 people…read more This included our party of 3, another party of 3 and the pilot. Our flight was less then 10 minutes long for the one we chose but they do have longer flights (they go off of mileage). The views were stunning and I would definitely recommend. We did end up having to wait quite a bit until our flight even though we arrived on time so that was a bit disappointing.

The most exiting experience ever! Parking is free which is super convenient. The tour was fun,…read moreshort and safe! I was able to bring my 11 year old along and he loved it as well!. I would definitely do it again. The staff was really professional and experienced which gave me the peace of mind I needed to feel safe.

I had the great pleasure of joining Larry Axelrod for Opera Adventures in both Santa Fe, New Mexico…read moreand Munchen, Germany. I'll be honest - he had his work cut out for him with me; although I am a product of true opera nuts (My parents, who had been cult followers of Larry's from back in the Ghost Ranch days, followed him to his solo venture, and now my 91 year old Dad - in his solo venture - continues to join Larry's great group of enthusiasts when and where he is able), I was concerned I was adopted because I would not at all describe myself as an opera fan! However, such are Mr. Axelrod's personal charms and skills that he is able to entertain and make cohesive a very diverse group of people. He keeps his groups small enough that one doesn't feel overwhelmed but large enough to feel freedom. He is able to relate in his trademark intelligent, low key, and genuine way to each person as an individual. Example: In Santa Fe, i elected not to attend his very informative opera seminars (which my sister and father LOVE) and Larry knew I liked to hike, so he loaned my partner and I a book on local hikes. Who does that. That is exactly the kind of unassuming and thoughtful person he is. He is also an incredibly talented musician and composer and can interact with the most avid opera aficionado as well as a "lay person" like me (though I am an instrumentalist and also know something about music but...not in his league). Larry's presence is soothing - never overbearing or ostentatious, and it's such a pleasure to be around him that frankly I've left both trips feeling as if I spent it with a friend. The varied group he attracts is another part of his "opera adventures" charm - attendees I've had the pleasure to spend time with are all unique, substantive, and have great senses of humor, and many come back for repeat and new trips. Some of these are long time followers like my parents and celebrate a kind of reunion when they meet, and they also welcome newcomers like me with ease. I am so thankful for the experiences I've had on Larry's opera adventures, and even though (cover your ears Larry) I did a giant eye roll in my brain when my dad initially invited me on my first trip to Santa Fe, it changed my life and I am so glad Larry was our leader. Larry is a star in a world full of wannabes. I'm so glad I've shared music and broken bread with such a good soul.

Some opera tours make the most expensive arrangements and charge accordingly. By contrast, Opera…read moreAdventures costs less but delivers solid value - you get the operas and Larry's informed commentary. Larry also pulls in someone of added knowledge, once even the composer of a scheduled opera, and as a bonus attracts a likable group of opera fans. My wife and I are repeat customers.

Art Deco elements you'll find in both the interior and exterior of buildings on this tour:…read more Sleek design Symmetry Layered shapes Intricate line art Geometric ornamentation Aerodynamic curves And metallic colors like gold and chrome Art Deco represents a celebration of progress. It's known for rich colors, bold geometric shapes and lavish ornamentation. The United States has a bad habit of knocking the old things down and building new, but several of these grand skyscrapers have been preserved in Chicago's loop. I've passed these buildings on La Salle countless times but had never gone inside. Never mind the fact that it was November and only 30° outside. I wanted to do it. Architectural boat tours are one of the top tourist activities in Chicago. Locals love them too. The views are undoubtedly amazing from the water, but boat tours don't take you inside. You're missing out on the amazing designs within. This tour lasts about 1.5 hrs and cost $30 a person. It's a very slow pace and we took zero stairs. We also only walked a couple of blocks at most. Anybody of any ability could do this tour. Our docent was well informed and offered great insight into the history of design and the city of Chicago. I loved it. I can't say I'd do that again on a cold day though.

If you're a craft beer fan this tour should be on your list of things to do if you're visiting…read moreChicago. You get to visit 3 breweries/brew pubs. I believe at least one of them you get a tour of, Revolution brewery was the one we got to tour. Our guide Ted was awesome, he gave us some history on the places we were going to visit along with some local Chicago history during the ride. The location were kept a surprise ahead of time so we didn't know where we were going until we got there. They do have a rotation of different breweries they tour so if you decided to go again you could possibly explore some new spots the next time around. The coolest part about the tour is the bus itself, just checkout the pictures. The seating layout makes for great interaction with the rest of the people on the tour. I happened to find out about The Barrel Run when I was looking up Chicago tours on YouTube & came across some video a couple named kovACTION made about 3 months ago. Right after watching that I knew I had to fit this in my schedule when I was in town.

Our tour guide, Ted, was great at providing history of the Chicago beer scene and the chosen…read morebreweries all provided different experiences (a flight at one, tour at the next and a tasting tap room at the last one).