Great Ways to Get to Know Chicago on Foot
Spring has finally arrived in Chicago. After a nearly 30-degree night this past Tuesday at Wrigley Field (It really felt like winter was never going to leave.), this weekend finally boast sunny skies and warmer temperatures, which got me in the mood to be outside. One of the best ways to get to know Chicago is by walking it. The city is super clean, manageable to get around, and looks rather beautiful in the spring with thousands of tulips blooming in Grant Park, gardens growing in front of the Lincoln Park Zoo, and boating on Lake Michigan. Below is a guide to some of Chicago's best walking tours (in my opinion, of course).
Chicago native Terry Sullivan does private and personalized walking tours (http://www.walkchicagotours.com/) called Walk Chicago. Tours include Public Art in the Loop, Wrigley Field, and Chinatown, among others. Costs range from $25 to $40 per person based on the tour's length - two to four hours.
The City of Chicago puts on several tours throughout the year including a Summertime Sampler Tour (3 hours; $20) that covers three unique Chicago neighborhoods (Greektown, Little Italy, Ukranian Village and more). (http://www.chicagoneighborhoodtours.com/summertimeSampler/index.html). The city also does special interest tours such as Chicago's Magnificient Churches and the Great Cemeteries of Chicago (approximately 4.5 to 5.5 hours; $50). (http://www.chicagoneighborhoodtours.com/specialInterest/index.html)
Chicago Food Planet offers food and cultural walking tours (http://www.chicagofoodplanet.com/) where you admire the city's history and architecture while sampling some of its famous ethnic foods and food shops (think deep dish pizza and fudge). Tours are approximately 3.5 hours and cost $40.
The Chicago History Museum (http://www.chicagohistory.org/planavisit/upcomingevents/tours/exploring-the-city) does two-hour walking tours of some of Chicago's famous neighborhoods such as the Gold Coast and Lincoln Park. The tours are free if you buy a Go Chicago card, which gets you into many city attractions for free or at a discounted price. A one-day card is $55. (http://store.smartdestinations.com/go-chicago-card/gocardGoCHI.html)
See Chicagos' famous skyscrapers and modern architecture on one of the Chicago Architecture Foundation's walking tours. (http://www.architecture.org/tour_view.aspx?TourID=73) The price is cheap - just $15 for two hours. They also have Happy Hour tours Monday through Friday at 5:30 p.m. that include a free drink at a local bar. Price is only $1 more than the regular tour - so really cheap! (http://www.architecture.org/tour_view.aspx?TourID=135)