Celebrating the 125th Anniversary of the 1893 World’s Fair
The 125th anniversary of the 1893 World’s Fair is this year! In fact, Chicago welcomed visitors from around the world to the opening ceremony of the World’s Columbian Exposition on this day 125 years ago. We explore some of the fair’s incredible legacy during our 1893 World’s Fair Tour every week. The nerds at Chicago Detours […]
Our New Neighborhood, Food & Bar Tours
We are excited to bring you three new private Chicago neighborhood tours. Chicago is, after all, a city of neighborhoods. Each of these tours explores the history, architecture, and food created by the people who live in these distinct, though ever-changing, areas. Think outside of downtown. Think outside of deep-dish and Italian beef. Heck, think […]
Five Reasons to Book a Small Group Private Tour
At Chicago Detours, we offer all kinds of small group private tours by foot and by car, in downtown and in our Chicago neighborhoods. “Small” can get a bad rap, especially in the city of “Big Shoulders,” super tall skyscrapers, almost three million people and one Great Lake. At Chicago Detours we know that even […]
Six New Ideas for Chicago Corporate Outings
Let’s imagine it’s the moment when you decide it’s time to change up your typical Chicago corporate outing. It is a regular Thursday. You could be eating yet another catered lunch at your desk. You could be standing around at a happy hour at the bar around the corner from the office. Or maybe you’re […]
The Forgotten Chinatown in Downtown Chicago
Chicago’s Chinatown is one of the city’s densest and busiest neighborhoods. Located on the South Side, it’s the beating heart of Chicago’s Chinese community. But it’s not the first such Chinese neighborhood in the city. The original and now-forgotten Chinatown is right on the southern edge of the Loop, hidden behind the financial district. Sadly, […]
Underground Chicago: Exploring The Hidden Layers of the City
The term ‘Chicago architecture’ usually evokes images of soaring skyscrapers, but the architecture of underground Chicago is fascinating and essential in its own right. Virtually unknown layers of tunnels, passages, sewers, pipes, and other infrastructure crisscross below the city. We research stories from Chicago history, architecture and culture like this while developing our live virtual tours, in-person […]
Best Stops for Student Performance Groups in Chicago
We often play host to big student performance groups in Chicago for their annual trip. It’s always a kick to guide these student groups. Hanging out with them often feels like time travel, since I’m a former high school drama kid and marching band groupie myself. I’ve also grown to appreciate just how hard it […]
Questions from our World’s Fair Tour on Today’s Anniversary
In the 18 months since it launched, we’ve had tons of guests discover a huge piece of Chicago’s history on our “1893 World’s Fair Tour with Bars.” As anyone who has joined us knows, our guides always encourage questions from guests. Accordingly, we’ve been doing some fun research on the questions from our World’s Fair […]
Big Ideas Behind the Little Chicago Alleys
What’s in Chicago alleys? That which we might call an alleyway actually makes our city smell so sweet. That line is some mock Shakespeare, of course, but it’s still true. Chicago alleys are one of the instrumental parts of our cityscape. They predate the city itself. They’re an invaluable part of the city’s infrastructure. They even […]
Why the Chicago Architectural Boat Tour is So Popular
Earlier this summer, TripAdvisor named the Chicago architectural boat tour the single most popular tour in America. That got me to wondering, what is it that makes it so popular? Sometimes our walking tour guides are hired out to lead a Chicago River boat tour, often on a private yacht charter via Anita Dee Yacht Charters. […]