Chicago Line Cruises is one of several companies offering river-bound tours of the more than 40 landmark skyscrapers that form Chicago's famous skyline. The Chicago Line Cruise's Architectural Cruise is 90 minutes long and informs guests about the city's history and events and architects who have shaped the city's landscape. Tour boats view a variety of buildings including the Sears (now Willis) Tower, Boeing World Headquarters and the John Hancock Center. Chicago Line Cruise's tour includes free Starbucks coffee, soft drinks and muffins or cookies. There are tours daily between April and November; reservations are suggested.
See a shadier side of Chicago's illustrious history with the three-hour Weird Chicago Tour. They offer a variety of tours with different themes. Starting at the downtown Hard Rock Cafe, visitors are bused to each site around the city. The standard tour offers tales of hauntings, gangsters and crimes. The Devil and the White City Tour discusses American serial killer H.H. Holmes. The Blood, Guns, and Valentines Tour covers famous gang spots and murder scenes, including those involving the infamous Al Capone. The adults-only Red Light District Sex Tour takes a stroll through the historic Chicago sex industry. They offer several other "Weird" tours and can accommodate large or private tours. Tours book about a month in advance, so make your reservations early.
The "original" Chicago tour is the Hop On Hop Off Tour operated by The Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Co. One ticket gives you access to the Red and Green Trolleys and the Double Decker buses, from which you can get on and off as often or as infrequently as you like. The tour operates daily year-round, but winter hours differ slightly. They also close for major holidays and inclement weather. The buses and trolleys come to each stop every 10 to 15 minutes, so there is never a long wait when you want to view specific sites, some of which include Navy Pier, Millennium and Grant parks and Skydeck Chicago. Reservations can be made but are not necessary.
City Segway Tours offer a tour of all the famous sites of Chicago with the ease of using a Segway. There's no need to walk through downtown because you can roll at a leisurely pace with a knowledgeable guide. They offer three-hour and two-hour tours; the shorter tour offers less insight into Chicago's fascinating history and concentrates on viewing parks. A few of the sites on the tour include the Field Museum and Soldier Field. The tour has an age requirement of 12 years old; also, pregnant women and those under the influence of alcohol are not permitted to operate Segways. The tour operates daily year-round, and private tours are available. Reservations are required.
