Loop-de-Loop

A walkabout in and near Chicago's downtown “Loop”, including a visit to one of the city's two observation decks (the Hancock Building or the Willis, formerly Sears, Tower) – a tour full of stories from Chicago's past. We begin at the iconic “Water Tower” landmark, right next to the Hancock Building (if that is your choice for a lookout, it will begin your tour, open 9-11 daily). We proceed south along Michigan Avenue, seeing the southern end of the “magnificent mile” and the Gold Coast area, and stopping to have a good look at the Tribune Tower. We will see the Art Institute, the Chicago Cultural Center, and the edge of Millenium Park before turning west toward State and Madison (once called «the busiest corner in the world») the site of two historic buildings of the «Chicago School» of architecture. Coming back north on State we will enjoy the work of Louis Sullivan and other groundbreaking architects of the 1880s and 90s. Chicago's loop is also home to world class sculpture, and we will see works by Picasso, Calder, Miro, and others. Across from the beautiful, neo-classical Cook County Building is a skyscraper whose top looks like a church steeple – because it is precisely that, the Chicago Temple or First Methodist Church. After a guided trip up to its Sky Chapel (if the walkabout is timed to accommodate it, the tour is only given at 2 pm/14:00), we will proceed to «the Rookery», one of the earliest skyscrapers, with a lobby redesigned by Frank Lloyd Wright. And then on to the historic Chicago Board of Trade, once “the Pit” for trading of agricultural commodities, now in its Art Deco building the scene of more diversified commerce. Then it's west to the Willis Tower (the other choice for your lookout deck, with it's famous “ledge” where brave tourists can step onto a sturdy glass floor, surrounded by windows, seemingly suspended in mid-air over the city, open 9am-10pm daily in summer, 10am-8pm daily during off season). Our tour concludes at Union Station, whose spacious halls are a superb example of early twentieth century rail-station design. 

Walkabout in downtown Chicago, with information about sights and about Chicago's past.

Admission fee (express) at one of two lookout towers, Hancock or Willis/Sears. Big Shoulders Tours will order this ticket for your group, at $40/guest, with 24 hours advance notice. Later requests may mean an express ticket will not be available, and guests will have to wait in line (two times, once to purchase non-express ticket at $17.50 ($15 for Hancock), and again for admission to the elevators). If this results in a longer excursion, the guide's time will be charged at $50/hour. Customers are urgently advised to order express tickets 24 hours in advance.

For cancellation up to 3 days, a full refund will be given. For cancellation up to 1 days, 50% refund will be given.