Reviews of Chicago Detours. (Event Planner) in Chicago (Illinois).

Chicago Detours

181 Reviews

158 Comments

Event planner

Event management company

53 W Jackson Blvd # 1357, Chicago, IL 60604, United States

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Description

Information of Chicago Detours, Event planner in Chicago (Illinois)

Discover the opening times, the location, contact, popular times, photos and real reviews by internet users.

This place has a very good rate, they treat their customers well and you’ll feel welcome, super recommended

Map

Open hours of Chicago Detours

Sunday

Closed

Monday

9 am–6 pm

Tuesday

9 am–6 pm

Wednesday

9 am–6 pm

Thursday

9 am–6 pm

Friday

9 am–6 pm

Saturday

9 am–6 pm

Reviews of Chicago Detours

June Novalich

Just finished the tour of Chicago's Polish Triangle, thanks to the Chicago Public Library, and as with all of Chicago Detours tours it was enjoyable and informative. Thanks again Amanda since I still am not comfortable going out with crowds so virtual tours are always appreciated.

Grandpa C

Just did a virtual (Zoom) tour of the Polish Triangle with Amanda via Chicago Public Libraries. We visited Noble Square in person 3 yrs ago, but we learned much more about the history of the area and the churches today. Great job, Amanda, thanks!

Melanie Mosberg

I enjoyed the Old Polonia and Wicker Park food tour this past weekend. Elizabeth was the guide and she was energetic and full of knowledge. The tour starts out in a beautiful church that is simply breathtaking. The tour is not food heavy but rich in history. Time well spent.

Andrea Tenjo

Knowledgeable with amazing customer service! I hired Chicago Detours for a corporate event. Amanda was amazing at accommodating every request and change that came up. Highly recommend!

Daniel McDonough

Had an exceptional walking tour with Chicago Detours. Engaging tour guide who connected with the adults and teenagers in our group. It was a great combination of history, architecture, anecdotes, and of course exploring some awesome places. Loved visiting the Marquette building, Marshall Field store and the amazing Tiffany dome in the Chicago Cultural building (old library). Exceptionally well planned and executed. Can't say enough good things about this tour!

Anthony Oedewaldt

This tour is simply outstanding! Starting at Fannie May's chocolate candy store, this experience moves onto some of the most intriguing historical spots of this extremely interesting "Second City". We have been activity choosing Chicago as a place to frequent for any reason in the book and it never disappoints. Kuddos to the fine staff of Chicago DeTours and their very engaging set of tour guides. After decades of trips to the city, we are still blown away at how much one can learn from simply grabbing a brochure about activities and selecting that one unknown experience to partake which ultimately offers incredible lifetime memories. Our experience with this tour company started with asking Ellen about squeezing onto an earlier tour departure time. She called each of the venues in order to see if they could accommodate us so we appreciate the extra inquiries. Alex was our guide last night for the 5:45PM departure slot and created a world in which we were able to walk through history at each stop. We will most certainly check out all of the remaining options this tour company has to offer during the remainder of our stay as well as future visits. We will also be dropping referrals to all our friends and within our sphere of influence. Many many many thanks for a tour well done!! Tony & Amber

Christopher Grace

I took the Wicker Park tour and learned a lot of really cool things about the neighborhood I never would have noticed before. The guide was funny and very knowledgeable, and the food was just.... SO good.

Peter Strickland

Chicago DeTours was a joy to work with from the planning stages through our exceptional tour. I led a small group of students on a week-long exploration of Chicago blues, and the DeTours Jazz and Blues tour was perfect for us. If you are looking at that particular tour for your group, do not pass on the Blues harmonica lesson! It was a real highlight!

Mary Rubach

I went on the Virtual Holiday Stories Happy Hour tour yesterday. If you need a boost to your Christmas spirit this year(and who doesn’t?), this will get you on track. The tour guide was great and very knowledgeable. He was full of wonderful, interesting holiday facts about Chicago. The cool part was the interaction with the audience. Made me feel like we were all in the same room together. I highly recommend Chicago Detours for all of their tours. Give yourself a treat.

Jonah

The best virtual experience I have had! It was highly entertaining and well paced. I've been watching Chicago history programs for decades but Chicago Detours still taught me any new and interesting things. This was also had the perfect balance of education and interaction. I've been to a few of their virtual programs and they are all great. This is a great way to get together with friends or family over the holidays or for special events.

Molly Schemper

Since my birthday had to be virtual this year, I looked into fun tours and discovered the BadAss Women of Chicago History tour by Chicago Detours. I had been on their live tours before and knew they would do a great job, but I had no idea how much I (and all my friends) would learn on this tour! I've lived in Chicago for over 25 years and had no idea about most of the awesome women they highlighted. They also had interactive sections where my friends and I were able to chat and collaborate. Although I'm still looking forward to in-person tours (and birthdays) again, this was a fun, virtual way to celebrate!

Jesse Traub

What a great tour company! We loved our in-person session a couple years ago, and during Covid-times, we recently enjoyed a virtual tour of Chicago's holiday history from the comfort of our own home. It was very engaging, with plenty of audience participation. And educational, too - I feel like I got a real taste of what different parts of Chicago were like at different times, and I plan to read up on a few things I learned about on the tour. Can't recommend them enough, they are a delightful tour group!

Mary Decker

Taking virtual tours with Chicago Detours has become one of my new favorite pastimes. I'm a native Chicagoan, now living on the West Coast and I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about Chicago history and culture. Yet I always pick up some new, fun facts during these virtual tours. The guides are peppy and passionate about the city's architecture, art, food and traditions. I would like to take an in-person tour with them on my next visit to my hometown.

kevin koertje

I have sat in on several of the virtual tours during Shelter in Place. I live in the South Loop, however am a transplant from the west coast. I regularly take walks around the South Loop and adjacent neighborhoods. I have a degree in history. I find the topics very well researched. They make the tours fun, entertaining, and a great learning experience. After nearly every virtual tour I have taken the time to go check out the locations covered in the tour. I learn a lot of interesting details. I plan on making these tours and Chicago Detours a regular part of my learning about Chicago when we are allowed back out in groups and can see these places and learn together.

whitney moeller

I recently took Chicago Detours' holiday-themed downtown tour and what a great way to spend an afternoon in December! Even though I've lived in Chicago for many years and had already visited all the locations on the tour, it was as if I were touring these sites for the first time - noticing new details and making new connections. Amanda was an excellent guide, encouraging us to take a closer look at what was in front of us, and sharing stories and videos that really brought these spaces to life. And why had I never had Miller's Tom & Jerry before? This is now on my list of favorite Chicago Christmas traditions!

Cheryl Wong

I attended the virtual Chicago River boat tour and it was great! I learned quite a few things and I thought I knew mostly everything about Chicago downtown architecture! It was also fun playing BINGO during the tour. I highly recommend this virtual tour and cannot wait to attend a real live tour in the near future.

Gloria Shirey

Chicago Detours is a fantastic way to see the city of Chicago in an entirely different view. The buildings you walk by have so much history and architectural details and this tour company helps to point these details out! The virtual tours they have given during COVID19 quarantine have been a great way to see so much of a beloved city. I don't ever get to do it all in one visit to the city so Thank You for the virtual tours! Alex and Amanda are the best tour guides!!!

Martina Bright

Since the quarantine times began, Chicago Detours has been hosting (free!) virtual tours amd history presentations. I've been able to attend quite a number of them, and they have been AMAZING!!! Amanda and her team are working hard to provide this, and it has been great entertainment and educational moments in week. Thank you so much for hosting these, it has helped keep me positive during these uncertain times. I absolutely recommend them to anyone and everyone (and encouraging donating for those who are financially able to support them)!

Mary Lu Seidel

Chicago Detours always leads tours and programming with professionalism and expertise. Their team of presenters and organizers are lively, interesting, engaging, relatable. It is a crash course in architecture told so that seasoned historians can enjoy and newcomers to the world of architecture and Chicago's built environment are immediately welcomed in and included. From Their Badass Women in Chicago History to programs like the Architecture Crash Course, it is guaranteed to be enlightening, interesting, and entertaining. Despite the restrictions of our Zoom-infested world, Chicago Detours finds ways to make me feel like we're all sitting around my living room chatting. Of course, had I known all these people would be in my living room I might have at least vacuumed first!

Alicia Obando

I just finished the Badass Women Virtual Event and it was wonderful. They took us through the lives of 6 different inspirational women of Chicago. Marie did a great job of giving us good information, showing great visuals and leading us in fun interactive activities. The hour flew by. I was sad when it was over. Can't wait to try another one of their events.

Jo Anna

I have really enjoyed the well researched, professional, creative and fun virtual tours Amanda Scotese and her team have offered during the pandemic. The presenters are well-educated academics, experts in all things Chicago. A breath of fresh air during these challenging times. I will definitely be joining them for an in-person tour when it's permitted. Thank you for your generosity in making these available! Look forward to meeting you guys in person 😊😊

Jennifer Harness

I just discovered Chicago Detours during the quarantine. They are doing FREE daily programs and accepting donations to cover costs of operating a business during a pandemic. I have absolutely fallen in love with these daily tours. Using a combination of PowerPoint and Google Street View, they present daily on a variety of topics connected to Chicago neighborhoods. Amanda, the owner has hooked me in, as I look forward to her programs each day, even if it isn’t a topic I might normally sign up for. She remembers those who join in regularly, even remembering where we are from. She tries to greet every participant as they log in, which has made these personal, not just a distant presenter talking from far away. It is evident that Amanda is very knowledgeable about her topics as well as the other tour staff. She is passionate about her business and tours. I have learned so much from watching these ‘tours’. I love the weekend tours of neighborhoods and find myself disappointed that the weekday ‘happy hour’ tours end so quickly. Although circumstances don’t allow me to go to Chicago to tour in person, I would definitely be interested in taking an in person tour in the future.

Megan Zink

Absolutely LOVED the Badass Women in History virtual event on International Women's Day - Marie did a fantastic job and made everything so fun and engaging. Fun facts and history, multiple activities to keep things interesting and engaging, and even a collaborative exercise. Loved the mix of everything - eventually would love to get back to in-person events but really enjoyed this for the time being. Definitely recommend!

mandy p

I have been on several Chicago Detours - with my boyfriend, my mom, and some with friends. Chicago Detours are for everyone! This time I experienced the 1893 World's Fair Tour. I wasn't alive then (and neither were you), but as knowledgeable as the guide and owner Amanda was on this tour you would have thought she was. We stopped and gazed and shared stories and insights about our experiences with each topic and site all the while the host enlightened us on the historical and cultural background. It was light. It was fun. We played games and visited a bar as part of the tour. The amount and depth of research incorporated on this tour as well as the organization is certainly impressive. Equally impressive is each guide's ability to keep cool and keep the group moving whether it's a large or small crowd, one filled mainly of tourists or locals. Surely I'll be joining another creative concept soon. Thanks Chicago Detours!

Leah Samler

My boyfriend and I are from Chicago but thought taking one of these tours would be a fun way to learn more about our city. We took the Historic Pub Crawl Tour. It was so fun, informative and interactive. The use of iPads was creative and added another layer to the already unique tour. The tour was also super organized and flowed smoothly. Elizabeth was our guide and is super smart and engaging. Highly recommend!

Bonnie Lilienfeld

This amazing company has been doing daily virtual tours on Zoom of Chicago and it's so much fun. They're smart, engaging, and really know the city and it's history, especially little known and hidden histories of this great city. I look forward to these virtual tours every day and can't wait to take a real life tour with them. Check it out!

Meg Rickman

Getting on the Virtual Holiday Stories Happy Hour tour on Saturday was the best and easiest way to learn something about our city from the comfort of my couch. Alex was informative and good about sharing exciting details of the shops on Michigan ave and how it was a bustling place to be. Neat little sketch to tie into more details of the city and the idea behind the Xmas tree ship that used to dock along the lake for Chicagoans to get their tree.

Evelyn Spear

If you have even a passing interest in architecture, history, or Chicago, don't hesitate to check these folks out! Impeccable information and stories from the guides, interesting locations, and absolutely fun.

Meg Kadlec

I've taken several virtual tours from Chicago Detours, and I keep going back for more. The tour guides are extremely knowledgeable about Chicago. The tours include little-known (at least to me) facts about the city. And often the participants have insights of their own to share. Very entertaining and informative. I highly recommend them.

P B

Last summer a few relatives and I decided last minute (while on the train downtown from the 'burbs) to do the Loop/Pedway tour and I must say, having done quite a few tours with other companies, this was the best ever. On a hot day it was nice to go in and out of the buildings and Pedway while learning amazing things about the architecture in the Loop. Alex was an awesome and very informative guide. I've watched a couple of the virtual tours recently and can't wait to get out and visit those neighborhoods with Chicago Detours when they're back on the streets!

Kelley Shannon

Such great storytelling...and great choices for women that embody the idea of being a badass. We did this as a group event for Women's History Month and it was extremely well received. A nice way to spend an hour recognizing and celebrating women's history.

Kate Chiodo

Great for tourists and locals alike!! I have attended 3 of their walking tours (historic Chicago walking tour, tour with pedway and their Christmas tour) and many of their virtual tours since we’ve been stuck at home. I am counting down until we can hit the streets together again. I currently live locally and have loved getting to the know the city. All the things you’ve walked past without even knowing the history! Having lived in Europe for 2 years and been on MANY tours, Chicago Detours rates in the top tour companies I’ve experienced.

Erica McCormack

I took the Loop Interior Tour and really appreciated the chance to see some of Chicago's most awe-inspiring buildings inside and out. The pace of the tour was great for getting more than just a superficial fact about each thing we saw. Our knowledgeable and engaging tour guide and the iPads (provided - stocked with videos, historic photos, and unexpected artifacts) gave us an understanding of how buildings affected people's lives and transformed the city. Highly recommended!

Jim Weidert

We attended the Chicago Detours "Virtual Holiday Stories Happy Hour" via Zoom. It was a highlight of our looooong Covid quarantine. The storytellers were fun and energetic and inspired the audience to participate. The audience participation was a lot of fun and we won a contest! We learned some things about Chicago too! Great job everyone, making the best of our current pandemic situation. Very entertaining. We can't wait to join you next time we are in the Windy City. Cheers!!

angela finney

I've lived in Chicago for 13 years, but had a friend visiting and decided to do the tour with them, and glad I did. This tour was a trifecta, I got to see the city, learn things about the architecture and the past, plus taste food and drink while doing it. It was amazing to learn some really unique facts about places I've passes 100 times and never knew their past. Super interesting and fun tour. I highly recommend.

Ashley Turner

My husband and I live in Chicago but like to go on tours occasionally to learn fun new facts about our city. We ended up going on the 1893 World's Fair tour, with Elizabeth as our tour guide, and had a blast! Our tour guide led us to various different historic buildings (and bars) throughout downtown Chicago and had visual and audio aides ready the entire time. It honestly felt like witnessing a History Channel documentary come to life! She also had interactive games for us to play which made engaging with the history really fun. I'm astonished at the number of things I learned over the course of a few hours and can't wait to go on another tour of theirs! I can't recommend this company (or this specific tour) enough!

Gerie Wilson

I went on the Historic Chicago Walking Tour with Jen, our vivacious Guide. She seemed to enjoy the architectural gems as much as we did. We started on Michigan Ave, the Magnificent Mile. We explored an elegant Mansion & we noshed our way through historic venues. Jen brought the Prohibition Days, music & entertainment back to life with her colorful narrative. Jen made it a really fun tour.

Kurt Schultz

After living in Louisville, KY briefly and discovering the interconnection of lobbies and covered areas that let me get through downtown without getting rained or snowed on, I got interested in public places that weren't so public. While Googling around for information on Chicago before a trip I discovered Chicago Detours actually made a map of the Chicago Pedway which is nothing but these interconnected areas. We have tried to get with them on a couple of trips, but for one reason or another we weren't able to. But now that we're all quarantined they have been offering some of their tours on-line virtually! While this really isn't the same, it is still an amazing experience and has kept them on the top of our to-do list next time we get back into Chicago. The presenters knew an amazing amount and weren't hesitant to say when they didn't know an answer. They offer a great array of tours covering the whole spectrum of what and why Chicago is what it is. Great company with great people. They are definitely on the short list!

Anastasia Bender

My husband, brother and sister-in-law all decided this year that we would gift each other an adventure versus gifts for Christmas and Chicago DeTours did not disappoint. It was such a fun group and it was awesome to see so many new sites of Chicago that I have not seen even though I've visited Chicago many times. The tour was both fun and educational and the food and drinks were great. We will definitely be coming back for another Chicago DeTours adventure!

Katherine Schuster

I would give this tour company more than five stars, but I am limited to five! Our family joined the 1893 World Fair tour and it was above and beyond anything we anticipated. Our guide Alex was incredibly knowledgeable and entertaining. He did not merely relay facts, but engaged us in thoughtful conversation and led interactive games. The tour was based in the loop (downtown), an area we frequent on a weekly basis. We all agreed that after the tour, we now possess a new perspective on a familiar place. If you are from the Chicago area or visiting from out of town, I highly recommend this tour company!

Richard Noens

Just took the Holiday tour with Detours and it was great. Learned a lot of stuff about Chicago's history and it was fun. The guide did an excellent job. This was the second tour we have taken with this company and we will most certainly go on future tours with them.

Karen Gordon, DMD

We had a party of 10 people and we called about a walking pub tour and the owner of the company got right back to us and arranged a fantastic tour for us that very same evening. We had a blast! The wine was first rate and the food was delicious and fun! Our tour guide was so knowledgeable about the architecture and history of Chicago and she was able to communicate in an entertaining way. We had two 18 yr olds, two 21 yr olds and the rest of us baby boomers and we all enjoyed the tour and our tour guide. I would highly recommend this tour, we loved it and out tour guide!

Caitlin Skaff

Great tour! If you've never been to Chicago, you will learn about the great history of the city. If you have been to Chicago (or even if you live there), you are still likely to learn something new! I took the 2 hour loop architecture walking tour, and my biggest complaint was that it was too short! Excellent tour guide. Would definitely recommend and would definitely take another tour in the future.

Kelly Cunningham

Amanda knows so much about the city! Her tours are full of good stories and interesting details, and are always great fun. I went with my office as a team building event, and the Northwest Side Neighborhood Holiday Bar Crawl was such a fun way to spend the afternoon. It was nice to stay out of downtown, learn more about the neighborhoods, and hit a few bars that I never would have known about otherwise! Plus food, drinks, fun facts... what's not to love? I would highly recommend Chicago Detours for anyone looking to 1) get away from the office for a bit, 2) show out-of-towners a new side of Chicago, or 3) learn something new themselves!

Mandy Penksa

Chicago Detours, oh how I love you. I think I know a lot about my city, but then you school me (in a good way.) I can count on you to give me interesting factoids about Chicago’s culture, history, architecture, peoples and much, much more. You are always coming up with fun and interesting tour concepts that keep me coming back for more. Also, the variety you offer makes for tours appropriate for any season. This wasn’t my first tour nor will it be my last. Thank you for showing me around and keeping me on my feet but mostly thank you for the blast! The guides are always knowledgeable and make learning fun.

Jana Hudson

My husband and I did the walking architecture tour, what a treat! We learned so much and we were really able to admire some beautiful aspects of the city that we otherwise pass by. Our tour guide Brian was very knowledgeable and it is very apparent that he enjoys his line of work. We are excited to take another tour!

Cher Evans

I have been doing their virtual happy hour tours all week, and have learned so much! I live on the West Coast, and didn’t know anything but the bare basics about Chicago. I had no plans to visit there, until these tours; when it is “all clear” again, I will now visit there, just to take their walking tours. Check them out! They have been so generous with providing these Zoom/YouTube tours; please tip them, or make a donation.

Jacob Kobylecky

Went on the Interior Architecture tour. Original research makes Chicago Detours super engaging and you're essentially guaranteed to learn some fascinating new things. At one point a bystander assuming we were just another tour group was wisecracking "hope you get your money's worth" to the amusement of the group (we were definitely getting our money's worth...)

Amanda Gilliam

Had a fantastic time on this tour! Visiting spots around the city I never knew existed is always a bonus. Nerding out on architectural details with Alex was most enjoyable. He’s an extremely knowledgeable, personable, and charismatic host. The interactive nature of some of the group activities really put the experience over the top. Would recommend the tour to anyone, visitor or local!

Tiffany Wilson Keesey

The tour I took was wonderful! I've been on a lot of tours of downtown Chicago, and this one included new info I had never before heard and the interior of buildings I had never seen before. If you are looking for a tour that goes deep into the history of Chicago, offers thoughtful analysis of the city, and is led by experts, this is the tour for you! (Oh, and I finally understand the Chicago Pedway now. I feel like a real Chicago pro now!)

Erin S. Benson

I took the Historic Bar Tour with a friend. Our tour guide was great! It started with a nice little ice breaker to make the group feel comfortable and at ease with each other. Most of us were locals (such as myself) and I met some fun people and really learned about this great city I live in! The tour guide encouraged questions, and she answered these questions with a true passion for her job and Chicago, and even cooler - she asked us questions, too, to get us really looking at the amazing architecture we visited. Some tours overwhelm you with facts and others leave you confused, but this walking tour contained a perfect amount of information intertwined with good drink and food! Perfect for an out-of-towner or a Chicagoan looking to get in touch with the city a little more! I hope to go on their downtown walking tour, and I'm also thinking about booking the bar tour as a private tour for our summer company outing!

Tiffany Shelton

I took the 1893 Chicago World's Fair Tour with Elizabeth. It was a blast! The tour was dynamic, interactive, and highly informative. I was shocked by how far reaching the impact of the 1893 World's Fair was and how it continues to shape our lives today. Our guide, Elizabeth, was insightful and entertaining. I would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone interested in World's Fair lore, architectural history of Chicago, or really anyone looking to have fun while learning.

Travis LeGrande

The Historic Chicago Walking Bar Tour was fantastic! We saw some interesting architecture and had some good beers and wine along the way, all while hearing interesting facts and stories from Morgan, who was very entertaining and knowledgeable. They really do their research to dig up details that you won't find by googling the buildings.

Lauren Blackman

Had Alex lead the world fair 4 pm tour, legitimately the best tour I’ve been on! I went with my boyfriend who is from Scotland and my mom and we all had such a good time. It was informative and a lot of fun (with scavenger hunts sprinkled in). Alex is the best tour guide, he’s super energetic and knowledgeable! Could answer any question we had even if it wasn’t directly related to the tour. Would recommend it to anyone and everyone! Thanks, Alex!

Jeremy Parker

I have been on two tours now with Chicago Detours and I'm planning on trying a third one soon. The Jazz & Blues tour was fantastic. I know a bit about Chicago history but I learned so much on this tour. It felt more like a treasure hunt with friends. It was a good blend of looking at the big picture of the city and then focusing in on the amazing architecture and history of specific buildings. I next went on the Loop Architecture tour. We discovered so many amazing little pieces of history that add up to make Chicago the great city it is. Like a real Di Vinci Code - that was fiction right? - there are clues and symbols all over, if you know where to look, that tell of a building's or neighborhood's history. Every stop is more beautiful than the previous, and along with the light-hearted yet compelling narrative of our guide, I found the experience to be unique and wonderful. After living in Chicago for so long, I now see the Loop in a totally new and exciting way.

Katie Frossard

I have been virtually attending their tours and am learning so much about the city. As someone who's a long time Chicago History nerd, that is saying something. Amanda and her group are engaging and informative. I can't wait to take a tour in person!

Therese K she, her

Took the Rogers Park architecture tour. It was really great! I learned a lot of local lore and got to see inside the buildings. I’ve driven past them thousands of times but never noticed the architectural detail that Ellen pointed out. The stories about the families who formerly owned a few of the structures were neat. I recommend this company %100. You will be glad you went!

Judy Harness

My daughter and I are watching the tours from home. The guides are doing excellent shortened versions with photos of the locations and/or people involved. Often the guide shows us on Google maps the historic views of what the location look like before, and what it looks like currently. We enjoy the history, the enthusiasm of the guides, and plan to go to Chicago to take one or more of the tours when the quarantine is over.

Jennifer Harness

I have been participating daily in their free virtual tours. They advertise, ‘stories even locals don’t know.’ This past Tuesday, Alex presented on the Indiana Dunes and the Homes of Tomorrow’. Although I’m not entirely local, the dunes are closer to me than Chicago, and I did learn several things I didn’t know before. He had great photos and great information. Always look forward to Alex’s presentations! If you haven’t been on one of their ‘virtual tours’ be sure to try them out!

Sabina Kajtezovic

Great for tourists and locals! I booked a Good Times Historic Bar tour via Google Offers and was excited about it and the tour did not let me down. It was fun, quirky, and very historic. Learned much more than I anticipated, considering I expected it would be something similar to a pub crawl. It started at the Tribune building which is one of my favorite buildings in Chicago and I learned even more fun and cool (historic) information about it from our tour guide while standing in the building's main lobby (which I have to admit, I've never walked into before). It's also cool that Amanda (our tour guide) had videos and photos to accompany the tour on iPad, so the multimedia aspect of it makes it more modern and non-traditional (in a good way). Also unexpected was that drinks and appetizers/small bites were served at each restaurant/bar location. I didn't expect it to be included in the tour, so it was really a nice bonus. As a local I recommend this tour to Chicago residents because you will learn something new even if you think you're well-versed in Chicago history. I also recommend this tour to tourists, because it will open you eyes more to Chicago history and architecture through a casual stroll with food and drink pit stops.

Michele Fulsom

I had so much fun on the Gangsters and Ghost stories tour! We walked around the city and heard about the different stories about Chicago"s Dark History. We stopped at the beautiful Palmer House hotel, where Brownies were invented, and had time to visit the historic bar where I got to sample the Palmer House Pilsner .. best beer ever! I look forward to taking another tour the next time I visit Chicago!

Dana M

I can't say enough about how good the Chicago Detours virtual tours are. I have taken several of their virtual tours, and they have been terrific. The guides are superb--very knowledgeable and very interesting. I recommend them very highly!

Jim Hughes

Their streaming sessions — Happy Hour talks and online tours — are informative and fun! I’ve done their Chicago Drinking History (having drinks while learning) and the Hyde Park Neighborhood tour via Zoom and highly recommend. Now if I can only find some Malort before Drinking History Part II starts in a couple of days!

Morgan Vogt

Excellent tour - fun, informative and interactive. Most of the interior tour is inside but you do have to walk outside some so be prepared if the weather is bad. Our tour guide, Marie, was so upbeat and knowledgeable, it was a pleasure to go on this adventure with her. I live in the suburbs and have been downtown many times but this gave me such a new perspective on it. Well worth it!

Mary Morrissey

We attended the historic bar tour, the loop walking tour, the pedway tour, the food tour of neighborhoods,the five year anniversary special event tour to name a few of the unique tours. I also gave friends gift cards to Chicago Detours and the friends raved about the information that they found out about Chicago despite being Chicago natives! Very informative!

Cyndi Tate

Chicago Detours is killing it in the virtual world. Check out their weekday happy hour topics and longer weekend virtual tours. Very informative and a fun way to explore our great city. I attended 3 so far.

Rick

I did the Loop Architecture and Pedway tour with Alex as our tour guide. Alex's knowledge of the city was extensive. I was primarily impressed with the tour structure. I never felt like we were just walking from spot to spot listening to a guide rattling off names and dates. The 2 hours went by entertainingly fast as we stopped at unexpected places and looked at architecture, watched videos, looked at pictures, played fun trivia games and heard "behind the scenes" stories. The Pedway map is a great bonus for a Chicagoan like me or for a visitor. I would recommend this tour to people visiting Chicago, but also to locals.

Bobby Moran

I have taken multiple tours over the past couple of years with Chicago Detours. The Pedway walking tour gave me a truly amazing perspective of a hidden part of this city (AND an easier way to get around). Whether it is the Jazz and Blues tour, the Loop Interior Architecture Walking Tour or even a Bar Tour; Detours provides the uncommon lens for history through space and architecture. If you enjoy fresh perspective and creativity this is truly the best architecture walking tour since sliced bread.

Katie King

We did the Chicago World Fair Tour. Our tour included locals and out of town people like us. Elizabeth was a terrific tour guide, friendly and knowledgeable. So much fun!!! Would highly recommend.

David Wilkins

Great overview of the Chicago history (Chicago History Crash Course). Awesome being able to get this level of detail in a zoom meeting. I'd really love to be able to take an in-person tour - I'm sure there's much more info that Chicago Detours can elaborate on.

Fran Folsom

I enjoyed a great virtual tour of Chicago's West Loop and Madison street. Amanda from Chicago Detours gave us excellent history showing images from the 19th century and present day of what the neighborhood looked like. Very interesting.

Chris Dransoff

Have participated in two tours virtually and have been very impressed! Tours were very informative and interactive. Chicago Detours also offers a wide range of tours. I'll be back for more.

Greg Zmich

Amanda did a phenomenal job of getting our photo group around town to a lot of great shooting locations.

colleen mcgee

I have been enjoying these virtual tours. It's real nice to get away from things and learn more about the great city of Chicago. I had planned to visit Chicago, a place I love so much, in the spring, but that couldn't happen . So these tours have been a nice Chicago fix.

Spencer Wade

Met a group of friends from Google Local at The Jazz Record Mart where we loaded a tour bus. This tour was unbelievable, the first thing I thought was I no what did I sign up for but then the mic came on and so did the videos and the great conversation. The architecture the history, and on the first stop it was the "Green Mill" Lots of history and more great conversation. Then we loaded up for more touring, as the night progressed we ended up at Pearl's Place, where we had some of the best Soul food in town, and we can't forget more good conversation. The host/ED of Detours (Amanda) really went out of her way to show everyone a great time, learning new things about the city and experiencing it from within a luxury bus. Every time we were on the road the host kept us so busy, you never knew you were even traveling. Great time, learning new things about the city and its culture, I highly recommend this tour and hope you have as much fun as we did with Detours.

Carly Klingbiel

Went on the Historic Chicago Walking Bar Tour while visiting the city. It was so much fun and the snacks were yummy. Jen is the most amazing tour guide and I’d go on many more. 11/10. :)

Bridget Barrera

Amanda and her team are serious professionals that make Chicago history fun, exciting and engaging. I HIGHLY recommend this tour to locals and visitors to Chicago. I can't wait to take them all.

Anne Wolf

The virtual tours offered during the "quarantine" are something to look forward to each day. The variety of topics is incredibly interesting, and the tour guides are extremely knowledgeable, intelligent, and engaging. I can't wait to tour with them in person one day soon!

Gary Yan

I haven't gone on any in-person walking tours with them, but during the pandemic it's been great listening to their virtual tours (free, but donations suggested). I'm happy to learn more about Chicago and especially the lesser known/more obscure facts.

R. Scott Pfledderer

Our guide was top rate, with wit and deep knowledge of her tour. Her brisk but very jam-packed trek made it feel like an awesome adventure. I've lived in Chicago since '03, and I was floor by what I learned about the Pedway downtown, and some of the more nefarious actors buried in Chicago's tangled history.

Sophia Barr

As a history buff and a Chicago native, I knew I would enjoy a walking tour of downtown, but I was skeptical that I could be shown anything knew. But Amanda captivated me for two hours on the Inside the Loop tour and taught me so much! I'll never look at Field's or much of the Loop in the same way again. Highly recommended.

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Virtual Holiday Stories Happy Hour for a private event with family and friends. Enjoyed the conversations and Chicago history of the holidays. Amanda is very knowledgeable about chicago and the influence some people had on Christmas in Chicago. Dottie & Ed

sara snowwhite

An amazing friend sent me the Badass Women journal as an early Christmas gift. It’s so cool!! It's the perfect size to fit in my purse and I take it with me to write down random notes or thoughts. The illustrations are cool and I love the stories of the women, I did not know any of them! Very cool to learn more about badass women of history and celebrate them.

Sheila Ryan

Very entertaining and informative and, Yes, I did learn things I didn't know about Chicago Food even though I thought I knew a lot! Interactive and I plan to check out their other offerings. Alex was great!

Kate Demerse

My sister-in-law sent me the Badass Women journal as an early Christmas gift and I loved it! It's the perfect size to slip in a laptop bag, so I can take it with me to write down random notes or thoughts. The illustrations are cool and I love the stories of the women, I did not know any of them! Very cool to learn more about badass women of history and celebrate them. It would be a perfect gift to anyone you love!

Bailey Meek

We did the loop architecture tour. I must admit, I know nothing about architecture but thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history involved in the buildings. We walked through several buildings and learned about the pedway system that is underground. Surprisingly, many locals do not know of this walking system! Amanda also gave us a map to navigate the pedway on our own. This tour left me wanting more! Two things to note though: we were late because we didn't see we meet at a location different from the office. Also, the website isn't too mobile friendly so I'd recommend checking it out on a desktop prior to booking.

Kevin Bird

The Wicker park/ Old Polonia with food tour was fantastic. Learned some interesting history about the evolution of the neighborhood, saw some beautiful buildings, and had more delicious food than I could manage. I loved learning about the local culture. Great for locals or travelers like myself. Thanks Amanda.

Joyce Czerwinskyj

I found their presentation on badass women exhilarating! It was extremely well researched. It spreads awareness that is vital for everyone! I was deeply moved and it gave me hope in a time when we all need it dearly. Excellent! Highly recommended!

Billy Kuczek

Sitting in on the daily virtual tours has become a super enjoyable part of my daily shelter-in-place routine. These guys are so gracious to be doing this. Can't wait to be able to go on an in-person tour with them soon! Thanks for what you do!

K Younus

We had fun touring with our guide on a beautiful September Saturday. We could've used a few extra iPads or they could've sent us the slideshow to look at on our phones as we were walking. Otherwise it was informative and fun.

Laila Gwathmey

Really informational and interesting. I loved hearing about the history of different buildings and monuments in Chicago. I highly suggest going on their boat tours. :)

Michelle Repp

I've done three tours and each was better than the last! Amanda is fun and knowledgeable, and the themes are unique and quirky with lots of perks from businesses and restaurants. Thoroughly enjoyed!

Charmaine P Owens

This evening's Virtual Holiday Stories Happy Hour was beyond fun! It was interactive and kept me engaged throughout. GREAT JOB AMANDA!

Chad Stawikowski

I had such a good time on our tour. Our guide made it really fun experience and gave us a lot of intersting information. There were some really cool interactive parts that gave this tour an even more unique feel. Im so happy I chose this tour. I would DEFINITELY recommened it to anyone looking for a tour with something a little extra. It was like no other tour I've been on before.

Michael Matos

Our holiday event was a unique and engaging experience. I loved the Chicago experience with pictures and history. It was well planned and perfectly timed.

Max Pod

I did the HISTORIC PUB CRAWL, in June 2015. It's a great mixture of historic and Chicago insider knowledge as well as socializing with the other tour members. A special thing to do, not even your concierge might know about ;-)

Samantha Reed

We weren't sure what to expect from our virtual holiday tour, but we had a really great time and would definitely recommend as a unique and fun way to connect with friends and family virtually!

Dane Canada

I've been joining their virtual tours (that began after the Shelter In Place ordinance) which have been one of my favorite social-distancing activities yet. I'm excited to go on a real tour once real things are real again.

Lou Borenstein

Have been watching a lot of their virtual tours and very impressed by them. It's great of them to be doing that during this COVID crisis. I will be looking them up when I next make it to Chicago. One warning: some guides seem to have it out for New York. Maybe you'll like that, maybe you won't.

Alex Z

I love the company and their tours! They are just what you need when visiting this beautiful city ant it's so big you don't know where to start to explore. I had a couple of tours and each time I enjoyed my time alot!

Kristen MacKay

I've been on several walking tours and now several virtual tours - I LOVE the tours, the guides, everything! I can't wait until I can come back to Chicago to do another tour in person!

Sara McInerney Hauck

Booked the day before, was super easy process, directions were wonderful, discounted parking is a HUGE plus, knew exactly what to expect. Guide was great, well spoken, fun and energetic. Highly recommend!

Laura Harwood

Really fun, engaging, informative and inspiring program. Marie did an excellent job adding humor and clearly sharing stories of badass women.

J G

The walking tour, even on a rainy day, was great. The guide was knowledgeable, spoke clearly, answered questions, and enjoyed sharing the information of the sites, buildings, walkways, and history. It was a great value.

T BR

I did my first virtual tour and thought it was very interesting. I liked the photos they showed and would definitely love to go on an actual tour and see them in person when we can.

Kate Maude

This group is so cool. They've been putting on regular free virtual tours during the COVID-19 shut down and they're super informative and fun. I highly recommend joining in on one of them

Margaret Larkin

Very knowledgeable guides and a very well-run business. They know a lot about Chicago and are very customer-oriented. I would recommend it for individual visitors or groups as a more interesting alternative to other tours.

Carrie Williams

Love the Badass Women Journal! Nice variety of movers and shakers highlighted with plenty of room for note taking, drawing, etc. Great gift for young writers.

Empirical Wizard

Very well researched and interesting zoom on the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. Clearly, a lot of work was put into the most excellent presentation.

John Allen

The Virtual Tours are Awesome! Very knowledgeable Guides. Just what we need as we are hunkered down. My only complaint? They are too short!

Michele Gates

The virtual tours are fun and educational. Definitely recommend them. Looking forward to signing up for an in person tour someday soon!

Amanda Holman

Great virtual event for my company. Learned a lot about women that I knew nothing about. Really great information and presentation style too!

Jeanne Robinson

This experience was so well researched, organized and presented. I would recommend it to everyone interested in the history of women and in the history of Chicago.

Ed G

Old Irving Park virtual tour - very interesting and informative. Definitely give it a try. Will be taking other virtual tours by CDTC.

Paula Mueller

I love small business that are trying to redefine at this time. This was informative and interesting. I will look forward to taking a live tour as soon as we are able, until then there appears to be lots of interesting topics.

AL Ryan

I attended a Worlds Fair of 1893 zoom event. I knew a lot about the worlds fair already, but learned some new and interesting facts! I recommend it!

Beth M

Very interesting tour with lots of information and an interactive format :) It did cover less area/buildings than I expected though (but what we saw was very interesting)

Carl Chadek

Our guide for the online 1893 World's Fair tour was very informed and a lot of fun!

Eric

Did the virutal boat tour with Georgina. I enjoyed the tour and learned some interesting information. Great Value and took my mind elsewhere.

Nicole

Just participated in the virtual tour about the wonders of the world fair. It was very animated and interesting. Highly recommended! Thank you.

Mark Kulczycki

We have done 2 walking tours with Chicago Detours and they both were fabulous! We plan on doing a third very shortly.

Cathie Ruth

Love Chicago Detours - great info and stories about Chicago history. Thanks for the happy hour event!

Libby Bollino

Thanks for a fun and interesting diversion during COVID19! I took a virtual tour and now I am looking forward to visiting Chicago and walking with Chicago Detours!

Kim R

I attended the Virtual Holiday Stories Happy Hour with my family (private event) and it was awesome! Would highly recommend.

shirl phelan

just did the virtual x mas tour with family was amazing.Very reasonable price and the host and hostess were awesome.

Damon Darlin

Really really knowledgeable. Try their virtual tours during the lockdown. They are first rate. You’ll learn more about Chicago even if you think you know Chicago.

Kristen Heitman

Unique and engaging tour ideas. No matter how well you know Chicago you will learn something on their tours.

Pushkar M. Singh, Esq.

Great people and a fantastic 90 min tour!

Meghan Fitzmartin

Super solid tour company -- I had a really knowledgable and fun tour guide which made the already unique and creative tour even more fun! Can't recommend it enough.