Chicago City Minibus Tour With Optional Architecture River Cruise Provided By See It All Chicago Tours
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- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- Travel with a small group, which ensures personalized attention
- Air-conditioned minibus can travel where larger coaches can’t navigate
- Upgrade to include a popular Chicago River architecture boat cruise
- Begin your Chicago sightseeing adventure with convenient pickup from most downtown Chicago hotels, where you board a climate-controlled minibus with your group of 12 or fewer. The small group ensures personalized attention from your guide.Journey through downtown, known as the Loop, and listen as your guide details its historical and architectural heritage. Head to some north-side neighborhoods that other tours miss, such as Lincoln Park and Gold Coast, to see how locals live. Check out the Museum Campus and Millennium Park, and get epic photo ops of the Chicago skyline.Upgrade to include the popular architecture boat cruise on the Chicago River, which often books up. The onboard commentary sheds light on the city’s architecture and the rivers place in history.If not taking the boat tour, you are returned to your hotel. Otherwise, you are transported to the boat departure point and are responsible for your return transport.
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- Returns to original departure point
Chicago: Guided City Highlights Tour With Entry Tickets
The day begins with pickup from your downtown Chicago hotel and heads to one of the citys most iconic landmarks, the Chicago Bean. Learn about this iconic artwork as well as its artist, Anish Kapoor. Next, admire Chicagos impressive skyline aboard the Shoreline Architecture Cruise. Listen to the onboard narration as you admire over 40 of the citys landmarks. Afterwards, head to the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, Skydeck Chicago. Take the elevator up to the 103rd floor and soak up 360-degree views. Theres also time to walk out onto The Ledge, a special glass balcony which provides a once in a lifetime experience.Stop at the 360 Chicago Observation Deck next for yet more panoramic views of the city. Then have fun on the TILT Experience, a must-do when visiting Chicago. Later, enjoy a narrated drive through the city and pass by famous sights including the Aqua Tower, Buckingham Fountain, and more.Finally, visit the Adler view point for one last view of the city then enjoy drop-off back to your hotel.
About Chicago Trolley & Double Decker Co
If you’re out and about in Chicago, chances are you’ll catch a glimpse of them. No, not the famous skyscrapers or kayakers sifting for gold in the Chicago River, but rather the classic red and green trolleys and open-top buses of Chicago Trolley & Double Decker Co. As guides narrate cruises through the city’s streets, passengers can see Navy Pier, Buckingham Fountain, and other iconic sights pass by outside.
Since its founding in 1994, Chicago Trolley & Double Decker Co. has helped millions of locals and visitors navigate the myriad landmarks, attractions, and hot spots that comprise the Windy City’s 77 neighborhoods. The company’s 75-vehicle fleet includes San Franciscostyle trolleys and open-top double decker buses, both of which provide comfortable rides for sightseeing trips, hop-onhop-off tours, and even private trolley rentals for transportation to special events such as weddings and parties.
Chicago Trolley & Double Decker Co.
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More Ways To See Chicago On Wheels
Cover more ground with an L tour of Chicago. The citys raised public transit system, known as the L, is one of the best ways to explore the city. Let L Stop Tours be your guide as you explore different L lines and the neighborhoods they connect. Each tour features one to three unique neighborhoods, covering topics like local history, architecture, hidden gems, museums, and more.
Go ChicagoSave up to 55% admissions to Chicagos top attractions with Go Chicago. Explore Chicago at your own pace. Pay nothing at the gate just use the pass on your phone or print it out in advance. No need to exchange money or hand over a credit card with contactless scanning at the attraction. The interactive mobile app will have you traveling around the city like a local! Choose from 25+ attractions, including:
- Skydeck Chicago
- Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus Tour
- Art Institute of Chicago
Big Bus Tours Considerations
Answers to questions you might be asking about Big BusTours:
- Money Saving Tip: If you are seeing any of the sights along the tour route, you can save a significant amount of money by purchasing a tourist pass. Go Chicago Card and The Chicago Explorer Pass both include the Big Bus Tour as well as the museums along the way along with the SkyDeck and other tourist attractions. Even purchasing a CityPASS along with a Big Bus Tour can save some money.
- Big Bus Tours begin at 98 E Upper Wacker Drive but may be boarded all throughout the day at any of 13 other stops.
- The company has a free app that can be downloaded to view timetables, stop locations and even things to do. The best feature of the app is the live location updates on a map.
- Visitors who dont choose to use the app may take a free map at the beginning of the route in order to plan out stops.
- Child rate tickets may be purchased for children from ages 5 to 15. Children under the age of five may travel free of charge, when accompanied by an adult.
- Tour guide commentaries are available in English only.
- Group discounts may be availablecontact Big Bus on their website or at 285-4796.
- Wheelchair accessible vehicles are available to accommodate those with specific needs. Contact Big Bus Tours at least 48 hours in advance in order to make arrangements.
- Refunds may be available if service is cancelled due to inclement weather conditions.
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Types Of Big Bus Tours
Big Bus Tours provide educational fun, along with freedomfor guests who want to explore in their own time frame. Including at least 10stops along the way, visitors to Chicago can get a comprehensive view of thecity from the bus. And those with the freedom or desire can spend more time atspecific stops that they find interesting.
Guests of Big Bus Tours will hear informative dialogue from their live tour guide while viewing some of the most iconic skyscrapers, parks, museums, and neighborhoods in the world. Visitors who already have a bucket list of things they want to see and experience in Chicago can easily check off the list when they participate in a Big Bus Tour. Ride on the top deck for a birds-eye view and take some amazing photographs of the citys attractions, or grab a seat inside the bus if the weather isnt cooperative.
Double Decker Bus Tour
Going to Chicago for the first time with 13 year old daughter for a 3 day trip next week. Can someone give me input on the Double Decker Bus Tour? I haven”t seen much entered on it. Their web site says that an Ethnic tour is included also. We plan on doing some site seeing and a lot a shopping. Daughter is not interested in going to the Museums.
The Chicago Double Decker tour is the one to do. The cost is $25 for adults and $15 for kids. You can save some dough if you buy it from their website. We just did this trip and it is great fun!
We started out early, 9AM. You can get on and off of their double deckers and trolleys all day as you navigate all the cool parts of the city. Just be sure you are back on board by 5PM for the last runs. Otherwise you may have to grab a cab back to your hotel!
My daughters thought the tour guides were hysterical. They infuse just the right amount of humor and energy into the tour. Lots of interesting sights to see and they stories of the historical things that happened in the area were really good discussion starters with the kids.
My 12 year old loved the malls on Michigan Ave. The trolley/bus stops there in a few spots. My youngest really liked American Girl.
The ethnic tour was an otpion we did. You see the greek, chinese and italian parts of Chicago. Also stops at Harpo studios – my wife thought that was cool.
Try www.chicagotrolley.com for the info. Have fun!
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Enjoy The Perfect Introduction To Chicago
Capture Chicago’s iconic sights with Big Bus Tours. Our open-top sightseeing buses grant you exceptional views of the city’s most iconic landmarks and attractions. Hop on the bus from 13 different stops to take in panoramic sights, from the Adler Planetarium to Hancock Tower. Hop off to take a selfie under ‘The Bean’, sample a slice of deep-dish pizza and immerse yourself in the best of Chicago’s unique cultural highlights.
Our ‘Big Loop’ Red Route Tour showcases Chicago by day, with 13 stops conveniently located close to key landmarks and attractions. Hop on and off as much as you like to explore the sights and discover your own Chicago favorites. You can also choose between a 1-day Classic Ticket, a 2-day Premium Ticket, or a 2-day Deluxe Ticket, allowing you to tailor your Chicago sightseeing experience to your own schedule.
Hop On Hop Off Chicago Bus Tours
Getting around The Windy City is a breeze when you take a hop on hop off Chicago tour! You can get to call the shots during your sightseeing trip. Hop off our open-air, double-decker busses and check out the attractions that interest you. Then, hop back on and skip the ones that dont. A sightseeing tour has never been so easy! Explore the Willis Tower, Navy Pier, and the Art Institute of Chicago. Or, find out what the John Hancock Center, Shedd Aquarium, and the Miracle Mile have to offer. You can even try a special nighttime bus tour. And, if youd like to save a nice, little chunk of change, you can combine your tour with a Go Chicago Card or CityPASS. These highly useful attraction passes provide admission to some of the most popular attractions at a deep discount. Picking one up is one of the smartest things to do in Chicago!
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Chicago Trolley And Double Decker Co Night Tour
In addition to their standard hop-on-hop-off tour during the day, they also offer a bus tour at night. This is a separate excursion from the daytime trip, and it runs until 10:30 PM.
Unfortunately, the night tour is only offered between May and October, so its a bit more limited than other night tours. Also, this trip is only available for guests who have purchased either a 48 or 72-hour ticket.
For more information on their other services, check the hop-on, hop-off section above.
There are a total of 9 stops during the night tour and youll find them all listed below.
Reviews
An overwhelming majority of ratings for this night tour are very positive. There are a few negative comments, but thankfully these reviews do not indicate any common issues with the service.
Many customers expressed their appreciation for the tour guides provided by Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Company .
Other guests were simply happy with the price they paid, stating that this bus tour is worth every penny. Scheduled Stops
NOTE: This tour company was bought out by City Sightseeing and they are now permanently closed.
The Pros And Cons Of A Hop
A popular option for bus tours is the hop-on-hop-off tour variety. There are several things to consider before purchasing a ticket.
But first, let’s start with the pros.
PROS
A hop-on-hop-off bus ticket can be a great investment for visitors to Chicago, though they are not for everyone. Here are a few benefits to consider.
Great for a city overview
Chicago is a big town. One excellent way to get your bearings is to take the full circuit without getting off. Usually, these circuits last no more than 2 hours in length.
This is essentially what the night tours on the double-decker buses are, but you could also do the same during the day.
Live Guides
On most buses, you will find live tour guides who will point out the important landmarks on your route, and if time permits, some short stories.
Flexibility
All the buses in this section run continuously along mapped routes, and with the exception of the night tours, riders have the option to board at several predetermined pick-up locations throughout the city.
Travelers can get off the bus at any of these stops and discover the landmarks for themselves .
Reasonable Prices
Each ticket will be valid for a certain amount of time and you can come and go as you please.
Ticket prices range from $35-$55 for adults and $18-$27 for children.
And in the case of Big Bus Tours, their 24-hour ticket is included for free with several tourist attraction discount passes.
Cons
Very General Commentary
No Assigned Seat
Big Bus Chicago Routes
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See It All Mini Bus Tour
See It All offers a two-hour experience that allows you to experience a large part of the city, with three great photo stops!
Expert guides will provide information about the interesting parts of the windy city while you take in the various sights and sounds.
This company offers hotel pick-ups at most locations downtown. Simply select your hotel at the time of booking.
This tour company has a 5 out of 5 stars rating on TripAdvisor .
Several comments suggest that the See It All tour is a great introduction to the city for visitors who may not be familiar with their surroundings.
Tour Highlights
- Infants Free
- You can buy tickets here.
NOTE: This tour is not currently available as of July 2021 and we do not know when Gray Line will begin offering it again.
Grayline’s The Grand Tour
In addition to their tour of the north side, Gray Line also provides a bus tour that takes you around several of the most beautiful parks in the city.
The Grand Tour takes you past Lincoln Park, Washington Park, and Grant Park.
While on your journey throughout Chicago, youll travel alongside the outer drive in order to get excellent views of the lake.
Discover the most charming locations in the entire city as you enjoy stops at both the Lincoln Conservatory and the Museum Campus.
Ratings and reviews for this tour are mixed. This tour averages 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Prices
NOTE: This tour currently isn’t available as of July 2021, and we do not know when Gray Line will begin to offer it again.
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