Visitors heading to the Windy City this year should give serious consideration to a series of Neighborhood Tours dotting the 2012 calendar. These half-day bus excursions highlight the history, traditions and people of Chicago by exploring some of the city’s most inviting and colorful neighborhoods.
The following are highlights of new tours for 2012; for additional details visit www.explorechicago.org.
Taste of Pilsen & Little Village (March 17, October 6).
It’s a fiesta for the senses in the heart of Chicago’s Mexican American community! Get a taste of the neighborhood through its vibrant murals, culture and shopping before digging in to the most authentic Mexican cuisine to be had anywhere in Chicago.
Hops & Barley: Pubs & Micro-breweries (March 24, April 14, May 12, June 2, July 21, August 18, September 15, October 13, November 10)
Craft beers are all the rage, with Chicago being home to some of the country’s most exciting new microbreweries. Go behind the scenes to witness the secrets of artisanal beer making, and swing by several local pubs for a taste of these special brews.
Out and Proud: LGBT Chicago (May 26, June 16, August 4)
Chicago is home to one of the most vibrant gay and lesbian communities in the country. Explore the heart of the city’s LGBT community, Boystown, and its lively offshoot, Andersonville, and discover other LGBT-oriented neighborhood attractions.
Art in Transit: CTA Public Art (June 1, August 31)
Chicago is home to a world-renowned collection of public art. Experience original artworks displayed throughout the Chicago Transit Authority rail system, many of them created through the federally funded Arts in Transit public works program.
FIRE! The Great Chicago Fire (June 14, July 12, August 9)
The Great Fire of 1871 reduced Chicago to ashes, devastating the city and changing hundreds of thousands of lives forever. Learn about the city’s valiant efforts to contain the fire, and its dramatic rebirth to the Chicago of today.
Historic Hotels of Chicago (June 21, July 19, August 16)
Chicago’s hotels were internationally renowned for their opulence and luxury in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Relive the grandeur of the Gilded Age on a guided tour of some of the city’s most historic and architecturally stunning hotels.
Historic Parks & Boulevards (June 28, July 26, August 23)
Chicago city planner Daniel Burnham envisioned acres of beautiful green spaces and wide, majestic tree-lined boulevards in his ‘City Beautiful’ movement. Experience the City in a Garden – Chicago’s motto – on this tour of historic parks and boulevards.