Chicago Hop On Hop Off Tour

 [Ed. note: This is not one of the Summit’s organized tours. You must make your own reservations.] If you’ve never been to Chicago and would like to see as much of the city as you can in one day, then the Chicago Trolley & Double Decker Company has an offer for you! The Hop On Hop Off Tour offers a great view of the city, including Millennium Park to see cloud gate (the “bean”), the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, and Navy Pier for a fun and beautiful view of the Chicago skyline! The transportation is either a trolley car or a double-decker bus.

How to Take the Tour

The tour has 14 stops altogether and is easy to access from Union Station. You can take the train from Rosemont to Union Station, then walk out the Jackson Street exit to Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) to find one of the ticket and tour stops. The Willis Tower Skydeck includes a new “Ledge” that is a glass ledge that protrudes out of the building so you can see a whole new view of Chicago.

What You’ll See

Another stop is on Michigan Avenue. This is a great place to take a walk along the Chicago Riverwalk or take the architectural boat tour. The Theater District stop is where you can take in a show, look at a Picasso sculpture, and visit Garrett Popcorn (try the Chicago mix!). The tour stops at the Art Institute where you can take a walk a few blocks over to see Buckingham Fountain and Grant Park. The Field Museum stop is also the stop to walk to the Shedd Aquarium or the Adler Planetarium. A trip to Chicago wouldn’t be complete without a walk on Navy Pier. Here you can take different boat rides on Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. There are plenty of places to eat and the view of the Chicago skyline is beautiful from the very large ferris wheel. Stops on the “Magnificent Mile” and Water Tower Place offer plenty of shopping and restaurants. The John Hancock building stop offers spectacular views of the city from its Observatory and is a few blocks from the Oak Street Beach. The Hard Rock Cafe stop in River North offers more restaurants and food options, including the famous Chicago hot dog! The stop on State Street is where you’ll find the Chicago Theatre, the famous Macy’s, and many other stores. The map of the Signature Tour provides a view of the parts of the city you’ll see. I moved to Chicago five years ago and have taken this tour at least six times. I never tire of all the attractions, this beautiful city, and all its history. When you walk or ride through downtown Chicago, look up at all the architecture; it’s just amazing. When friends and family come to town, this is the easiest and best way to show them around the city. One of the best parts of the tour is the tour guides you meet. They’re actors and comedians that were trained to drive trolleys. They provide entertainment and a little bit of history about Chicago as you pas some sights, and they can always recommend a great restaurant or fun activity at each stop. The tour is two hours if you don’t get off the trolley to explore at one of the 14 stops. You can also purchase a ticket that allows you to get off and on at all 14 stops. The trolleys run about every 20-30 minutes so you don’t have to wait long to get back on and go to the next stop. You can purchase discount tickets online through the Chicago Trolley & Double Decker Company website. Cheri Noble serves as Secretary of the STC Chicago Chapter and is a member of the STC Chicago 2012 Host Committee.