Ready to see what Chicago has to offer, but hate the idea of downtown traffic and expensive parking garages? Chicago Trolley& Double Decker Co. offers nonstop tours throughout the day to many Chicago locations on either double-decker buses with an open second level or on trolleys.
“One of the greatest advantages for families is that they have the chance to explore Chicago at their own pace and to explore exactly what they want to see,” says John Curran, vice president of charter sales and marketing for Chicago Trolley. “Secondarily, kids love the open top.”
The Signature Tour includes 18 stops and is recommended for families with kids of all ages.
Cubs fans will enjoy the North Neighborhood tour, with stops at Wrigley Field, Lincoln Park and the Chicago History Tour. If you’re ready to expose your kids to a multicultural experience, try the West Neighborhood Tour, with stops in Chinatown, Little Italy and Greektown.
The tours are all hop on, hop off, so if you want to visit one of the stops, you can hop back on the next bus. The buses, as well as the bright red trolleys, operate nonstop from 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. And you don’t even need to get off the buses or trolleys-if your kids love to ride, you can just hang out on the bus and check out the city from its windows.
For families coming into the city by public transportation, there are pickups at Union or Ogilvie stations. Tickets are $29, $24 seniors and military personnel, $17 kids age 3-11. Ten percent discounts are available when booking online. For more information, call (773) 648-5000 or visit chicagotrolley.com.
