All Illinois Tours & Excursions in 2026

Every Friday & Saturday at 10:30pm, Sundays at 7:00 at The Neo-Futurist Theater, the Neo-Futurist Ensemble attempts to perform 30 original, handcrafted, radically honest plays in the ever-shrinking span of 60 minutes. Each play offers something different, be it funny, profound, elegant, disgusting, topical, irreverent, terrifying, or musical; all are ORIGINAL, truthful and tackle the here-and-now, inspired by the lived experiences of the performers. With new plays every week, THE INFINITE WRENCH is The Neo-Futurists’ ongoing and ever-changing attempt to shift the conventions of live performance and speak to those unreached or unmoved by traditional theater. Masking is optional on Friday and Saturdays. Masks are required on Sundays.

Zombie Scavengers in Elgin will help prove you can survive a zombie apocalypse! Use an app to find a list of items needed to survive. Find them in any order you'd like and get points for each found survival item. Get points also by doing crazy zombie themed tasks. Survey the area and figure out how to get the most points in order to survive the apocalypse. Should you have any questions along the way, a remote host will chat with you throughout the game. Prove to the world you can survive an apocalypse in Elgin today!

Little Diners Crew invites young food enthusiasts aged 4-12 to embark on culinary adventures that expand their palates beyond mac-n-cheese and chicken fingers. Each month, kids explore different cuisines at Chicago's best restaurants while interacting with chefs, tasting and rating new dishes, and learning about food preparation and dining etiquette. Meals become memorable experiences as kids discover the world through food.

Get to grips with Italian pasta in this Florentine-inspired hands-on class in Chicago, hosted through Cozymeal, which connects you with top-rated local chefs. Carpaccio, hand-filled ravioli, a fresh vodka sauce and citrus cookies – four courses, four distinct techniques, one deeply satisfying Italian meal. Your hands-on cooking experience features: - Marinated Vegetable Carpaccio – assorted vegetables, homemade herb dressing and fresh herbs - Beef Ravioli – flour, eggs and seasoned beef - Vodka Sauce – olive oil, tomatoes and vodka - Italian Lemon Drop Cookies – flour, butter and eggs You will leave with real pasta-making skills and a fresh perspective on Italian cuisine, from antipasto to dessert. Guests are welcome to bring wine or beer to enjoy throughout the experience.

One of the “original six”, dating way back to 1926, the Chicago Blackhawks are the epitomise NHL history. For an experience filled with tradition and history, look no further than attending a Blackhawks game at the iconic United Center. The Blackhawks are going through somewhat of a transition phase, led by superstar youngster Connor Beard, winner of the 2024 Calder Memorial trophy for the best NHL rookie. The team are looking to return to previous heights that have seen the franchise win 6 Stanley Cup titles. With a capacity of over 23,000, the United Center is designed for maximum fan engagement, featuring excellent sightlines and modern amenities. The giant LED scoreboard ensures that you won't miss a moment of the action, while the state-of-the-art sound system amplifies the crowd's excitement, making every goal feel monumental! Don't miss out on this opportunity of a lifetime to experience the NHL live in a venue that has become synonymous with Chicago’s vibrant sports culture!

Discover Chicago in a fun new way—and combine your sightseeing with a lively scavenger hunt—on this 2-in-1 excursion. With your smartphone in hand, set off at a time that works best for you on this self-led tour. Prompted by the game, explore the Windy City's vibrant Loop neighborhood. Spot historic buildings, famous streets, and other local landmarks along the way, all while your party solves clues and challenges.

This private cultural walking tour in Chicago presents the city’s architectural heritage and lakefront legacy. You will begin in Millennium Park, where public art reflects modern civic expression. What defines Chicago’s identity as a center of American innovation? Cloud Gate offers a striking reflection of skyline and sky. The DuSable Bridge stands as an engineering achievement tied to the city’s growth. Along the waterfront, Navy Pier reveals Chicago’s connection to commerce and recreation. This route connects cultural landmarks with the story of a city shaped by industry and design. Please note: The program and attractions may vary based on booking date/time and crowd conditions, ensuring each visit is a unique experience.

Go beyond Capone. An expert guides uncovers the Beer Wars, the ambushes, and the brutal rivalries on these exact streets.

Unleash your creativity and learn the basics of screen printing in this beginner-friendly Chicago workshop. Bring your own t-shirt or sweatshirt and use professional equipment—and 20+ bold, premade designs—to create a unique, wearable piece of art. Guided by local experts at Remade in Chicago, you’ll master the ink-pulling technique, try layering or mixing designs, and leave with a one-of-a-kind upcycled tee. No experience or art skills required—just bring your imagination and a shirt to print. Perfect for individuals, friends, or creative groups!

Zombie Scavengers in Peoria will help prove you can survive a zombie apocalypse! Use an app to find a list of items needed to survive. Find them in any order you'd like and get points for each found survival item. Get points also by doing crazy zombie themed tasks. Survey the area and figure out how to get the most points in order to survive the apocalypse. Should you have any questions along the way, a remote host will chat with you throughout the game. Prove to the world you can survive an apocalypse in Peoria today!

Discover the local shopping scene and its fashion DNA with a professional stylist as you embark on a personalized shopping circuit built to meet your style and wishes. Learn more about the art of styling your body features and take a figurative soft tour outside your comfort zone as your stylist pulls pieces for you to explore and try. Think of it as a mini style consultation followed by recommendations and a hands-on practice session during the shopping tour where you can ask any fashion and style-related questions. Throughout your shopping circuit and neighborhood's discovery, listen to fashion stories as told by your fashion savvy guide, and get a unique insight into the industry. Prior to your shopping tour, you will be sent a little shopping form to help personalize your experience. And following your fashion escapade, you will be sent a personal style summary of recommendations received by your stylist as well as some tour souvenir photos.

Get ready to unleash your creativity at the BYOB Candle-Making Class at Chicago Candle Co. This hands-on workshop invites you to craft stunning, personalized candles from upcycled wine bottles, all while enjoying your favorite drinks. Under the guidance of friendly instructors, you’ll learn the art of glass cutting and soy wax pouring, choosing from a variety of cocktail-inspired scents. Bond with friends or make new ones in a welcoming atmosphere as you create unique pieces that reflect your individual style and eco-friendly values. Perfect for a fun night out or a memorable group activity in the heart of Chicago.

See Chicago through the eyes of Al Capone and the Everleigh Sisters at your own pace with this affordable walking tour. • Walk in the footsteps of the gangsters, bootleggers, hoodlums, gunmen, and crooked cops and politicians who made up what was known as the “Chicago Outfit” • Hear from producer Richard Junger, an urban historian, professor and author passionate about Chicago • Do it all in 45 minutes or linger at stops along the way with complete control over when you start and finish • Get unlimited use before your booking date and after it • Use the virtual tour option at home Once you’ve booked, you’ll receive a ticket with instructions and a unique code listed under “Before You Go”. Then simply install the VoiceMap app and enter your code. The app displays directions to the starting point, and when you’re in the right place, just pop in your headphones and tap start. VoiceMap has automatic GPS playback, with turn-by-turn directions. It also works offline.

Unleash your creativity at a private Art Splash painting session in Chicago. Perfect for group celebrations, birthdays, or corporate events, this 40-minute experience lets you get hands-on with bold paints, premium tools, and a 12x16 canvas to take home. Protective clothing is provided—so you can embrace the splash, layer colors, and express yourself freestyle, no art skills needed! Your group gets a private room and expert guidance, ensuring an unforgettable, laughter-filled activity for anywhere from 6 to 80 people. Just arrive ready for creative fun and leave with a unique piece of art (allow up to five days for full drying).

Kayak under towering saint peters sandstone bluffs, see Bald Eagles, great american white pelicans, lotus flowers and more

Downtown Chicago has a dark history hiding in plain sight. This self-guided audio tour takes you through the Loop on your own schedule, with narration on your phone at every stop. Start at the Chicago Riverwalk, where the SS Eastland rolled over at its dock in 1915. Walk into Death Alley behind the site of the Iroquois Theater fire. Hear the ghost stories of the Palmer House and the Congress Plaza Hotel, the secrets of the Rookery, and the stories beneath Willis Tower, then finish on the steps of the Art Institute. No group, no guide, and no fixed start time. Go at your own pace, stop for a drink along the way, and replay any story you like. All you need is a phone and headphones.

To me, one can appreciate a given building, or piece of public sculpture, far better when a tour guide explains the historical and cultural context. What was important in that era, and what was the architecture of that era thus trying express? I do know a lot about this. Thus, you will gain this information about each point of interest. I have taken other tours here, and I just do not hear a word from that point of view. This tour will be like an open history book to an America that no longer exists: Roman and Greek architectural styles, as well as French and British-influenced styles. Of course, you will see the latest in office building architectural styles from around the world, for those of you who just love the modern era as well.

The Experience is more than a food tour. It is an immersive cultural experience that combines food, history, architecture, and storytelling in one of Chicago’s most influential neighborhoods. Guests will enjoy curated tastings from locally owned Black restaurants while learning about the people, businesses, and historical moments that helped shape Chicago’s Black cultural landscape. Along the route, we visit significant landmarks, including the site where Barack and Michelle Obama’s love story began, historic community gathering spaces, public art, and locations connected to the neighborhood’s rich legacy of entrepreneurship, music, education, and civil rights. Unlike traditional food tours that focus primarily on dining, this experience connects each tasting to the larger story of the community, providing travelers with insider knowledge and meaningful cultural context.

We create custom walking tours for groups of all sizes and interests, blending delicious food experiences with rich historical storytelling. From downtown explorations for high school students, to tavern tours tracing Chicago’s beer history, to local neighborhood food tours, every tour is crafted to be engaging, flavorful, and unforgettable.

WE ARE UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT!!!! Tired of waiting in line to get a taxi? Why not just skip the line and book a smooth and convenient ride with premium curb side pickup from your arrival terminal. We are available for you all around the clock. Pre-booking your private car service is the only way to have a smooth transition from the Airport to your desired destination. With our well maintained and high-quality transport, you will be able to reach your destination without any trouble. We make sure that your ride is smooth throughout, assuring a wonderful transportation experience. Whether in town for a brief trip to tour the city sites, an important business meeting, or a family visit, we are your ideal choice for private transportation. To ensure your travel plans suit your preferences, provide us with your itineraries of your desired destinations so we can plan and coordinate your transportation needs with excellence. Looking forward to receiving your booking.

We understand the importance of ensuring a hassle-free transfer experience. Our private airport transfer service allows you just that. Book our private airport transfer service and enjoy a safe, reliable, comfortable, and convenient journey from your accommodation in Chicago to O'Hare International Airport (ORD). Let us take care of your transportation needs, allowing you to focus on enjoying your trip to the fullest.

Uncover the chilling history of Chicago's gangsters and ghosts on this thrilling late-night Halloween walking tour. Delve into the dark secrets of the South Loop, once a vice district, as your historian guide shares captivating tales of Al Capone and the city’s infamous past. Explore haunted locations like the Palmer House and the Chicago Theatre, and hear eerie stories of spirits that linger in Death Alley and along the Chicago Riverwalk. This tour culminates at the Congress Hotel, renowned for its ghostly sightings, making it the perfect way to experience Chicago's haunted history at midnight. - Late-night Halloween walking tour through Chicago's South Loop, ending at midnight. - Hear true stories about notorious gangsters like Al Capone - Visit haunted spots including the Chicago Theatre and Palmer House - End your tour at the Congress Hotel, one of Illinois' most haunted locations

There’s so much amazing architecture in Chicago but wandering around alone can leave you overwhelmed, and unsure of what you’re looking at. Check out some of Chicago's most important new buildings on an architecture walking tour. The tour is focused on the area around the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC), beside the Chicago River, so you don’t get overwhelmed exploring the whole city. Admission to the CAC’s galleries is also included.

Chicago's prettiest neighborhood hides some of its darkest history. This self-guided audio tour takes you through Lincoln Park on your own schedule, with narration on your phone at every stop. Start at the Red Lion Pub on North Lincoln Avenue, long rumored to be one of the most haunted bars in the city. Stand outside the Biograph Theater, where the FBI gunned down John Dillinger in 1934. Visit the North Clark Street site of the 1929 St. Valentine's Day Massacre. Walk into Lincoln Park, laid over what was once the city's cemetery, then finish on the Lake Michigan shore at North Avenue Beach. No group, no in-person guide, and no fixed start time. Go at your own pace, stop for a drink along the way, and replay any story you like. All you need is a phone and headphones.