Chicago's Best Day Tours

Chicago Architecture Tours

Every great city has great buildings, but Chicago is its great buildings. Everything Chicagoans do is framed by some of the most remarkable architecture to be found anywhere. The best way to see the sky-scraping Loop towers or the horizontal sweep of the Prairie School is on one of these top tours.

Chicago Architecture Foundation . The foundation conducts excellent, docent-led boat, walking, and bus tours of the Loop and beyond. To get a panoramic view of Chicago's magnificent skyline, try the boat tours. The ArchiCenter, the foundation's home, also hosts exhibitions, lectures, and discussions. Santa Fe Bldg., 224 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, 60604. 312/922-3432. www.architecture.org. $15 walking tours, $35 boat tour. Walking tours run year-round; boat tours available May-Nov., daily.

Chicago Greeter/InstaGreeter . Savvy local volunteers run free, two- to four-hour walking tours on the city's neighborhoods and areas of interest, such as fashion, film, and public art. Tours are available Friday through Sunday and leave 10-4 from the Visitor Information Center at Chicago Cultural Center. Reserve Chicago Greeter tours 7 to 10 business days in advance. 77 E. Randolph St., Chicago, IL, 60604. 312/744-8000. www.chicagogreeter.com.

Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Co. This hop-on, hop-off ride takes visitors to many downtown and Loop highlights and allows you the flexibility to stop at attractions that catch your fancy. 773/648-5000. www.chicagotrolley.com.. $31.50.

Tour Alternatives

Hop on a Shoreline water taxi and cruise down the river. You won't get running narration, but it's affordable (single rides range from $2 to $13 from Michigan Avenue with stops on Wells/Wacker, Navy Pier, and the Museum Campus) and not crowded.

For a more adventurous spin down the river, rent a canoe or a kayak. Just beware of large boats and crew shells.

Chicago River Canoe and Kayak. 3400 N. Rockwell St., Chicago, IL, 60618. 773/704-2663. www.chicagoriverpaddle.com.

Chicagoland Canoe Base. 4019 N. Narragansett Ave., Chicago, IL, 60634. 773/777-1489. www.chicagolandcanoebase.com.

Wateriders. 950 N. Kingsbury Ave., Chicago, IL, 60610. 312/953-9287. www.wateriders.com.

River and Lakefront Tours

Hop in a boat and sail down the Chicago River for some of the prettiest views of the city. Some tours even head out to the lake for a skyscraper-studded panorama.

Mercury Chicago's Skyline Cruiseline . Mercury does Canine Cruises, where dogs are welcome, and a Wacky Pirate Cruise that caters to kids. 112 E. Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL, 60606. 312/332-1353. mercuryskylinecruiseline.com. $35. May-Oct., daily.

Shoreline Sightseeing . Shoreline's been plying these waters since 1939, and has tours of both the river and Lake Michigan. West end of Navy Pier, Chicago, IL, 60611. 312/222-9328. www.shorelinesightseeing.com. Apr.-Oct., daily; Nov., weekends only.

Wendella Sightseeing . See the city at dusk on the Chicago at Sunset tour. There's also a river architecture tour and a combined river and lake tour. 400 N. Michigan Ave., at the Wrigley Bldg., Chicago, IL, 60611. 312/337-1446. www.wendellaboats.com. Apr.-Nov., daily.

Windy of Chicago Ltd. Adventure and education meet on lake tours that illuminate Chicago's maritime history, the life of lake sailors, and environmentalism. In 2006 Mayor Daley declared the tall ship Windy the flagship of Chicago. 312/595-5555. www.tallshipwindy.com..

Special-Interest Tours

Whether you're a foodie, a history buff, or a shopaholic, there's a tour custom designed for your area of interest.

Chicago Food Planet Food Tours . Gut-busting stuffed pizza, hot dogs, and gourmet chocolate are just the beginning on these tours of Chicago's most famous and most hidden culinary treasures. 212/209-3370. www.chicagofoodplanet.com.

Chicago Neighborhood Tours . Get out of downtown to experience Chicago the way the locals do. Combining bus rides and walking, these guided trips introduce visitors to the history and cultures that have contributed to the city's diverse, vibrant communities. 312/742-1190. www.chicagoneighborhoodtours.com. $30.

Chicago ShopWalk . Shop 'til you drop on one of these specialized trips focusing on local designers and boutiques. Personalized itineraries are available. 773/255-7866. www.chicagoshopwalk.com.

Untouchable Tours: Chicago's Original Gangster Tour . Your guides, in character as Prohibition era goons, take you on a bus tour through Chicago's checkered mafia past. Though the kitsch factor is high, the tours are stuffed with history and will take you to neighborhoods you might otherwise miss. 773/881-1195. www.gangstertour.com. $30.

Behind the Scenes

For a look at what (or who) makes the city tick, check out the following activities.

Chicago Tribune Freedom Center. Tour the Chicago Tribune's printing plant and the New York Times' Midwest distribution center. 777 W. Chicago Ave., West Loop, Chicago, IL, 60654. 312/222-3040. Free. Call ahead for tour times.

Eli's Cheesecake World . Visitors learn Eli's history, tour the bakery facility, and watch cheesecake decorators at work. Of course, the tour ends with a slice of the decadent cheesecake. 6701 W. Forest Preserve Dr., at Montrose Ave., Chicago, IL, 60634. 773/736-3417, 773/308-7000. www.elicheesecake.com. Walk-in tours weekdays at 1 pm; other times by reservation only.

Federal Reserve Bank . The facility processes currency and checks, scanning bills for counterfeits, destroying unfit currency, and repackaging fit currency. A visitor center in the lobby has permanent exhibits of old bills, counterfeit money, and a million dollars in $1 bills. One-hour tours explain how money travels and show a high-speed currency-processing machine. Call in advance for reservations. 230 S. LaSalle St., Loop, Chicago, IL, 60610. 312/322-2400. www.chicagofed.org. Free.

Graceland Cemetery . A comprehensive guide available at the entrance walks you by the graves and tombs of the people who made Chicago great, including merchandiser Marshall Field and railroad-car magnate George Pullman. 4001 N. Clark St., Far North Side, Chicago, IL, 60613. 773/525-1105. www.gracelandcemetery.org. Free.

Factory Tours

Though Chicago isn't the industrial center it once was, you can still watch all sorts of things being made in the Chicago area, from cheesecakes to harps. Log on to www.factorytoursusa.com for a complete list of tours.