Review: Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus tour Chicago

Downtown Chicago is home to some of the most popular tourist attractions in America. It’s also big and hoping to cover them all in two days was an ambitious plan. We found our answer in the two-hour Signature bus tour of The Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Bus Company also known as The Hop-on-Hop-Off Tour.

Michigan Avenue Bridge

Standing on the corner of Wacker Drive, holding newly acquired pamphlets from the Visitor Information Centre, we had a decision to make on that mildly cold September morning. Hopping off the tour bus at the exact same spot later that day, we knew we had chosen well.

Tickets for this tour can be bought online on http://www.coachusa.com/chicagotrolley/. Like everything else we did on that trip, we bought ours on the spot. Wearing red company logo-bearing jackets, ticket sellers are stationed all around Wacker drive and they are hard to miss. Buying online, one can save four dollars each on adult tickets and two dollars on kids. We paid full price, $35.00 and $17.00 respectively.

Finding a spot on the open upper deck was easy. ‘Ah! The perks of visiting in the waning end of the season,’ grinned Rachael, our tour guide. Her live commentary helped keep our spirits up throughout, even when rain decided to play spoil sport midway through the tour.

The Art Institute of Chicago

Michigan Avenue Bridge was the first out of the fourteen stops. Nestled under this, next to part of Lake Michigan is the Chicago Riverwalk. Water taxis can be hailed from here for cruise tours on the lake and to enjoy the stunning views of the Chicago skyline. The Chicago Theatre, home to some of the best stage and screen performances since 1921 was stop number two.

‘Oprah gave these away on her show!’ Rachael shouted into her microphone and gave us the need-I-say-more look. Re-enforcing the legend of Garret Caramel popcorn, we were told that there were coupons for a free bag behind our tickets. She had us at Oprah.

The Art Institute of Chicago is the second largest art museum in the United States. The stately building, also housing the School of the Art Institute of Chicago is flanked at its entrance by two imposing lion structures. An art lover’s heaven, it warrants uninterrupted time dedication. Short on time, we were happy just to take pictures.

Lake Michigan

Millennium Park with its cloud bean structure, Grant Park with The Buckingham Fountain and The Chicago Hilton occupied our interest and our eyes for the next half an hour.

‘That’s where Sue lives!’, announced Rachael, pointing at the Field Museum of Natural History, the next stop. Entering Museum campus we were told that it housed the popular Shedd Aquarium as well as the Adler Planetarium. Coming back to Sue, she is the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus currently known and holds a privileged spot in the centre of the lobby in the Field Museum.

Hard Rock Cafe

The highlight of the tour ride was the drive past Lake Michigan. Lake Michigan is one out of the five great lakes of North America and catching a glimpse of the blue water from the bus that day there was no question why. It was a stunning view.

John Hancock Observatory

Stops of Navy Pier, Sheraton Hotel, Water Tower and John Hancock Observatory followed.

Going past Hard Rock Café the tour came to an end at Sears Tower popularly known as Sky Deck Chicago.

‘I think we have captured Chicago in spirit,’ I said to Baroon as we got off the bus. That pretty much summed it up.

For those people who have more time on their hands, the tickets of the Signature Tour are valid for three days. Since there is an option of hopping off and then hopping back on at any of the stops, it is worthwhile to choose a destination of choice and spend a few hours there before getting back on the bus.

For people like us, who might be visiting for a short span, The Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Bus Company Tour is a great way of sitting back and getting a feel of Downtown Chicago. Just enough to make you want  to go back for more someday.

Getting There:

The Blue Line Chicago Transit Authority Train runs between O’ Hare International Airport and Chicago Downtown. See link

http://www.transitchicago.com/

Tour bus Information and online tickets:

http://www.coachusa.com/chicagotrolley/

Food:

Garret Popcorn

http://www.garrettpopcorn.com/

Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza

Pizzeria Uno:

29 E Ohio St  Chicago, Illinois 60611

Hours:

Mon-Fri 11–1am Sat 11–2am Sun 11am–11pm

 For Information regarding attractions included:

http://www.chicagotraveler.com/attractions.htm

Two days in Chicago

Chicago Skyline

We traveled to Chicago last year in September. Being the waning of the tourist season, we were told later that the city is much quieter around this time. Personally, I did not mind that. Weather-wise, neither too hot nor too cold, this is a good time to visit. We were unaware of this fact when we booked. In hindsight, it was a good decision.

Ours was a two day weekend trip. At 9:00am we took the Blue Line Chicago Transit Authority train from O’Hare towards downtown. Located within the airport terminal, it’s easy to find the station with signs all over. Buying three day unlimited passes for $15.00 each, we were all set. Tanvi who is under six, rode free. Traveling with light luggage, CTA trains turned out to be an economical and user-friendly option.

Chicago water taxi used for cruise tours

Chicago Downtown is full of tourist attractions but it’s big and one can get lost. Getting off at Jackson station in downtown loop area, we bought a map after walking around for an hour. When in a hurry, keep a map handy.

The Visitor Information Centre on Wacker drive is located above Chicago Riverwalk next to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Valuable information in the form of pamphlets and brochures is available on topics ranging from tours, food, accommodation, activities and much more.

Aboard Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Tour bus

We decided on the two-hour bus tour of the Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Bus Company. At $35.00 for adults and $15.00 for children, fourteen stops around downtown are covered. There is live commentary by a tour guide and one can hop off at a stop and get back on again at the same or another. Millennium Park, Fields Museum, Navy Pier, John Hancock Observatory were amongst the attractions included. Detailed and comprehensive, this is a great option when time is short.

Monroe statue pictured from tour bus

Navy Pier pictured from tour bus

A word of caution! Seasonal rain is expected so carry an umbrella or a poncho. It rained while we were on the tour bus and very heavily at that.

A walk down Magnificient Mile shopping district marked the end of day one.

Day two started nice and early. Reaching downtown at 9:00am via CTA we already had a plan in place. First stop-The Field Museum of Natural History, followed by the Shedd Aquarium and then the Adler Planetarium, all located within the Museum Campus. To try and cover the three most popular tourist attractions in Chicago in one day was an ambitious plan. We did not make it.

Field Museum of Natural History

Researching online the day before we had bought the CHICAGO CityPASS. With discounted entry tickets to five attractions, including the ones above, this pass also allows one to cut through the long queues at the entry gates. My personal review- wonderful!

Jelly Fish at Shedd Aquarium

Couple of hours in the Field Museum were followed by Shedd Aquarium. Both of these are huge and what we covered may quite really have been the tip of the iceberg. If either of these is of particular interest and time is short, I would suggest choosing one over the other. We reached Adler Planetarium at 4:45pm. They close at 5:00pm. Needless to say, we were late.

Lunch consisted of Chicago deep-dish pizza at Pizzeria Uno followed by caramel popcorn from Garret. Both highly recommended. Looking back, I think we unknowingly chose the pizza and popcorn over Adler Planetarium. At another time, I would make the same choice.

Glass ledge at Skydeck

Touching briefly upon the cloud gate and the crown fountain in Millennium Park, we finished the day at Chicago Skydeck. Entry to this was included in the CHICAGO CityPASS.  The night view of Chicago from the 103^rd floor was captivating. I found my ten seconds on the glass ledge to be both frightening and thrilling at the same time.

Chicago downtown has a lot to offer. Two days went by very quickly and were by no means enough. However, packing in what we did in our limited time gave us a feel of the city and just one more thing along with that- a great reason to go back!

Links:

For CTA

http://www.transitchicago.com/

Bus Tour:

For Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Company

http://www.coachusa.com/chicagotrolley/

Chicago Visitor’s Pass:

http://www.citypass.com/chicago

Food:

Pizzeria Uno:

29 E Ohio St  Chicago, Illinois 60611

Hours:

Mon-Fri 11–1am Sat 11–2am Sun 11am–11pm

Garret Popcorn:

http://www.garrettpopcorn.com/chicago-locations/