Make the most of your trip to Chicago with these handpicked excursions and discover more about The Windy City: rich in history, culture, and teeming with life and attractions around every corner.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Home & Studio in Oak Park $57 per person
Embark on a journey to Oak Park, just west of Chicago, where architectural history was made. Together with our guide, we’ll travel from the hotel via public transportation to explore the iconic Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio, the birthplace of a revolution in American architecture.
The surrounding area of this suburb boasts the world’s highest concentration of Wright-designed residences, making Oak Park a must visit for architecture enthusiasts. After the tour, you’re free to linger in Oak Park (with your own ‘L’ train ticket) to explore the charming suburb further. Consider staying for lunch at one of the many restaurants near the train station before returning to downtown Chicago at your own pace. You may also return to the hotel with our guide, arriving back at the hotel between 12:30-1 p.m.
Accessibility Note: The home spans two floors connected by a flight of stairs, and there is no elevator. There are a few steps up to enter the home and to enter the studio.
Tour time: Approx. 3-4 hours. Includes transportation, guide service, and admission to the museum.
Friday, July 4
2:30-4:30 p.m.
Blues Heaven Foundation at the Historic Chess Records Building $61 per person
Together with our guide, travel via public transportation from the hotel into the heart of Chicago’s music legacy with a visit to the Blues Heaven Foundation, located in the historic Chess Records Building. Explore the only Blues Museum in Chicago, where you’ll experience a guided tour that lasts approximately an hour. Learn about the Chess brothers, the studio, and the iconic musicians who recorded here, including Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, and Etta James. Stand in the same spot where Chuck Berry recorded “Johnny B. Goode”, and hear song samples recorded at Chess Records, bringing the historic space to life.
After the tour, you’re welcome to explore the surrounding area on your own, enjoy the special birthday concert, or return to the hotel with our guide, arriving back at the hotel between 4:30-5 p.m.
Accessibility Note: The museum spans two floors connected by a flight of stairs, and there is no elevator.
Tour time: Approx. 3 hours. Includes transportation, guide service, and admission to the museum.
Saturday, July 5
2:00 p.m.
Chicago River Cruise on Historic Fire Boat $94 per person
View the city of Chicago from the river. Together with our guide, we’ll travel via public transportation from the hotel to the harbor to board a historic fire boat once used by the Chicago Fire Department. Learn about Chicago’s world-famous architecture and the history of the boat, which serves as a floating museum showcasing photographs of the boat in action, firefighting artifacts, and what it was like to be a firefighter stationed on the boat. We’ll see how Chicago’s landscape along the river has developed over time, going from stockyards to steakhouses, bringing millions of tourists to a once-desolated area that is now thriving. This guided lake and river historical tour departs from DuSable Harbor and lasts for 90 to 120 minutes, depending on the schedule of the Chicago locks.
After the tour, you’re welcome to explore the surrounding area on your own or return to the hotel with our guide, arriving back at the hotel between 5–5:30 p.m.
Accessibility Note: Boarding the boat requires navigating four steps up and four steps down.
Tour time: Approx. 3.5 hours. Includes transportation, guide service, and admission to the museum.
Capturing Chicago Terms and Conditions
All reservations will be made directly with Capturing Chicago. We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. If additions or deletions are made to the original itinerary or the number of passengers, it may affect the cost. All tours are subject to availability until actually reserved with Capturing Chicago. Your tour may take you to attractions and activities operated, maintained or controlled by third parties. Capturing Chicago is not responsible for any errors or omissions of such third parties. Capturing Chicago reserves the right to require a minimum number of passengers to operate any tour.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
We understand that plans can change, and we aim to be as accommodating as possible. Please carefully review the following policies regarding cancellations and refunds for our tours:
Registration Deadline
The deadline to register and submit payment is April 30, 2025. Registration is only confirmed once payment is received in full.
Cancellations and Refunds
Cancellations on or before April 30, 2025: A full refund will be issued, minus a small processing fee of $15 per person to cover administrative and payment platform costs.
Cancellations after April 30, 2025: Refunds are not guaranteed after the registration deadline due to advance commitments for tours and activities. If we are able to fill your spot with another participant, we will issue a refund, minus a $15 administrative fee and any payment platform refund processing fees.
Transferring your registration: If you are unable to attend, you may transfer your registration to another person.
Tour passengers are responsible for paying for his or her tour(s). American Mensa will have no obligation of any sort to Capturing Chicago for these tours.
