Chicago Event

4 night tour - Starting in Chicago, Illinois- ending in Chicago, Illinois.

(Special offer - Book with us before the 28th February 2016 and receive a free pre or post nights stay making this an 5 night tour)

A Tauck Event Tour.

Celebrating 90 years in the travel touring business, Tauck offer the ultimate in luxury touring. Throughout the years, ingenuity and innovation, plus a focus on customer servce and authentic experiences, have grown Tauck into one of the world's leading travel touring companies. On your Tauck Event you can expect a small group, one of a kind travel experiences, exclusive access to places and experiences you can't do on your own, the finest hotels, luxury motorcoaches, highly experienced tour directors, go behind-the-scenes at key sites and venues often off-the-beaten track, Special "twists" and in-depth insights by local experts, Exclusive Private Gala Evening Events held in premier venues – cocktail receptions, special dinners, unique entertainment performances and presentations by noted experts.

Designed by Tauck and filmmaker Ken Burns. Join us September 19 – 23, 2016 for one of our most intriguing Tauck Events – an exclusive insider's look into the people, places and events that shaped Chicago, one of the world's most powerful cities, during the pivotal years 1871 – 1933. During your four-night stay in the historic Tower at the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile (a landmark since 1929), you'll explore the themes of Ken Burns's documentaries Prohibition, Jazz and Frank Lloyd Wright. Sightseeing tracks take you on a firsthand journey through the history of Chicago, beginning with the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, after which the "Second City" was rebuilt, and continuing through the eras of The Chicago World's Fair of 1893 – an event that set the stage for the next 40 years of architectural and arts achievements – to the 1933 Chicago World's Fair marking industrial and scientific achievements of "A Century of Progress." On Architecture That Shaped The City, delve into the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright with visits to his studio and home in Oak Park; Beer Wars: The Roaring Twenties tours jazz-age Chicago during the Prohibition era; and The Most American of Cities includes a look at the multicultural influences that defined the city – by private boat, coach and on foot. Private dinner events include an evening at the Chicago History Museum overlooking Lincoln Park, a special evening of music at the Chicago History Museum, and a "Prohibition Repeal Celebration" in the InterContinental's amazing Grand Ballroom. And, of course, there are presentations by noted experts such as  and Jonathan Eig, New York Times best-selling author of Get Capone, who provides insights and tells the story of gangster Al Capone, and Tim Samuelson, Chicago Cultural historian. The highlight of this Event is a private evening at the 1921 Chicago Theatre, including an opportunity to meet Ken Burns at a dessert reception and open house following his keynote address. One departure only, so we encourage you to make your plans early! 

This 5-day / 4-night one-of-a-kind Ken Burns Event provides a firsthand, true insider's look into the people, places and events that shaped Chicago during the pivotal years 1871 – 1933, and features an opportunity to meet filmmaker Ken Burns. Each day, your small group averaging 32 guests (accompanied by a Tauck Director) embarks on sightseeing tracks inspired by themes of Ken's films Prohibition, Jazz and Frank Lloyd Wright. 

2016 departure date:
September 19th
 
TO BOOK THIS TOUR: CALL US ON FREEPHONE 0800 0336 335 OR EMAIL US RESERVATIONS@PURELYTRAVELGROUP.CO.UK
 
 
View Itinerary Details

Day 1: Arrive Chicago

Welcome to Chicago! Upon arrival, a transfer is included from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport or Midway Airport to your home base for the next four nights, InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile. Upon arrival, check in and meet some of the Tauck team who will be managing our Chicago Tauck Event, crafted by Tauck and filmmaker Ken Burns. Over the next days you'll immerse in past and present as you experience what made Chicago the city it is today, exploring the themes of Ken's films Prohibition, Jazz and Frank Lloyd Wright. Our Chicago Event begins at 5:00 PM with a transfer from the InterContinental to the amazing Chicago History Museum in nearby Lincoln Park. The museum is the city's oldest cultural institution, founded in the mid-19th century, destroyed in the Great Fire of 1871, and rebuilt in the 1920s. It tells the stories of the city and its people through extensive collections and exhibitions admired the world over. The Tauck Chicago Event begins with a presentation by John Russick, the Chicago History Museum's Senior Curator, Prohibition expert and historian; he served as a consultant on Prohibition, and has won awards for his preservation work. He'll introduce you to our upcoming sightseeing track themes as well as to the Crossroads of Chicago exhibit, where pop culture takes center stage as you climb aboard 'L' car no. 1, visit a jazz club, or picture yourself in the retro fashions of the Marshall Field's store window. Dine tonight overlooking Lincoln Park in the museum's Chicago Room, where the interior walls feature ten large backlit cases that display exquisite examples of stained glass pieces from the collection by notables such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Comfort Tiffany, and Giannini and Hilgart.

Lodging InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile

Meals Dinner

Day 2: Architecture That Shaped The City

Today's sightseeing track is "Architecture That Shaped The City," focusing on the legacy of beloved American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Drive along Lake Michigan for a tour that takes you up to the University of Chicago area and the sight of The Chicago World's Fair of 1893, an event that set the stage for the next 40 years of architectural and arts achievements. Arrive in the village of Oak Park on Chicago's west side, where from 1889 to 1909 Frank Lloyd Wright spent 20 years of his life, raised his family, crafted his architectural philosophy and a new American architecture, "The Prairie Style" – and designed many residential properties, which in turn influenced a whole generation of architects. Upon arriving at an example of early Prairie Style work by one of those other architects in Oak Park – Pleasant Home, designed by George Maher – you'll attend a private lecture by Tim Samuelson, cultural historian and architectural expert for the city of Chicago. Following lunch at Winberie's, another example of Prairie Style architecture built in 1905, you'll visit the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio itself, then take a walking tour of Forest Avenue, where you'll get a firsthand look at more of Wright's Prairie Style homes. Return late afternoon to the InterContinental for both a change of venue and a change of theme.

Our next presentation is held in the InterContinental's King Arthur's Court. Knights in colorful uniform line the ceilings of the painstakingly restored arched entryway and guard entry to the Court. Inside, a series of colorful paintings depict the life of King Arthur, as well as scenes of later Christian events and daily life in Gothic times. Elaborately carved wooden beams line the walls, providing a masculine feeling, indicative of their original use as the Men's Smoking Room in the hotel's former life as the Medinah Athletic Club. And the topic? Al Capone. New York Times best-selling author Jonathan Eig wrote Get Capone, the true story of the rise and fall of America's most notorious gangster; he was an advisor on Prohibition, and tonight gives a fascinating presentation you'll long remember. Dinner tonight is on your own, and the evening is at your leisure – Chicago is known throughout the world for its wonderful restaurants and culinary influences. 

Lodging InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile

Meals Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3: Beer Wars: The Roaring Twenties and an evening with Ken Burns

Jazz-age Chicago. The Roaring Twenties. Prohibition. Today's sightseeing track is titled Beer Wars: The Roaring Twenties – and today you will be transported back in time to 1920s-era Chicago. Hear the tales and visit the places that tell the stories of the politics of the day, and where the bootleg beer industry defined a new era in town. You'll visit the West End and Pilsen, the Czech neighborhood where beer was made famous in America. South End sites such as Maxwell Street, once home to a large open air market. And North End sites that include the Biograph Theatre, an old-time movie house associated with John Dillinger, and Clark Street, site of the infamous St. Valentine's Day Massacre. In the 1920s, illegal speakeasies – establishments selling alcohol during the era of Prohibition – were found in every neighborhood. Today you'll visit one of the most famous – its name alone became a popular code for a speakeasy – but we'll let its identity be a surprise for now. The afternoon is free to pursue what interests you most in Chicago. Museums? More than 40, plus smaller galleries. Shopping? Take a walk along the Magnificent Mile. Observatories, parks, the Navy Pier... the possibilities are endless. Chicago is known for its food, as you'll discover when you join us at suppertime for a Chicago-style pre-theatre buffet in the Renaissance Ballroom at InterContinental. You'll get a true taste of the city with some of the cuisine the city is known for, such as deep dish pizza, signature dishes from Greektown, famed Chicago hot dogs and other city favorites.

It's a 7:45 departure from the hotel tonight for our Tauck Exclusive – an evening at the historic Chicago Theatre with Ken Burns. And surprises are in store... The grandeur of The Chicago Theatre, on famed State Street, leaves visitors breathless. The elegant lobby, majestic staircase and beautiful auditorium complete with murals above the stage and on the ceiling, are components of an amazing building called the "Wonder Theatre of the World" when it opened on October 26, 1921. It was the first large, lavish movie palace in America and was the prototype for all others. Built in French Baroque style by theatre owners Barney and Abe Balaban and Sam and Morris Katz (think the Palace of Versailles), The Chicago Theatre's exterior features a miniature replica of Paris' Arc de Triomphe, sculpted above its State Street marquee. The 3,600 seat Theatre Auditorium is seven stories high, more than one half of a city block wide, and nearly as long. A symbol of State Street and Chicago, the sign and marquee are landmarks in themselves, as is the 29-rank Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ. 

The evening begins with a keynote address by Ken Burns in the main theatre, followed by a dessert reception in the Grand Lobby where you'll have an opportunity to meet Ken. The city of Chicago holds a special place in America's centuries-old story, and this amazing evening – and Tauck Event – writes a chapter with your name on it that will be personal. And uniquely memorable.

Lodging InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile

Meal Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4: The Most American of Cities and a special farewell celebration 

Chicago's multi-cultural influences have defined the city for centuries. For our sightseeing track titled "The Most American of Cities," we begin with a private cruise along the Chicago River, the river that divides the city – and a close-up look at the city's historical and cultural life through the eyes of a local expert. Next, shift gears slightly as city sightseeing is accompanied by a historian from the Chicago Architectural Foundation and includes Chicago's Art Deco style and Jazz-age sites, as well as the Millennium Park area. At lunch today, you'll learn how how to make Prohibition-era classic cocktails during a mixology demonstration by famed mixologist Angie Jackson, featured in Ken Burns's documentary Prohibition. 

Return to the hotel for some time at leisure. Tonight – a gala "Prohibition Repeal Celebration," a fitting finale for a week that has been beyond the ordinary. Join us for a cocktail reception featuring Prohibition-era cocktails, followed by dinner in the Grand Ballroom. The Grand Ballroom is magnificent for both its unusual elliptical shape and its many architectural details. Around the ceiling of the ballroom are hand-painted murals of classical landscape scenes that were taken down and restored by the same restoration artist who consulted on the restoration of the Sistine Chapel ceiling. He also added 24-karat gold leaf to the moldings surrounding the paintings and the 12,000-pound Baccarat crystal chandelier, which is the largest in North America. Mingle with flappers and gangsters to the fabulous sounds of 1920s music, when Jazz and Ragtime provided the soundtrack for an era. And of course any "Prohibition Repeal Celebration" wouldn't be complete without the fashions of the day... The Tauck Chicago Event concludes, in style.

Lodging InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile

Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Journey home or extend your stay

Our Chicago travel event concludes. Extend you stay or fly home anytime; a transfer is included from InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile to Chicago O'Hare International Airport or Chicago Midway Airport. 

Meals Breakfast

Your Tauck Event Highlights


Keynote address by filmmaker Ken Burns, creator of the films Prohibition, Jazz and Frank Lloyd Wright, at the legendary 1921 Chicago Theatre, with an opportunity to meet Ken during a dessert reception in the theatre's Great Hall
Sightseeing Track – Architecture That Shaped The City, exploring the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright with visits to his home / studio in Oak Park
Sightseeing Track – Beer Wars: The Roaring Twenties, including a tour of jazz-age Chicago during the Prohibition era
Sightseeing Track – The Most American of Cities, a look at the multicultural influences and architecture that defined Chicago during the Prohibition era, featuring Chicago's Art Deco Style and "Jazz Age" sites as well as the Millennium Park area, tailored for the event by a historian from the Chicago Architectural Foundation
Presentation on Prohibition and Al Capone by Jonathan Eig, author of Get Capone
Opportunity to speak with John Russick, Chicago History Museum’s senior curator, Prohibition expert and historian
Private chartered river cruise on the Chicago River for an up-close look at the city's historical and cultural life
Mixology lesson by famed mixologist Angie Jackson, featured in the documentary Prohibition
Farewell "Prohibition Repeal Celebration" and dinner in the Grand Ballroom of the InterContinental Chicago Magnificient Mile
Four nights historic luxury accommodations at the 1929 landmark hotel InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile
All gratuities to Tauck Directors, drivers and local guides
Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted
9 meals, gratuities to local guides, service charges, admission fees, taxes and porterage.

Your Hotel....

Nights 1 - 4 : InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile - Chicago, Illinois - Tauck Guests enjoy complimentary Internet access in guest rooms!

Discover modern comfort with a touch of 1920s splendor... a unique combination of old-world elegance and modern sophistication at Chicago's beautiful landmark hotel. Originally built in 1929 as the Medinah Athletic Club, a luxury men's club for members of the Shrine organization, the club fell victim to the stock-market crash and was forced to close its doors in 1934. InterContinental Hotels, renowned for its international portfolio of extraordinary restorations, bought the property in 1988, and immediately began renovations. A quarter of a billion dollars and 12 years later, this truly magnificent InterContinental Chicago hotel was re-introduced to Chicago. Restoration work was guided by the original athletic club's 1930 yearbook, the SCIMITAR, donated by a club member. Its black-and-white photographs were used to duplicate and restore entire rooms, right down to the detailing in draperies, carpets and murals. Today, each floor of the hotel represents a myriad of cultures and eras. The public areas available for viewing provide a glimpse of the rich history of the building. The elegant hotel entrance opens directly onto the world-famous Magnificent Mile – an ideal location just moments from the trolley, Navy Pier, Millennium Park, restaurants and galleries. The hotel features newly refurbished guest rooms and suites, three restaurants and lounges, modern fitness center and a Junior Olympic indoor heated swimming pool, featuring a classic, ornate design.

Tour Only Cost: All prices quoted below are per adult person, per tour in British Pounds (GBP)

Departure Dates

 Single Twin/Double Triple Quad
19th September 2016 £3386 £2894 £2806 Please call
 
Special offer - Book with us before the 28th February 2016 and receive a free pre or post nights stay making this an 5 night tour
 
Not included in your tour cost:
Flights – we can package your tour with flights at very competitive airfares using our airline partners. Please call us to discuss the best airline for your itinerary.
Pre or post accommodation - If you want to extend your stay at the start or the end of your escorted tour or add another destination to your booking please call us and we will be happy to provide a quote.
Meals, other than those listed in the itinerary.
The customary gratuities for the Tour Director and local drivers are not included.
 
FAQs:
There are many questions and considerations you might have when planning an escorted tour with Tauck Tours. For more information please click here.
 

TO BOOK YOUR TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS:

Please call us on FREEPHONE 0800 0336 335 or EMAIL us reservations@purelytravelgroup.co.uk we are open 7 days a week.

We will be happy to answer any questions, check the availability of your tour, offer a quote for flights and any pre or post nights you would like to add.

When you are ready to go ahead with the booking, a non-refundable deposit of 10% will be due at time of booking or the full balance if you are due to travel within 8 weeks.

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