Inside the Loop Tour Takes to Pedway, Kids Free Holiday Special Offer

“Inside the Loop: Explore the Unexpected” is offering a “kids free” holiday special on Dec. 12. Parents get to register their children for free, rather than paying the regular $18 ticket price for youth between 5 and 18. This interactive excursion weaves its way through the architectural interiors of various buildings via the underground passages of the Pedway so you keep warm and you can comfortably engage with the cityscape without getting cold. Though designed for adults, this tour is widely popular with student groups as kids stay interested with the use of iPads with archival images like maps, historic photos, and documentary video clips.

Tour topics are overlooked stories and fresh concepts, like the psychology behind the modernist architecture of Chase Tower or the curiosities of historic toys from Marshall Field’s department store. Kids will love the interactive dynamic as guide asks questions to prompt discussion. Plus there’s a game and the winning contestant gets a prize!

“We introduce some bigger concepts in this tour that are geared more toward adults who want to learn,” states Chicago Detours founder Amanda Scotese. “But we’ve had kids of all ages stay engaged for the entire tour. Once a previous tour guest emailed me saying that her teenage daughter was shocked that the entire tour she had not thought of looking at her cell phone!”

Extra tours schedule for the holiday week – click on “reserve now” on the site to see schedule.

Groups meet just inside the southeast entrance of Chase Tower, 10 S. Dearborn St. The tour walks 1/2 mile through the Loop before arriving at the Chicago Cultural Center two hours later. The tour does cost money for parents, so check the site for details on the cost. These tours include shared use of iPads that have video content and interesting features like pages from Marshall Field catalogs from the 20th century. Discounts for seniors and students are available. Reservations are required, and can be made on their website, www.chicagodetours.com.

Chicago Detours founder Amanda Scotese honed her skills as a tour professional during the several years she has worked as a tour guide and guidebook researcher with the travel company of Rick Steves, one of the nation’s most well-known travel authors and television personalities. Scotese studied architecture, urbanism, and art history through her interdisciplinary M.A. in the Humanities at the University of Chicago.

For additional information:
Amanda Scotese
312.350.1131
info@chicagodetours.com
www.chicagodetours.com