Unique, Unparalleled, Unforgettable USA and International Heritage and Cultural Custom Tours™
HISTORIC OLD CHICAGO AND OAK PARK©
October 5-10, 2008
(2008 Historic Waco Foundation Annual Trip)
Chicago -- first determined during the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition
to be one of the world's great cultural, architectural and commercial cities.
Some of the greatest architectural masterpieces from the late 19th/early 20th
centuries built by Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe, Louis Sullivan,
and others grace Chicago urban landscape and surrounding area.
Chicago -- romanticized for its colourful past and notorious 1920's and 1930's
"Prohibition Era" when its South Side was frequented by gangsters and
bootleggers like Al Capone, John Dillinger and "Bugs" Moran.
Chicago -- one of the most culturally rich communities in the USA. Chicago’s
inclusive environment encouraged ethnic groups including Mexicans, Italians,
Greeks, Irish and Polish to gravitate toward the city in the early part of the
20th century. These groups are strongly integrated into the city’s fabric today,
providing countless ethnic, culinary and cultural experiences for travelers.
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| ITINERARY: 6 Days / 5 Nights Day 1: DEPARTURE DAY- SUNDAY Travel by Deluxe Motor coach to DFW Airport for your flight to Chicago. Early afternoon check in at The Palmer House, one of Chicago's most famous historic Hotels located near the famous Gold Coast area and the Magnificent Mile. Time to relax a bit before we take a private guided tour of our Hotel, filled with highlights about its colourful past. We'll then have evening cocktails and a light supper aboard a chartered yacht which will take you on a 2-hour private cruise along the Chicago River with your expert docent guide on Chicago architecture, who will point out to you many of Chicago's architectural masterpieces. (B, D) Day 2: CHICAGO'S ETHNIC NEIGHBORHOODS, CUISINE AND COLOURFUL 1920'S - MONDAY Have a light Breakfast at the Hotel this morning, because we will be taking Chicago Food Planet's guided "Culinary and Cultural Walking Tour" exploring Downtown Chicago and the Near North neighborhoods of Gold Coast, Old Town, and Lincoln Park. You'll sample along the way some authentic flavors from several ethnic eateries and food shops "off-the-beaten-path", as well as have an extraordinary glimpse into unique venues, hidden parks, historic mansions, and majestic row houses. This is why journalists across the world refer to Chicago as "America's secret garden." Time to rest a bit this afternoon before our "costumed gangster guides" arrive to take you on "The Untouchables Tour" to Chicago's South Side for an authentic Italian Dinner at Connie's Restaurant, (a Chicago tradition for over 45 years) and to see hot spots, hit spots and hideouts made famous during the Prohibition Era by such colourful characters as Al Capone, John Dillinger, "Bugs" Moran, Dion O'Bannion and Elliott Ness. You'll be thoroughly entertained by the stories about Chicago's famous -- and infamous -- 1920's. (B, L, D) Day 3: HISTORIC PRESERVATION ARCHITECTURAL LANDMARKS - TUESDAY Breakfast at the Hotel before embarking by private transportation upon a City Tour guided by a docent from the Chicago Architecture Foundation tracing the Chicago career of the 20th century’s most influential Modernist architect, Mies van der Rohe, often referred to as the "father of the modern skyscraper". This tour starts with a selection of his most important buildings in Chicago, and continues to the Fox River for lunch at a restored 1850's farmhouse and an extended visit to the Farnsworth House designed by Mies van der Rohe, now a National Trust Historic Site, and considered by many to be the iconic masterpiece of the Modernist movement. At this time of year, the Fall Foliage along the Fox River should be spectacular! Back to our Hotel in late afternoon with time to rest before heading to Chicago's Greektown for Dinner at Greek Islands Restaurant. (B,L,D) Day 4: FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT, ERNEST HEMINGWAY AND OAK PARK - WEDNESDAY After breakfast at the Hotel this morning, we'll be joined by a docent from the Chicago Architecture Foundation who will accompany us to Oak Park, a suburb of Chicago, for a guided tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's Home and Studio, the Oak Park Historic District, and Unity Temple built by Wright. We'll stop for lunch in Oak Park at Hemingway's Bistro, followed by a guided tour of Ernest Hemingway's birthplace home, a meticulously restored Victorian residence containing family heirlooms. Upon your return this afternoon to Chicago, docents from the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust will take you on a guided tour of the Frederick C. Robie House, a quintessential "Prairie Style" house, designed in Wright's Oak Park studio in 1908 and completed in 1910, and often described as one of the most important buildings in the history of American architecture because it inspired an architectural revolution. Also included will be a walking tour of the Robie House Historic Neighbors District. Afterwards, you'll return to our Hotel and have the remainder of the afternoon and evening free on your own -- perhaps to have dinner in one of Chicago's traditional Irish pubs or famous steakhouses, to enjoy a cultural performance or sports event, or just to relax. (B, L) NOTE: Wednesday Evening and Thursday Day fall on the Jewish High Holy Day of Yom Kippur. The Tour Itinerary has been arranged so that tour participants of the Jewish faith will have an opportunity to observe this Holiday. Day 5: EXPLORE CHICAGO ON YOUR OWN - THURSDAY Breakfast at the Hotel followed by the entire day free until Dinner for you to explore Chicago on your own. You can see some of Chicago's famous Museums such as the Museum of Science and Industry, the Field Museum, or perhaps the Shedd Aquarium. You can stroll through Millenium Park or shop in the "Boutiques on Oak Street" and along the Magnificent Mile, or you might visit some of Chicago's famous tourist attractions such as Navy Pier, Sears Tower, Adler Planetarium, John Hancock Center, Lincoln Park Zoo or the Chicago Botanic Garden. We'll meet back at the Hotel for Dinner at Berghoff Restaurant, featuring classic German cuisine which continues the tradition established 110 years ago in Chicago by the Berghoff family. (B, D) Day 6: TIFFANY, MOSAICS AND RETURN HOME DAY - FRIDAY Breakfast at the Hotel followed by a guided walking tour of four of Chicago’s most magnificent art glass and mosaic installations, each of which was designed and crafted by the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company. Included are a vault, domes, a rotunda, and light fixtures in four late-19th century landmark buildings: the Art Institute of Chicago, the Marquette Building, the Chicago Cultural Center and Macy’s on State Street. We'll have lunch in Macy's Walnut Room before returning to the Hotel. Free time until late afternoon to do some last minute shopping, pack, and relax before we leave for the Chicago Airport to return home. (B, L) |
| SNOBBY TOURS®' SIGNATURE "ALL-INCLUSIVE" CUSTOM TOUR PACKAGE FEE*: (6 Days/ 5 Nights) $2,295.00 per person, double occupancy $2,995.00 per person, single occupancy *THIS TRIP IS OPEN TO ANYONE WHO IS CURRENTLY, OR BECOMES A MEMBER OF, HISTORIC WACO FOUNDATION AT TIME OF MAKING TRIP RESERVATION. CREDIT CARDS ARE ACCEPTED BY HISTORIC WACO FOUNDATION FOR MEMBERSHIP DUES AND TRIP DEPOSITS. (A 5% processing fee is added to all credit card payments.) Tour Package Fee per person is from Waco, Texas, and includes round trip air flight from Dallas, Texas. Details regarding other Gateway cities are available upon request. Per person Tour Package Fee will be adjusted for other Gateway cities. YOUR “ALL-INCLUSIVE” AIR and LAND CUSTOM TOUR PACKAGE INCLUDES:
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TO SECURE YOUR RESERVATION: A Deposit of 50% of your applicable Tour Package Fee will secure your Reservation. Reservation Deposits will be accepted through June 30, 2008. Reservations made after June 30, 2008 will be subject to availability and must be accompanied by payment in full. Increases in round trip airfare, airport/departure taxes and fees, airport security surcharges, fuel surcharges, and a 15% per person administrative surcharge will apply to all Reservations initially made after June 30, 2008. RESERVATION DEPOSITS MAY BE MADE BY PERSONAL CHECK, MASTERCARD OR VISA. (A 5% processing fee is added to all credit card payments.) PAYMENT FOR BALANCES DUE ON TOUR PACKAGE FEES OR FOR RESERVATIONS MADE AFTER JUNE 30, 2008 MUST BE MADE BY PERSONAL CHECK, CASHIERS' CHECK OR MONEY ORDER. (No credit cards are accepted for balances due or reservations made after June 30, 2008.) MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO SNOBBY TOURS®, INC. Reservations Close: July 30, 2008 All Balances due on Tour Package Fees must be received no later than August 1, 2008. TRAVEL PROTECTION INSURANCE (OPTIONAL): Travel protection insurance coverage is recommended. Snobby Tours®, Inc. is licensed to provide Speciality Insurance - Travel if you desire this optional coverage for any of our custom tours. Snobby Tours®, Inc. Tour and Event General Policies apply to all reservations. |
| This is one of our Americana Heritage Tours by Snobby Tours®,Inc.©, tours focusing on people, places and events which have enriched America's culture, history and national pride. |
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