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Tour the Heartland

 

On foot, on bicycles, on buses, boats and trolleys: There are numerous ways to explore the great cities of America’s Heartland.

The Midwest is home to some of the country’s most iconic urban destinations, and these cities all offer their own blend of history, architecture and ambiance. The best way to get to know these places is to offer your travelers the chance to learn from locals on city tours that highlight each destination’s distinctive characteristics.

Chicago Architecture Foundation

Chicago

There are dozens of ways to enjoy a city as large, vibrant and welcoming as Chicago. Whether you visit to attend sports events, visit museums, see live theater or explore the signature cuisine, one experience will be constant: the city’s amazing architecture.

The Windy City is one of the foremost architecture destinations in the country, with hundreds of skyscrapers, bridges, homes and other structures of note that give it an unmistakable presence. Groups can experience the best of these landmarks on any one of 85 different tours offered by the Chicago Architecture Foundation.

Perhaps the most popular experiences for tour groups are boat tours, which take place in partnership with Chicago’s First Lady Cruises. These excursions last 90 minutes and explore the historic and modern architecture along all three branches of the Chicago River.

The foundation’s volunteer docents can also show off the city’s architecture on bus, trolley or walking tours. Guides can step on your motorcoach for an overview tour of the city, or your group can board open-air buses for 90-minute tours of different neighborhoods around the city. Walking tours focus on specific neighborhoods and offer in-depth looks at their individual historic and architectural landmarks, such as buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

The organization also offers a number of tours customized for student groups, which are tailored to teach young visitors about the art and science of modern architecture.

www.architecture.org

 

Columbus Landmarks Foundation

Columbus, Ohio

Columbus, Ohio’s largest city, boasts a diverse heritage made up of many cultures and historical events. Groups can get to know the city’s distinctive facets up close on one of the various tours offered by the Columbus Landmarks Foundation. Founded in 1977 by a group of preservationists who wanted to protect sites important to the city’s architectural heritage, the foundation now consists of more than 700 individuals and corporations throughout the city.

The organization’s most popular event is the CityWalk Columbus Tour, a guided walking tour that takes place each Saturday morning between late May and late October. These tours last an hour and a half and begin at the city’s most historic intersection. During the excursions, guides point out the architecturally and historically significant sites around town, including buildings ranging in style from Beaux Arts to Gothic, Art Moderne, Greek Revival, Italianate and Arts and Crafts. Participants will see some of the city’s signature buildings and public artworks, as well as some tucked-away gems that help tell the stories of Columbus’ immigrant history and famous residents.

In addition to these Saturday tours, the foundation offers ghost tours throughout October that highlight special aspects of the city, such as its former penitentiary, its historic neighborhoods and Ohio State University. Tavern tours and church tours are also available, as are customized tours for travel groups.

www.columbuslandmarks.org

Brian Jewell

Brian Jewell is the executive editor of The Group Travel Leader. In more than a decade of travel journalism he has visited 48 states and 25 foreign countries.