When I decided to start my own tour company, I knew I wanted to do something different.
But the time and place of my decision to strike out on my own required that I flex a winter muscle. I needed a tour that could start in January and get me through to big tour time in the spring.
I didn’t know much about the Pedway when I came up with the idea. I had used it maybe once or twice when I was working in a legal office, but that was it. It was a scary, weird place to me that didn’t seem worth my time. Yes, it was inside, but could it really connect where I needed to go and wouldn’t it just be faster to go outside and do it, rather than spend hours getting lost underground?
I started learning about the Pedway for this tour. I would take lunch hours from my crappy job and just start walking. As long as I could get under there I didn’t mind taking the time to see where it would go. I was surprised to find it went past Daley Center. Certainly, that seems to be it’s home and it’s power, but it was fascinating to turn corners and have to go back where I came, or find a weird little hallway that took me straight to another architectural find. I found the Pedway to be quite handy and it really has its own personality down there, now I really dig it…at least….parts of it.
The name Pedway Tour might be a bit misleading. I’m not doing a tour OF the Pedway, I’m doing a tour BY the Pedway. I’m giving a pretty standard architectural tour, it’s just that we never need to go outside.
I really want Chicago people to get up on this. So I made it a lunchtime tour, every tour starts at noon and they’re all 45 minutes and each tour ends at a food court, so you can go get your lunch and head back to your office, all in your lunch hour.
Since the Pedway is so extensive, I’m doing 3 different tours. So, if you like the tour you took on Monday and it’s snowing and crappy out Friday, you can come on Friday and see something completely different.
Monday’s tour is excellent with Daley Plaza, City Hall and the Illinois Center. I show you all the buildings from other building lobbies, then we come up into each one and see it from the inside, very cool.
Wednesdays we’ll do Macy’s, the Cultural Center, some Millennium Park, some Block 37.
Friday is the Aon Building, Prudential Plaza and Pru 2 and we talk about The Cliff Wall and Gehry and The Chicago School and all kinds of cool stuff.
All tours are 5$. FIVE BUCKS. To come learn something on your lunch, laugh with me, teach me what you know and you never have to get cold. If you want start locations please go up to the “Tour” tab and that will give you all the specifics you need.
I think it’s a great idea, I think it’s a great tour and I’m really looking forward to starting on Wednesday the 20th. So won’t you come join me? Bring a friend? Learn something this week? I promise, we’ll have an excellent time and I’ll protect you from the ghosts in the Pedway…ooooooohhhhhhhhhh
O'Hare Arpt., IL
I love the Pedway so much! There used to be a Dairy Queen and a Chinese restaurant that me and my buddies went to all the time. I also liked going to Marshall Field’s from the Thompson Center without getting my feet wet in January. I loved going under the city building and seeing the different sorts of workers as you passed under different sections. If you master the Pedway that makes you very official Downtown Chicago. Great and wonderful tour idea!
Hi Liz!
Thank you so much for reading it and posting. I’m telling you, the Pedway can be a dream. There are parts of it that are icky but you’re so in and out of there, it doesn’t make a difference really. And it’s like all of you in the Pedway are in it together you know?
COOOOL!! I had NO idea Chicago had this intricate underground system. I might have felt a LOT differently about living there in the winter if I had! Wish I could join you on the tour, Hixx….have fun!
XO,
Cory
P.S. My husband says be careful in the Pedway near Millenium Park; apparently people have been assaulted/raped there. Go in numbers!!!
Thanks Cory! You pretty thang. And yes, there are some stairways and entrances and stuff that can be dicey, but pretty much only at night. During the daytime the Pedway is packed with people. But yeah nighttime? Bah.
I have never set foot in the Pedway and had no idea! I am definitely going to check out your tours. They all sound fascinating!
Yay! Thanks Wendy, definitely make sure to introduce yourself when you come on by!
Thanks for this site. Extremely helpful article.
Had a ball on your Pedway tour last Friday…saw some interesting places I never knew existed, under the city. Would have enjoyed a longer chat with you, but I’ll be back! I especially enjoyed the Cliff Wall info, buildings I’ve passed by so many times and never realized their architectural importance. Until my next Chicago visit (hopefully in warmer and sunnier weather!)…take care!
Hi Linda! Thanks so much for coming. It was so nice to see your friendly face and for bringing a guest! You are wonderful. I look forward to getting coffee or something next time you’re here!