Biking Tours

Best Bike Tours Of Chicago

Chicago has something for everyone. The artists, the history and architect enthusiasts and the shoppers can all find their nook here. Now, so can the biking enthusiasts. Having just been voted the best biking city in the country, Chicago's Biking Tours have a great deal to offer to the visitor who wants more than just a tour.

Bobby Chicago's Bike Hike departs from 465 N. McClurg Court, two blocks west of Navy Pier and is quite famous for its enjoyable tours. The Lakefront Neighborhoods Tour is the daytime tour called the "Must Do Chicago Experience" by Citysearch. An easy three hour tour that takes you off the beaten path, it casually winds through neighborhood streets, parks and the beaches of North Chicago. Some of the highlights of this tour include the Gold Coast Mansions, Oprah's Main Home, the Playboy Mansion, Lincoln Park Zoo, Old Town Historic District, North Avenue Beach and the Lakefront.

Bobby's also offers the scenic Green Chicago Tour. Described as "ridiculously easy, " the two hour tour takes you through selections of some of the picturesque aspects of Chicago. The beautiful Buckingham Fountain is included in this, as is Soldier Field, Navy Pier, Shedd Aquarium and Millennium Park. An awesome perk to this tour is that the guide will show tourists how Chicago intends to transform its lakefront in preparation for the 2016 Olympic Games.

McDonald's Cycle Center, conveniently located in Millennium Park, is open year round and offers free bicycle parking, locker rooms, and bicycle mechanic services, as well as its bicycle rentals and tours. One of the best tours that is perfect for the biker who prefers more moderate riding is The Friendly Neighborhoods Bike Tour: South. The tour is 2-3 hours long and exclusively explores Chicago's South side. This would be a great tour to experience after having experienced a tour of the North side. Some of the highlights on this tour include South Loop Lakefront, Printer's Row, the Museum Campus (Shedd Aquarium, The Field Museum, Adler Planetarium), Soldier Field and U.S. Cellular Field, Bronzeville & Illinois Institute of Technology, Chinatown, the Prairie District and the Clarke House.

Bike Chicago Bicycle Tours, located on the Navy Pier in Millennium Park, boasts being voted "Top 10" of Chicago's Best Tours. The Amazing Lakefront Tour is Bike Chicago's most popular ride and is a casual one that welcomes children and lasts between 2-3 hours. Some of the top sights of the trip include the Lakefront Trail and Beaches, Millennium Park, Navy Pier, the Lincoln Park Zoo and Conservatory, Notebaert Nature Museum and the North Avenue Beach.

One of the most unique tours offered by Bike Chicago is the Sites @ Nite tour. An easy 2-3 hour trip, the tour shows you Chicago under night sky, illuminated by the lights of the city. The tour includes the Magnificent Mile, Millennium Park's Crown Fountain and the light and water show put on by the Buckingham Fountain. The tour ends with a perfect finish of lights and sound with fireworks at Navy Pier, viewed from a skyline boat tour. Though the tickets to the boat tour are sold separately, this tour is definitely one that should be experienced.

Whether you are an avid bicyclist or a beginner, at least one of these great bicycling tours should be experienced. It provides exercise and a chance to view Chicago with someone who knows the streets and the sights. Biking in a city as big as Chicago is not an easy task, which is why the ease of traveling via bicycle in Chicago is a rare treat and should be enjoyed.

Bobby's Chicago Bike Hike website: http://www.bobbysbikehike.com

McDonald's Cycle Center website: http://www.chicagobikestation.com

Bike Chicago website: http://www.bikechicago.com/tours/