Millennium Park self-guided walking audio tour in Chicago

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Enjoy your Millennium Park tour and learn all about its history. Start from the park’s north end, by the Harris Theatre for Music and Dance. From there, head south toward the Pritzker Pavilion while hearing some background on how the park came into existence. Once at the impressive pavilion, learn about the vast array of performances held here and the high-tech design which makes it all possible, as well as the man behind it: Jay Pritzker. Get the full story on this precocious kid who went from building model cities out of his grandfather’s scrap wood to designing some of the most famous structures in the country.Continue to the park’s so-called “Secret Garden.” Take a stroll along a peaceful boardwalk surrounded by plant life and listen to a little-known symbolism behind the garden’s design. Then pause for a fantastic look at Chicago’s skyline. Next, head past the Art Institute of Chicago and end up at the astonishing Crown Fountain. Get familiar with the intricately detailed “face towers” of the fountain, then head north toward Chicago’s most famous sculpture.At last, you’ll arrive at Cloud Gate, known by the locals as “The Bean” (although the artist positively hates this name). Learn about the wacky artist behind it, as well as the technique he used to create such a huge, smooth surface. And don’t forget to snap some surreal pictures of your reflection. The tour concludes here.
Highlights
- Explore the most famous park in Chicago
- Find out how the park was transformed from a derelict trainyard to a lively green space
- Hear the stories of the people who brought this park to life
- Find fascinating spots most visitors miss and learn the history not many people know
- Get up close and personal with the world-famous Cloud Gate sculpture, also known as The Bean
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Activity package
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Facilities
Free cancellation
mobile
2 hours
Available in English
What's included
- Self-guided tour taken via the app
- Unique password (sent by email) for access to the app
- Live GPS map on your phone
- Audio narration
- Written text explanations
- Route from stop to stop
Not included
- Food or drinks
- Transportation
- Entry to paid attractions
Where you'll meet
This self-guided tour begins at the Millennium Park Welcome Center.
Operated by
ACTION TOUR GUIDE
Important information
Know in advance:
* This is a self-guided tour; no guide will accompany you. The tour operator's app functions as a guide, an audio tour, and a map all in one
* After booking the tour, search your email for the phrase "Set up your self-guided tour now." Follow these instructions immediately to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Please don't wait until you are on-site
* Works perfectly without cellular or Wi-Fi with offline maps
* The audio stories play on their own based on your location. You can start anytime and pause anywhere
* Most stops along the tour have animated videos allowing you to visualise what you cannot see, such as snapshots from different centuries or interior rooms