Niles, IL Outdoor Activities

Standing taller than pedestrians and gliding at a steadier pace than bicyclists, Segway riders experience cities at their own speed from an entirely new perspective. The knowledgeable tour guides dispatched by Segway Experience of Chicago lead groups through the Windy City’s lakefront, strolling by the surrounding fountains and architecture across two-hour tours. More rewarding than riding atop a double-decker bus or clutching the cape of a superhero, Segway tours fill eyes with panoramic views of Chicago's best sights and its elegant skyline.

Among the world's largest species of freshwater fish, the white sturgeon can grow to several hundred pounds yet still glide through swift currents thanks to a thick layer of muscle beneath its bony exterior. Guide Paul Ambrose is an expert on the species, sharing his knowledge on full-day and half-day fishing trips for these and other trophies of the Columbia or Willamette Rivers, such as steelhead, king salmon, discarded Stanley Cups, and kokanee salmon. The CPR-trained guide welcomes passengers aboard his 23-foot Koffler jet-sled boat, which he keeps fortified with Shimano reels, Lamiglas rods, and Maxima line. He's also lent his expertise to anglers on television, contributing to an episode of Angler West TV.

NAC Ski may be based in sunny San Jose, but its ski tours reach more than 100 cities and ski destinations throughout the U.S. and Canada. Pickup points scattered across each city gather groups in the wee hours of the morning to board charter buses and drive to nearby ski resorts. Each coach bus is tricked out with a bathroom, TV screens for movies, and sometimes WiFi. Passengers can relax or snooze on the way to the slopes, arriving around 9 a.m. for all-day skiing and snowboarding. At 4:30 p.m., buses load up passengers and undercover snowmen and return home to the pickup point.

In a shop lined with more than 100 bikes models from all around the world, Upgrade Cycle Works' pro mechanics channel their love of cycling whether they are aligning the frame on an old single speed or fitting guests for a brand new road bike. During the fit process, staffers employ the same computerized system used at the Olympic training center as opposed to tracing your body outline on a large piece of construction paper. Next, they’ll help guests choose from bike brands such as Felt, Masi, and Raleigh, and an in-store selection of rides that includes road bikes, single speeds, and hybrids.

In Upgrade's workshop, pro mechanics perform comprehensive tune-ups and repairs, revitalize faded paint jobs, replace punctured wheels, and align frames. The staff also hosts repair clinics to teach cyclists how to fix flat tires and adjust brakes.

Inspired by a love of fitness and a passion for travel and tourism kindled within him by his late father, Jeremy Lewno founded Bobby's Bike Hike to create an interactive Chicago biking experience. He named the company after his dad, Bob, an Arkansas bus-tour operator who taught him to focus on service quality over quantity. That advice has clearly paid off, as the business's guided tours have earned it some of the highest possible ratings on TripAdvisor and the title of Best Organized Bike Ride from the Chicago Reader in 2010.

During the tours, which include rented bicycles, guides lead groups of about 20 riders past Chicago icons in Millennium Park and on the Museum Campus, or direct them to samples of pizza, hot dogs, cupcakes, and beer in and around Wrigleyville. The crew has designed a Tike Hike tour for kids 10 and younger, a historic Hyde Park tour that pedals past the home of President Barack Obama, and a mansion-studded lakefront tour, during which riders may glimpse Oprah waving or handing out complimentary helicopters at her main residence. Patrons can also rent Schwinn mountain bikes, cruisers, and tandem bikes to explore the city on their own.