Things to Do in Norridge

Founder Amanda Scotese, an avid traveler and freelance writer for Rick Steves's renowned travel guides, delegates sure-footed guides to lead sightseers to iconic landmarks and down the back alleys and lesser-known nooks of the Windy City. Tours probe the ins and outs of the Chicago's neighborhoods, such as the Loop, where they fill eyes with the sights of world-renowned architecture and minds with the secrets of the Pedway, an underground walkway that connects buildings throughout the business district with the Ninja Turtles' lair. The Good Times Historic Tour, born of Chicago Detours' desire to spread knowledge of the city's entertainment history, takes tour-goers to three historic bars in an exploration of how the city had fun. Private-group blues and jazz tours explore historic neighborhoods on the North and South sides, and include diversions such as harmonica lessons from a bona fide blues blower. Chicago Detours also offers private-group tours for birthdays, family reunions, and corporate team-building exercises.

By recording the many people, inventions, and achievements of Silicon Valley, the Silicon Valley Historical Association forms a compelling argument that the Northern California–based tech movement is the Renaissance of our time. The association amasses commentary, interviews, and photographs from industry founders and experts to document Silicon Valley’s far-reaching impact on the world at large. Like Gutenberg’s printing press or the birth of the first carrier pigeon, the rise of the home computer has connected billions, marking a sea change in the primary ways people communicate.

The association’s research covers a multitude of subjects, from the invention of the microchip to the basic histories of some of the biggest names in the industry, such as Google, eBay, and Apple. Its documentary, Silicon Valley, condenses 20 years of the association’s work into a five-part series that discusses what makes for a successful company while recalling how many slices of pizza could fit into the earliest disk drives.

Six Taste co-owner Jeff Okita succinctly described his TripAdvisor Top 10 Pick tours to the Daily Trojan in 2011, calling them "a way for people to connect to different communities through an accessible medium, which is food." During four-hour excursions, in-the-know guides walk with fellow explorers through iconic Los Angeles–area neighborhoods—including Little Tokyo and the heart of downtown—stopping into gems to sample the eatery's cuisine and learn about the area. This cultural education is paramount for Jeff, who told the Christian Science Monitor in 2010 that "we choose the restaurants based on their story and what they add to the understanding of a neighborhood, its people and its history."

Guides currently lead more than 15 tours a week through eight different neighborhoods, with most tours meeting between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. In addition to the regularly scheduled excursions, the staff also leads specialty outings that focus on more adventurous cuisines, including intensely spicy dishes in Thai Town and lost seafood recipes in Atlantis.

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.