The Christmas Tree Crawl: The Magic of Chicago at the Holidays

Discover and enjoy some of the city's best holiday decorations & traditions!

Let **Inside Chicago Walking Tours** take you on an enchanting stroll through the heart of the city at its prettiest time — during the winter holiday season.

On this nostalgic and educational tour, we will lead you on a "Christmas treasure hunt" through downtown Chicago in search of the most stunning and impressive Christmas trees and other holiday decorations — and we know where they are! This tour includes not only visits to well-known stops like the Christkindlmarkt and the old Marshall Field’s, but also to little-known stops that contain some of the best holiday decorations downtown. You’ll learn about the origins of some world-famous Christmas characters — some of them from Chicago, some not — as well as the history behind Christmas traditions practiced by people around the world.

Filled with history, culture, and beautiful sights, this tour is a celebration of Chicago’s festive holiday spirit. We'll pop into several buildings — just like we do on all of our tours! — specifically to see impressive Christmas trees indoors, and to warm up for seeing the outdoor trees. We call this tour a "pop-up tour" because it’s offered for a very limited time, and purely because we want to show off the city's beauty at this time of year. You won't find a boat, a bus, or even a segway where we're going. Come and take a holiday stroll with us — it's a fun stress-buster and perfect time to set aside for hanging out with family and friends!

Duration

2 Hours

1.5 miles on foot

Highlights of the Tour

• See some beautiful buildings' interiors, as we do on all of our regular tours;
• Find and photograph some of the most beautiful Christmas trees a big city like Chicago can offer;
• Get a fun, up-close experience of the most famous and authentic Christkindlmarkt in the USA;
• Participate in both "Old World" holiday traditions and newer ones;
• Learn about the history of well-known Christmas characters and symbols;
• Much more!

Tour Details

• Runs rain or shine, though we will cancel with notice if the weather seems particularly unpleasant.
• **Meeting Location:** Outside the Peet's Coffee Shop in the Wrigley Building. Nearest address is 400 N. Michigan Avenue. The Peet's Coffee Shop is located in the walk-through plaza BETWEEN the two parts of the Wrigley Building, just off of Michigan Avenue.

What to Bring:

• Comfortable, warm clothing and shoes
• Camera
• Umbrella if you'll need it
• Extra cash if you'd like to tip your guide

Please arrive at least 5 minutes prior to the scheduled tour time. Your guide will be standing in the walk-through plaza between the two halves of the Wrigley Building. The Wrigley Building is actually two buildings -- 400 N. Michigan Avenue and 410 N. Michigan Avenue -- and your guide will meet you in the plaza BETWEEN the two halves, away from the crowds on Michigan Avenue.