March 16 – April 21
CHICAGO – After a successful holiday season and just in time for spring break, the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture’s Magnificent Mile InstaGreeter service returns with free, one-hour walks of North Michigan Avenue and surrounding areas led by knowledgeable locals beginning March 16. The walk-up service, offered by the Chicago Greeter program, will be available through April 21 on Fridays and Saturdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., leaving from the Water Works Visitor Information Center, 163 E. Pearson Street. Volunteer greeters will provide information and insights on the Streeterville and Gold Coast neighborhoods; landmarks such as the John Hancock Center and the former Playboy Mansion, historic hotels and cathedrals; and best bets for shopping. For more information, visit www.chicagogreeter.com.
Chicago Greeter is a program of the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture. Celebrating 10 years in 2012, Chicago Greeter is recognized internationally for its innovation and consistently ranked as one of the most popular programs of its kind in the world. Last year, Chicago Greeter matched 9,000 visitors with local volunteers for an insider’s orientation to Chicago, a 25% increase over 2010.
Nearly 250 visitors took advantage of the no-appointment-needed Magnificent Mile InstaGreeter service this past holiday season from November 4-December 31, 2011, a 29% increase in the number of walks and a 73% increase in the total number of people using the service.
“Due to the success of Magnificent Mile InstaGreeter during the holidays, we are thrilled to provide this same service for the first time during the spring break season,” said Dorothy Coyle, Executive Director, Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture. “We want to showcase all the cultural assets in the Streeterville and Gold Coast neighborhoods by offering visitors an insider’s view of the area with a friendly, enthusiastic local.”
Chicago Greeter (Year-Round, Registration Required)
The year-round Chicago Greeter service provides visitors with the opportunity to see Chicago with local residents on 2- to 4-hour visits of the city. Groups of up to six people can pre-register and choose a neighborhood or interest area to explore such as architecture, history or ethnic Chicago. A founding member of the Global Greeter network, Chicago Greeter offers free visits in 10 languages in 26 neighborhoods and 40 interest areas. For details, visit www.chicagogreeter.com.
InstaGreeter (Year-Round & Seasonal, No Appointment Needed)
InstaGreeter offers free, one-hour walks around the Loop with Chicago volunteers throughout the year and in neighborhoods such as Hyde Park, Old Town, and Pilsen and in Millennium Park, May through October. In addition to March 16 through April 21, Magnificent Mile InstaGreeter is offered during the holiday season in November and December. All InstaGreeter walks are first-come, first-served and limited to groups of six or fewer. For more information, visit www,chicagogreeter.com.
Visitor Information Resources
Visitors and residents entertaining out-of-town guests will find helpful trip-planning tools and tips on Chicago’s top-ranked travel and tourism website, www.ExploreChicago.org. For daily alerts about things to do and see in Chicago, follow Explore Chicago on Twitter at twitter.com/explorechicago (COTC’s free Twitter Concierge service @explorechicago) and on Facebook at facebook.com/explorechicago. Discover fun itineraries on the Explore Chicago blog at explorechicagotourism.com and on Foursquare at foursquare.com/explorechicago.
Expert advice and information about the city’s events and attractions are also available at the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture’s Visitor Information Centers located across from Millennium Park in the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph Street, and at the historic Water Works pumping station, 163 E. Pearson Street at Michigan Avenue.
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