Small Group Tour Of Chicago Neighborhoods: North And South Side

Steve was very knowledgeable and engaging. He was flexible to visit other neighborhoods not planned for the tour.

It was the perfect small tour for our group. Our guide, Steve, was very entertaining and definitely knew a lot about the different neighborhoods. We've been to Chicago many times but had very little knowledge about the different and distinct areas.

Steve our tour guide was very funny and informative. The tour showed us so much of Chicago in a good time in a comfy vehicle. I highly recommend.

I’ve taken this tour before by myself. I so thoroughly enjoyed it that I took it again with a friend. Steve is very knowledgeable with facts about Chicago but most of all he loves his city. He provides insights that larger tours are unable to do. I highly recommend his tours.

Very informative and interesting to be able to see most of the neighborhoods in Chicago and learn the history

An authentic tour experience from a guide who loves Chicago. You will learn a lot and be entertained.

Raw. Authentic. A character. Non-touristy. Famous stars homes and non-tourist neighborhoods, but I had to ask to cut the tour short. Erratic driving. Hazard lights on for half the tour. Scared me. Got car sick with all the quick and sharp and erratic turns. Had my eyes closed at least 10% of time as scarey drivers. Hit a curb at least once and cut across lanes in very scary ways more times than I could keep track. He was hard of hearing and had to really speak up question and it was just a 4 seater sedan car. Could6nt hear his hazard lights were on for 50% of the tour until we told him. Needs a hearing aid as 70 years young. In addition, other reviews warned of Steve, owner and only guide, not being aware of Viatar bookings. We got nothing but a Viatar confirmation once paid. No further communication unlike other tours booked. I got worried and started 8 hours before the tour to leave texts, voice messages and an email. I finally got a call back 1 hour before the tour from a very grumpy Steve on how was he supposed to respond while he was sleeping. The message Steve should of heard is why not change your business model to send a quick IM (instant message or text) in the Viatar app to those who booked to establish a persinal connection? This is a 4 hour tour in the car with one strange guy - so one might need the comfort, safety and security of knowing he will really be there and that the tour is really on.

Steve will take you on a comprehensive tour of the area around downtown Chicago and surrounding neighborhoods-we covered about 100 blocks over 5+ hours. I did not find any other tours of the area and would never have found all these sights on my own - it may seem a bit expensive but is truly worth it as you will see so much with a local character providing history and perspective. Steve is a real character and very amusing- and definitely knows his city. We did have some hiccups- he was not aware we had reservations for the tour but as soon as I called him he came to pick us up. So I recommended that you call him to confirm at the number listed on the reservation! (And I agree with prior comments about the driving -a little erratic at time's but on observing other drivers it may just be Chicago drivers ). I definitely recommend this tour if you want a good overview of Chicago!

Extremely fascinating locals tour that gives you a look and insight into Chicago that you would never get on most tourist trap bus/boat tours. We were able to drive by and experience several neighborhoods that you could never find on your own.

You will learn a lot about the history of Chicago and it's neighborhoods. Steve is a great guide who knows how to give a comprehensive introduction to the diversity of this great city.

I don't write reviews.. at all. But because of the terrible experience I had it's only right for me to leave a review to warn others. Honestly I don't even know where to begin, for starters Steve was a horrible tour guide. The tour was scheduled to start at 8:30am, that was with hotel pick up included. My friends and I didn't get picked up until 11:30am and it was a good thing that we went ahead and ate breakfast even though we were guaranteed to be taken somewhere to eat breakfast for the allegedly 8:30am start time. And even though for our party of 3 we were guaranteed a private tour, when we got picked up at our hotel there were two other people on the van, which thank goodness they were very pleasant. Steve tried to tell our party of 3 where to sit on the van instead of letting us choose where we would like to sit causing uncomfortable seating issues, so our party of 3 and the two other people on the van worked out our own seating arrangement. This seemed to have disturbed Steve to where he wanted to swap out vans. Even when everyone on the van said that we are all fine and comfortable with the seating arrangement we worked out and also the current van has better accommodations (charging ports, climate controlled, etc). This still fell on deaf ears because after about 1hr into the tour we got into a different van that was below expectations. Steve went on to show us places that we honestly didn't have no interest in seeing and these places wasn't mentioned being part of the tour. Steve had an issue when we asked questions, the tour wasn't engaging, Steve did a lot of talking and made the experience extremely boring. Also I believe Steve is hard of hearing as well which caused a communication barrier. The tour is supposed to be 4hrs and we were guaranteed to be taken somewhere for breakfast and lunch. So mind you we got picked up at 11:30am for the tour instead of 8:30am. Around 2:00pm everyone on the van was hungry as heck and Steve didn't want to stop for us to get something to eat. He went on saying that we have to have structure and there is a certain order that the tour has to be done, which was very contradictory when we was initially told that our requests will be accommodated. Steve proceeded to show us other places that we didn't care to see because we was extremely hungry. We asked several times if he can at least stop somewhere for us to get snacks but he ignored us. The last place we stopped at before we ate, myself and another person out of our group didn't want to get off the van to view whatever it was Steve wanted us to see which wasn't mentioned as one of the places that we would see when we booked the tour. So as Steve was helping the other people of the van and when myself and my friend said that we will stay on the van, Steve slammed the van door in our face while saying okay bye. We finally was taken to a soul food restaurant to eat, this was 1hr later and keep in mind the tour is 4hrs long. We was in the restaurant for about 1hr 20min. After we got done eating two of us (myself included) decided to just uber back to the hotel and not finish the tour because we just couldn't take it anymore, it was extremely boring and Steve was rude. The 1 person out of our group that did stay informed us that after we left the tour, Steve did not take them to Jennifer Hudson's child hood home, Kanye West child hood home nor Obama's house and that was because of time which that's all on Steve. So yeah, this experience was terrible and we basically wasted a great majority of our day for nothing.

This tour was exceptional and I highly recommend people to tour with Steve Johnson. The knowledge, the service and the friendliness were top notch. Thank you Steve for taking good care of us.

Steve was prompt picking us up @ our hotel. He then covered history of the areas we visited in a relaxed, informative manner. We were encouraged to notify him when and if we wanted to stop and take pictures. Also, we were so impressed with this gentleman that we agreed to have him drive us to the airport several days later.

Steve is the perfect tour guide. He is extremely knowledgeable, plus he’s respectful and polite. I could relax and soak in Chicago in comfort knowing I was in great hands. Plus. I love his long sunroof allowing an enhanced view of everything.

Steve took us through neighborhoods from downtown through the extensive South side and up into the North side, always with great running commentary on the history, people, and places in each neighborhood. Thus was exactly what we hoped for. It was even better than expected -because Steve lives and works in Chicago he was able to share personal experiences that made the tour even better. We had a wonderful time!

Overall, the small group tour of the north and south of Chicago with Steven was quite enjoyable. Despite a few hiccups, it provided a good overview of the city. Steven's knowledge was evident, and he shared interesting tidbits about the areas we visited. However, there were some issues, such as Steven being an hour late to pick us up due to confusion about our booking. Additionally, his driving was a bit erratic, which was concerning at times. I wish we could have made more stops along the way to explore different locations, but the tour still lasted over four hours, giving us a comprehensive glimpse of the city. It's a great option for those looking to get a taste of Chicago and plan future visits at a more leisurely pace.

We had been in Chicago for a couple of months and had done all the usual sights. We had a few days remaining and felt there was a big area south we hadn't explored at all. Enter Steve ..... what he doesn't know about the Southside is just not worth knowing. I had no idea just how many famous people were born or spent time in South Chicago. It was such an informative excursion; he drove us all the way down to the Indiana border with a really interesting commentary, identifying all the different neighbourhoods and how they came about. There were lots of stops to take pictures and a nice break in a local coffee shop. I urge you to take this trip which really gave us a much better understanding of the whole of Chicago. Oh.... and those famous people's homes you can see, past and present.... Muddy Waters, Johnny Mathis, the Marx Brothers, Pops Staples, Kanye West, Muhammad Ali, President Obama! Fantastic. Thank you, Steve. We will always remember the three reasons folk from the South travelled to Chicago... JOBS, JOBS AND JOBS!!

Steve is Awesome. He is very knowledgeable and passionate about Chicago! Steve has a great sense of humor and makes the tour fun. He took us to popular places as well as places we would have never been able to visit if we hadn’t gone on this tour! There are so many neighborhoods in Chicago and Steve knows them all. I highly recommend taking this tour. He will also pick you up from the airport and take you back for less than an Uber.

Steve was great. Told us a lot of history about the neighborhoods. Picked us up on time and explained everything and how it all got started . Would use him again if we could

Friendly and very informative about Chicago neighborhoods, culture and history. Steve Johnson welcomes questions and pictures.

Boooo, they discriminate against solo travelers. If you don’t have two people going they won’t sign you up for the tour. Very bad and unfair policy.

Steve’s tour of Chicago neighborhoods was amazing and comprehensive. I have lived in the Chicago area for 30 years and we visited places that were totally new to me. My friend and I highly recommend this tour for anyone who is interested in Chicago’s culture and the differences and unique aspects of the individual neighborhoods throughout Chicago.

We lhave lived in the midwest all our life but never took the opportunity to explore Chicago. This tour took us into neighborhoods that we would have never seen otherwise.

We travel frequently and a favorite activity is learning about where we aret. Some tours are better than others, but nothing prepared us for how Amazing and wonderful our day was in Chicago with tour guide Steve! His knowledge of the neighborhoods was encyclopedic and his narration of it all was just a pure delight. In a full day we had lunch and dinner and both meals showed off the very best of the city's cuisine. BTW the vehicle we rode in was spotless and obviously well maintained. This is the most enjoyable city tour EVER including Europe too. Chicago now has a special place in our memory.

I just tried to book this tour but was told (both online and over the phone) that it requires that I register 2 people. Hmmmm.....I am a widow and will be traveling by myself. I would love to bring my late husband along but, sadly, he is not available. This is a very poor policy and a bit insensitive.

Steve Johnson knows the neighborhoods of Chicago! My husband and I enjoyed a very personal tour, from the Southside to Lincoln Park including neighborhoods representing long time and emerging nationalities that make Chicago their home. Steve came to Chicago on one of the two bus routes out of the South 6 decades ago, and has a unique perspective. As a contractor he has worked in every area and knows the values, the challenges of redevelopment and the special features offered all over the city.

This was a taxi tour showing different areas of Chicago - essentially showing houses externally in different areas of Chicago. We didn’t find this particularly interesting just looking at some houses in different parts of Chicago ☹️

I was born and raised in Chicago, but it was really fascinating to see how the city has changed since I left. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to get a feel for the real Chicago and not just the tourist areas downtown.

What a great experience. I grew up in Chicago but only knew my neighborhood. This is a great tour for even those who think they know Chicago. We surveyed many many Chicago neighborhoods. Steve is extremely knowledgeable with facts, anecdotes and trivia. I highly recommend this tour.

Steve was a great tour guide. We were able to see all of Chicago and get a feel of the culture. We would definitely recommend this tour to our friends.

Was an amazing day seeing the local neighbour hoods with Steve. He was knowledgeable about all the suburbs by income and median house prices, was so interesting. Great day, long, but do not miss this tour. Lunch and dinner is good too. Thanks again Steve.

Steve made the tour interesting and rememberable. Great way to enjoy Chicago and visit such a beautiful city. Highly recommend.

My Amtrak from Milwaukee to Chicago was canceled only hours before the tour was to begin I had no way to get to the tour. I would be interested in a future tour and wish I would receive some credit for a tour I could not attend through no fault of my own Richard regner

Seeing all the different neighborhoods. In a small intimate way. Tour guide was very knowledgeable. Both my husband and I was very pleased

I loved this tour. I’ve lived in Chicago for 42 years and had no idea that there was so much to see and do in our city. Steve knew it all. He’s an excellent tour guide and a very friendly, entertaining man. I highly recommend this tour and Steve. I’ve already booked his south side of Chicago tour in the fall! Kim

We had never been to Chicago before and thought this would be a good way to see the city. Wow! Steve did a super job of driving and explaining the background and history of each neighborhood in the city. On our own we would never have been able to visit Hyde Park or Inglewood, among other areas. Steve was a great guide and stopped the tour several times to let us sample local foods. His affable personality made the day a pleasure.

Steve gave us a fantastic fun-filled day exploring the neighborhoods of Chicago. We enjoyed good food, good conversation, and great information. It was just my husband and me, and we enjoyed learning so much about Chicago and some great discussions on Race and the beautiful things that Chicago has to offer. I would highly recommend it if you don't have much time to spend in the city. Well worth the whole day we spent.

We had been to Chicago previously, but Steve's tour did not disappoint as it showed us many portions of the city that we would never see had it not been for this tour. The inclusions of the lunch and dinner do not disappoint! If you're headed to Chicago, we would highly recommend.

This tour is ideal for you if 1) you are moving to Chicago and want to get to know all the neighborhoods OR 2) If you have mobility issues and would enjoy an entire day on the road or want a more personal experience than you can get through one of the big bus tours. Our guide, Steve, missed his life calling in not being a realtor! His familiarity with Chicago neighborhoods probably has few rivals. This tour was just as advertised--instead of showing us just a few neighborhoods, Steve showed us dozens in a full day tour all over Chicago. Steve was a good driver and it was a nice day. We saw far more of the city than we would have otherwise and from a different point of view. That was all good. However, since we were tourists to Chicago, not people looking to move to Chicago, his tour didn't quite fit our needs. For us, the tour was a bit on the long side and being in the van all day (with a couple of short breaks for food or to use the restroom) was too long. The tour did what it advertised it would do, but for us it would have been more enjoyable if there were fewer stops or if we had longer breaks to get out and walk the neighborhoods. We did need a guide and would have been exhausted had we walked all day, but we also found that we were exhausted by being in the van all day! On our tour, it just happened to be the two of us, plus Steve, and he was happy to take us one place we particularly asked to go, but overall I was surprised the tour wasn't customized to our interests a little more. We hadn't realized this was a gawking at the real estate of the ultra-wealthy tour, but given the inequality in Chicago, a lot of the tour is looking at homes that are impossibly expensive and grand. (We found the other neighborhoods more interesting). Steve is a little hard of hearing, so communication with him took a little more work, but was okay. Changes I would recommend to this tour: I would recommend that the company skip offering dinner at the end of the tour and instead make the tour a little cheaper/possibly offer to provide transportation to a desired dinner spot. We found it awkward to order dinner several hours in advance when we weren't sure how hungry we would be and then felt uncomfortable eating with Steve watching us or lingering over dinner when we knew he had plans for the evening. Skipping the pre-paid dinner would have been better for him and for us.

I enjoyed my tour with Steve immensely.. He gave us a fun and informative tour of a number of interesting Chicago neighborhoods. Our restaurant stops were equally interesting, as well as tasty. Unlike a number of tours that normally involve a large number of other people, Steve’s tour was intimate,, unique and highly memorable.

A wonderful, informative, friendly tour of the Chicago neighborhoods. Our guide could not have been more delightfully in touch with the facts and feel for each neighborhood in the city. We saw it all! Food too!

A great tour of many Chicago neighborhoods. I enjoyed every moment. Very informative. Steve did a wonderful job of giving the highlights of each area.

Wonderful tour of many different (by racial, ethnicity, immigrant, income) residential neighborhoods. If you want to to see full city of Chicago beyond downtown, this is tour to take. I wish there were more like this in all cities.

Steve was amazing! Extremely knowledgeable, interesting, and fun! I highly, highly recommend Steve with this tour!

We had a great time! Steve was very knowledgeable, easy to talk to and really knew the city. He was also lots of fun. Meals were tasty. We would definitely tour with Steve again!

Our tour guide, Steve, was knowledgeable and friendly. He showed us many neighborhoods and provided background and the evolution of these neighborhoods. He made us feel comfortable and was accommodating. We were like in a classroom, listening to a wonderful teacher and had learned a lot. I strongly recommend the tour for who would like to have a deeper understanding of Chicago.

One of the greatest tours I have ever taken. Very knowledgeable and interesting tour. I would recommend to anybody wanting to see all sides of Chicago.

This tour was well worth the money. The food was great and the variety of architecture of all the neighborhoods was just amazing. We wanted something that was not touristy and this for the bill. We learned so much about the city and the people, just fabulous. Next time in the city we will look for additional tours by this company

It was very informative all our guide was wonderful he went out of his way to make sure we had a great time and a good trip couldn’t ask for a better person saw every part of Chicago you could’ve wanted to see had a wonderful time