Illinois
Go Solo: Art and Architecture in Chicago
Program No. 24935RJ
Embark on an adventure with other solo travelers, learning about Chicago’s historic architecture and diverse neighborhoods with local experts.
Enroll with Confidence
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more
Protecting the Environment
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date.
Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
11 meals (
5B, 3L, 3D
)
2 expert-led lectures
9 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
Chicago, IL
Meals:
D
Stay:
Hyatt Place Chicago River North
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously). Please note, participants must be physically capable of participating in all planned program activities.
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 3:00-5:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to meet with program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived.
Dinner:
At a neighborhood restaurant within walking distance of the hotel.
Evening:
Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will learn from a series of local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach unless noted otherwise. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. The remainder of the evening is at leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
2
Chicago History Lecture, Art Institute
Location:
Chicago, IL
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Hyatt Place Chicago River North
Activity Note
Walking up to 3 miles over sidewalks. Getting on/off a motorcoach several times. Standing up to 1 hour in the Art Institute.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
At the hotel, we will begin our explorations with an expert-led lecture on the history of the Chicago area from the early indigenous people through the Great Migration, noting current trends and dynamics in this fascinating city. After a motorcoach ride, we will go on an expert-led exploration of the world-famous Art Institute of Chicago, where we will hone our knowledge of and appreciation for art. Highlights of the permanent collection – comprising more than 300,000 works in different media – include “American Gothic,” the famed Chagall Windows, and the Thorne Miniature Rooms. Led by an art educator, we will have an introduction to key galleries, followed by self-led exploration to explore the museum in greater depth.
Lunch:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Afternoon:
After lunch we will continue to independently explore the extensive collections at the Art Institute of Chicago. Late afternoon, our local expert will take us to Planetarium Point via motorcoach to enjoy the magnificent skyline view of Chicago from across Lake Michigan. We then make our way back to the hotel on the motorcoach.
Dinner:
At a neighborhood restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
3
City Drive
Location:
Chicago, IL
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Hyatt Place Chicago River North
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving up to 20 miles, approximately 6 hours total riding time with stops along the way.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Mark Twain wrote in 1883, “It is hopeless for the occasional visitor to try to keep up with Chicago. She outgrows his prophecies faster than he can make them.” Led by a local expert, we will have a motorcoach exploration of the city, learning Chicago history, the immigrants and neighborhoods who gave it a rich culture and texture, and the movers and shakers whose influence made it a world-class city. We’ll explore some heritage neighborhoods on our way south to the famed University of Chicago. As time and traffic allow, we will stop at various locations along the way.
Lunch:
At a favorite local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will continue our motorcoach exploration of Chicago, proceeding north along Michigan Avenue to Lake Shore Drive and up to Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs. We’ll continue our focus on the art and architecture in neighborhoods, and highlights of the city. Arriving back at the hotel mid-afternoon, we’ll adjourn for the day.
Dinner:
On your own
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
4
Mural Walk, National Museum of Mexican Art
Location:
Chicago, IL
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Hyatt Place Chicago River North
Activity Note
Walking up to 3 miles over sidewalks. Getting on/off a motorcoach several times. Standing up to 1 hour in the museum.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll begin our day joined by a local expert on our motorcoach to provide some context as we head to the Fulton Market neighborhood to visit the some of the extraordinary street art in Chicago. Along the way, we’ll learn unique elements of Chicago’s art scene. This is an upbeat exploration that shares how artists have improved neighborhoods one mural at a time.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant within walking distance to the murals.
Afternoon:
We will travel by motorcoach to the unique and historic Pilsen neighborhood also full of colorful and dynamic murals and a local art scene. We’ll get to experience the National Museum of Mexican Art, the first accredited Latino museum, housing the country’s largest Mexican art collections from ancient times to present. If available, we’ll be led by museum docents.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
5
Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio, Oak Park, River Cruise
Location:
Chicago, IL
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Hyatt Place Chicago River North
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach and river boat; driving up to 15 miles, approximately 1/2 hour (traffic dependent) to historic Oak Park. Walking up to 4 miles on sidewalks exploring this neighborhood and throughout the day. The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and studio is not accessible to wheelchairs of any size as all entries to the Home have stairs. The Studio balcony is only accessible by a steep, narrow stairway.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will board a motorcoach for historic Oak Park, home to iconic architect Frank Lloyd Wright from 1889 until 1909. It is in Oak Park that Wright created his Prairie-style of architecture. We will have the opportunity to explore his Oak Park home and studio with local experts. After the expert-led field trip, we’ll enjoy exploring historic Oak Park and River Forest, where we see more of Wright’s work along with his contemporaries in the field. Oak Park is a charming suburb of Chicago, renowned for its rich historic architectural styles, including the largest concentration of Frank Lloyd Wright homes and buildings.
Lunch:
At a popular restaurant in Oak Park.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will ride the motorcoach to the dock to embark on our architectural study river cruise, which will present more of Chicago’s extraordinary architecture and related social history. None other than Frank Lloyd Wright said, “[modern architecture] all started here....” By necessity due to geographical limitations, Chicago’s business leaders had to look upwards to expand after the devastating Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Within less than a decade, new building techniques pushed the city’s skyline ever higher. Some of the world’s greatest architects, supported by visionary business leaders, built not just higher, but sleeker and more sophisticated. It was not only skyscrapers that forged a unique identity. Debris from the great fire created the base of Grant Park. The Merchandise Mart—once the epicenter of high design and luxury goods, owned for half a century by the Kennedy family—is the world’s largest commercial building. Chicago also has more movable bridges than any city in the world including an engineering wonder, the Michigan Avenue Bridge, one of the city’s foremost thoroughfares. We will learn about all this and much more during our cruise with expert commentary. Our motorcoach returns to the hotel before dinner.
Dinner:
At a neighborhood restaurant. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
6
Program Concludes
Location:
Chicago, IL
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on another rewarding program in the future. Don’t forget to like our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
Please select a day to update the map
Map details are not available for this location.
