Chicago, 4 days
A Chicago blues and jazz tour in four nights. Chicago turned the Delta blues electric and recorded it at Chess, and still has a club open somewhere every night of the year. We add the city's jazz, from a 1907 lounge in Uptown to the free concerts in Millennium Park.
From $1,990per person in a double room
Four nights of Chicago music: the Chess studio by day, Buddy Guy's club, the North Side blues bars and the Green Mill, where Capone's booth still faces the door.
Categories: Blues Trail, Jazz & New Orleans, Live Music Nights. Destinations: Chicago. Getting around: tour van, amtrak train. Tour leader: Andre Whitlow or a colleague from our team.
The studio of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and Chuck Berry.
Dinner and two sets of blues.
Jazz in Capone's old haunt in Uptown.
Two stages, bands until four in the morning.
A neighborhood blues bar with our guide.
After dark
Blues every night, from Legends to a South Side bar, and jazz at the Green Mill. Chicago clubs run late, and the L runs all night on the Red Line.
Traveling solo
A short city break that suits solo travelers well; we pair roommates on request.
Your tour leader
Andre Whitlow, based in Detroit. A Detroit jazz drummer who has played Baker's Keyboard Lounge and leads our Detroit and Cleveland groups.
3 live shows in the price
Show nights follow the club and theater calendars; your tour leader confirms each evening the day before.
Pickup at O'Hare or Midway. In the evening, the welcome dinner at Buddy Guy's Legends in the South Loop, with the first band.
The morning at 2120 South Michigan Avenue with Blues Heaven, then a drive through Bronzeville past the sites of the old clubs. Afternoon free. At night, a South Side blues bar with our guide, or the Pritzker Pavilion when there is a free summer concert.
A free day, with the Art Institute or the river architecture cruise. In the evening the L to Uptown for dinner and a set of jazz at the Green Mill.
A late breakfast, a last record store, and transfers to the airports from noon. Guests staying on get our list for Kingston Mines and the North Side bars.
Hotels within walking distance of the clubs, or a short ride away, or similar of the same class. Breakfast is included every day.
Chicago
4-star3 nights
Loading the map
Tour vanAmtrak trainRiverboatShort flight Map tiles: © Esri, HERE, Garmin © OpenStreetMap contributors. Lines join the stops in tour order in simplified form.
3 breakfasts and 2 dinners1 studio or museum entry3 live shows in the price
Pace. Easy. Short walks and plenty of sitting: shows, studio tours and the van.
Good to know. A short city break with late nights and the L train. Chess Records visit times change with the foundation calendar. Winters are very cold; summer has free outdoor music.
Weather and changes. Shows and studio visits run in all weather; if a venue cancels, we replace it with one of the same kind and tell you in writing.
Most of our guests fly in on their own, drive, or use miles, and the tour price does not include flights. If you would rather we handle it, we book round-trip economy flights on scheduled airlines to Chicago and back, and the airport pickup on the tour dates is already included.
| Fly from | Airport | Add-on from |
|---|---|---|
| New York | JFK, LaGuardia and Newark | $350 |
| Atlanta | Hartsfield-Jackson | $350 |
| Dallas | DFW and Love Field | $350 |
| Washington DC | Reagan National and Dulles | $390 |
| Boston | Logan | $410 |
| Philadelphia | PHL | $390 |
| Denver | DEN | $410 |
| Los Angeles | LAX | $460 |
| San Francisco | SFO | $460 |
Fares change daily; the add-on is confirmed when you book. Other US airports on request.
8 dates from to . "Guaranteed" means the group has reached its minimum and will run.
| Dates | Status | Tour price | With flights from New York |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deal, save $250 | Few seats left | $1,740 | $2,090 |
| Available | $2,140 | $2,490 | |
| Available | $2,140 | $2,490 | |
| Available | $2,140 | $2,490 | |
| Available | $2,090 | $2,440 | |
| Few seats left | $2,090 | $2,440 | |
| Guaranteed | $2,140 | $2,490 | |
| Available | $2,140 | $2,490 |
Single room supplement $590. Deposit $300 per person; the balance is due 60 days before departure. All dates, booking terms.
Yes, the June departure overlaps the free Chicago Blues Festival in Millennium Park.
On the last evening for guests who stay on; it opens late, so we give everyone the route and the cover price.
Our van for the South Side and the airports, and the L for Uptown with passes we buy.
He plays his club every January. Our January date is timed to the residency when tickets allow.
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See the tourAsk about a date
Email a travel advisor with the date you like and whether you want flights to Chicago. We answer within one business day with seats and the exact price, and hold your places for 72 hours while you decide.
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