Cheap Escapes: Neighborhood Tours

One of the things we love about our hometown of Chicago is its neighborhoods—there are so many that you feel you've never seen the whole city, no matter how many streets you've visited. The same is true of lots of American metropolises, where escaping your routine can be as simple as taking the bus to a new part of town. Click below for a few tips on being a tourist in your own city...

Take a guided tour. Chicago, like many cities, offers neighborhood walking and bus tours through the Department of Cultural Affairs. You can visit historic neighborhoods like Bronzeville, explore the architecture of Hyde Park & Kenwood, or visit Indian and Pakistani groceries and sari shops along Devon.

Use a guidebook to make your own itinerary. Pick up a travel guide to your city, and read up on a neighborhood you've never visited. With your book in hand, map out a sight-seeing path.

Walk, shop, and eat. Walking is by far our favorite way to experience a city. Take the train or bus to your destination, bring some spending cash, and visit the local shops and cafes. Apartment Therapy includes neighborhood shopping guides for each of our city sites, with "don't miss" stores sorted by location.

(Photo: Chinatown, Chicago by bluespf42 licensed via Creative Commons)