Chicago Offers Free Walks through Obama's Neighborhood

Published on: May 4, 2009

Chicago offers numerous tours of its neighborhoods, and one of the newest is through Hyde Park, where President Obama and his family formerly lived. New is the free Hyde Park Instagreeter Outpost. Visitors can drop by the Hyde ParkArtsCenter on Saturdays from June 6 to Sept. 26 for a free one-hour walking tour with a volunteer from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Most recently known as Obama’s neighborhood, Hyde Park is also home to the University of Chicago and one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most popular prairie-style designs, Robie House. Visits are on a first-come, first-served basis, and no reservations are needed.

This summer, the Chicago Office of Tourism is showcasing its neighborhoods them during its summer tourism campaign, “Explore Chicago: Take a Neighborhood Vacation” from June 1 to Sept. 30. From Bronzeville to Beverly and Uptown to Pullman, neighborhood activities include free outdoor festivals, farmers markets, art fairs, gallery walks and neighborhood tours. Visitors and residents can explore Chicago though new family day camps, Chicago Greeter visits, and neighborhood scavenger hunts. For more information, call 877-CHICAGO or visit www.explorechicago.org.