Tours With Mike

05/18/2026

While on break in the middle of a Route 66 Neighborhoods by Trolley tour, I did a live-streamed interview on our local FOX affiliate! It was fun showing off the trolley taking us around on all these special tours and some highlights in the Tri-Taylor neighborhood. To watch the interview, click the link in the comments and scroll through the Route 66 media mentions.

Public Route 66 Neighborhoods by Trolley tours begin on Friday, May 22! I hope to see you on this one-of-a-kind experience as we celebrate the Mother Road’s 100th birthday!

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Fox 32 Chicago

05/13/2026

Thank you Axios for joining me on my Route 66 Neighborhoods by Trolley tour and for today’s great article!

Public tours begin next week on May 22! Learn more about this one-of-a-kind tour, reserve your spot, and read the Axios article by clicking the link in the comments.

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The Chicago Loop

05/06/2026

Yesterday I was invited into World of Whirlpool’s flagship showroom inside the historic Reid-Murdoch Building. I expected incredible views, and this exceeded my already lofty expectations! Wow!

05/05/2026

Yesterday I debuted “The Devil in the White City” bus tour for this wonderful group. This three-hour experience is available anytime for your group as a private tour. If you’re interested, you can head to my private tour webpage and fill out the form there to contact me: https://tourswithmike.com/privatetours.

04/19/2026

Yesterday, the AMAZING Stephanie Emrich from ServiceSpeaks / Certified Guest Service Professional - CGSP Certification interviewed me and asked for my takes on Chicago’s tour industry! The conversation was recorded for Roosevelt University students, but I also just posted it online for anyone interested. If you watch it, please share your thoughts!

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The Chicago Loop

2 likes. "Stephanie Emrich interviews Mike McMains"

04/11/2026

If I am writing a Tours With Mike email to you from my home office, it is safe to assume at least one cat was on my lap when it happened. 😹

03/16/2026

Even with the fog, Chicago’s skyline is still incredible, right?

02/27/2026

My buddy Jey is the opening scientific expert in this new article in The Guardian! It is an important read on how s*x and gender are complicated and how the Trump administration is demonizing the trans community through policies that are not rooted in science. Check it out…

Scientists say crackdown on gender-affirming care could have impact on healthcare of all Americans

02/26/2026

Today iFLY - Lincoln Park graciously hosted the Chicago Tour Guide Professionals Association, and after our instructor, Luis, helped us with our basic indoor skydiving moves, he showed us how it’s really done! 🙀

If you’d like to check out iFLY - Lincoln Park for yourself (it’s so fun!), click the link in the bio to get a discount starting at $45 off of indoor skydiving packages. 🪂
lincolnpark

02/19/2026

Right before leading a private Downtown Black History virtual tour today, I got this view of the State/Lake elevated train station disassembly!

Dating back to 1895, it was the oldest surviving station along the iconic Elevated Loop, but now it is getting modernized with wider platforms, wheelchair-accessibility, a glass canopy, and more.

I’m excited to see the new State/Lake Station, but it is not scheduled to open until… 2029! 😩