But it wasn’t totally smooth sailing since considering my spectacular Segway wipeout. But what’s a little road rash when you’re cruising through history?

The Tour

First things first, the tour’s starting point isn’t exactly Instagram-worthy. The office where we kicked things off was, frankly, a mess. Trash was piling up, Segway parts were scattered like a chop shop, and the bathroom in the back had probably seen better days—or not. It wasn’t the kind of place that fills you with confidence about the state of the equipment. But we pushed through, signed the waivers, and got rolling.

Once we were out and about, it was clear the guide knew what he was doing, and despite the initial impressions, the experience quickly improved. Learning to ride a Segway took a bit of adjusting—you have to lean forward to go faster, which feels wrong when your brain is screaming, “No, lean back!”—but we got the hang of it, mostly. Well, until I didn’t.

We saw too many things to really highlight in a review, but these were our top experiences.

Our first stop was Grant Park’s Agora Statues, a collection of 106 iron giants without heads or arms. These faceless figures are kind of eerie, frozen mid-stride like they’re in some post-apocalyptic parade. Polish artist Magdalena Abakanowicz, who grew up during World War II, said that her art draws on her fear of crowds, which she once described as "brainless organisms acting on command, worshiping on command and hating on command” which definitely makes you think a bit deeper as you zip around them on a Segway. It reminded me of the Holocaust memories all over Berlin and it’s really haunting to be flanked by these tall headless statues when you walk, or ride, through it.

From the statues, we cruised over to Museum Campus, home to the Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium and some impressive views of the city’s skyline.

This is one of those areas where you really get a sense of how Chicago seamlessly blends culture and nature. The views of Lake Michigan, the green space, and the city’s impressive skyline are all just... right there.

The guide shared a fun tidbit about the Shedd Aquarium that never occurred to someone like me who grew up and still lives near the ocean.

When Shedd Aquarium opened in 1930, they had to ship saltwater all the way from Florida to keep the marine life alive.

It turns out that creating saltwater is more complicated than just adding a pinch of salt to a bucket. Thankfully, they’ve long since figured out how to mix their own, but it’s a fascinating piece of history that adds depth to what could otherwise feel like “just another aquarium.”

While we didn’t have time to dive deep into all the museums (no pun intended), just getting a sense of how big Museum Campus is was valuable. And honestly, seeing it all from a Segway made it feel way more manageable than it would have on foot.

Next up was Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears and a stadium with nearly a century of history.

Opened in 1924 as a memorial to American soldiers, it’s one of the oldest NFL stadiums still in use today.

That is, of course, if you can get past the 2003 renovation that left it looking like a spaceship landed on the original structure—an architectural decision that still divides opinions among locals.

From here, the skyline was a constant companion, and at each stop, we were reminded of why Chicago’s architecture is world-famous. Soldier Field may have its quirks, but with the skyscrapers in the background and Lake Michigan on the horizon, it’s a great photo spot.

And then came Northerly Island, the absolute highlight of the tour. I never even knew it existed since there are so many parks in Chicago, but as soon as we rolled onto its quiet paths, it became the clear favorite. Originally home to Meigs Field Airport, this 91-acre peninsula has been transformed into a nature park, and it feels like you’ve stumbled into a hidden oasis steps from the hustle of the city. It’s the kind of place you could easily miss if you didn’t know it was there, but once you find it, you’re hooked.

The transformation of Northerly Island from an airport to a nature preserve is one of Chicago’s more dramatic pieces of local history.

In 1994, Mayor Richard M. Daley announced plans to close Meigs Field and transform Northerly Island into a park. After the airport’s lease expired in 1996, the city briefly shut it down but reopened under pressure from state lawmakers. Then, in a bold move on the night of March 30, 2003, Daley ordered crews to bulldoze X-shaped gashes into the runway, making it unusable. He defended the decision as a safety measure post-9/11.

The result, however, is this peaceful retreat, complete with wildflower meadows, open spaces, and stunning views of Lake Michigan. It’s also a favorite spot for migratory birds, which makes it feel even more removed from the steel and glass of the skyline just beyond.

Riding through Northerly Island was where the Segway really came into its own. The long, winding paths were perfect for picking up speed, and gliding through the natural landscape at a faster pace was pure fun—though not without its risks.

Finally, as we left Northerly Island to circle back to end the tour, we passed 12th Street Beach, a tiny, tucked-away spot along the lakefront that offers a peaceful break from the city. We didn’t have time to linger, but if you’re looking for a less-crowded spot to relax with a view of the skyline, it’s worth keeping in mind.

But the tour wasn’t without its fair share of hiccups. It’s easy to feel a false sense of Segway mastery during the tour, but it turns out you can still wipe out rather easily if you’re not paying attention or need to stop suddenly. Another rider accidentally cut me off, and when I tried to stop but couldn’t remember to lean back in that split second our wheels touched, I found myself flying forward over the handlebars. I won’t lie—it wasn’t my finest moment. I scraped up my knee and arm but didn’t want to end the tour for everyone else.

Did you know the inventor of the Segway, Jimi Heselden, tragically died in 2010 when he accidentally drove a Segway off a cliff near his home in England?

For the rest of the tour, I just ignored the blood going down my leg until the end, when we returned to the office. I tried to patch things up before we left. Unfortunately, they didn’t have a stocked first aid kit, which didn’t add to the lack of confidence I first felt when we entered the office. Luckily everyone is given helmets, and I can’t stress enough to listen to your guide, keep a safe distance from other riders, and practice stopping and turning before you get too confident. It’s easy to forget that Segways don’t stop as quickly as your instincts might think.

Final Thoughts: A 4-Out-of-5 Adventure

All in all, the Segway tour was a great way to explore a massive chunk of Chicago’s South Side in just a couple of hours. The sights, especially Northerly Island, were worth the price of admission. The guide was knowledgeable, the Segways were fun once you got used to them, and we saw more than we expected.

That said, I can’t ignore the rough start at the office and the lack of bandages in the first aid kit. I had to improvise to clean up my knee, and it was a good reminder that accidents can happen quickly—so the office could definitely be cleaned up and more welcoming.

For that reason, I’m giving the experience a solid 4 out of 5. The tour itself and the guide were excellent, but the unpolished start and lack of basic amenities dragged it down. Would I recommend it? Absolutely. But with the caveat that you go in, knowing the office will be the least impressive part of the day. Once you’re rolling, though, you’re in for a real treat—keep your distance, and for the love of Segway, wear the helmet.

One of the highlights of our trip to Chicago was getting the chance to visit the Field Museum. If you’re a fan of natural history and ancient civilizations or—like me—a bit of a dinosaur nerd, this place is an absolute must-see. It’s also one of the city’s most famous landmarks, sitting right on the shores of Lake Michigan as part of Chicago’s massive Museum Campus. This area also includes the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium, making it a paradise for anyone who loves to soak up knowledge.

The Field Museum has been a part of Chicago’s history since 1893 when it was originally established as part of the World’s Columbian Exposition.

Over the years, it has grown into one of the world's largest and most respected natural history museums. It houses over 40 million artifacts and specimens, covering everything from the dawn of life on Earth to the mysteries of ancient Egypt. But the crown jewel, and honestly one of the reasons I couldn’t wait to visit, is Sue the T. Rex—the most complete and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever discovered. 

But what really took our experience to the next level was the opportunity to do an early access tour of the museum, which we were able to reserve on Trip Advisor for $73 a person (no affiliation). This unique experience lets you enter the museum an hour before the general public, giving you a rare chance to explore in near solitude. Plus, you get a private tour guide to walk you through the exhibits, which makes the whole experience even more engaging and personalized.

Early Access: Exploring the Field Museum Before the Crowds

Since the early access tour starts at 8 AM sharp, they recommend arriving about 15 minutes beforehand. That gave us just enough time to grab breakfast at a nearby spot, Little Branch Cafe, which opens at 7 AM. The food was decent, but the service was slower than I would have liked, considering we were the only people there. If you’re like me and get a bit antsy about being late for anything, I suggest planning breakfast ahead so you don’t feel rushed. We were instructed to arrive at the East Entrance, where our friendly guide greeted us. If you’ve never been to the Museum Campus, the area can feel a bit sprawling, so I recommend giving yourself some extra time to find your way around. 

Once inside, the museum is dead quiet at this time, with the lights mostly off or set low and only a few staff members quietly preparing for opening at 9 am. Our guide asked us what we were most interested in, and as someone obsessed with dinosaurs, I immediately mentioned Sue and wanted to see the other dinosaur skeletons, too. The flexibility of this private tour was fantastic. Our guide tailored everything to our interests and even adjusted the pacing based on how much time we wanted to spend at each exhibit. It wasn’t the rigid, scripted kind of tour where you’re shuffled from one exhibit to the next. Instead, it felt like an open-ended exploration, with our guide there to share deeper insights and answer any questions.

We started our tour with the Evolving Planet exhibit, which takes you on a 4.5 billion-year journey through the history of life on Earth. From the formation of the planet to the rise of humans, this exhibit is absolutely massive, and you could easily spend hours getting lost in it. Our guide kicked things off by walking us through the different time periods, highlighting major moments in evolutionary history.

As we continued through Evolving Planet, we moved from the early microbial life of the Precambrian Era to the explosion of complex life during the Cambrian Period. The Cambrian Explosion, which occurred about 541 million years ago, is one of the most fascinating periods of Earth’s history. It was a time when life on Earth rapidly diversified, leading to the emergence of almost every major group of animals that still exists today. The exhibit features incredible fossils from this time, including trilobites, some of the first animals to develop hard exoskeletons. Seeing these fossils up close made it all feel real like you were peering into a window back in time.

One of the most interesting things we learned during this part of the tour was that each state in the U.S. has its own official fossil. This was something I had never heard of before! Our guide mentioned that Illinois' state fossil is the Tully Monster, a strange, soft-bodied creature that lived about 300 million years ago. This little tidbit made me appreciate how connected the state is to prehistoric life, and the fact that each state has its own fossil just adds a fun layer of history that I wasn’t expecting. The Tully Monster itself is a bizarre-looking creature with a long, tube-like body and a jaw at the end of a proboscis, making it one of the most unusual fossils on display.

Of course, I had to look up New York’s fossil hoping for something more impressive and wasn’t disappointed. The official state fossil of New York is the Eurypterus remipes, which lived around 400 million years ago during the Silurian period.

Eurypterids are often referred to as "sea scorpions" and are related to modern arachnids like scorpions and spiders. Fossils of Eurypterus remipes were first discovered in New York, and it was designated the state fossil in 1984. These creatures were typically about a foot long but could grow much larger, and they lived in shallow, brackish waters.

also learned that many of the fossils on display were discovered by the museum’s own scientists, who are still out in the field doing research today. The Field Museum isn’t just a place to display history—it’s actively involved in unearthing it.

As a dinosaur fan, I loved seeing fossils from other prehistoric creatures, including massive sauropods, raptors, and some ice-age creatures like the giant sloth and saber-tooth cat. The exhibit is incredibly well-curated, with fossils, dioramas, and interactive displays that make you feel like you’re walking through time. One of the coolest parts was seeing the fossil of an early human species. There’s something humbling about standing next to the remains of our ancient ancestors, knowing that they once walked the same Earth we do today.

Our guide did a great job explaining the significance of each section, and because the museum was still empty, we had plenty of time to ask questions and take some incredible pictures. It was refreshing not to feel rushed, and we were able to appreciate exhibits we might have skipped over if we had been visiting during regular hours.

One of the highlights of the tour was getting to see the Chicago Archaeopteryx—a rare feathered dinosaur that’s a crucial link in the evolution from dinosaurs to birds. As a dinosaur fan, I could have easily spent the entire day just wandering through this section. It’s just one of the many reasons the Field Museum stands out. Their fossil collection is world-class, and exploring it with a private guide made it even better.

Our tour ended at Sue’s exhibit. As I mentioned earlier, Sue the T. Rex was one of the main reasons I wanted to visit the Field Museum in the first place. She is the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever discovered, and she’s become something of a celebrity in the paleontology world. Standing in front of her, you really get a sense of how massive and powerful these creatures were.

Our guide shared some great details about Sue’s discovery, from how she was unearthed in South Dakota in 1990 to the complicated legal battle over who owned her bones. It was fascinating to hear how Sue eventually made her way to the Field Museum, and how scientists continue to learn from her to this day.

Sue isn’t just a static display—she’s an ongoing source of research, and the museum even has a DNA Discovery Center where visitors can see real scientists working on dinosaur fossils and other projects.

This moment was even more special because we had the room completely to ourselves. Normally, Sue’s exhibit is packed with people, all jostling to get the perfect photo. But with the early access tour, it was just us, Sue, and our guide who was nice enough to take a few pictures of us next to the massive skeleton. It’s hard to describe how awe-inspiring it is to be face-to-face with a creature that lived 67 million years ago, and the private setting made it even more memorable.

Exploring on Our Own: More Exhibits and Hidden Gems

After our guided tour wrapped up around 9 AM, we were free to explore the museum on our own for the rest of the day. What’s great about the early access tour is that it includes tickets to all the paid exhibits, so we had access to everything. Before leaving, our guide gave us some great suggestions on what to see next, and we hit a few more highlights before the crowds rolled in.

One of the first stops we made was the Inside Ancient Egypt exhibit. I’ve always been fascinated by ancient Egypt, and while this exhibit wasn’t as large as the on we have at the MET in New York City, it was still really cool. They have mummies, ancient artifacts, and even a reconstructed tomb that you can walk through. It’s a bit of a smaller exhibit, but definitely worth a visit if you’re into ancient history. I really loved the dioramas that showed off the mummification process, and their level of detail was very impressive.

We also wandered through the Hall of Gems, which was absolutely stunning. The collection features some of the most beautiful gemstones and minerals I’ve ever seen, each one sparkling under perfect lighting. Even if you’re not particularly into geology, this exhibit is worth checking out just for the sheer beauty of it.

But one of the most unexpected highlights was the Underground Adventure exhibit. This one is a bit different from the traditional natural history exhibits, and it’s a lot of fun. You start in a room that leads down a long hallway with slanted floors that makes you feel like you are being shrunk down to the size of a bug. As you walk through the interactive exhibit, you can’t help but feel like you’re in the movie “Honey I Shrunk The Kids.” The level of detail of all the exhibits really helped sell the illusion, and it was a fun, unexpected twist in our museum visit.

By the time we finished exploring, it was about 11:30 AM, and the museum was starting to fill up with people. On the way out, we stopped by the gift shop (which opens at 10 AM) to pick up some Sue-themed souvenirs—I couldn’t resist grabbing a Sue hat, a “T-Rex hate push-ups” shirt, and a pair of dino socks. It was a great way to wrap up our morning at the museum!

What You Should Know to Get the Most Out of Your Field Museum Experience

After experiencing the Field Museum’s Early Access Tour, there are a few key tips to make the most of your visit.

Early Access is a Must: If you can, book the Early Access Tour. Starting an hour before the museum opens to the public means you’ll have the museum almost to yourself. Weekdays are especially great for this, as the museum has fewer early-morning visitors, so we were only on the tour.

Tailor the Tour to Your Interests: The best part about the Early Access Tour is that it’s customizable. Let your guide know which exhibits you’re most excited to see, so you can focus on your favorite areas. We spent extra time in the dinosaur and Evolving Planet sections, but the guide was flexible, allowing us to skip parts we weren’t as interested in.

Plenty of Time to Explore: Once the guided portion ends at 9 AM, you’re free to roam the museum with your all-access ticket. We took full advantage of this, exploring some of the paid exhibits we usually wouldn’t go to. Having those quiet morning hours allows you to see more and beat the crowds.

Overall, I’d give this experience a 5 out of 5—it’s a must-do for anyone who loves museums and wants to make the most out of their visit!