About us
This group is for people who want to get out and explore Chicago and beyond, make new friends, and have some fun! If you don't want to wait on friends to finally say “yes” to get out to enjoy all that Chicago has to offer and to see the world. Life is too short!
The local events in this group are member-driven so if you’d like to host a Meetup in your area (i.e. walk, museum, coffee, play pickleball, concerts, etc), feel free to let me know and I'll help you get it set up in the group!
The trips in this group are usually 90% solo travelers but everyone is welcome, female/male, solo/couple/friends, straight/LGBTQIA+! So let’s travel together with fun, like-minded travelers! If you have an open mind and are kind to fellow travelers, you will fit in perfectly on these trips!
NOTE: The people on these trips are from all over the States but you’ll always be connected with people from the same city on a trip so you can meet up face to face and get to know your future travel buddies prior to the trip. You’ll also be connected to the whole group via email prior to the trip so you can virtually get to know those that are from different areas. On average, the people on each trip are 90% solo travelers but it’s hard to predict the exact demographic for each trip so please keep this in mind.
Feel free to join the Facebook group to connect with past travelers on these trips, see pictures, ask questions, funny travel memes, travel-related articles, etc: https://www.facebook.com/groups/613025845523107
The trips in this group are put on by a tour company called Globe Drifters and they focus on small group trips geared towards solo travelers with the mission of giving new meaning to travel by putting the human experience at the heart of their trips. The groups are small, usually with 12 people maximum per trip and about 90% of everyone on each trip are solo travelers so you’re not stuck being the odd man out on trips with mostly couples. You’ll have the best of both worlds, solo travel with the security of a small group of other solo travelers for some company on your adventure! To contact Globe Drifters directly, you can email [info@globe-drifters.com](mailto:info@globe-drifters.com).
Upcoming events
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🏰 Old Irving Park Walking Tour: Hidden Gems, Mansions & Untold Stories 🌿💎
4200 W. Irving Park, 4200 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago, IL, US🏰 Old Irving Park Walking Tour: Hidden Gems, Mansions & Untold Stories 🌿💎
Explore Old Irving Park: A Chicago for Chicagoans Walking Tour
Step into spring with a guided walk through one of Chicago’s most charming and historic neighborhoods—Old Irving Park!
🌳✨ Wander tree-lined streets filled with Victorian-era mansions, hidden architectural gems, and stories that bring this once-sleepy railroad suburb to life. From grand homes to neighborhood landmarks, you’ll discover how this community grew into one of Chicago’s most distinctive pockets of history. 💫
Come walk, learn, and enjoy a beautiful spring morning—it’s the perfect way to explore the city and meet fellow curious Chicagoans! 🌇
🎤 Led by your passionate, ever-curious guide (that’s me!)—ideal for architecture lovers, history buffs, and anyone who enjoys being a tourist in their own city 😊
***
📍 LOGISTICS
📅 Sunday, May 3, 2026
⏰ 11:00 AM – ~1:00 PM
Start: 📍 Whistle Stop Inn
🏁 End: 🍺 Eris Brewery and Cider House
👟 Distance: Approx. 2 miles
⚠️ Tour ends ~2 blocks from the start—easy walk back, but plan parking accordingly!***
✨ About the Tour
Join us for a special public walking tour through one of Chicago’s most captivating historic neighborhoods: Old Irving Park!This event is presented in collaboration with Chicago for Chicagoans, a local nonprofit dedicated to helping residents learn about their own city. Unlike my usual private tours, this one is open to the public—all Meetup members, friends, and newcomers are welcome!
💸 Pay-What-You-Can (donations collected at the end per nonprofit policy)
🎟️ Registration required to attend:
👉 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/old-irving-park-walking-tour-registration-1987353107643🌿 Tour Highlights
🏛️ Beautiful Victorian-era homes & early suburban architecture
⛪ A rich mix of religious and cultural heritage
🌳 A rare “small-town feel” within Chicago
🌍 Stories of immigrant communities and neighborhood growth
💎 Hidden gems you’ve probably passed—but never noticed!
📸 Not a formal photo walk, but plenty of Insta-worthy moments along the way! ✨
👥 Expect a fun mix of meetup groups and new faces!***
🏘️ Route Highlights (stops subject to change)
🚉 Whistle Stop Inn
🏠 Charles Loucks House
🏡 C.O. Loucks House
🏠 The Race House
🏠 Nuveen House
⛪ Mt. Olive Church
⛪ Irving Park Methodist Church
🏫 Carl Schurz High School
🏛️ John Gray Mansion
🏠 John & Clara Merchant House
⛪ St. John’s Episcopal Church
🏠 Emeril Jensen House
🏋️ Irving Park YMCA
🍺 Eris Brewery and Cider House (tour ends here!)***
📜 Why Old Irving Park?
Old Irving Park is often described as a “suburb within the city”—a peaceful, tree-lined enclave just seven miles from downtown that blends historic elegance with everyday livability.The neighborhood began in the early 1870s when real estate developers laid out a planned community centered around a stop on the Chicago & North Western Railway. Designed to attract affluent residents seeking cleaner air and more space, it quickly became one of Chicago’s earliest commuter suburbs. Grand homes lined Irving Park Boulevard, many built by prominent families who helped shape the area’s early identity.
Originally named “Irvington” after author Washington Irving, the name was later changed to avoid confusion with another Illinois town.
The aftermath of the Great Chicago Fire accelerated the neighborhood’s growth, as displaced families moved northwest in search of stability and opportunity. When the area was annexed into Chicago in 1889, new infrastructure—including paved streets, streetcar lines, water service, and fire protection—transformed it from a quiet suburb into a fully integrated urban neighborhood.Today, Old Irving Park stands out for its remarkable preservation. Walking its streets feels like stepping through a timeline of Chicago architecture—from ornate Victorian mansions and Queen Anne homes to Craftsman residences and early 20th-century bungalows. Combined with its strong community spirit and leafy streetscapes, it remains one of the city’s most distinctive and livable historic neighborhoods. 🏡🌳
***
👟 WHAT TO BRING
👟 Comfortable walking shoes
💧 Water bottle
🧥 Weather-appropriate attire***
🍽️ OPTIONAL POST-WALK HANGOUT
Stick around after the tour—some of us may grab a bite or drink at:
🍺 Eris Brewery and Cider House***
🤝 About Chicago for Chicagoans
Founded in 2016 by Patti Swanson, Chicago for Chicagoans is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit using pay-what-you-can tours to connect residents to their city.
🌐 Learn more: https://www.chicagoforchicagoans.org/
💖 Donations help support accessible, community-based learning experiences.***
🚇 GETTING THERE
🚇 CTA Trip Planner: https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/
🚗 Metered parking on Irving Park Rd, Keeler & Pulaski
⚠️ Watch for permit parking on side streets***
📌 RSVP & ATTENDANCE POLICY
✅ Keep your RSVP up to date
⏰ Update before the event start time
🚫 Repeated no-shows may result in removal from the group***
Can’t wait to walk with you through one of Chicago’s hidden historic treasures—come discover Old Irving Park’s charm, history, and community spirit! ✨🏡🌳
12 attendees
Greek Islands Private Yacht Luxury Cruise! - June 2026
Location not specified yetGREEK ISLANDS PRIVATE YACHT LUXURY CRUISE!
• Dates: June 5 - 12, 2026 (8 days / 7 nights)
• Cost: from $6600 per person (excluding flights)
• Single supplement: Some rooms have, some do not
• Trip details: https://globe-drifters.com/trip/greece-cruise-june-2026/If you have any questions, please email info@globe-drifters.com.
Set sail on a private yacht for an exclusive adventure through the Greek islands…
Hidden Greek gems, fewer crowds: Our private yacht takes you to a handpicked selection of Greece’s most enchanting and lesser-known islands which large cruise ships can’t reach, offering a peaceful, crowd-free experience.
Timeless beauty, ancient treasures: Discover Folegandros, an island with roots dating back over 5,000 years, and explore Monemvasia, a medieval “rock town” where time stands still amid its ancient fortress.
Tailored luxury at sea: With just 24 rooms and 21 crew members, your experience is truly personalized. Enjoy daily yoga, meditation, and pilates sessions and unwind with spa treatments from a Balinese therapist. Plus, your cruise concierge will assist with optional excursions and dinner reservations, ensuring a seamless and stress-free vacation.
Since we’re on a small, private boat, we have a customized, hand-picked itinerary and we can sail to the more far-flung, less touristy islands; many of which are pedestrian-only (car-free!!) such as Folegandros.
This is a private, luxury cruise so that means…
• We’ll sail on a luxurious yacht with just 24 rooms and 21 crew members for a truly personalized experience.
• Our yacht is smaller so we can go to more far-flung islands that the big cruise ships don’t go to.
• There will be yoga, daily meditation, and pilates sessions with the wellness coach onboard.
• Spa treatments from a Balinese therapist on the yacht are also available!
• A concierge will be onboard to recommend what to eat, see, and do so you can just relax and enjoy your vacation!1 attendee
Tuscany/Umbria Slowcation! - Sept 2026
Location not specified yet• Dates: September 18 - 27, 2026 (10 days / 9 nights)
• Cost: $5400 (per person, excluding flights)
• Single supplement: None! *Upgrades available for premium rooms
• Trip details: https://globe-drifters.com/trip/tuscany-umbria-slowcation-sept-2026/Check out pictures from previous trips to see what we do, where we go, and who goes on the trips: ITALY SLOWCATION PHOTOS!
What is a slowcation? Click here to find out: https://globe-drifters.com/slowcations/
If you have any questions, please email info@globe-drifters.com.
Experience small-town Italy like a local on a slowcation… Tuscany conjures up dreams of life at a slower pace where you can soak in the Italian countryside’s culture, food, and picturesque vistas. Stroll through narrow passageways of medieval villages perched on hilltops. Pick out cheese & wine at the market in town and chat with the locals. Tuscany is the dream vacation and now is your chance to go!
Live like a local: Skip the hoards of tourists in Italy’s more popular towns and cities and live the good life in a true Italian village with barely any tourists. If you want to experience the real Italy, this is your chance!
Ideal location: This villa was converted into a hotel in the early 1900s and is situated right in town making it easy to explore. A cafe, grocery store, and many restaurants are just a few steps away from your accommodation.
Discover Italy: Many of Tuscany & Umbria’s most famous towns are only 30 – 45 minutes away from the hotel so you can explore all the best locations in the region without going far.
1 attendee
Past events
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