Factory Tours, by Lisa Rowe
i>Factory tours can be an insightful and educational addition to any trip as they offer a behind the scenes look into how products are produced from start to finish. Take a sneak peak into some of the most interesting and fun tours to take.
Illinois
Chicago is home to one of the best cheesecake producers in the country, Elis Cheesecake. The factory offers their normal factory tour with a wide variety of additional options. Factory tour packages range from $3-$38 per person depending on the option selected. They also offer factory tours with lunch options at Elis Cheesecake World Dessert Café or dinner options at Elis the Place for Steak. The Be A Star tour includes a tour of the factory and a sampling of Elis products to help Elis Quality Star Team evaluate their products.
The Sail and Dine tour option includes a sightseeing tour down one of Chicago waterways followed by a lunch at Elis the Place for Steak. After lunch, the tour heads to Elis Cheesecake World for dessert and a tour of Elis bakery. Sail and Dine on Mercury Cruise Line is available May 11, September 30. Chicago Architectural Foundation Tour on First Lady cruise line is available May 12, October 28. For a complete listing of available tours, visit www.elicheesecake.com, or call 773-205-3800.
Long Grove Confectionary Factory is a wonderful stop for any chocolate lover. The company, previously based in Long Grove, outgrew their facilities and moved their company to Buffalo Grove. The tour starts with a history of the cacao bean, which is used to make chocolate, and a brief history of the company.
The production hallway showcases the history of candy making machines and has five windows to view the production of candies. After the production room, the tour continues with a sampling of chocolate from the factory. The tour concludes in the gigantic outlet store, which offers discounts up to 75% off retail prices.
Reservations are required and the cost is $2 per person. Group packages for day trips are offered and include the chocolate factory tour, lunch and shopping in nearby historic Long Grove and a how-to or hands-on workshop. Call 847-459-3100 or 888-459-3100
California
On a tour of the Taylor Guitar factory on El Cajon, visitors will see numerous examples of the sophisticated, innovative technology, combined with traditional hand-craftsmanship, that has made Taylor Guitars a leader in guitar firsts. The tour will look at the process from creation to finishing.
Taylor offers factory tours of their facilities Monday through Friday at 1 p.m. There is a lot of walking involved and comfortable shoes are suggested. The tour lasts about an hour and 15 minutes. 619-258-1207
Jelly Belly, the creator of the original gourmet jelly bean, offers a tour of the Fairfield facilities where visitors can witness the creation of the gourmet Jelly Belly jellybeans first hand from an elevated walkway. Video monitors enhance the experience by giving a close-up view of the process. Each tour lasts about 40 minutes and visitors receive a free sample of Jelly Belly jelly beans at the end of the tour.
There is no cost for the tour and reservations are not required. 800-953- 5592, www.jellybelly.com
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