SideTour is an online marketplace that offers unique underground tours and activities hosted by vetted local experts in fields including food, mixology, art, and culture. Currently available in Chicago, New York, and Washington—with Boston, Philadelphia, and more on the way in 2013—the menu of one-of-a-kind excursions can include cooking lessons with a Food Network star, teeing off with a Golf World editor, test driving a Tesla Roadster, or learning the art of urban beekeeping. New options are added every week, and private groups of as many as 12 can send date requests directly to hosts via the Web site. For larger corporate groups, SideTour reps can set up customized activities or incentive accounts that let employees book activities at their convenience. Hosts set their own pricing; SideTour collects a 20 percent fee.
