Not long ago this was just a concrete embankment. Today, the Chicago Riverwalk is one of the most delightful urban promenades in America — a 1.25-mile path winding along the south bank of the Chicago River, lined with plazas, wine bars, public art, and impossible views of the city’s legendary architecture.
Six themed ‘rooms’ break the walk into chapters: the Marina Plaza with its playful wave forms, the Water Plaza with its splash fountain for kids, the River Theater’s grand staircase descending to the water, and more. Architecture boat tours depart right from the Riverwalk, floating you past towers that tell the whole story of the Chicago School of design.
It’s ideal for couples on an evening stroll, architecture lovers, joggers, and anyone who wants Chicago’s best photo angles in one walk. Tip: go at golden hour, when the sun sets the glass towers glowing, and time your visit for the boat traffic — the river bridges still lift for tall ships, a show that never gets old.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / SecretName101
