Welcome To Chicago – And The Chicago River!
It’s one of the most beautiful – and enjoyable – walks in America: the 2 miles of riverfront along the Chicago river, which has been turned into a great place for tourists and locals alike!
There’s the iconic Tribune building with the clock, and you can see all of the great restaurants and outdoor spaces on the lower part of this shot – but now, due to the Coronavirus and #shelterinplace, the Riverwalk is closed!
Lake Michigan, Meet The Chicago River!
Living much of the year in Chicago for 5 years, this was my view: that’s Lake Michigan at sunrise where it meets the Chicago River – now, the river walk that follows along Chicago’s beautiful river is closed – as everyone is asked to stay at home while we all work together to fight off this pandemic.
Since no one call take a stroll, I wanted to share a virtual walk about Chicago’s river with you!
The two miles of walkway are on the south side of the river, as you can see in the shot above on the left, which was taken from the Lakeshore Drive bridge – a perfect place to begin the walk….here is the bridge – looking east toward Lake Michigan, where the Riverwalk begins:
The River Has A Water Cannon!
And what is that spraying across the shot? Well, that’s the river’s iconic water cannon! During the warm months, the river shoots an 80-foot stream of water every hour during the day!
The cannon shoots from the north side of the river, but the entire path is on the south side, and you walk underneath 9 separate bridges on your journey – so let’s get going!
That’s Michigan Ave. above me on the right, and The LaSalle Bridge, and to the left is the walkway, and the corncob buildings – here is what they look like at night:
You walk underneath these bridges, and many have mirrors that arc over the walkway, so you can get shots like this:
There are many restaurants along the way to get a bite to eat and a drink, and the views are gorgeous at all times of the day or night:
It’s a well lit path, and on your journey you also pass by what was, at one time, the single largest office building IN THE WORLD!
Chicago’s Merchandise Mart held that distinction until The Pentagon opened – and until recently, the building had its own zip code!
At the end of the walk, you see the river split into north and south, and at night the Lake bridge is lit up by a subway train crossing over it.
As well as walk the river, it’s also fun to take a tour boat on the river as well, as they tell you great stories about the architecture and history of Chicago:
This is what the riverwalk looks like right after the city paints the river green for St. Patrick’s Day:
Yes, this annual tradition was also postponed this year – what a strange
If you like these stories, why not sign up to receive emails whenever I post? It’s easy to do, I do NOT collect any information about you at all, there are absolutely NO ads of any kind, just stories about movies, music, books, food, travel and pop culture…
You can sign up by clicking on my blog here and see the note on the right!
Leave a comment if you’ve ever been on this river walk!
Categories: Art, Books / Media, chicago, Exotic Travel, Memoirs, nature, Pop Culture, Real Estate, Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Memoir
johnrieber 
Oh wow, John, this is so incredible. I hope I can see it one day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the tour! How I’d love to be one of those kayakers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s really fun!
LikeLike
Great images, fun to see the city again. I used to drink beer at an Irish dive near the Merchandise Mart, I can’t remember the name, it wasn’t one of the memorable ones. That was some building to sit and look at.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wonder if its still there! One of the unique things about Chicago is that some of the classic old “joints” are still there, like Gene & Georgetti!
LikeLike
Looks so beautiful. I haven’t really seen much of Chicago, I just passed by with an RV in tow, that was kind of stressful since I didn’t know the area. LOL. Thanks for showing the beautiful side.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for commenting – knowing what I do about Chicago traffic, that drive must have been a nightmare!
LikeLike
A great tour, John. The Corncob buildings are very unusual.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pete, you would LOVE the Architecture tour by boat – fascinating, and take you all the way to where Mrs. O’Leary’s cow was accused of starting the devastating Chicago fire in the 1880’s! Burned down 90% of the city!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have never been John but it looks like it would be an enjoyable walk.
LikeLike
Thanks for another wonderful tour John!
LikeLike
Thank you for the river walk. Delightful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks…I must have walked it hundreds of times and loved loved loved it! Thank you for commenting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can see why! You’re welcome, John.
LikeLike
Thanks, I have never been across the Atlantic so I enjoyed your Chicago walk. I love river walks as I was born by the River Thames and have walked many stretches of it as well as clocking up other rivers ( not the whole length! ) from The Severn to La Seine.
LikeLike
Beautiful photos
LikeLiked by 1 person
Linda, I must have taken that Riverwalk a thousand times while in Chicago…I loved it!
LikeLike
Thanks for the tour! Both virtually and the one from the river a few years ago! 🙂 Can’t wait till everything’s open for business again! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, can’t wait to go back to Chicago, have deep dish pizza and see the Cubs at Wrigley Field, then walk down the riverwalk!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds wonderful!
LikeLike