Chicago Riverwalk
After enjoying the sights at Millennium Park and getting some mandatory pictures at The Bean, we headed to the Chicago Riverwalk.
The Chicago Riverwalk is a 1.25-mile-long path located on the south bank of the Chicago River. The pedestrian-friendly riverwalk stretches from Lake Michigan to Lake Street and it is free to the public (current hours are 6 am – 11 pm). A true waterfront oasis, Chicago’s Riverwalk offers so much to do, from simply enjoying waterfront views, to boat tours, to dining al fresco at top-notch restaurants, your options are almost limitless!
Experiences On The Chicago Riverwalk You Don’t Want To Miss!
There is so much to see and do on The Riverwalk, it can almost be overwhelming! To help you navigate and make the most of your time, I’ve put together a list of all the top activities I think you should try and experience on The Chicago Riverwalk. I’d love to hear if there are any of your favorite activities I may have missed!
- Food & Drinks On The Chicago Riverwalk – The Riverwalk is the perfect place to grab dinner al fresco and sip wine right on the riverfront. There are so many great restaurants and breweries to choose from on the Riverwalk. We dined at River Roast for lunch and it was phenomenal! The cuisine options are almost limitless on The Riverwalk! Choose from pizza (of course), Italian, fine dining, casual concepts, and tons of breweries. You won’t be disappointed by the food selections on The Riverwalk!
- Chicago Riverwalk Boat Tours – Sadly, I did not take a boat tour while I was on the Riverwalk. I did, however, enjoy watching the tour boats passing along the walking paths!
- Kayaking – For such a big city, Chicago has a large number of outdoor spaces and recreation options and I was pleased to see kayaking available right on the Chicago River! Head to my IG page to see photos of kayaking on the Chicago Riverwalk!
- Public Art – Everywhere you turn on The Riverwalk there is beautiful public art to see! Bring your camera and be prepared to be inspired by the artwork all around.
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Millenium Park, Chicago, Illinois
Millennium Park is located in the heart of downtown Chicago and it is the home to the iconic Cloud Gate, more commonly known as “The Bean”. In addition to The Bean, Millennium Park features interactive fountains, gardens, skating rinks, rock climbing, public art, and tons of green space. It’s mind-blowing just how much there is to see and do in this free, public park!
Cloud Gate AKA “The Bean”
The Bean is one of Chicago’s most famous icons. It was created by the famous artist Anish Kapoor in 2005 and it is one of the largest outdoor sculptures of its kind in the world. You don’t want to miss a photo opp at Cloud Gate on your visit to Millennium Park!
Pro Tip – Be sure to plan your visit to The Bean early! Because it’s such a tourist attraction, crowds can gather quickly. Come early!
Lurie Garden
Located in the southeast corner of Millennium Park, Lurie Garden is an unexpected tranquil garden in the middle of Chicago! Lurie Garden is home to wildlife, birds, and insects, and the botanical landscape has won numerous (WELL-DESERVED) awards. I had so much fun exploring the gardens and of course, taking photos in the beautiful green spaces!
Additional Millennium Park Attractions
- Jay Pritzker Pavilion & The Great Lawn – Designed by world-famous architect, Frank Gehry, this state-of-the-art pavilion and lawn is an amazing place to see live entertainment! Be sure to check my IG post for a video of the Pritzker Pavilion & Great Lawn.
- Crown Fountain – Conceptual artist Jaume Plensa designed this interactive video sculpture and it has to be seen to be believed! The sculpture is composed of a black granite reflecting pool positioned between a pair of 50-foot glass brick towers. The towers include LED video screens that display the faces of Chicago locals! How incredibly cool is that? You definitely don’t want to miss Crown Fountain.
- Maggie Daley Park – Maggie Daley Park is a play garden with suspension bridges, tube slides, a 40-foot climbing wall, and an 18-hole mini golf course. Even better, adults can enjoy Maggie Daley Park too! There are tennis courts and picnic areas along with serene walking paths to enjoy.
Thanks for Joining Me In Millennium Park!
Be sure to check back for my last Chicago blog post where we’ll visit the beautiful Chicago Riverwalk! I hope you’ll leave me a comment and let me know what some of your favorite Chicago spots are!
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LondonHouse Hotel, Downtown Chicago
During my recent visit to Chicago, I stayed at the ultra-luxe hotel, LondonHouse Chicago. Initially built in the 1920s, the London Guarantee and Accident building is one of Chicago’s most visible pieces of real estate. The building is located at the corner of North Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive right in the heart of all Chicago has to offer. In 2013 the historic building was transformed into a 452-room luxury hotel. LondonHouse is genuinely a one-of-a-kind destination in Chicago.
Rooftop Views Of Downtown Chicago
I couldn’t have picked a better hotel for my first visit to the Windy City! Not only is LondonHouse a gorgeous hotel, the location is perfect. The hotel is directly across from the Chicago Riverwalk and just a short walk to Millennium Park, both of which were on my must-visit list. I can’t even begin to list the shops and restaurants located near the hotel as well! My favorite part of my time at LondonHouse Chicago was viewing the city from the rooftop. The views were truly a sight to behold and it’s an experience I’ll never forget! I definitely recommend LondonHouse Chicago for your next visit to downtown Chicago.
Upcoming Posts About My Downtown Chicago Adventure
Thanks for reading and please be sure to check back for my next posts, where I’ll talk more about my time in Chicago. I’ll have in-depth posts about The Chicago Riverwalk, Millennium Park, my visit to “The Bean”, and my time in Lurie Garden!
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Happy Memorial Day! I hope that whatever the holiday brings, you make some memories with the people you love. I’ll be kicking back and bouncing to all the cookout invites I received this year!
Last year I spent Memorial Day Weekend in Chicago and I was able to attend my first MLB game! I had such a blast watching the game at Wrigley Field. I enjoyed my baseball “snacks” and I went full tourist mode and wore a Cubs T-shirt and everything! While I’m not the biggest baseball fan, sitting next to my husband, and watching the game is a memory I’ll never forget.
Wrigley Field
I’m so glad my first MLB game was at Wrigley’s! Wrigley Field is the oldest National League ballpark and it has been the home to the Chicago Cubs since 1916! It’s such a historic field, I spent more time snapping photos than I did actually watching the game! Here are some fun facts about Wrigley Field I found online:
- Babe Ruth’s famous Called Shot happened at Wrigley.
- The ballpark with the last major league park to have lights installed for play after dark in 1988.
- Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Blues Brothers, and The Break-Up are just a few of the many movies that feature Wrigley Field.
- Harry Caray began the tradition of singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” at the Cubs home games.
- The ivy that covers the outfield wall is a combination of Boston Ivy and Japanese Bittersweet, planted in 1937 by the Cubs General Manager, Bill Veeck.
- No batter has ever hit the scoreboard which has been around since 1937 and is still manually operated.
What are some of your favorite Memorial Day memories? Leave me a comment and let me know, I always love hearing from you all!
Other Posts You Might Like:
- Downtown Chicago Views You Have To See To Believe!
- Chicago Riverwalk – A Stunning Waterfront Oasis!
- Faneuil Hall, A Little Touristy, and A Lot Fun!
- My Brief Love Affair with Boston
- Making The Best Of A Rainy Day On Rainbow Row
- A Luxurious Day To Remember At Versailles Palace
- Indulge In A Taste Of France, Le Cordon Bleu
