Chicago Riverwalk

The Riverwalk was built by the city of Chicago as a concrete walkway over the Chicago River. Its construction has reshaped the shoreline, and the work is not yet complete. Eventually, the walkway will run along Wacker Drive from Michigan Avenue to Franklin Street.

A pedestrian's paradise, the Riverwalk comes alive from spring through fall. In the wee hours of the morning, especially on Sundays, you'll find throngs of Chicagoans enjoying their favorite sport: jogging. It is quite a spectacle, with or without the dog happily trotting along behind, iPod headphones in its ears (the runner's, not the dog's...).

In the morning, cafes and restaurants set up their terraces on the footbridge. Office workers, families, teenagers, trendy young adults and tourists mingle here to grab a snack or sip a soda in the shadow of downtown Chicago's intimidating buildings.

And in the evening, it's back to the most bucolic of terraces, offering striking panoramas of Chicago's skyscrapers as they light up at dusk.

At 1 East Wacker Drive, we like O'Brien's Riverwalk Cafe, which is a bit off the beaten path, with patio tables overlooking the banks of the Chicago River. The small menu is unpretentious, efficient and inexpensive. Friendly service.