The River Walk Reset: Starting Your Chicago Week with Intention
The Chicago Riverwalk gets a reputation for selfies and skyline shots — and yes, it’s gorgeous — but for us, it’s also a reset. A gentle way to ground yourself in the city before the week really begins.
Start here
The Mart River Park → Find a bench by the water, watch the boats drift past, and match your breath to the river’s pace. Let the city come to you.
Bite break
Tiny Tapp & Tiny Café → Caesar salad + garlic-parm fries. Unfussy, river-breezy, exactly right for easing into Chicago mode.
Small wander, big mood
Alice & Wonder (Downtown) → playful CHI caps + cozy crewnecks.
P.O.S.H → Paris-fleamarket energy: vintage tableware, trinkets, and time-capsule finds.
Stroll without rushing; this is about arriving, not achieving.
Evening reset
It’s Lit Yoga Studio → Reiki Yin to close the day. A quiet, grounding bookend to your first Chicago Sunday.
Why we love this ritual
The River Walk isn’t just a place to see; it’s a place to pause. To arrive in your body, in your city, and in your week — open-eyed, open-hearted.
A note from us
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A note from us 〰️
It may feel like we’re giving a lot away here — and that’s intentional. These Journal posts are meant to inspire discovery if you stumble upon us. For the full experience, we highly recommend purchasing our Locals World Chicago: Sunday–Sunday Itinerary e-book when it launches. It gathers everything in one place and comes with a printable edition: spaces to plan packing, jot notes, and treat it like a live travel journal. You can use it as a PDF on your iPad or laptop, or print it out before you go. This post is just a peek of your first Sunday — the e-book holds the entire week, day by day, with maps, extras, and rituals.
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