Explore one of the Northside suburbs and see why I love living in Chicago.

Chicago is a great place to be in the summer. Take a walk with me from my home near the city to the lakefront at Montrose Harbor, just North of the Irving Park exit. The particular neighborhood is a part of Uptown known as Buena Park. I love that the entire city is made up of neighborhoods and if you live here long enough, you learn the various characteristics or reputations that go with the name. I do feel safe walking during the day, but like anywhere, one should always be aware of their surroundings and trust their gut. If you get out before nine a.m., the weather is pretty decent, and by that I mean, the temps are below 80 and the humidity is kept to a moderate level with the breeze coming off the lake. I had just returned from a week in Jacksonville, FL and a week in the North Carolina Mountains, so the temperature and humidity were somewhere in between.

When I walk, I often like to put my earbuds in and listen to some music that either keeps me moving at a somewhat aerobic pace or sends me into La La Land. Today was more of a La La Land pace. I’m a dreamer and people watcher, so my “All Out 70’s” playlist fit the bill. I love to take in every sight, sound and smell. Some smells are not so great, but my senses all come together to bring a place to life and solidify it in my memory. Have you ever discovered a scent that takes you back to a place and time? My paternal grandmother smoked and sold Avon. We lived far apart and when the box of Christmas gifts came from her, the opened box released the trapped scent of cigarettes and Avon perfume. Can you imagine? I am there. It’s a strange and unique scent, and I do not enjoy the scent of cigarettes, but I would love to open a box and get a whiff of that smell again just to be reminded of my Grandparents home.

The city is relatively quiet as I walk through the neighborhood. Keeping an eye on the uneven sidewalks, I cautiously look ahead at the detail of each building. Most of the homes were built in the early 1900’s with a few more modern structures tucked in. Our condo was built in the 1920’s and is considered a landmark home which means you need to keep its outward appearance preserved. I feel lucky to reside in and among these treasures. Observing the rounded windows, the leaded glass, the scroll work and reflecting on the masonry skills needed to create these architectural details is amazing to me. To compliment the structures, you often find petite gardens with native plants and potted urns brimming with colorful begonias and cascading ivy and sweet potato vine, making a statement. I love how Chicagoans embrace the relatively short planting season and surround themselves with their own little piece of garden heaven. I also see the contrast of empty or weed filled beds along the way. My mind wanders to what it would take for me to make this spot pretty.

I eventually reach the tunnel where I can safely walk to the lake shore under the busy Lake Shore Drive, a six lane expressway that runs mostly North/South of the city. Sidenote here: Did you know that the Chicago City Council approved the renaming of Lake Shore Drive to Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Lake Shore Drive in honor of the man known to many to be the founder of the City. That is quite a mouthful for my GPS assistant to rattle off when entering the ramp! Locals still refer to it as LSD. Not a person in Chicago has been exempt from hearing someone chuckle when they say they’re on LSD! I digress.

Exiting the small walkway tunnel, you are greeted with a lovely statue of two children and a U-shaped walled garden called the Peace Garden. It is named appropriately. There is a small fountain and places to sit. From this point you can walk left or right. Left takes you to Montrose Harbor and Right takes you to the golf course and Clock Tower building and there are tennis courts, a ball field and playground that direction. What you will see are two separate lanes of traffic. One is for bikes and the other for walkers. Be sure to look both directions as you cross the bike path to the walking path, as they can come down the path pretty fast. Just a few yards down on the right, you will see a path that takes you through a natural wildflower garden and as you come out of it, you will see the harbor and a few different paths to get there.

Like most of my walks, I can’t resist taking pictures of the water, boats, skyline and people. Today was special because I walked past a guy reeling in a big fish. Several people fish along the harbor, but I have never seen anyone catch anything. I think I was more excited about it than he was. I also witnessed a group of teens setting sail in some Sunfish boats. So fun! I loved seeing the two ladies walking, one with a huge butterfly printed on her dress. They appeared to be good friends out for a stroll. What impacts me the most is seeing people of all cultures and walks of life enjoying the city. Whether I keep walking along the miles of shoreline paths or sit and take in the lake breeze, there is always something interesting to see. I hope you enjoyed coming along with me on today’s walking adventure. I always come back refreshed and inspired and I hope you will too.