As promised I wanted to share some photos of the town I recently moved to, and maybe share a few fun facts too! It has some serious small town vibes but is only a twenty minute train-ride from downtown Chicago. Since I moved into the neighborhood I have noticed that all of the people are super friendly and largely competitive in Pokemon Go.

There is a large tower that sits in the middle of the downtown area marking it with landmark status. It is a museum now and a visitor center that shares the history of the town with those who visit. After reading some of the facts and signs in the town’s visitor center, I learned that Riverside was designed in 1869 by the architects Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted (he also did Central Park in NYC.)

The majority of the buildings in the area are very old and have a great amount of historic charm. It has a few restaurants, banks, and other shops as well. There is even a post office, library and family owned grocery store completing this little community.

Riverside is considered one of the first planned communities in the United States. The roads and sidewalks throughout the area wind to mimic the shape and flow of the land and the nearby Des Plaines River. The river itself is surrounded by beautiful trees and lovely walking paths. Plus, you can always see people fishing in the river and enjoying being outside.

Walking along the river and through the trails is probably one of my favorite parts of this town even though it gets super buggy at night from the river water. But it certainly doesn’t hurt that I can hatch a whole lot of Pokemon eggs along the way.

Overall I am in love with this neighborhood. I am super glad that I was able to explore this new place. Definitely check it out if you are ever in the area! Its a short walk from the Brookfield Zoo if you want to make a day of it. >>