Walk in Chicago # 11, Prairie District, Motor Row and Chinatown

Walk in Chicago # 11, Prairie District, Motor Row and Chinatown, lets you slowly reach Chinatown after going through two very different historical neighborhoods situated mainly off the beaten path.

​If the ferries are running, you'll then be able to take one back to Downtown (otherwise it will be the metro.) 

It mixes well-known places with day-to-day part of the city to give you a unique perspective on it, and that's what makes it an unusual self-guided tour.

🥞There is an excerpt of it below to give you an idea of what ​​it is.

❤️‍🔥Otherwise, it is available in full for a few $ on Payhip/ImagesVoyagesImpressions in a PDF file that you'll be able to download on your phone.

🎈NB: 

• You can read much more about the general content and philosophy of these walks on the home page and see some comments there too.
• The excerpt is the beginning of the description (a bit truncated here), after the full map and the useful info about highlights, metros, buses, bikes, restrooms, and so on🚉.
• The letters correspond to points indicated on the map, so you always know where you are along the trail or where you're heading.

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A and B: Once you get off the bus, take ... St east (if you're looking at the downtown skyscrapers, it'll be on your right) and you'll quickly arrive at the stylish, stone built ... House in Richardsonian Romanesque style (named after its architect).

This is your first example of these neighborhood mansions built in the 19th century for the city's elite.

It can be visited on certain days of the week and is unique in that it has a large interior courtyard intended to give light to its different rooms and to provide a private outdoor space for its owners.

Next, either retrace your steps a little and take ... Ave on the left or go directly along the little café if the park doors are open.

C: It will lead you to a second remarkable manor and its large garden open to all, the ...house.

In the Greek Renaissance style as its two entrance columns attest, it is the oldest house in Chicago as it survived the fire of 1871. It has been moved 3 times so that it is no longer in its original location.

It can also be visited, and its entry is free but if it is not open when you go there, cross its garden to admire its flower beds and its layout.

 You will then reach ... Ave where you’ll turn right.

You are now in the heart of the Historic Prairie District and behind the tall trees of the avenue stand some of the houses that were the chicest in the city and still remain so today.

You will also find along the park gates a list and photos of all the other mansions that were there and have disappeared.

At the end of the tree-lined roundabout that you will soon find, look left toward the back of ... Parkway. There is a beautiful iron fire escape there, alongside the brick buildings of a US Army recruiting center.

During the rest of this walk to Chinatown, you will have this juxtaposition of styles.

(The rest is on the pdf...)

​Ready to explore the city on your own?

Find this Walk in Chicago # 11, Prairie District, Motor Row and Chinatown, at Payhip.com/ImagesVoyagesImpressions along with some of the 12 others of the same series that you might like, all updated regularly, and you’ll soon be on your way to unique adventures!

NB: In case you haven't seen it already, the map showing you where all these walks are is on the Walk in Chicago page, as well as links to some walks’ bundles offers and suggestions for your first visit.