Naperville Riverwalk, Naperville, Bezoekersgids & wat te doen in de buurt

The Naperville Riverwalk is a public path with covered bridges, fountains and landscaped gardens along the DuPage River in downtown Naperville, Illinois. Volunteers from the community built it in 1981 to mark the city's 150th birthday, and it has been the town's favourite place to stroll ever since.

The story behind it

Naperville turned 150 in 1981. Instead of settling for a party, residents decided to give the city a lasting gift: a riverside walk built largely by ordinary people rather than a big construction company. Volunteers laid it out piece by piece, and it became a gathering point for the town almost immediately.

Over the years it has grown into a chain of small parks and landmarks. Its covered bridges, fountains and distinctive shepherd's-crook light poles came to stand for Naperville's link to its past. Nearby Centennial Beach, a swimming spot in a former quarry, has been part of local life since 1931, so the river corridor holds more than one chapter of the town's history.

What to look for

• The covered bridges crossing the river, which give the path much of its character and make good photo frames.
• The shepherd's-crook light poles lining the walkway, a small design detail that ties the whole Riverwalk together.
• The Dandelion Fountain, one of the water features you pass as you follow the river.
• Moser Tower and its Millennium Carillon, which rise above the trees and are easy to spot as you walk.

Tips for your visit

• The Riverwalk is an outdoor public path, so you can drop in and leave whenever you like. Plan about an hour for an easy stroll, longer if you stop at the parks.
• Late afternoon is lovely for soft light on the water, and spring through early autumn is the most pleasant season to be outside.
• Downtown Naperville with its shops and restaurants is right beside the path, which makes it easy to combine a walk with a meal.
• Centennial Beach and Moser Tower have their own schedules and rules, so check current opening hours before you plan to go in.

See it on a quest

Try The Oz Escape in Naperville for an Oz-flavoured walk. You reach the Riverwalk on foot as one stop on a longer route through the area, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle right where you stand. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers your whole group.

The Oz Escape: A Wicked Glitch in Naperville is a second Oz-themed route past the same part of town. You walk between stops at your own pace, hear the story of each spot and puzzle over what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

If you prefer intrigue, Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Naperville takes you through the streets around the river on a mystery theme. The app tells you about each place as you reach it, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.