Chicago Day 2: Deep Dish, Big Bus Views & A Slower Pace Through the City

Today started off REAL peaceful. I left the hotel and took a walk along the Chicago Riverwalk and honestly? Chicago in the morning is a whole vibe. The river, the bridges, the buildings — it really feels like the kind of city where you can just wander around with nowhere specific to be and still have a good time.

NOW…Nobody warned me about all those Riverwalk stairs though 😭. Before I even made it to breakfast, those stairs had already humbled me a little bit. By the time I got up toward street level near downtown, I was definitely feeling it and questioning some of my life choices for a second. Still pushed through though.

After that I stopped at Stan’s Donuts & Coffee for donuts and coffee before starting my sightseeing for the day. And listen…The iced coffee was GOOD good. BUT…nobody told me how cold it gets riding on the top level of the Big Bus Tours Chicago 😭. Soon as that bus started moving by the lake and river, I immediately realized: “Yeah…this should’ve been a hot coffee situation.” Still drank it though 😂

From there I stayed on for the full Big Bus route and honestly? Great decision. My feet appreciated the break and I got some really good clips and photos around downtown while still seeing a ton of the city. Chicago architecture is honestly ridiculous. Every building looks like somebody spent millions just to be extra.

Before the last couple bus stops, I decided to hop off for pizza at Labriola Ristorante & Cafe. And let me tell you something. I THOUGHT I ordered a personal pizza. Why did this man come out carrying a whole 12-inch pizza like I was feeding a family of four?! At that point I was too awkward to send it back so I just accepted my fate. Chile. I ate ONE slice.

ONE. So now imagine me trying to continue sightseeing carrying:

a giant pizza box
a shopping bag from Walgreens
my crossbody bag
and the burden of my own poor ordering decisions

Meanwhile my sciatica started acting up. Still though…today was GOOD.

I didn’t rush. I got to actually enjoy the city instead of trying to speedrun every tourist attraction. Between the Riverwalk, the bus tour, downtown views, and random moments just sitting and people-watching, Chicago is honestly becoming one of my favorite solo trips already.

And honestly? This is exactly why solo travel works for me sometimes.

See, if I wasn’t solo dolo, there probably would’ve been somebody trying to convince me to “go do one more thing” even after being out all day and my social battery being completely dead 😭. But this is a solo vaykay. So if I decide I’m DONE for the day…then I’m DONE 🤨😂. No negotiations. No group chat debates. No guilt trips. Just vibes, recovery, and leftover donuts waiting back at the hotel.

Honestly? Beautiful. 😭