Chicago Beaches

Once the weather warms up, the Chicago beaches become hot places to hang out, especially because they don't cost anything to access. Finding a good Chicago beach to relax on during the summer months is made easy by the fact that there are quite a few good ones to choose from. Just recently, a new beach in Chicago was opened, adding to the already satisfying mix. Whereas most of the top Chicago beaches can be found on the North Side, the beach in Burnham Park offers those who find themselves on the South Side a welcome place to relax in the hot summer sun. Covering eight acres, the Burnham Park beach is the newest beach in Chicago and sure to be popular among visitors who plan to spend time exploring South Side neighborhoods during their vacation.

If you have ever been to Chicago in the summer, you have likely seen the scores of volleyball nets set up on beaches such as North Avenue Beach. North Avenue Beach is widely considered to be the premier Chicago beach, as it boasts a great location, the largest lifeguard staff, and the most developed beach house in the area. The North Avenue Beach sets the stage for annual volleyball tournaments, and it's also the main place to go if you want to watch the Chicago Air & Water Show. One of the other top Chicago beaches is the Oak Street Beach, which extends for about one and a half miles from the North Avenue Hook Pier down to the Ohio Street Beach. Between the Oak Street Beach and the Ohio Street Beach is a concrete path that is one of the best places in the city to walk, run, bike, or rollerblade, in case those who come to enjoy the beaches have more than sunbathing in mind.

Heading farther north into the North Side neighborhoods, anyone looking to relax at a good beach might head to Montrose Beach. The Montrose Beach is large, and part of it is a dog beach, where dog owners can often be seen playing with their four-legged friends. Should you be looking to kayak or launch a catamaran into Lake Michigan when visiting a beach in Chicago, then Montrose Beach is for you, as it's one of just a few that will allow you to do so. Because there are almost 30 lakefront beaches in Chicago to choose from, it's safe to say that you will have no trouble finding one that suits you, whether you're relaxing with the one you love, hanging out with a group of friends, or planning a fun day with the family.

Some will tell you that a trip to the beach in Chicago isn't a good idea due to concerns about the cleanliness of the water. However, Chicago boasts some of the cleanest urban waterfront in the world. On some occasions, more than one Chicago beach will close for a while when water issues arise, so there's not a lot to worry about. The Chicago Park District tests the Lake Michigan water on a daily basis during beach season, so that should give you some peace of mind.

Chicago invented the skyscraper, deep dish pizza, house music, and the blues club — and it did all four without asking for anyone's approval. It is America's most self-assured city, and its lakefront is among the finest urban public spaces on earth.