Ohio Street Beach

Downtown beach that's hiding in plain sight
Noteworthy for: Despite its central location, Ohio Street is one of Chicago's less busy beaches.

Given its location next to brash, touristy Navy Pier, you might expect to find Ohio Street Beach packed with bodies like sausages on a grill. In fact, it's one of central Chicago's quieter places for swimming and sunbathing - hardly undiscovered by any means, but far less congested than Oak Street Beach further up the shore. This could be because the trees of tiny Jane Addams Park partially shield it from the city.
The beach has other advantages. Facing north (most Chicago beaches face east), it's relatively sheltered, while during the summer swim season it has a swimming lane marked out in the lake.

Just next to busy Lake Shore Drive, a visit here is hardly a desert island experience, but with skyscrapers towering above its sands, a summer's day swim here is one of those special experiences you could only have in Chicago.