Lake Michigan

Endless blue waters
Word to the wise: Lake Michigan’s beaches fill up fast during the hot summer, so arrive before noon to claim your spot by the water.

Vast, apparently unending and sparkling blue in the sunshine, Lake Michigan on a sunny day is a real beauty. But while it provides space and calm all year round, Chicago's lake shore only truly comes to life as the mercury rises during the city's stifling summer. That's when its beaches are overtaken by sunseekers and swimmers, and the Lakefront Trails through Lincoln Park filled with locals gasping for the lake’s cooling breeze.
Happily, the city shoreline is filled with good, sandy beaches, patrolled by life guards duing the summer swim season. The most popular are on the Gold Coast, with Oak Street Beach and North Avenue Beach the busiest. While these can get packed out in summer, some are slightly quieter. Central Ohio Street Beach's secluded site, for example, means it's not always so full despite being near touristy Navy Pier.