I stopped by in the afternoon and was surprised to see a lot of the brush had been cleared away for…read morea much better view of the lake. There were more people here (it must be spring) and I saw that the restrooms had been rebuilt (burnt down in fall) and didn't have that horrible smell. There are now permit parking regulations in place around Fort Sheridan residences so beware parking there if the lot is full.

The ground and beach is beautiful!…read more Good luck getting to find sea glass, which is what we were excited about. The beach closes at dark and they have an unprofessional park ranger who comes around and scream at you. They allow the people who live there though to continue to be at the beach, so just keep that in mind. Non friendly attitudes around the grounds. It's odd when you were raised in the south. All and all it's pretty. If you are looking for a sunset photo, go else where or they'll threaten to arrest you.

Getting beach ready! Not only myself (preparing for a summer beach vacation), but Rosewood Beach…read morerecently got a clean up and seemed ready for visitors. It's been awhile since I've updated my experience at Rosewood. This review is based on a recent walk I took to get some fresh air and much needed exercise. After parking the car in Downtown Ravinia and walking to Rosewood beach and back to the car (round trip about 1.3 miles), I noticed a bunch of beach updates that are worth mentioning. First of all, gear up, because the beach is open this year and you'll be able to swim! It's a private beach and not free, so you'll have to follow this link (https://www.pdhp.org/beaches/parking-2/) for resident and non-resident fees. This year you can purchase a swim pass and a parking decal. I entered via the dirt path that leads down to the beach so I could make my way back up the stairs for a good stair climb. The path was nicely cleaned up and breathtaking all on its own. Surrounded by lots of foliage and overlooking the ravine, I walked until I met up with the beach boardwalk. The boardwalk is all cleaned up and nicely refreshed. Looks like it did when it first opened! The beach sand is all freshened up and ready for summer. The play structures for kids are covered (but not sanitized). The best part? The steep, really-great-for-your-legs staircase now has handrails! This is such a huge plus for when you can't quite make it up and need to lean over a rail to hold yourself up (don't judge). It was a nice quiet walk, since the beach isn't actually open yet, but it will get crowded for certain. Parking lots have meters.

Amazing that I can walk here from my house. I am very lucky to live here. This beach is amazing,…read moreyou get great views of Chicago, Waukegan, and water. The recent remodel and rebuild are beautiful. It is nice and quiet her in the winter, all you hear are the waves, the wind, and your breath. Wait until spring!

Spent the last day of summer at Glencoe Beach and it was beautiful. It was off season so no life…read moreguard and the house with bathrooms wasn't open but they did have port o potties. Their regular season from Memorial day to labor day the beach costs and it's mainly from members on the weekend. But since it was the season it was free. It was decently crowded with everyone soaking up the last nice day. They have a playground for kids, plenty of shelters to rent for a party, volleyball net, a pier to walk along and place to rent boats, and paddle boats. The front of the beach is rocky and going into the water have to walk over rocks to get the sandy part of the water. But loved the water as it was clear and felt good to swim in. Very nice beach to relax on.

ALWAYS a good time at Glencoe Beach! The location is absolutely beautiful with clean, sandy shores…read moreand stunning views of Lake Michigan. It's perfect for swimming on a warm day. I loved how well-maintained the beach is, and everyone was so friendly! They also have grills and plenty of seating, making it great for picnics and gatherings. Plus, the surrounding neighborhood is gorgeous, adding to the overall charm of the area. Highly recommend for a fun, relaxing beach day!

Can you believe it's December and it's so beautiful? A lovely day to walk the paths at Openlands…read moreand/or walk down by the lake. People, dogs, families walking, jogging, strolling and taking in the view.

Managed by Lake County Forest Preserves since August 2023, this 72-acre area (formerly part of Fort…read moreSheridan) has a unique blend of ravines, bluffs, and a lakefront in Highland Park, 25 miles north of Chicago. This is close to Fort Sheridan and the cemetery. I love the paved trails, which are Ada accessible with minimal disturbance to nature. The art installations offer additional meditation subjects with a mix of science, poetry, and wonder. The qr code links did not work. My first introduction was a ravine with concrete sidewalks, mighty oak trees, and a complex root system slowing the erosion of the sides. Art installations do pique the imagination of visitors. Wood sidewalks and bridges lead to additional ravines, bluffs, and lakefront. I spotted a great horned owl silently sweeping across the canopy of trees. Four white tailed deer were nibbling on their grassy lunches. Red winged black birds were singing sporadically. I passed a tree with the bark rubbed off as evidence a deer came by to rub its antlers. I also saw several round holes on the lower trunks of the tree. It was evidence of a possible woodpecker looking for grubs. I spotted wood ear mushrooms growing on the side of a tree. Thousands of migrating birds visit the preserve each year. Listen to the audio guides for the nature and art installations. https://openlands.org/projects/openlands-lakeshore-preserve/ Main Parking 24256 N Patten Road, Highwood, IL 60040 South Parking 2789 Oak Street, Highland Park, IL 60035

Was way too crowded. Not nearly as nice as it used to be. The beach was not well maintained (weedy,…read moredebris). It was also very noisy. Disappointed.

It is a Lake Bluff residents beach. Not sure if some people sneak in or what…read more... We were enjoying the beach with lots of space. All of a sudden a family came and sat in front of us for no reason. Speechless!!

What a hidden gem! You get the best of both, beach and bluff and it is HP residents only…read more Accessible by both foot and car; but note that parking space is limited and you have to have a sticker (available at HP Rec center). No matter the purpose of your visit, this place has relax and unwind written all over it. This beach is the opposite of Rosewood, it is more of a DIY beach, which is more my vibe.

I'm not sure if this review is about the park area, the beach, the lake, or the fact that the North…read moreShore has some beautiful historical hidden gems worth exploring. Millard Park pays tribute to all of it! Thanks to Maryana R and Peter S for helping me discover this jewel. At the very end of Ravine Drive, down a long and winding road, up some stone stairs, you'll discover a piece of North Shore history. Not only will you discover a remaining stone wall structure that was part of the Robert C Schaffner Estate, built by Howard Van Doren Shaw, but the restored Schaffner Garden, which is a magical place made for a fairy princess. In the midst of wild flowers, you'll also discover planted trees and benches dedicated to loved ones who have passed on. This garden overlooks the lake and the Millard Park Beach. I can't wait to come back when the flowers are in bloom. On the beach you will find a rock garden and a fun wooden structure/rock identifier displaying native rocks. Kids and kids at heart can take the rocks they discover on the beach and match them to the rock identifier as a learning tool. It's kind of difficult to explain, so you'll just have to see for yourself! Overall, an incredible place to escape to. Note: You can only park there with a Highland Park sticker and dogs are not allowed on the beach.

This is a nice little beach in Wildwood. You do need a resident parking sticker to park along the…read moreposted area however. We are not Wildwood residents but have found parking not too far off. The swimming area is marked and mostly attracts families with young kids.

Nice park. It has a pavilion and a small beach area. The park is not very big, but it is a hidden…read moregem. Recommend you check it out. Oh, and Joe says, "Don't forget...it turns out the grass isn't always greener on the other side."

Moraine Park is one of the recreational parks in Highland Park, recently half-heartedly made into a…read moresculpture park. At the top, you have a wide open grassy area, which would ideally be perfect for letting your dog off-leash... if they were to fence it. Descending the stairs to the beach, you reach a fenced-in area for dogs to enjoy the lake. It's pretty chilly on blustery days, but the dogs love it, and it's a great place to meet other pet owners. You do need a permit to be there, however, and the details about that are posted on the website.

Bow wow. This is a pretty cool dog park and dog beach. I…read moresuppose they like having a place of their own to be with their own kind. of course none of them speak English so well never know for sure. But the fidos have liberty and space to romp around and play all over the joint. If your dog is aggressive or violent you shouldn't take him or her or if you do leave it leashed. Duh. My dog isn't aggressive really but acts like a spaz. He'a also the size of a hamster so I always leave him leashed because I'm not a stupid head. Make sure you clean up after your furry friends. And have fun. One of the best parts is seeing all the different kinds o breeds ad mutts. A lot look like Muppets. One of George's friends, who is also a dog like him, rides a skateboard. There's a couple who like swimming. G is always the social butterfly-Mr. Popularity. And no party like a. Puppy Party. Bow wow!

This place is a hidden gem that's underutilized. For less then $300 bucks, a beachfront clubhouse…read morewith a huge deck including grills, tables, kitchen, showers, equipment, storage, and free to use club equipment such as kayaks, paddle boards, windsurfers... I'm here almost everyday. I can't understand why this place isn't completely packed with members all summer.

Oh la la! Let me polish my monocle and get my double breasted blue blazer and captain's hat out!…read more No way, this isn't that sort of club. It is low key and highlighly welcoming. The North Shore Yacht Club is Highghland Park's gem on the lake. What a great place to sail, paddle, sun, have fun and relax. With the cheap membership (I don't know of any better deal on the North Shore) you may use club boats and the clubhouse/deck for all your beach, boating and social desires. Want to race? Great! Want to sit back and enjoy the lake? Great! Want to hang out with some of the finest folks around? Great! Take advantage of the best feature of NE Illinois- Lake Michigan. NSYC does everything from regattas to outdoor movie nights. Head on down there and check it out. Just grab someone who looks happy and ask for a tour or the details, they will be happy to chat. Don't let the summer go by without heading to the lake!

One of the cleanest lakes in IL-- spring fed, and the friendly staff make every visit a treat.read more

Fantastic beach. We grew up coming here and it's amazing to see it's still open. Same as it was…read more40 years ago. Also still has the raft you swim to and lay out in. Fun place to go with family