North Ave is one of the main beaches up in Chicago. It is always extremely busy, especially during…read morepeak sun hours on really warm days. If you plan a trip, go earlier rather than later otherwise you will not be able to find any type of parking (the zoo would be your best second option for parking outside of beach parking) otherwise have an expectation to be walking a mile plus from a parking spot more inner city. However, definitely deserves four stars because of the vibe and the variety of things to do. You can go to the beach and eat at a food truck and just have a chill day or go to the beach and then end up at an extremely nice restaurant! There is tons of places to eat spread throughout the coast. There is also Lincoln parked attached across the bridge with tons and tons of trails to walk along for free. There are so many memories to be made there in multiple types of ways! Just depending on what you are wanting the day to feel like.

Chicago has 26 miles of beaches, yes you heard it right, 26 miles of beaches. when you hear…read moreChicago, you imagine the Chicago skyline with the river, and tall buildings, downtown but it also has a fab beach just north of the Mag mile (Michigan Avenue). North Avenue Beach is one of the most popular swimming spots in Chicago. it is a great one for families. Looking onto the water at North Avenue, this beach has it all. To the right is the city view we all know and love, The sandy beach has volleyball courts (like 100s of courts), plenty of space for visitors to stretch out, and multiple things to do nearby. It is a nice spot perfect for relaxing, biking, and running. the beach features a unique and popular beach house which has something for everyone and is permanently docked along this popular beach view from here is amazing and it's other side of the Chicago skyline (opposite to what you see from the Museum campus). John Hancock building dominates this skyline The parking fee is too much though. For 2 hours or less- it was $21 2-4 Hours = $28 Time: 7 AM- 11 PM Daily

Writing this review pretty late but since I'm planning another visit here soon, this beach has been…read moretop of mind. I was here last July and had the best time! The area is clean and gorgeous with scenic views of the skyline. The beach is huge with plenty of space to spread out. There's bike racks nearby for rentable electric bikes. There's a paved path perfect for running, walking, or cycling. The bathrooms weren't too bad for being outdoors - I've certainly seen a lot worse in public parks. The water was clear and blue with some gentle waves. Although the temp is cold, it's super refreshing on a hot day. Can't wait to be back!

Osterman Beach is my favorite beach in Chicago! Even on busy days. It never feels TOO crowded…read more People who frequent this beach are mostly locals or Loyola college students. It's a great beach for anyone: families, friends, dates. The sand is clean and lifeguards on duty in summer.

So many special memories from here over the years! From laying in the sun and jumping in the…read morefreezing water with friends as a 23 year old to early mornings building sandcastles with my toddler as a 32 year old. We've done picnics on the grass, played in the sand, and done cannon balls from the concrete beach. Summertime Chi is the best, and Montrose Beach is where so many of those memories are made for myself and so many Chicagoans!

A swimmable beach right along side one of the country's most major cities?! This past Monday, while…read moreon a three day trip to Chicago, I had Montrose Beach at the top of my to-do list. I love how you can park so close, and for free! Even though it was winter, standing along the sand and watching the waves from a distance was just so darn peaceful. I can't wait to come back during the spring or the summer. I hear that there'll be plenty of people windsurfing, swimming and playing volleyball.

It's a short walk from the residential area, Uptown Chicago…read more The beach is not very big, but big enough to enjoy the views, relax on the sunny day on the sandy beach. Many people walk their dogs here, and I found very comfortable walking around with them. The area is well maintained, very clean! There is a restroom, change room, shower area on the side of the parking lot, not far from the beach. Parking is pretty much full in the season but off season there are plenty of spaces to find.

I can not believe it The beach lucks ok. But the rules are…read moreso stupid. I have a canoe and some inflatable platforms 40 square feet, not inflatable for children. I tried to launch my canoe in the lake, and I can't do. Because the low is stupid ones. If you have children I really recommended you to don't come in Foster beach. You are not able to come here to your inflatable product because you are not going in the water with anything inflatable. Sorry Chicago. You are the most worst beach i seen in my life

Before I thought this was just a part of North Avenue Beach. Fullerton Beach is apparently its own…read moreone according to maps. It actually doesn't seem like much of one because there's not even any sand. Apparently there used to be, but now this is just all concrete. There's pretty good views of the skyline and city though. Apparently erosion has ruined it, so that's why it's not much of a beach. It's been replaced by concrete. The good thing is you can go home without an ass full of sand. A bad thing is how hard the ground is. This is concrete after all, so it's not comfortable to lay on. Also the ground gets hot. Hard to believe anyone would rather come here to sunbathe than on a sandy beach not far away from this. A few good things are around here. The Theater On The Lake is a good play to watch a play. Go to a better beach. It's just to the north of one of the city's best and most popular. This also isn't that far from other stuff in Lincoln Park, and you can lie in grass there, and still be able to chill and sunbathe.

02/04/22 - it's been months since I've been out here by the lake. Just another day in paradise…read moreknown as Chicago w/our magnificent Lake Michigan. Today it's a relatively warm day in February. It's a balmy sunny 24 degrees. The left over snow from a few days ago is floating & freezing on the lake. It's cold but absolutely magnificent. This morning there was some moron walking on the lake near promontory point about 1/2 mile off of the shore. WGN TV was filming this moron walking on the lake. The Chicago Police were called to ask him to come in off of the lake. This is what I call a very dim light that's pretty low on the evolutionary scale.

Best and most popular of the beaches on the South Side, lots of space and amenities. It also has a…read moregood view of the skyline. 31st Street Beach has a lot of history, both good and bad things. Has room for all kinds of activities and events. There's a beach house with bathrooms and concessions, and there's a picnic area and playground. Also known as Margaret T. Burroughs Beach. In 2015 there was a movement by public officials to rename it. This is the official name it seems. Most people still call it the old one. She was an artist, civic leader, historian, poet, and teacher. Also she founded The DuSable Museum Of African American History. The beach is within Burnham Park. In 1919 it was the site of what caused the race riots in the city. One of the African-American boys swimming accidentally went into the whites only section. The whites attacked him and he drowned, and in the aftermath there was chaos throughout. Has a lot of good features. It's pretty big and there's lots of room for partying or just hanging. There's also seeing the skyline and the views.

This was my first time visiting 31st Street beach and we stopped by from 10:00-12:30 on a lovely,…read moreovercast Sunday, on Father's Day. The water and the sandy part of the beach were clean, but be careful as there is a lot of litter and trash in the grassy areas. Upsetting that visitors just dump their trash! There are bins provided. We had a great time and even scored cheap parking in the lot, just $6 for 4 hours! We enjoyed pallettas from the popsicle trolley. There are restrooms provided. A great day.

The most beautiful calm part of the city…read more Come here to hang for a while and escape the hustle of city crowds You'll have a beautiful day guaranteed And please someone renovate that little beach shake That couple easily be done into a two level new hot spot for busy city socialites looking to unwind

A cool little beach close to the Navy Pier and roughly a ten minute walk from my River North hotel,…read morewhich was near the Grand Street Red Line stop. The water is a little chilly, even in August, but that's okay. The view makes up for it. Chairs are available to rent, but otherwise you'll need to bring any amenities with you - namely towels, sunscreen and snacks. I didn't see concessions, bathrooms or a changing area. I didn't see a lifeguard, either.

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!