If you’ve never been to Chicago, you’d be forgiven for not even knowing it had any beaches. But it has a number of beautiful sandy stretches along the 28 miles (45 kilometers) of shoreline within the city limits, and while they may not be the biggest, there’s nowhere better to spend the glorious days of a blistering Chicago summer. The 2017 beach season runs from Friday, May 26th through Monday, September 4th.
1. Foster Beach
Natural Feature
Lacking the city views of many of these beaches means that Foster Beach is usually quieter and, therefore, more peaceful than many of Chicago’s other beaches. It has the usual amenities, including wifi, lifeguards, and food and beverage options. Located in Edgewater near the end of the Lakefront Trail, it’s actually a man-made beach, completed in the 1950s.
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