Chicago is one of the best cities to celebrate summer in. Just chilling outside on a steamy night after a long day of swimming, talking and playing bags with friends over a seasonal beer with a chorus of crickets singing in the background. Seriously, what could be better?!
For most of the U.S. this summer was
record breaking HOT. If you’re not lucky enough to have a friend with a pool,
you most likely melted to the ground and slithered to the beach - Alex Mack style. Montrose Avenue Beach. Oak Street Beach. 12th Street Beach. There are actually dozens of beaches along Lake Michigan to choose from to escape the intense heat of a Chicago summer. Some are better for certain things than others. North Avenue Beach is great for working out, equipped with a Crunch Fitness mini gym, bike & running paths, and is the best viewing spot to watch the annual Chicago Air & Water Show. Belmont Harbor is known as the “dog beach.” Loyola beaches are known for being kid-friendly with a park and concessions. Though, my favorite beach is an hour outside of Chicago at the Indiana Dunes. It’s 15 miles of lake hugging sand dunes that range from 125 foot sand hills to flat East coast prairie style beach to wooded hiking trails. You can barbeque on the grills or bring your own picnic. Work up a sweat on the 45 miles of trails. Go bird watching, fishing, camping or race down a giant sand dune straight into the brisk lake. Fact: Life is better when you’re a kid. Though, revisiting for the first time in years proved that the Indiana Dunes rocks just as much when you’re a grown-ass adult. Fact.
you most likely melted to the ground and slithered to the beach - Alex Mack style. Montrose Avenue Beach. Oak Street Beach. 12th Street Beach. There are actually dozens of beaches along Lake Michigan to choose from to escape the intense heat of a Chicago summer. Some are better for certain things than others. North Avenue Beach is great for working out, equipped with a Crunch Fitness mini gym, bike & running paths, and is the best viewing spot to watch the annual Chicago Air & Water Show. Belmont Harbor is known as the “dog beach.” Loyola beaches are known for being kid-friendly with a park and concessions. Though, my favorite beach is an hour outside of Chicago at the Indiana Dunes. It’s 15 miles of lake hugging sand dunes that range from 125 foot sand hills to flat East coast prairie style beach to wooded hiking trails. You can barbeque on the grills or bring your own picnic. Work up a sweat on the 45 miles of trails. Go bird watching, fishing, camping or race down a giant sand dune straight into the brisk lake. Fact: Life is better when you’re a kid. Though, revisiting for the first time in years proved that the Indiana Dunes rocks just as much when you’re a grown-ass adult. Fact.
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| Sand, sky, and surf for days along the Indiana Dunes |
Summer always flies by because there’s more sunlight. And more sunlight means more time for fun. And more time for fun means more illegal fire hydrant tapping. And more illegal fire hydrant tapping means…I don’t know where I was going with this. Oh, yea. Summer always flies by because there’s more sunlight. And more sunlight means more time for fun. So I was busy exploring & playing whenever I could.
Here’s a list of fun Chicago things to
do on your next trip. Some are featured in the video, some are not. How can I
hold an ice cream cone AND a Summer Shandy AND a camera?
Check out the city from above at the Skydeck atop the Sears Tower. (I’ll never get used to calling it Willis Tower, but I haven’t really tried either.) Walk out onto the glass that suspends 103 floors above the ant cars below. Look down. Then, look around at everyone else’s face who’s doing it too.
Taste of Chicago is one of my favorite
holidays. Grant Park becomes one giant food festival where people sample stuff their faces with yummy
dishes from restaurants around the city. Try foods like Sabor Latino’s pork
filled banana dumplings or Chicago staples like Billy Goat Tavern’s
cheeseburger or Rainbow Cone from the city’s Southside. The event happens every
year in July. Come hungry!
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| Buckingham Fountain is the centerpiece of Grant Park where The Taste is held annually. |
Chicago is the improv capital of the world. While Second City is the most famous venue with alum like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, (sigh…my favorite ladies) Martin Short, Steven Colbert, Bill Murray, and so many other funny heavy hitters, don’t overlook some of the lesser-known (and cheaper) spots to get a laugh.
If you're in the Lakeview neighborhood, dine at Wilde then walk down the block to Bobtail Ice Cream Company for dessert. I think Chicago may be the ice cream capital of the nation. So many good places to get fat from. Check out Southside Chicago favorite, Rainbow Cone, where you get Orange Sherbet, Pistachio, Palmer House (New York Vanilla with cherries & walnuts), Strawberry, and Chocolate ice cream scoops all on one cone! Sounds weird. Tastes delicious.
Lincoln Park Observatory – pretty plants, pretty plants.
Eat carrot cake
waffles at the punked out Bleeding Heart Bakery and Café. Get an Arnold Palmer
cupcake or Monster Donut to go!
Set sail on the Tall Ship Windy! Get an architectural & Chicago history tour from a pack of
singing pirates while viewing the magnificent skyline. Keep a look out for
Groupons, matey.
Before you dive in…
Lake Michigan is more of an inland sea than a lake, creating
waves big enough to surf on. If you’ve never seen it google “Lake Michigan
waves.” Oh! Oh! Better yet. “Lake Michigan waves knocking people down.” Carazy!
That being said, take precaution when
going for a dip in this fifth largest lake in the world because the rip
currents, tides, and waves are potentially dangerous. 35 ft waves have been
recorded. Check the bacteria warnings before heading in as well, high levels can
be a health hazard.
