Our gourmet popcorn company has become obsessed with all things iconic in Chicago– from our city’s most famous buildings to our favorite tourist stops. But somewhere in the mix we forgot one thing that makes Chicago a great place to live, especially around this time of year… The Lake! From lounging on the beach to joining a volleyball league, living on the “third coast” is great for the most active or leisure-loving citizens of the Chi.
Lake Michigan Fast Facts
Lake Michigan is…
- The only Great Lake located entirely within US borders.
- The second largest Great Lake by volume, and the third largest by surface area.
- The largest lake by surface area residing entirely within one country.
- The fifth largest lake in the world.
- Bordered by Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.
- Almost 1000 feet deep at its deepest point.
- About the same size as the State of West Virginia.
Public Beaches and Parks Around Chicago
Although the Lake Effect can really bring in the cold winds and snow during the winter, as May approaches, all Chicago citizens forgive and forget as they get giddily excited for beach season. The Chicago Park District runs 26 miles of the Lake Michigan coast, and admission to all beaches along the coast is free.
Some of the most popular beaches come summertime include the Oak Street Beach which is closest to downtown and North Avenue Beach for dwellers of Chicago’s North Side. Promontory Point in Hyde Park also draws crowds, with some of the best views of city skyline from the South.
Along with the beaches, there is an 18-mile multi-use path that runs the entire length of the city and into the suburbs. It is perfect for runners, bikers, or those who commute to work by bike. Triathletes take advantage of the path’s proximity to open swimming, and marathoners use its length to train. It also makes for a beautiful scenic stroll and a great way to see the city!
Lakeshore Events
Along with the traditional recreation that the lake offers– like kayaking, sailing, fishing and swimming– there are even more ways to enjoy Chicago’s lake proximity throughout the year. Castaways, for instance, is the only bar and grill that is actually on the beach. When the boat-shaped bar opens yearly in May, it serves up food, drinks, ice cream and live music to North Avenue beach bums.
The Air and Water Show is another summer milestone in Chicago. The largest free aviation show in the world, it is also the second most popular event in Chicago with a huge attendance. People flock to the beach to watch stunt pilots, parachute teams, jet formations, water-skiing stunts and boat-jumping, and you can see the show from pretty much anywhere along the coast of Chicago.
In past years, the Lake has also been host to Red Bull’s Flugtag flying competition, where homemade, man-powered crafts vie to see who can glide the farthest before crashing spectacularly into the Lake. Also every year, Chicago citizens take the Polar Plunge into the frigid lake in March to benefit different charities. And of course, there are July 4th fireworks over Lake Michigan each year, along with weekly fireworks shows from Navy Pier throughout the summer.
Chicagoans know there is nothing like that first warm day that you can really take advantage of our lakefront lifestyle– and that’s why Lake Michigan is one of “NUTS ON CLARK”’s Chicago Icons!
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