Chicago beaches
 

Looking for the most private beach possible in Chicago area, especially on south side, where skimpy swimsuits won't be noticed. Any specific places that I DON'T want to be (crime rates, etc)? Any places good for nude swimming, day or night?

Born and raised in Chicago. So we have street smarts. Are you asking to become a statistic? Always stick with the crowds. Never, never, never stay on any beach along Lake Michigan after dark.
On the South Side, Jackson Park would be your best bet. On the North Side, go to Wilmette. Keep your eyes open, watch your stuff, and dress (or undress) conservatively unless you want more trouble than you can handle.

Wow! I assume then, that there is no such thing as a relatively safe, uncrowded beach anywhere near Chicago. I don't want to become a statistic and I'm not an exhibitionist, but a nice lonely beach would be enjoyable. I'll check out Jackson beach when I get there (early June?), and any more suggestions would be most appreciated. Anything I should be looking at south of the city toward the Indiana border, or is that the worst possible place to be? Thanks again.

Try Oak St beach Norht of Loyola Univ. near Pratt Blvd & Morse St. One of the travel guides says its a popular skinnydipping spot after dark, and didn't mention high crime. Anybody been there?

On the south side, about the best place to visit would be the Museum of Science and Industry in Jackson Park. It's about 6300 south at the lakefront. The beach is nearby. Otherwise, go all the way over to Indiana Dunes -- huge, uncrowded, great sand. If you will look on your map you will see that the southern shore of Lake Michigan from Chicago into Indiana is a vast industrial complex of steel mills and oil refineries. But once at The Dunes, and all the way up the Michigan shore, it's just great. It's worth the trip.

Note to Hyper: Oak Street Beach is OK, often the hangout of the gay crowd. Go farther north, to the North Avenue beach. Huge, flat, uncrowded, and -- like all the others -- no place to be after dark.
I kid you not.

Thank you very much. Guess I have to buy a map now. Any other ideas are still welcome.

I second the recommendation to stay off all Chicago beaches after dark.

Is that because I'm a woman alone, or because the crime is so bad that it's not safe under any conditions? Would a male companion make any difference in your opinion?

Even Arnold Schwartzenegger would be of little help when you and he faced six toughs with knives and guns after dark. If I were you and still wanted to test my thesis, have at least a dozen pit bulls with you...hungry pit bulls.

I've lived in Chicago all my life, and have lived 2 blocks from Oak Street beach for the past 12 years. I spend a lot of time at the beach either sun bathing or biking. I agree, after dark, the beaches are really no place to be, and feel comfortable. Oak Street beach is NOT gay. It's mostly tourists from the hotels in Streeterville/Loop area. It's a good place to see and be seen, though. Heading North you have North Avenue beach, which is usually full of volley ball players. Lots going on. Good area for strolling. Next would be Fullerton Avenue beach. Nice beach, but usually busy. Sandy areas for sun bathing. The next beach is Belmont and Belmont 'Rocks'. This is mostly a gay beach area. It's called the 'rocks' as there is no beach, but rather rocks right to the water. However, there are ledges for sitting and sun bathing very close to the water. From the 'rocks' all the way North to Hollywood beach (Lake Shore Drive and Hollywood Ave., which is another very gay beach), there are no other beaches for sun bathing, etc. It's all Lincoln Park which includes grass areas for tennis, volleyball, soft ball, soccer, etc. I generally don't go South of Randolph on the bike paths, so the South side beaches I'm not too familiar with. Hope you enjoy your trip. Chicago, and it's beaches are great in the summer!

I enjoyed Oak Street Beach and as did my friends. You have to make your own entertainment so I recommend you bring a ball of some sort and a radio. I didn't stay to late at night but I know the city well enough. Leave just before dark and you'll have plenty of fun. And no the gay thing is not true and if it was do u really care that much?

Holy Cow! Are you a troll or what? Since noone else is treating you like one, I will answer this seriously.<BR><BR>Was born in Hyde Park on the south side, and lived there many years. My Mom is still there, and lives near the 56th Street Beach, which is the one near the Museum of Science and Industry. I go to the beach with my children when we visit each year.<BR><BR>The entire south side (the entire city) is very urban. The south side beaches are packed with families in the summer. As whites, we are in the minority, but we have always felt comfortable and been treated well. The children make friends fast and everyone enjoys cooling off on the lakefront. <BR><BR>The 63rd St. Beach would be similar, with no room for nudies over the age of three. <BR><BR>Just another thought here, do you know how cold Lake Michigan is?<BR><BR>As for skinny dipping in the moonlight, how about making me beneficiary on your life insurance policy? I wouldn't be thinking about breaking curfew. (And there is one in the City parks, which includes the beaches - at least there used to be.) I'd be skinny dipping in my bathtub. Or going after trolls on the bridge.

PS. The 56th St. Beach I mentioned would be the one in Jackson Park.

Do you know how cold the beach will be in early June? Getting in the water especially after the sun goes down would be like jumping into a giant iceberg. Depending on the day it could easily still be cool outside in early June. It may be hot as well our temperature is very changeable. We have already had days in the 80s this year (the week after it snowed!) and now it is back into the 40s. Last year, I set my flowers out on Memorial Weekend and they died because the next week it got into the 40s again! Just to let you know it may be warm when you get here (could be 85 who knows) but even if it is, the water has not had time warm up and will still be cold.

People wear all sorts of suits, including skimpy ones, at most beaches. Don't worry too much about that. Skinny dipping is another issue altogether.

ttt

The beaches were just for sunbathing, etc. Swimming is not actually allowed.

xxxChicagoan. Where are you getting your information? The City employs life guards at the beaches. Areas are roped off for swimming or the lifeguards patrol in boats. Lots of people swim in the water.

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I heard there is a small triathlon on the Chicago lakefront in the summer/ Any triathletes out there who can give me more info or tell me how to sign up?

Curious, I think you may be referring to Mrs. T's Triathlon which is hardly little but it looks like registration is closed<BR><BR>http://www.caprievents.com/mrs_ts/mrs_ts_triathlon.htm

Mrs. T's Triathalon is a big deal. My husband does it every year and it is in August. Registration is not closed, it has not opened yet for this year. You can register right up until the day I believe, but I would do it sooner. It is not Olympic in length but is shorter. I think it is a 10 mile bike ride, 5 mile run, and a short swim but I could be wrong. Yes the swim portion is in Lake Michigan!

Bethany, perhaps you could direct Curious to a different way of signing up. The website that I posted is stating that it is full for 2002 as of 4/16/02 and Capri Events seems to be the event coordinator. I think it's a rather popular triathlon with lots of serious triathletes (I think it's a qualifying race for the Ironman) and appears to be limited to the first 5,500 or 6,000 people.

FYi the tri is closed already...It was as of the 16th of April..

Lisa's right. My husband does Mrs. T's every year and it keeps on getting bigger and bigger and it's closed. It starts with a swim in Monroe Harbor and then bike and run. There are different levels of competition and triathlon lengths.<BR>The event has gotten to be so big that many serious triathletes no longer compete in Mrs. T's because of novice competitors and congestion in lake and the bike ride.<BR>As far as a private beach goes, I suggest you go up North to Lake Forest or South of Chicago to Union Pier, Michigan. My girlfriends from France thought nothing of going topless a couple of years ago on North Avenue Beach and the police immediately approached them and told them to cover up or they would be arrested. They were shocked and I had a good laugh.

Beth - <BR><BR>Yes, Mrs. T's is a big deal, but just about all of the other info you gave is wrong. Registration opened, as usual, way back in January, and CLOSED on April 14. In fact, this triathlon has filled months ahead of time for the last 5 or 6 years, and race day registration has not been an option on at least the last 10 years (if it ever was). The Olympic distance (a.k.a international) is in fact the PRIMARY event - .9 mile swim, 40k (about 25 mile)bike and 10k run. If your husband actually did this every year, there is absolutely NO way he could not know about the need to register early, AND the fact that the triathon is already closed - it is the most commonly known fact amongst local triathloners. The fact that you say with authority that registration hasn't even opened yet convinces me that you're making all of this up.

Well sorry about being wrong, I asked my husband who has been in it the last 3 or 4 years and he has waited until about June to sign up (which is what I thought) HOWEVER, his work reserves several spots for employees in advance assuming that several people will do it. The employees then sign up later at his work. Sorry I just knew he usually waited until June to decide if he had time (which is when he begins real training for it) Everyone I know does the shorter version (not Olympic Ironman). I also stated in my previous post that I wasn't sure about the distances which I wasn't. I apologize but yes it is in August and if memory serves me correct, it is the second weekend.

Beth - <BR><BR>PLEASE stop. EVERYTHING you're saying is wrong. "Olympic" and "Ironman" are 2 very different things - not the same not even close. You have completely inaccurate info about registration. Just leave well enough alone.

Someone is very sour today! I did apologize for the inaccurate info earlier and by the way I never said Olympic and Ironman were the same thing. I said no one I know does the Olympic or Ironman triathalon, they do the shorter smaller scale. At least I am TRYING to be helpful. You on the other hand have not only said nothing helpful to the poster but you are taking a very less than civil tone with other posters. I thought one of the rules of Travel Talk was that we had to be civil to one another. Oh well, for the person that wanted info, I would do a web search under MRs. T's and find the website and phone number to call and get direct information.

Oops: Apparently you have never read a post by Beth before....she is famous for her erroneous information regarding the city of Chicago. She has lived here for about 3 years and considers herself an authority - even though she lives in Lincoln Park & rarely ventures outside of that area or downtown.

Beth,<BR>We're not trying to give you a hard time but your giving out bad info. Mrs. T's gets bigger each year and it is already filled.<BR>It's unfortunate that a lot of the first timers don't know what they're doing in Mrs. T's and I've seen so many people being hauled into safety rowboats and create bike crashes on LSD. If you're doing Mrs. T's for the first time, please take a triathlon course which trains you in proper workouts and safety. Thanks and good luck to all those competing.

Beth - <BR><BR>In the past, I've seen you being bashed here, and at times, felt that people were being unfair to you. To be honest though, I can see why you're getting so much heat on this one. I'm married to someone who does Mrs. T's each summer, and can only conclude from how totally off the charts wrong your information is that your husband doesn't compete in it. I could add to the laundry list other people have started, but will refrain from doing so. You give some good advice re: restaurants, etc, which is great. Just stick to what you know and stop fibbing to impress others. You'll make a lot more friends here that way.

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