5 Best Beaches Chicago

Why it made the list: The most iconic and liveliest of Chicago's beaches, a wide arc of sand backed by the skyline, with a boathouse shaped like a steamship, beach volleyball everywhere, and a bar and restaurant right on the sand. This is the Chicago beach day you picture.

Why it made the list: The downtown beach, a crescent of sand right at the foot of the Gold Coast high-rises, steps from the Magnificent Mile. It's the surreal one: skyscrapers on one side, Lake Michigan on the other, and office workers sunbathing in between. The easiest beach to reach on foot from downtown.

Why it made the list: The biggest and most laid-back beach in the city, up on the North Side, a huge sweep of sand, a dog beach, a bird sanctuary, and room to actually spread out. It's where locals go to escape the downtown crowds, with a great beach bar and skyline views to the south.

Why it made the list: The quiet secret, a small, sheltered curve of sand tucked behind the Adler Planetarium on the Museum Campus, hidden from the crowds that never think to look for a beach there. Calm water, skyline and lake views, and a peaceful spot to recover after a museum morning.

Why it made the list: A small, calm beach near Navy Pier with an unusual east-facing angle that gives you a full, head-on view of the downtown skyline across the water, the best skyline-from-a-beach shot in the city. Its sheltered position makes it a favorite for open-water swimmers, too.