The Best Places to Visit in Chicago: Lake Michigan

Not long ago I had an argument with my friend Scott. This was long before he or I ever had a house and he was living in a nice apartment in this apartment complex. He would routinely point out his window and talk about the “lake” that was out there. The truth is, it wasn’t and never shall be, a lake. It was a tiny spit of water with a fountain in it. It was the kind of “lake” where I could easily wade across without having to worry about getting my thighs wet and could probably jump across at certain points.

Having grown up in Chicago, I was fully aware of what a real lake is. Calling what was outside his window a lake was like looking at a gutter flowing with water after a rain and calling it a “river.” After you’ve stood next to the Mississippi and watched it flow you just can’t get away with that.

I was used to Lake Michigan. Let me tell you something, if you ever visit Chicago you have to visit Lake Michigan. I know, that sentence sounds weird. If you’re downtown you almost can’t help but notice the huge body of water just to the east of the city. What I am not suggesting is that you go up into a high building or take a drive down Lake Shore Drive (although both can be quite fun). I am talking about driving somewhere and getting out and standing before that huge body of water. I don’t care if you have stood before the Pacific or Atlantic Oceans or maybe been on a cruise ship. You need to stand there, realize you are in the middle of the country and stare out at a seemingly endless fresh-water inland sea.

I have thought about writing about my favorite places in Chicago before. I have always turned away from it. For me one of my all-time favorite places is a place right next to that lake. I have always wanted to take friends to this place. I have had daydreams of getting an apartment near this place. I have also daydreamed of maybe taking that special someone in my life to this place. However, writing about it puts it out there to a potential global audience. You see, what sets this spot apart from other places where you can stand near the lake is the relative emptiness of this place. By telling others about this place, well, it might not be so exclusive.

There are beaches in Chicago. They are right downtown. For those of you who constantly write me to tell me you would love to visit Chicago except for the fact that it’s so cold let me remind you that we are not situated on the Arctic Circle nor Antarctica. From about mid-May through September we have this season known as summer. In July and August the temperature around here can easily climb into the triple digits. So, yes, we have actual sand beaches and hot days and people wear bathing suits and go out into the lake. Yes, there are times when the beaches are closed because of high E.Coli but that’s only for part of the year.

I say avoid those places. In fact, my favorite time to visit this place is in the fall or even in winter. It’s not downtown it’s, in fact, just barely outside of the city limits and just north of the city in a town called Evanston. That’s the place where Northwestern University sits. It’s just barely inside the limits of Evanston.

You need to get to the north side of town and find your way to Oakton Street. Take that east. You will drive through suburbs like Skokie and then head right into Evanston. At some point the road will twist and turn. You will find yourself on South Street or Boulevard (I forget which) and drive under the El tracks. You then head down until it looks like you will drive into the water. Actually, right before you reach the water you will find yourself at a streetlight and that’s where you should turn left. At the very first chance you can turn right then you should. Find a place to park and then get out of your car.

What you fill find is a world of water. Actually, before that, you will find rocks. There is a kind of rock wall that runs along the sidewalk there. I enjoy walking along this wall and staring out at the lake. You can even climb on the rock wall and have a seat and stare out into the lake. If you walk south you will eventually find the entrance to the beach. You will walk along the sand toward the water. It will be fairly empty if you come during the off-season. It’s not a place for swimming, at least not for me, this is a place to think.

During the peak swimming season you actually have to pay a fee to get into the beach area. Again, I go during the off-seasons and walk on the beach without having to pay. It’s a great way to get lost with your thoughts.

I don’t even know how to describe the lake. It’s enormous. Those of you who might be near an ocean are probably sniffing at the thought of this being as majestic. What you may be surprised to hear is the roar of waves. These are not the huge, cruel, pounding waves like you will find at the ocean. These are calmer waves, at least, during calm weather. They roll in gently, steadily, riding up the sandy beach and you can look out and watch them roll in. There are even small white-caps. It’s a steady, rolling, rumbling sound and not a crashing, banging, pounding sound like at the ocean. It’s the kind of sound that can lull you.

The lake stretches out as far as you can see. It’s not like this is a lake where you can look across and see the state of Michigan. This is an inland sea. You can’t see the other side of it. The Great Lakes are known for producing their own weather and for being treacherous when it comes to shipping. Huge tankers have sunk in seconds on the Great Lakes.

That’s the thing that amazes you as you stand there. It’s like a giant liquid desert (for those of you keeping a list of oxymorons) just rolling and moving and undulating in front of you. All of that water is flowing toward you. All of that water is pushing air ahead of it. If you stand there and it’s fall you had better be wearing a jacket. The wind will surprise you as it pushes back against you, driving through you.

I am sure this beach has an official name. I don’t know what it is. It’s mine, even though I am rarely totally alone there. There are residents all around and apartments practically on the beach. Others know this place. I like sitting on the rocks and just looking out at the water.

I don’t even know how to swim and I still feel the pull and desire to be near water. We came from water and our bodies are made up of much of it. It only stands to reason we would want to get back there. The great thing is this water won’t sting from salt. There are no sharks or even stingrays. It may be able to sink ships but at times it is gentle and soft.