North Avenue Beach and Chess Pavilion, Chicago

North Shore is rumored to be the best beach in Chicago, and I agree. The atmosphere is fun, the kids are happy, and the water is great. There is a fun little eaterie and bar on the beach, for those who like to watch the festivities. There is also a chess pavilion for those who would like to hone their problem-solving and strategy skills. You'll notice I gave the beach a 4 instead of a 5. I was disappointed in the swimming availablility at the beach. The water is very shallow in the areas where getting wet is allowed, and the life-guards are very vocal about keeping the masses where they belong. I understand that safety is a top priority, so those who would like a rigorous workout should either jog around on the fantastic jogging/biking/blading path, or find a pool to do laps. North Shore is not the destination for the avid swimmer to work out. That aside, I have been to the beach quite a few times, and it is generally clean, not overly crowded, people are happy, the water is great, and there is almost always something going on.