Best Beach in Maywood

"Oakwood Beach, also known as 41st Street Beach, is Chicago's newest public beach, developed in the late 1990s by the Chicago Park District and officially opened to the public in 2010. The beach, which is located at the terminus of 41st Street at the Lake Michigan shoreline within Chicago's Oakland neighborhood, spans 1,300 acres and is open to the public for swimming between Memorial Day and Labor Day, with lifeguards staffed on duty between 11:00am and 7:00pm. Environmentally-sustainable beach features include a bio-retention area intended to treat storm sewer runoff and a LEED-certified beach house with rainwater-harvested toilets, which received the Chicago Greenworks Award in 2010."

"OaklandOpened to the public in 2010, Oakwood—also known as 41st Street Beach—is both relatively new and still somewhat of a hidden treasure. Although it’s small in size, it manages to pack in a great beach house, a nearby picnic area, and volleyball courts. And, of course, you can’t beat the view!"

"This is one of the best public beaches in Chicago and is huge in area lying east of the Rogers Park neighborhood. It is adjacent to the famous Loyola Park known for its stunning basketball and tennis courts, a community garden and a natural dune habitat near the lighthouse. There is long distance swimming available here running parallely to the shoreline making it one of the best beaches for swimming in Chicago."

"With a sprawling 21 acres of land, Loyola Beach is an expansive beach that provides ample space for witnessing exceptional vistas of the city skyline. The beach is nestled in the outpost of the East Rogers Park community. The beach features various amenities for visitors to enjoy, such as the woodshop, clubrooms, fitness centers, and a boxing centre."

"Visitors to this hidden gem will enjoy oak savanna, a forest, wetland and prairie all in one area. There are three trails from which to choose and explore: main loop, wetland and woodland and while you can take as long as you'd like, it's possible to do them all within an hour if you're in a hurry (although hopefully you're not because you want to stop at the lily pond, gaze at the free roaming deer and catch a turtle or finches as you take in the fresh air and scenery). Early Spring, locals from all over the city come by for the annual Maple Tree Tapping Festival where kids can enjoy free activities and see demonstrations on the Maple syrup process."

"North ParkYou could do worse than strolling through this 46-acre nature preserve with trails that wind through woodland, wetland, prairie, and savannah. You could also do worse than just chilling at the birding area and spotting rare specimens with your well-practiced/made-up bird calls."

"California meets Chicago at Ballast Point, equipped with an on-site brewing room. Nearly 40 beers are available on tap – from fruity and spicy iterations to rich and malty ones – which should be consumed on the cavernous rooftop with space for over a hundred people. You can fill a growler to take away or stick around and nibble on doughy, salt-crusted pretzels."

"A romantic hotspot you can both dine and party till 5 am, is a rarity and must be cherished. This fancy establishment features three fabulous floors: the ground floor called The Pub for casual dining, sports-watching, and DJ sets in the evening. Then there’s the Decor Room for those who desire a little glamour and intricate cocktails."

"Ivy covers the walls and Louis Sullivan tile adorns the floor for an experience that bears a throwback to the Victorian era. You can sip on average-sized libations if you choose, but do your party a favor and order up a massive round of their giant cocktails served in vintage punch bowls."

"This outstanding Ice Cream Sandwich ($5) features two of Scofflaw’s justifiably famous Chocolate Chip cookies surrounding house-made ice cream. The best part is they are available all the time — not just at midnight, which is when Scofflaw starts passing around the freshly made cookies to late-night drinkers."

"Originally known for its gin focus, Scofflaw was at the forefront of the current Logan Square bar boom for a variety of reasons: fantastic cocktails at affordable prices, standout upscale bar food, and great crowds. Don’t forget about those late-night cookies."

"American , Bar Food"

"Located above a grocery store on a side street off of Wentworth Avenue, Original Triple Crown (not to be confused with Triple Crown) is the place to go for a late-night bite. Seafood dishes and the “hundred flavored” beef, chicken, and shrimp are notable standouts. Order here for delivery and carryout, or call 312-791-1030."