Chicago's Navy Pier lies along the shores of Lake Michigan.
Chicago lies along the shores of Lake Michigan, with beaches up and down the length of the city. Chicago weather allows for little beach time each year, but when summer rolls around, you can count on the beaches being packed. If you're visiting the Windy City, hotels along the lake shore will give you easy access to the beach.
The Drake Hotel
The Drake Hotel is one of Chicago's most well-known hotels, especially as it is visible from Lake Shore Drive and pictured in many famous shots of the city's skyline looking south. The Drake is just north of the John Hancock Building, and right off the city's famed Magnificent Mile. If it's the beach you're looking for, though, you're in luck. Oak Street Beach, one of the city's most popular beaches, is right in front of the hotel. You can walk there in just a few minutes via a walkway underneath Lake Shore Drive.
Sofitel Chicago Water Tower
The Sofitel Chicago Water Tower is located about a block from Michigan Avenue in the city's Gold Coast neighborhood. Around the corner from the historic Water House and across the street from the John Hancock Building, the Sofitel is within easy walking distance of Lake Michigan. Walk north to Oak Street and North Avenue beaches, or take a stroll south toward the beach near Navy Pier and Grant and Millennium parks.
The Whitehall Hotel
The Whitehall Hotel is located on a small street in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood, a half-block west of Michigan Avenue and west of Rush Street. This area is home to some of the city's more high-brow restaurants and nightclubs, as well as boutique and designer shops. The Whitehall Hotel is also located just a few minutes' walk to Oak Street Beach, making it an ideal hotel for a trip to the Windy City during the hot summer months. Jog or ride a bike north to Belmont Harbor, or even as far north as Montrose Harbor, to enjoy the breeze off the lake. Also, the farther north you go, the more secluded the beach, making it more ideal for a quiet picnic or just time to yourself.
W Chicago-Lakeshore
The W Chicago-Lakeshore is located on Lake Shore Drive, a stone's throw away from Ontario Beach. The hotel's location offers not only spectacular views of the city to the south and west, but it also has unobstructed views of Lake Michigan and its beaches. When you decide to go sit in the sand and sun, find the nearest underpass, as Lake Shore Drive is too dangerous to cross.
Tags: Lake Michigan, Lake Shore Drive, Shore Drive, Lake Shore, Whitehall Hotel, along shores, along shores Lake