CHICAGO
 is world reknowned for its culture, shopping and fantastic resturants. But did you know Chicago is well known for it’s many beaches? 

You’ll almost mistake Lake Michigan for an ocean with its vast expanse and seemingly endless shores. With beautiful crystal clear blue water as far as the eye can see, you may think you’ve gone from Chicago to southern California.

24 Miles of lakefront, 31 Beaches,
15 Beach walks and 9 Harbors

Chicago beaches are free to the general public, and officially open for swimming from the Friday before Memorial Day to Labor Day, 9am – 9:30pm.
However, if weather permits, the beaches in Chicago can have sun bathers in early April  and as late as October – but there are no lifegaurds on duty.

The gay beach is Hollywood Beach. (AKA Kathy Osterman Beach) The gays and gay friendly people hang out at the southern end of the beach.  Weather permitting, the gay boys will be out sunnning themselves late April thru October! But any given Sunday in the summer there are about 200-300 people out here.

Chicago also has the most swimable and most guarded waterfront of any single municipality in the world. While many patrons complain about the cleanliness of the water, Chicago boasts the cleanest urban waterfront in the United States, and second in the world only to Stockholm; water is tested daily by the Chicago Park District for E. coli and other dangers.

The beach is loacted in the Andersonville area.  Boystown is still the original  gayborhood, about 2 mile south. 

Over the last 20 years a lot of the gay population in Chicago have moved from Boystown Chicago apartments , north to establish this second gay neighborhood. While not as large as Boystown there are a handful of gay bars, businesses and resturants.

 A large lesbian and gay population  has developed here and seems to be growing.  Plus, you will find lower rents than the higher priced Boystown.

Downtown Chicago apartments  are usually the highest priced in the city. While downtown is bustling with business, shopping,  tons of culture and fabulous restuarants, not too many gay people live in downtown proper. Plus, the gay areas are only a couple miles away from all of the downtown excitement.

As long as you can withstand  about 12 weeks of blustery winter weather, Chicago is an amazing city, with lots to offer!

New Gay Travel Guide