Oak Street Beach, Chicago
Back in the late 1800s, Chicago's Lake Shore was all peace and quiet, gently sloping from Oak Street to the Chicago River and providing a serene haven for Lakeshore property owners. Then along came George Streeter, a Civil War veteran, carnival enthusiast, steamboat captain, and the brassiest of con-men. His boat, the Reutan, packed with cargo and passengers, found itself marooned on a sandbar.
Now, most folks would've been flustered by such a mishap, but not our George, who decided to get creative! He took that stranded ship, its cargo, and a heap of trash, and voil脿, he conjured up a small island, declaring it his very own ship-trash-pier-sand island. Naturally, this led to some heated disputes, including good old-fashioned gunfights. Long story short, George was eventually given the boot. The land he left behind was filled in and got christened Streeterville, which just so happens to be the present site of the 360 Chicago Observation Deck and the illustrious Chicago Water Tower.
Back in the day when this area was a resort, the legendary Drake Hotel made its grand debut in 1920 as a beachfront property. Guests could effortlessly saunter from the changing rooms on the arcade level straight onto the sandy shores. Sadly, the construction of Lake Shore Drive separated the beach from the neighborhood, but fret not 鈥� a nifty tunnel ensures easy access, and it remains a primo spot to plop down your towel and take a refreshing dip. Since the sand is in short supply, locals have mastered the art of spreading out on towels along the concrete walkway and taking the plunge when things heat up. And if you fancy a bike ride, a pit stop for snacks, or a visit to the restrooms, you're in luck 鈥� these amenities are available seasonally, along with changing rooms, bathrooms, volleyball courts, plus the Oak Street Beach Restaurant, which offers a casual (though somewhat pricey) menu, along with great views of the lake and skyline.
So, there you have it, the story of Oak Street Beach, complete with battles, beachfront hotels, and a whole lot of sun-soaked fun!
Now, most folks would've been flustered by such a mishap, but not our George, who decided to get creative! He took that stranded ship, its cargo, and a heap of trash, and voil脿, he conjured up a small island, declaring it his very own ship-trash-pier-sand island. Naturally, this led to some heated disputes, including good old-fashioned gunfights. Long story short, George was eventually given the boot. The land he left behind was filled in and got christened Streeterville, which just so happens to be the present site of the 360 Chicago Observation Deck and the illustrious Chicago Water Tower.
Back in the day when this area was a resort, the legendary Drake Hotel made its grand debut in 1920 as a beachfront property. Guests could effortlessly saunter from the changing rooms on the arcade level straight onto the sandy shores. Sadly, the construction of Lake Shore Drive separated the beach from the neighborhood, but fret not 鈥� a nifty tunnel ensures easy access, and it remains a primo spot to plop down your towel and take a refreshing dip. Since the sand is in short supply, locals have mastered the art of spreading out on towels along the concrete walkway and taking the plunge when things heat up. And if you fancy a bike ride, a pit stop for snacks, or a visit to the restrooms, you're in luck 鈥� these amenities are available seasonally, along with changing rooms, bathrooms, volleyball courts, plus the Oak Street Beach Restaurant, which offers a casual (though somewhat pricey) menu, along with great views of the lake and skyline.
So, there you have it, the story of Oak Street Beach, complete with battles, beachfront hotels, and a whole lot of sun-soaked fun!
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Chicago. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Oak Street Beach on Map
Sight Name: Oak Street Beach
Sight Location: Chicago, USA (See walking tours in Chicago)
Sight Type: Park/Outdoor
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Chicago, USA (See walking tours in Chicago)
Sight Type: Park/Outdoor
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Chicago, Illinois
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Creating your own self-guided walk in Chicago is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Chicago Old Town Walking Tour
Settled in 1850 by German immigrants, Chicago鈥檚 Old Town neighborhood is a popular destination for locals and visitors who cater to the entertainment venues, restaurants, pubs, coffee shops and boutiques 鈥� all of which have turned an area once referred to as the 鈥淐abbage Patch鈥� into an attraction that rivals Navy Pier, Wrigley Field and the Magnificent Mile.
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Start your Old Town walking... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Millennium and Grant Parks Walking Tour
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Popularly referred to as 鈥淐hicago's front lawn,鈥� this lakefront park is... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
The Magnificent Mile Walking Tour
The stretch of Michigan Avenue from the Chicago River to Lake Shore Drive, otherwise known as the Magnificent Mile, is regarded as one of the world鈥檚 great avenues 鈥� or Chicago鈥檚 version of Fifth Avenue. Take this self-guided walk to explore its whole stretch and surrounding area, featuring a wide selection of amazing stores/malls, world-known museums, restaurants and spectacular... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Loop District Architecture Walking Tour
Chicago features an outstanding architectural legacy, having long been connected with some of architecture's most important names: Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan, Mies van der Rohe, Holabird & Root, and others. The multi-layered Loop District, in particular, offers an extensive number of Chicago鈥檚 famous architectural 鈥渕ust-sees鈥� 鈥� from modern skyscrapers to historic buildings... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture Tour in Oak Park
Oak Park, located in Cook County, Illinois, just outside Chicago, made history in 1889 when Frank Lloyd Wright, one of America's most renowned architects, and his wife settled there, leaving a profound impact on the area's appearance. This village boasts the highest concentration of Wright-crafted buildings in the world - over a dozen! - making it a pivotal destination for enthusiasts to... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
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Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Chicago Introduction Walking Tour
Chicago, perched on the shores of Lake Michigan in Illinois, is a city steeped in history and urban vibrancy. Known by numerous nicknames such as the Windy City and the City of Big Shoulders, it boasts a skyline marked by towering structures. The area of today's Chicago, initially inhabited by Native American tribes, saw its first European-settled reference as "Chicagou" in 1679, a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
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