Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
228
There's also a relatively small rink at
Navy Pier,
600 E. Grand Ave. (
&
312/595-PIER
[595-7437]).
IN-LINE SKATING
In-line skaters have been taking over Chicago's sidewalks, streets, and bike paths since the
early 1990s. Numerous rental places have popped up, and several sporting-goods shops
that sell in-line skates also r ent them. The rentals generally include helmets and pads.
Bike Chicago,
with locations at N avy Pier (
&
312/595-9600
), North Avenue Beach
(
&
773/327-7206
), M illennium P ark (
&
888/BIKE-WAY
[245-3929]), and mor e,
charges $8 an hour or $30 a day (y ou can have the skates 8am-8pm).
The best route to skate, of course, is the lakefr ont trail that leads fr om Lincoln Park
down to Oak Street Beach. Beware, though, that those same miles of trail are claimed by
avid cyclists—and I've seen plenty of collisions betw een 'bladers and bikers. A pproach
Chicago lakefront traffic as carefully as you would a major expressway!
SAILING
It seems a shame to just sit on the beach and watch all those beautiful sailboats gliding
across the lake. G o on, get out ther e. The
Chicago Sailing Club,
in B elmont Harbor
(
&
773/871-SAIL
[871-7245]; www.chicagosailingclub.com), rents J-22 and J-30 boats
from 9am to sunset, weather permitting, May through October. A J-22 holds four or five
people. Rates for a J-22 range fr om $45 to $65 an hour (with an extra cost per hr . for a
skipper). A J-30 accommodates up to 10 people and can sail at night. Rates ar e $80 to
$100 per hour, plus the extra hourly fee if y ou want a skipper . If you want to take the
boat out without a skipper , you need to demonstrate y our skills first (and pay an addi-
tional checkout fee). Those who'd rather sit back and r elax while a pr o does the sailing
can charter a boat here as well. Reservations are recommended.
SWIMMING
The Chicago Park District maintains about 30 indoor pools for lap swimming and gen-
eral splashing ar ound, but none is par ticularly conv enient to do wntown. I f y ou ar e a
resident, you should check out y our local park (to find out wher e parks are located, see
www.chicagoparkdistrict.com). S ome neighborhoods hav e incr edible facilities that ar e
safe and clean. F or example,
Portage Park,
on Chicago's northwest side at 4100 Long
Ave. (
&
773/685-7235
), has a stunning outdoor Olympic-size pool, a diving board with
three levels and its own dive pool, and a kids' pool with a water playhouse, waterfalls, and
more. It's absolutely wonderful, and it's free. The neighborhood is populated by Hispanic
and eastern European immigrants, and tons of kids jam the pool every summer weekend.
Another great park for swimming is
Blackhawk Park,
at 2318 N. Lav ergne Ave. in the
Irving Park neighborhood (
&
312/746-5014
). You'll find an outdoor spray pool and an
indoor swimming pool. P ool hours v ary according to age: Youth swim is at 3pm, teen
swim at 5pm, and family swim at 7pm.
Still, my advice to visitors would be to skip the par k district pools, because many ar e
in off-the-beaten-track neighborhoods. As a visitor, your best bet for summer swimming
is
Lake Michigan,
where beaches are open for swimmers Memorial Day through Labor
Day fr om 9am to 9:30pm in ar eas watched o ver b y lifeguards (no swimming off the
rocks, please). It's a safe place to swim and a uniquely “Chicago ” experience. How often
do you and your kids get the chance to take a dip in a G reat Lake? Watch the news for
beach closings, which happen occasionally , as the water is tested daily for bacteria. I
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