Looking at the suburbs' top beaches now that the heat is on
Beaches along Lake Michigan make great summer choices for access to water and waves, sand and sun.
But those living in the West and Northwest suburbs don't have to make the drive east to find a cool spot to enjoy the summer's heat.
Beaches in Wauconda, Naperville, Mundelein, Batavia, Libertyville, Crystal Lake and Lake Zurich all offer their own versions of the quintessential summer gathering place. Each beach has opportunities for recreation and relaxation - just leave glass bottles and alcoholic beverages at home.
Bangs Lake Beach, Wauconda
Address: 112 Park Ave.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily through Aug. 15, then Saturdays and Sundays only until Sept. 6
Admission: $5 residents, $7 nonresidents. Season passes available.
Parking: Free in two nearby lots
Beach features and amenities: Enclosed swim area, playgrounds, water slides, sand toy area, two floating aqua patios
Food: Concessions available including pizza, hot dogs, candy, ice cream. Outside food allowed.
Recreation: Swimming, boating
Best for: Children ages 3-10
Special events: Summer Fiesta July 17 with games, entertainment and root beer floats. End of summer Beach Bash Aug. 29 with a DJ, games and grilled food for purchase. Admission for both events is $6 residents, $8 nonresidents.
Information: (847) 526-3610, waucondaparks.com/facilities/marina_beach
Centennial Beach, Naperville
Address: 500 W. Jackson Ave.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays until Aug. 22, then weekends until Sept. 6
Admission: $6 residents, $10 nonresidents. Resident and nonresident prices drop to $3 after 5 p.m. Season passes available.
Parking: Free
Beach features and amenities: Water play features, shallow end slide, zero-depth walk-in area, bathhouses with showers and coin lockers, three diving boards, playground equipment, Frisbee area, life jackets available free. Inner tubes and inflatable devices prohibited.
Food: Belgio's Catering concession stand, outside food allowed.
Recreation: Lap swimming, adult float, diving, Frisbee, swimming lessons
Best for: Families
Special events: DJ on the Deck every Monday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. features music, games and giveaways. Open water polo play 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays.
New this year: Starfish Swim School lessons available mornings and evenings for children and adults.
Information: (630) 848-5092, napervilleparks.org
Diamond Lake Beach, Mundelein
Address: 1016 Diamond Lake Road
Hours: Noon to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. all other days until Aug. 8
Admission: $6 weekdays, $7 weekends for residents and nonresidents
Parking: Free
Beach features and amenities: Roped in swim area, playground on the sand, volleyball nets, gazebos, changing room and showers but no lockers, lawn chairs, a few large shade umbrellas
Rentals: Paddleboats, daily boat launch rights
Food: Concessions available, outside food allowed, grills and picnic tables available
Recreation: Swimming, volleyball, boating
Best for: All age groups
Special events: Wakeboard competition and demo 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 26. Watch talented wakeboarders and see the best equipment with music and kids activities. Swimming and boat traffic allowed after 2 p.m. Free admission all day. Picnic and Venetian night begins 10 a.m. Saturday, July 17. Enjoy food on the beach and an evening parade of lighted boats. Free admission all day. Movie night 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, July 23. Watch a flick on an inflatable screen with popcorn and concessions. $5 per person.
New this year: A nearly 25-yard-long floating obstacle course
Information: (847) 566-0650, mundeleinparks.org
Harold Hall Quarry Beach, Batavia
Address: 400 S. Water St.
Hours: Noon to 6 p.m. June 14 through Aug. 15.
Admission: $7 residents, $10 nonresidents. On Wednesdays, $2 residents, $5 nonresidents. Season passes and 10-visit passes available.
Parking: Free
Beach features and amenities: Sandy beach and swimming area, zero-depth edge, kids water play area, drop slide, diving area, picnic area with grills, sand volleyball courts, path for biking, walking or jogging. Flotation devices prohibited.
Rentals: Volleyballs available for checkout. The quarry itself is also available for rent outside normal operating hours.
Food: Concession stand and vending machines available, outside food allowed
Recreation: Swimming, diving, sand volleyball, biking, walking, jogging, water fitness programs, lifeguard training programs
Best for: Families and large groups
Special events: Special Family Fridays run 5 to 7 p.m.; $3. Camping at the Quarry is June 26 and 27. Ten families can register to bring a tent for a campfire, s'mores, ghost stories and souvenirs. $89 residents, $102 Batavia residents not in park district boundaries, $116 nonresidents.
New this year: Aquapalooza runs 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. June 17, July 15 and Aug. 12 with contests and entertainment including greased watermelon relay races and water balloon contests, $2 for kids entering grades 7-12 with school ID.
Information: (630) 879-5235, bataviaparks.org/park14.htm
Independence Grove Beach, Libertyville
Address: 16400 W. Buckley Road
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends through June 13, then daily June 14 to Aug. 20. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends Aug. 21 to Sept. 6.
Admission: $4 Lake County residents, $7 nonresidents. Rates drop to $2 and $4 after 3 p.m. Group rates and season passes available.
Parking: Free for Lake County residents, $5 per car Monday through Thursday and $10 Friday through Sunday and holidays for nonresidents.
Beach features and amenities: Fishing piers, canoe launch, 400-foot sandy beach, beach wheelchairs, visitors' center, fountain and gardens, hiking and biking trails, children's playground. Inflatable water toys prohibited.
Rentals: Pavilion rentals for picnics, canoes, kayaks, paddle boats, fishing boats, bicycles, adaptive tricycles, beach chairs, shade umbrellas
Food: Café open most beach hours, outside food allowed
Recreation: Swimming, hiking, jogging, canoeing, boating, catch and release fishing
Best for: Camp groups, fitness enthusiasts and families
Special events: Family Fun Fridays feature activities such as races against lifeguards and pirate-themed events.
Information: (847) 968-3499, lcfpd.org/preserves
Main Beach, Crystal Lake
Address: 300 Lake Shore Drive
Hours: 9 a.m. until dusk through Sept. 6
Admission: $1 per resident and each resident can bring four guests for $1 each. Nonresident admission is $6 for children 4 to 15 and seniors 62 and older, $10 for adults 16 and older. Rates drop after 3 p.m. Season passes available.
Parking: $5 for nonresidents
Beach features and amenities: Floating aqua patio, fishing piers, bike compound, picnic tables, playground
Rentals: Canoes, row boats, sailboats, paddle boats, kayaks and hydrobikes
Food: Concession stand available, outside food allowed
Recreation: Swimming, boating, sailing, fishing, biking
Best for: Families with tots or teens, fishers
Special events: Blast on the Beach 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28. Listen to a Jimmy Buffett tribute band with a beer garden and concessions, and see a magic show or go on a treasure hunt. Campout at the beach Friday, June 11, to Saturday, June 12, $85 residents, $100 nonresidents, registration required. Start the evening with a movie in the park and an ice cream eating contest and spend Saturday with a kids dog show at 9 a.m. and a big wheel race at 10:45 a.m. Registration required for both Saturday events, $10 residents, $15 nonresidents.
Information: (815) 477-5404, crystallakeparks.org/Parks-Facilities/beaches
Paulus Park Beach, Lake Zurich
Address: 200 S. Rand Road
Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Sept. 6. Weekends only after Aug. 15
Admission: $5 for children 4 to 17 and $8 for adults 18 and older. Children 3 and younger are free. Season passes available.
Parking: Free
Beach features and amenities: Sprayground water play area, volleyball court, picnic tables, shelters, playground, nature area
Rentals: Three picnic shelters available
Food: Concessions available, outside food allowed
Recreation: Swimming, walking, volleyball
Best for: Young ones will enjoy the sprayground, but the beach and park are family friendly overall
Special events: Independence Day celebration at Paulus Park July 3.
Information: (847) 438-5146