Lakefront

If you're new to Chicago, one of the first things you'll notice about the city is the lakefront, and the thing that is most striking about it is that it's a great, open expanse. By design, the majority of Chicago's prime real estate along the lake is designated to remain as public land, forever open and free from private development. Much of that land, over the years, has been transformed into sandy beachfront and walkways. On any given day of the year, you'll find Chicagoans, or its many visitors, out jogging, bicycle riding, or strolling along the lake's edge.

Living in Chicago, that space along the lake becomes part of your backyard, the mental landscape of what you think of as your city. I think that single fact, the foresight the city's founders had in keeping that land as a park for all of its citizens, makes Chicago a jewel.

If you'd like some more information about the lakefront and the many recreational activities offered there, here's a link to the Chicago Park District