Just outside the city is Chicago’s favourite summer getaway: Oak Street Beach. This pristine stretch of sand promises endless days of shenanigans and beachside fun. The best part: you don’t even need to prepare anything. Well-equipped with all the facilities and amenities you could need, and with the city just a short walk away, you can head down to Oak Street Beach with just your swimsuit and rent benches, volleyballs and bicycles, or grab a bite from one of the food vendors if you’re feeling peckish.

At the beach, you’ll get a spectacular view of the elegant Chicago skyline, with its tall glass skyscrapers creating a unique backdrop against the tropical palm trees that dot the sandy coastline. The locals’ favourite activity is to sunbathe, and when you get there you’ll see rows and rows of people lying on towels or benches and soaking in the sun. If you’re the more active type though, you can grab some friends and have a friendly match of beach volleyball, go for a jog on the path at the edge of the beach, or go distance swimming in the ocean.