Relax at The North Avenue Beach House

The $7 million North Avenue Beach House contains 22,000 square feet of space, and it features something for everyone - an outdoor eatery and concession stands; lifeguard stations; outdoor showers; bike, chair and volleyball equipment rental offices; and restrooms. The sleek, ocean liner-inspired building is decked out in a crisp blue and white. Boasting one of the best views in the city, the new beach house has upper decks and portholes for looking at the magnificent horizon or the multitudes streaming down the redesigned lakefront trail.

The original, nearly identical beach house that stood at North Avenue Beach since the Great Depression was classified as a landmark building. However, the Chicago Park District received permission to take down the outdated structure in order to build a better facility. The renewed North Avenue Beach House opened in May 2000.