One of Chicago's best features is most certainly it's proximity to Lake Michigan. There's certainly not to many other places you can find a sandy beach and a large expanse of fresh water right next to a thriving downtown. While Chicago's beaches are open all year round for a stroll along the lake, they officially open for swimming at the start of Memorial Day weekend -- which for 2008 is May 23. Here's a list of some of my favorite Chicago beaches.

In related news, the city is making some efforts to help get rid of Chicago beach pollution. They've installed a more efficient method of trash removal, as well as eradicating as many as 5,000 sea gull eggs -- the birds are considered the primary source for E. coli outbreaks.