Unpretentious, neighborly and abounding with non-boating activities, Montrose Harbor may be the perfect place to spend a summer afternoon. Home to a yacht club, Montrose Harbor is known for its friendliness, whether or not you consider yourself a sailor. Get out on the water or watch others sailing from shore, bike along the trails or have a family picnic as you watch Fourth of July fireworks explode over the Chicago skyline.
Set sail onto Lake Michigan from Montrose Harbor’s famously neighborly dock, which offers season-long mooring or day rates. Use one of their dinghies to row out to your boat, ready to enjoy a day of sun and laughter on the water. Appreciate the view of Chicago to the south bring your camera on a nice summer day. Even if you don’t have a boat, sit on the dock and watch yachts from small to large come in and out, daydreaming about what you would name your own.
Have fun on land with the extensive park and amenities stretching out behind the marina. Go for a jog on the well-maintained trail, which follows the water. Sailing winds offer excellent conditions for flying a kite from atop the hill. Kick a ball around on the adjacent soccer field. Bring your binoculars to spot local diving ducks looking for food in the water. End the day with a barbecue as the sun goes down, grilling your very own Chicago hot dogs in the fading golden light over the lake.
The harbor is located north of Downtown Chicago, in the Uptown neighborhood. Drive to Montrose Harbor in 15 minutes from Downtown Chicago or take public transportation in about 40 minutes. Reach it in about a 40-minute drive from Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Free parking is available on site, but can be very limited on weekends and weekday afternoons. Rent a bicycle from the bike share station located here to get some exercise. The harbormaster’s office is open only in the summer, though you can visit the park year-round.
