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I'm alway surprised at how many people seem shocked that you can't see across the lake. It's 3 times larger than the state of New Jersey.
I often introduce people from the coasts to Lake Michigan. Every single time I do this, there's a pause...and then "it's like a giant sea...an interior ocean...it looks just like the ocean!" They're always blown away by it, because I assume they pictured "some big lake" and not a body of water that has large waves and you cannot come close to seeing across it. When people from the coasts have not been to Lake Michigan or Lake Superior, they simply cannot comprehend what the biggest of the Great Lakes are. I imagine a large number of those commenting on beaches outside the ocean simply have never been to the Great Lakes. Take a boat across Lake Superior some time. Or drive around Lake Michigan/Huron. Regardless, these are real beaches on immense bodies of water, not some pond with a dirt shore. I grew up windsurfing in Door County, and I know a good number of people who surf it. Lake Michigan influences the weather - the other day it was 17 degrees cooler by my house near the lake than in the Milwaukee suburbs where I was working, just 10 or so miles west - precipitation, you name it.
Regardless, I was just pointing out the fact that Chicago sits directly on beaches, regardless of whether they are ocean beaches or not, and Philly does not, correcting the post above me that said Chicago had "no beaches."
Meh. The other thing about Chicago is that it's not on the prettier side of the lake. While the urban beaches are actually quite awesome, Michigan's "west coast" actually has some stunning beaches with varied coastal topography and more natural beauty. I.e. I don't see how someone could say somewhere like Sleeping Bear Dunes doesn't have "real beaches" just because it's on a lake.
Sorry for the off-topic, but I have to address this:
People from Michigan who have only been to Chicago or Milwaukee always say this, even thought it's patently untrue. Chicago is actually on the south side of the lake anyway, not the eastern side. Those people have never been to areas like Door County, Kohler-Andrae dunes near Sheboygan, or North Beach (Racine). Western MI has nothing that compares with the enormous bluffs of the Niagara Escarpment that line Door County on the Green Bay side, and most of the eastern Lake Michigan side is large sand beaches that are the same/better, lacking simply some of the tall dunes near Traverse City.
Sorry for the off-topic, but I have to address this:
People from Michigan who have only been to Chicago or Milwaukee always say this, even thought it's patently untrue. Chicago is actually on the south side of the lake anyway, not the eastern side. Those people have never been to areas like Door County, Kohler-Andrae dunes near Sheboygan, or North Beach (Racine). Western MI has nothing that compares with the enormous bluffs of the Niagara Escarpment that line Door County on the Green Bay side, and most of the eastern Lake Michigan side is large sand beaches that are the same/better, lacking simply some of the tall dunes near Traverse City.
Carry on...
Wow, after looking at pics of the places you mentioned, I stand corrected on that point.
some fresh water lake aint a beach. U cant surf, skim board, smell the salt air, exfoliate that skin for a nice shiny summer glow from the salt water.
yall beaches are just try-hard. Sorry, chicago
Why would i want salt in my throat and always be worried about sharks and other fish that i could die from, not to mention im not sure why ocean beaches are even on the topic right now your nearest beach is 2 hours away, Chicago's nearest beach is 30 ft away from downtown.
You have a better chance of being struck by lightning than being attacked by a shark. Since this was 23 miles off the coast, I wouldn't worry about it. Your odds of being attacked by a shark are literally slim to none.
The whole "why would you want to swim with sharks and salt water" thing is kind of dumb in my opinion. I guess that's your personal opinion, but you don't have to say it to make one place seem worse/better. I personally love the ocean, but the main point is, Chicago has 30+ beaches in the city itself, and yes they are beaches with a lot of activity that doesn't get frigid in the summer and it's pretty frivolous to say they aren't beaches.
Nope, wrong again, you are now moving the goal post. You said a Lake Beach and an Ocean beach cannot be compared; when in reality they CAN be compared (and contrasted)
Not wrong. Just worded it improperly. Compared and contrasted, whatever, who even cares. It's all STILL opinion and worthless to debate.
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