BY GINA ALTHOFF
It’s no secret that the Lake Michigan shoreline provides plenty of summer fun for Chicagoans when the weather is nice out. Whether you’re taking off after work on Friday to spend the night at a Wisconsin lake house or riding a bicycle along the Lakeshore Trail, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the lakefront is one of the best summertime destinations in the Midwest. In addition to the lakefront, Montrose, North Avenue and Oak Street beaches are also great places to go to enjoy lake breezes and work on your summer tans. At the beach, Chicagoans can, quite literally, put their hectic city lives behind them.
If you’re anything like me, laying on a beach with a good read is only enjoyable for so long. With rollerbladers, bikers, skateboarders and runners whizzing behind me while kayakers, sailers, and swimmers are splashing around on the lake, sitting still is an impossible task. Soon, I feel an undeniable urge to be a part of the motion all around me.
The beach can be a place to relax or a place to feed your hungry competitive spirit: a place to dive after that impressive dig or land after that killer spike. There is no reason not to be a part of the fun during beach volleyball season. In Chicago, recreational sports leagues are non-discriminatory, so no matter your skill level or schedule, there is a league for you.
Sportsmonster: If you missed the boat on recreational sports sign-ups earlier this summer, you can sign up for late summer or fall kickball, beach volleyball or dodgeball leagues. There are options for varying levels of skill and competition and if you’re new in town and want to meet new people, Sportsmonster even has a Meet-Up group for Dodgeball players on Thursday nights.
Players Sports Group: With leagues for basketball, bowling, football, softball, kickball and soccer – and more – anyone can sign up for tournaments or social events, even if the season has already begun. In August, the players club will host The Big Dig, a volleyball party and tournament at North Avenue Beach.
Chicago Sport and Social: For year-round activity, Chicago Sport and Social has indoor and outdoor leagues that blend sports with meeting new people and socializing. If you’re not a team player but still want to get out there, you can participate in kayaking activities, boot camp fitness classes or salsa and ballroom dancing. In addition, you can sign up for social events including baseball games, holiday parties and pub crawls.
So, get off your sweat-soaked beach towel and join in the commotion! If you’re not a natural-born athlete, you’ll have fun laughing at your lack of coordination, all the while meeting new people, exercising and practicing your “sets on the beach.”
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