C HICAGO — One of the Great Lakes Piping Plovers that has called the Montrose Beach Dunes Natural Area home since hatching there in 2021 has returned to the area for a third season, the Chicago ...

Note: Surfing is only allowed from Memorial Day to Labor Day at Montrose and Promontory Point ... hook-shaped pier on the southeast end of the beach offers a channel on bigger days.

Illinois Beach State Park is a bit like someone took Big Marsh Park, Montrose Beach ... prepare to hike through dunes and prairies filled with scarlet tanagers and eastern prickly pear cacti ...