Chicago Named Among Best Beach Cities in US, World

When you think of the best beaches in the world, Chicago is not always the first to come to mind, but according to a recent study, the city is ranked among the greatest beach cities in the world, and the top beach city in the U.S.

Chicago beat out coastal cities such as Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco and Honolulu for the surprising ranking by Chicago Line Cruises. Cities in New Zealand, Spain, Canada, Denmark and Singapore were listed above Chicago.

The study is based on factors including quality-of-life, tourist traffic and cost-of-living. It took into consideration areas such as dining, music, sports, arts and architecture, nature and subjects that are unique to the city. 

The rankings don’t necessarily focus on the best beaches, but rather the best cities with a beach. 

North Avenue and Oak Street beaches are among the most popular locations for visitors in Chicago and a Chicago-area beach was named one of the nation's best restored beaches for 2016.