Timeline
16:39
Swim or walk the shore at 31st St Beach while it is still bright and the water is cool.
17:43
Grab sushi to go from Kai Sushi. It is open now and close enough to bring back for a relaxed lunch.
18:03
Return to 31st St Beach to eat your lunch. The beach is family-friendly and never crowded, giving you space to enjoy the view.
18:42
Stay for the golden light. On this date, the sun begins setting toward the WNW around 19:42, casting a warm glow over the lake and skyline.
19:39
Watch the sunset at 20:23. The sky turns deep blue as the city lights begin to twinkle across the water.
20:23
End the evening with dinner at La Cantina Grill. It is open late and offers unpretentious Mexican cuisine and live music on Friday nights.
Local tip
The beach closes at 9:30PM in summer, so head to La Cantina Grill before then if you want to stay in the area.
Check before you go
- La Cantina Grill is open Mo-Th 11:00-23:00; Fr 11:00-02:00; Sa 12:00-02:00; Su 12:00-22:00.
- Kai Sushi is open Mo-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr 11:00-23:00; Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 12:00-21:00.
- 31st St Beach is open Summers: 9AM-9:30PM.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Chicago (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).