CHICAGO — 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 ...

Illinois Beach State Park is a bit like someone took Big Marsh Park, Montrose Beach, and Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and mashed them together.

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.