Our Stay in Edgewater, Chicago, IL
March - April 2026
Four Weeks Near The Lake
After returning from the Netherlands, we first settled in Naperville and pet-sat while the young family was on spring break. We then drove to our Airbnb in Edgewater, a Chicago neighborhood just half a mile from the lakefront.
My Miles on the Chicago Lakefront Trail
Watching the Chicago Lakefront Trail transform over the last four weeks has been mesmerizing. When we first arrived at the end of March, the trail was colored by a wintry landscape of bare branches, dark skies, and an unfriendly-looking Lake Michigan. By our last day, the white blossoms were finally popping against that deep Chicago blue sky, the teal-colored lake looked friendly, the waving grass was turning a vibrant green, and the skeletal trees of winter were covered in spring colors. It was the ultimate motivation to keep coming back for our walks and runs.
Several local landmarks along the trail stood out out. The iconic lighthouse is one of them. It now displays LGBTQ+ pride colors to honor the inclusive spirit of Edgewater. This welcoming character is also shown in the “Welcome to Edgewater” bricolage mural and the colorful mosaic detail of the Thunderbird.
The Lakefront Trail isn’t just a scenic path; it is an 18.5-mile trail that honors Chicago’s 1837 motto, Urbs in Horto, or City in a Garden. Much of this lakefront land was created through massive landfill projects in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Daniel Burnham’s visionary 1909 Plan of Chicago inspired the idea that the lakefront should remain accessible to all Chicagoans. Today, the area is well-used; the trails are filled with walkers, runners, and cyclists, while others play on the adjacent soccer fields or relax on the benches and sandy beaches along the water.
I often started at the northern trailhead, right at the 0.0 mile marker near Edgewater and Hollywood Beach. By running this trail four times, I officially became part of the honorable ChiRunners club. Because of the dynamic vibe of the city, I certainly became a Chicago runner in heart and practice.
A Skyline Sanctuary, The Success of Montrose Point
- April 8, 2026
- 6.63 mi
- 2:11:27 hrs
- 62 °F
During our walks along the lakefront, we discovered a natural hidden gem and urban wildlife hotspot, Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary. As one of the first natural areas being preserved in the Chicago area, it is an important birding location, uniquely surrounded by the city’s skyscrapers. The sanctuary offers a stop for 300 species of migrating birds that follow the Lake Michigan shoreline through the Mississippi Flyway.
It is nice to read that the preservation efforts are paying off. Next to the sanctuary at the Montrose Beach Dunes, endangered Great Lakes piping plovers have returned. The first pair nested here in 2019. This pair, named Monty and Rose, returned to nest here each year for several years. The results are amazing. Between 1990 and 2023, the number of pairs increased from just 13 to 80 across the Great Lakes region.
While we didn’t get to spot a plover on our visit, the preserve was full of tweets and twitter! We saw several beautiful species, including a common grackle foraging on the ground, a vibrant male northern cardinal high in the branches, a red-winged blackbird defending its perch, and a few relaxed mallards.