| Kayaking/Sailing
Chicago is home to Lake Michigan, the only Great Lake located entirely within the U.S. At approximately 118 miles wide and 307 miles long, Lake Michigan often feels more like an ocean than a lake. With nine lakefront harbors in the Chicago Park District, it's no surprise that Chicago is a boating town. Chicago Sailing, located on B-dock at the north end of Belmont Harbor offers sailing instruction and sailboat rentals. Serious sea kayaking is available on Lake Michigan, with 10 foot swells not unusual. River Canoe & Kayak offers classes, expeditions, and rentals in and around Chicago. Lincoln Park runs about two miles along Lakeshore Drive and contains several scenic lagoons. Kayak and canoe rentals are available.
Bicycling
Twenty miles of bike path along Chicago's lakefront make it a bicycling haven. The trail around Oak Street and North Avenue beaches can get pretty busy with walkers and inline skaters, but the trail to the north or south of the area tends to be less crowded and perfect for a bike ride. Bobby's Bike Hike in downtown Chicago is a favorite place for rentals and tours. The "Quintessential Chicago Tour" brings cyclists by Soldier's Field, Buckingham Fountain, and Millennium Park. Several places along the lakefront offer rentals. LaBagh Woods offers off-road mountain biking along five miles of the Chicago River, while the Chicago River trail in its entirety runs 20 miles.
Running/Walking
Running or walking along Chicago's waterfront is part of the Windy City experience. The lakefront path in Lincoln Park is popular with walkers and runners. Bunker Hill Forest Preserve is part of a 100 acre preserve in northwest Chicago. Foot trails offer walkers and runners a chance to view the preserve's open savannah teeming with native wildflowers and its oak forests. The Chicago River Trail starts in northwest Chicago and runs about 20 miles to Chicago Botanic Gardens.
Golf
The Chicago Park District has six golf courses and three driving ranges that are convenient to metropolitan Chicago. The 18-hole Harborside International Golf Center, located 16 minutes from downtown, offers skyline and Port of Chicago views. Designed by Dick Nugent in the Scottish tradition, the course sits on 458 acres. Just 10 minutes from O'Hare International Airport, White Pines Golf Club offers golfers a choice between two 18-hole golf courses situated on 240 acres. For a shorter game and breathtaking views, the Sydney R. Marovitz Golf Course offers nine holes and runs parallel to Lake Michigan.
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