I love driving Lake Shore Drive. It's simply beautiful, and can be incredibly peaceful. In the evening you get to see the lights of the city, and during the day can watch the lake cycle through one of its many personalities. And you'll have the opportunity to see the Drive in all its glory, and be annoyed by its gridlock. Near Oak Street Beach you'll see dozens of boats floating in the area partying. It can be incredibly frustrating going north when there's a Cubs game in the summer. If you find yourself cruising Lake Shore on the day of the Chicago Air & Water Show, you have to be a masochist. And even on they south end, when you're driving down Lake Shore nest the South Shore Cultural Center (especially in the summer) it can be trying. But it's emblematic of Chicago, and in the summer it almost doesn't matter if it takes you an hour to drive from Hollywood to Roosevelt because you have something to look at in any direction. I'd take LSD over the Kennedy any day. Lucky to live a mile and a half away so that it's my main thoroughfare through the city. read more

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Happy New Year everyone, this is my first review for 2021!! I love Lake Shore Drive (LSD), how it connects Hyde Park and Rogers Park, in just 30 to 45 minutes. You can see the complete beauty of our city by the lake, by using LSD. I have childhood memories of playing baseball by Weiss Hospital and having to run across LSD to retrieve baseballs. Looking back, if my parents had found out...ouch... It's scary to look back at that but that was part of the fun of childhood. Back to LSD, it's my preferred way to get to and from the loop, the sunrise views coming into the downtown area are incredible. The views in the evening and sunsets can melt the day's worries away. Watching the runners, walkers, dogs, boaters, fishermen, volleyball players, sunbathers and bikers along LSD shows the vitality of the city. If you use LSD daily, you may lose your passion for the drive. Since I don't use it too often these days, I like to take it all in - seeing the waves, the ice in the lake, the parks and architecture. It's just a wonderful experience - I make it a point to follow the speed limit so that I can smell the roses. I just hope that they don't charge a toll for using LSD, which is on the table because of the city's finances. As for speeding, watch out for the speed cameras going up - 6 mph above the speed limit will result in a $35 ticket. read more

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If you do rideshare, it's Lake Share Drive. If you blast "Believe" while you drive, it's Lake Cher Drive. If you still have wet hair from washing it, it's Lake Shower Drive. And if you think I dress too slutty, then you're Lake Slutshamer Drive. Sometimes it can be by far the quickest way to get across Chicago. Actually I would say most of the time it can be. Especially if you're going north to south or south to north like a Bears running back on speed. But there are times when the whole thing is backed up and you know, there really shouldn't be have any traffic lights on this road - it's an absolute mess when they do when there's heavy traffic. You can sit here for a long time. But for recreational use, it's simply one of the most beautiful roads in the whole country. There's nothing better than driving up and down this road from which you can see across the lake and you can see the beautiful Skyline. Let's say that you're coming south on Lakeshore Drive - you've got the incredible skyline of Chicago right in front of you with the Drake Hotel and the John Hancock Center behind it, the Sears Tower a little bit further south which is now called the Willis Tower of course. Ever since Bruce saved the world by dropping Alan Rickman off it, I suppose. Then on the left you have that incredible Lake, with the Navy Pier in the foreground and then the Adler Planetarium and the Soldiers Field and museums in the distant background. What could be better than all of that? It's heaven. And like I said at least until it runs out of steam way up in the north suburbs a little bit south of Evanston, it is clearly the fastest way to get from North to Loop and loop to North. But once it dumps you onto city streets, you're really really dumped on city streets dude. I mean you're nowhere near a highway and good luck getting anywhere. You better be close to where you're going. The south end is nothing like that though. It even connects up with the highways in Chinatown so it makes this part of Chicago one of the easiest to navigate. Now after all that - Are you shore that you want to drive down Lake Shore Drive? read more

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When I first moved up to the Northside, one of my favorite commutes was on LSD at night or at sunrise, doing about 60-70 miles on open lanes, expect on the old S curve. Yes traffic can be nuts, but when it is open and the weather is great, it is a great commute with scenic views. Hell I even love it when the wind is high and you get those big waves splashing on the Northbound lanes. When The Heiress Apparent was a baby, I use to put her in her car seat late at high and drive with her on the Drive to put her to sleep. I have seen people almost die trying to cross the Drive (no idea why), all sorts of stupidity/crashes, people going so fast past me that me doing 70 mph was too slow, they scared the crap out of me by making my car rock, only to look up and not even see them anymore. I was on the drive the first time Obama came home as POTUS...that was a hot mess, but love him anyway. Showed off my mad driving skills by driving backwards down the should to get to an exit where I could escape. I have had the wind in my hair and sun on my face while traveling from the Southside to the Northside and back again, playing some great tunes on the Drive. I loved the Drive even during the Blizzard when all of those cars got stuck...but then I was home watching the storm from my balcony while sipping champagne and eating pate and cheese. Not only is it a great drive, it is a great space to walk/bike on. I am by no means a participate in the Chicago Triathlon, but I do love to take advantage of the fact that the Drive is closed and I can walk on it, travel free...totally different perspective. This is probably one of the best roads to drive on and one of the only ones I have fond memories of. read more

Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable - Sitting in traffic waiting for the boats to go by - Local Flavor Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm trippin' on LSD!! (Lake Shore Drive) This world-famous drive runs along Lake Michigan, and seems to be the the place to be stuck in traffic! It's more like a highway than a drive, but it's still a scenic view as you cruise along with the big city on one side, and the icy waters of the lake on the other! There's plenty of walks that you can take along that run parallel to the LSD, but I wouldn't go walking directly on there. read more

If Carl Sandburg described Chicago as the city of big shoulders, I'd like to think of Lake Shore drive as the backbone. Curving gracefully along the city's northeast border, it buffers the skyscrapers from the clear lake. Cars and buses zip along the road while pedestrians meander along the wide walkway along the lake, sometimes heading somewhere with a destination in mind (perhaps Navy Pier) and other times just enjoying the scenery on a clear day. My most recent visit to the Windy City included a stay along Lake Shore Drive, in close proximity to the Lincoln Park Zoo and with easy access to the lake and the beach. The boulevard buzzed with activity at all hours of the day and night, but rather than feeling obnoxious in the early hours, it was somewhat comforting to hear the ambient noise. Morning meant waking up with the sun and walking to find some coffee. There was still the slightest chill in the air that was invigorating in the summer. Java in hand, I sauntered over to the lake to appreciate the early hours with some relative peace and quiet in the city. But come afternoon, Lake Shore Drive was hopping again, and my friends and I grabbed some brunch at a lively restaurant nearby. No matter your mood and no matter the season, there's no better place to stay in Chicago than on Lake Shore Drive. read more

How to review Lake Shore Drive? It's like reviewing my liver. It's a part of me. Like my liver, it washes clean the toxins from everyday life. With a nod to Pablo Picasso as I lifted that line from him: "Art washes away from the soul, the dust of everyday life." Nice line, PP. That guy sure does find his way around this city. This strip of concrete is art in motion. Even without a vehicle in sight...it gives the illusion of movement. It helps you think and clears your mind at the same time. (And no, as I pen this...I'm not actually on the substance, LSD!) But, there is the speculation those famous song-sters, "Aliotta, Haynes and Jeremiah" were around the time that they wrote the 1971 lyrics that immortalized this strip of asphalt. You don't have to be trippin' to enjoy this road. in fact, drive it a time or two - leave town and then - play the song in your mind and it's like you are right there again, "runnin' south on Lakeshore Drive headin' into town..." (In my mind, there is NEVER snow on the drive ;) and no traffic either. Just majestic buildings, a glorious lake and "sometimes you can smell the green if your mind is feeling fine..." "My three best memories" you ask... If I ever meet you, I'll tell you the FIRST. The second tells of "homecoming." But I think the BEST (which even tops the FIRST and that's saying something since it's competing with a teenage memory that involves Prince, (I would die 4U,) an older co-worker in brown cords and his brand new silver corvette. We will overlook the fact that this guy works at Kmart, lives in his parent's basement and three of squeezed into that car on a last minute decision to head downtown... but the BEST: ....riding my bike straight down the middle of LSD, courtesy of the Chicago triathalon. Days earlier, had I been too busy obsessing about the cold swim in Lake Michigan to even think about the potential thrill of riding my mountain bike (yes, mountain bike) down LSD? Who knows!? Maybe it was the relief of living through the swim or the fact that I WAS on a mountain bike, but pumping up Lake Shore Drive to Hollywood did take me up n some others down! Literally. I found out THERE ARE (at least there was) these weirdly perfect grooves in LSD such that roadies were warned earlier...not to let their road bike tire slip into it... this info was confirmed when I saw shoulder road-rash all over a couple of folks at the race transition. They seriously got their tire wedged in the groove and went down hard. I didn't wipe out, thankfully and the ride was exhilarating! One way or another...Lake Shore Drive will show that you that "there ain't no road just like it." read more

*** Seriously babe, what's not to love? I have always adored you ... *** I can remember the first time that I laid eyes on you ... it was 1993 then. You had the curves, and you couldn't have lived any closer to the lake. Oh, you were stunning then ... and you are even more stunning now. Remember back then, I drove an Isuzu Amigo w/ a semi-rag top? I used to remove that top whenever I had friends w/ me, y'know? I always wanted them to see your beauty as clearly as possible. Yesterday I went to visit that old condo I got in '95 to be near you. Remember it? Lofty but cute. We had true romance, didn't we? It is still there, but where did these new skyscrapers come from? Ha, I never thought I could have you all to myself. You're too beautiful. I guess that is why everyone wants to live near you. You are amazing. *** I have missed you, babe. Rest assured, I will return. I love you! *** read more

I have experienced Lake Shore Drive from the power of a taxi ride to the power of my feet. Lake Shore Drive is part of something great and long. It is a segment of US 41, the highway made famous in the Allman Brothers song "Ramblin Man." US 41 is a major highway connecting Miami, Florida in the southernmost part of the country to Copper City, Michigan in the northernmost part of the country. Travelling on the Lake Shore Drive segment of US 41, I felt a connection to my past. I spent summer weeks off US 41 visiting my brother at Indiana State University. I spent days off in Florida visiting the beautiful west coast parks and the Everglades off US 41. And Miami near F.A.U where I went to school will never leave my mind. Lake Shore Drive is a segment of the river of asphalt and concrete celebrating Chicago and in my perspective past memories. This review is a reflection of celebrating Chicago on the Lake Shore Drive segment of US 41. On numerous taxi rides and walks, I have experienced Lake Shore Drive from where northbound I-55 ends at Lake Michigan to Belmont Avenue near Wrigley Field. This paragraph describes the scenery from south to north that summarizes my experiences on Lake Shore Drive. Immediately north of I-55, Lake Shore Drive changes from an expressway that comes in from Jackson Park to the south into a grand boulevard. It shoots north toward the Illinois Center skyline. Bordering the Drive on the left is Grant Park with the famous Buckingham Fountain and Chicago skyline towering above. Bordering the Drive on the right are The Museum Complex with Soldier Field and the Lake Michigan shoreline. The neat thing about Lake Shore Drive is that the Lakefront Path is its companion throughout the majority of its length. Whenever I sat inside a taxi be it to the downtown hotel or Wrigley Field, I'd envy the joggers and walkers outside and just want to tell the cabbie to let me out and run like the wind alongside Lake Michigan. North of Grant Park, exciting buildings border the west side of the drive as it picks up slight elevation to cross the Chicago River on the Outer Drive Bridge. Across the river Navy Pier is to the right and Magnificent Mile is nearby to the left. There is a stop light before a sharp s-curve brings Lake Shore Drive toward the west. The drive soon curves to the north with traffic from the north terminus of Michigan Avenue feeding into it. The breathtaking views of Lake Michigan still reach out to the horizon. The road develops into an expressway with grade separations. The westside of the drive is interspersed with beautiful residential buildings, a lagoon, harbor, and the greenery of Lincoln Park. As the Drive progresses north woodsy scenery replaces Lake Michigan vistas. Lake Shore Drive continues beyond Belmont Avenue until it changes into Hollywood. "Joy to the World" describes the feeling of travelling between the Lake Michigan shoreline and grand parks interspersed with the Chicago skyline. In my opinion non-motorized transportation on the parallel Lakefront Path is the better way of achieving this sense of enjoyment. It is my dream to travel US 41 from Michigan to Florida (emphasis on a dream). A more foreseeable dream is renting one of the bikes that are available throughout Chicago then riding it throughout Lakefront Path. In conclusion Lake Shore Drive is a beautiful segment of US 41 that is suitable for getting from point A to point B where its companion concrete and asphalt the Lakefront Path is suitable for seeing the similar views at a slower and relaxing pace. read more

Be careful driving flooding at North Avenue in heavy rain storms. read more

While this road had some pretty bad traffic during the repaving process, it was worth it. The section near downtown is a lot smoother and cleaner in appearance. I take LSD to get up north instead of the ever congested Kennedy. Traffic patterns are predictable and congestion is usually concentrated near downtown where LSD twists and turns to follow the lake and city. It'd be a pretty damn good Formula-D course actually. The view is great with beaches and sculptures along the lake trail to the east and the city on the west. Just make sure to have a good excuse for going over the crazy low speed limit... there's plenty of turnabouts and hidey holes for the 5-0 to tag you. Or go the speed limit... just do everyone a favor and stay to the right, coz you're gonna get passed... A LOT read more

Where else can you scream, "I'M ON LSD!!!!" and have it be completely okay? One of the best drives in the Midwest, especially with no traffic. Pick up some coffee before dawn, put on good music, and drive along the coast at sunrise one day. read more

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This ain't no sunset in Hawaii, it's not even a beach in the Caribbean but damn how is your lake water so clear?!?! Lake Shore Drive is a beautiful strip of land running North South along the lake. There is a beautiful split between a very nice Chicago skyline and the crystal clear colour of the lake. On one side you see the well planned out city of Chicago and on the other you see boats, swimmers and people just enjoying the water. The drive itself is littered with beaches, stairs for people to sit on and a path carved out for runners, bikers, skate boarders, roller blades and walkers. The area itself is busy but not to the point were it's overwhelming. Between the 2 beaches, Navy Pier and the marina on this strip I really don't have any reason to leave. Mind you Navy Pier is a tourist trap but they do have beer. The beaches have many sporting events including some pretty good beach volleyball players. We were able to watch an air show here as well. I know there is a lot going on here but please keep your eyes on the road or you will run into a median while staring at the hot beach volleyball players :P read more

Listen to Lake Shore Drive by Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah while you drive on here. One of the best roads to travel on when there isn't traffic because of how beautiful the views on since it is along Lake Michigan. read more

Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable - Local Flavor Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Definitely one of the most scenic routes in the city!! You stride along the bike paths, the lush green parks, half-naked residents enjoying their city (with reason), passing all the gorgeous architecture of our famous **skyline** with the Chicago museums (depending if you begin south near Hyde Park's Museum of Science & Industry)... Ahhh... If you don't mind going at a slow pace, yet avoiding all the traffic on the interstate highways (such as the Edens), take LSD up to the Loyola/Roger's Park area where you can get onto Sheridan. Follow that allllll the way north to the Wisconsin border (around Waukegan, Illinois) to twist, turn, and observe some jaw-dropping lakeshore houses (or better yet, mansions). Just like Desperate Housewives times ten! It's also neat to see all the changing neighborhoods in income, diversity & architecture. Just becareful of those who try to cross busy LSD because the last place your eyes want to be is on the road. read more

Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable - Lakeshore Utopia - Local Flavor Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Lake Shore Drive, is my gateway strip from the north side to the south side, or vice versa! I can never get enough of the views while driving on LSD. During the morning hours you have the sunrise, and during the evening hours you have the sunset gleaming over our beaches along the lakefront. A couple of those beaches are North Avenue, and Oak Street Beach! Very gorgeous, but it doesn't stop there. Entering the downtown area you have John Hancock; Navy Pier; Soldiers Field; Maggie Daley; Sears Tower; Buckingham Fountain; Millennium Park, and a variety of museums; all along LSD. I can never get enough of these views, and they have always given me that tingling feeling that I'm in Chicago. Im also taken away by seeing local, and visiting runners, and cyclists on our lakefront. Being a runner, and cyclist myself, i also get a tad bit jealous, but i eventually get my time on the lakefront trail too. LSD, can also be a nightmare when there is a lot of traffic, but you can outweigh that by taking in the beautiful city views that I've mentioned throughout this review. The longer the better! Just like Hawaiian residents say "Lucky We Live In Hawaii!", I say "Lucky We Live In Chicago!". It's the little things that make a difference, and LSD gives you reminders of the many we have in Chi-Town. ~ Thomas G read more

Have said it earlier in another review chicago is lucky to have this lake shore drive.Best part is having trails to run all along the lake with water taps in between and fitness freaks all around.This is about the south lake shore drive run which we did all of sudden and it was refreshing and beautiful as usual but be safe if you run alone too late. Felt a bit unsafe after we cross the soldier field. Go run n get fit read more

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For my review #1100, a bit of nostalgia: A sixteen-year-old girl In a 'Vette, Daytona blue Went cruisin' on LSD It was her favorite thing to do Past Navy Pier & Oak Street Beach Around the S-curve, what a view Chicago, could there be a city More beautiful than you? The top was down on my sweet little car The wind made a mess of my hair No matter, I went faster still I was young, without a care The Beach Boys on the radio Sang their classic "I Get Around" My anthem! as I rode the wind on a song For me it was Paradise found My friends changed the words to that other BB song They expected to see the day When she'd have "Fun, Fun, Fun" too far, too fast And her mama'd take the Sting Ray away But LSD's magic stayed eternal In my heart, it didn't end It's one of the world's most wonderful drives There's adventure around every bend I'm writing this rhyme in my car, haha A lifetime later, after decades did pass On Palos Verdes Drive West, overlooking the sea This drive, too, kicks some serious ass I'm carefree again, loving life every minute What a joy just to be alive! And A Piece O' My Heart will always be yours My incredible Lake Shore Drive read more

"There's a road I'd like to tell you 'bout, lives in my hometown." Nothing personifies Chicago quite like Lake Shore Drive. I've been lucky enough to spend a good portion of my life living near this magnificent stretch of road and it just spells home to me. I'll never forget the day I got my driver's license - the first thing I did was drive on LSD as far south as it would take me and then turn around and head up north. It was an incredible feeling of freedom. To this day, when I want to clear my head, I get in my car, blast some tunes, and take a drive on this rockin' roadway. It's been featured in many movies, such as "When Harry Met Sally" (although they were driving in the wrong direction), "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," "Risky Business," "The Blues Brothers" and many more. I always smile when I see these movies just for the joy of seeing my beloved LSD. Famous sites along the way include: Adler Planetarium, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Navy Pier, Drake Hotel, the Mies van der Rohe Buildings, and many others that I'm forgetting. For this hometown girl, LSD is, and always will be, the road most traveled. "And there ain't no road just like it, anywhere I've found." read more

When I was little there was nothing that amused me more than my father's IBM notepad. On one side the leather was stamped "I THINK" and on the other "IBM" and we could have hours of amusements getting people to read both sides quickly. The equally immature High School equivalent of this fun with initials was somehow getting someone to say, "Oh, I took LSD" or a variety of that for how they drove up north. Goofy memories from the late 60's aside, Lake Shore Drive is a fantastic way to drive. I've lived in the south suburbs all my life and not only have I lived to tell the tale but when you get off the Ryan and 55, then you are, the Lake is on your right and the city ahead of you and it's a glorious sight. Even better if you get off at the Museum Campus and take some pictures of the Skyline. One disclaimer: as much as I LOVE Lake Shore Drive I would never stay in the city to the very last minute when Snowmaggedon is predicted and then take Lake Shore Drive to get home. Those people who were stuck in their cars for hours during the Ground Hog's Day storm in 2011, deserved it! Hello, the lake is right there, its beauty became a liability. So, if you are from out of town, stay off the Drive during major storms! Let's cue the music http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjNSmAl7hF0 and go for a ride. read more

Somewhere in between leaving my hometown of St. Louis and ending up here in Chicago, I also lived in Boston and San Diego. Of course, like any good story, the road traveled is far more compelling than the destination. So, the roads. Boston has storied Storrow Drive. But for me, it was sorrowful. I'd wind along Storrow's curves late at night, often listening to Anthony Kiedis crooning, "Sometimes I feel/Like my only friend/Is the city I live in/The city of Angels/Lonely as I am/Together we cry." And sometimes, I would cry. I loved that city, but something was missing... my friends and family. San Diego has the picturesque PCH (Pacific Coast Highway). The first day I moved out west, I met up with an old friend (from Chicago) who told me: "The sun hasn't stopped shining since I got here." The glare of the sun couldn't hide the unmistakable glint of sadness in his eyes. 326 days later, I questionably left the sublime city, the one with miles of stunning PCH made for blowing my hair around haphazardly yet somehow perfectly. Well... it didn't take long to figure out it wasn't perfect for me. And Chicago? Ah, the glorious Lake Shore Drive. During the day, I glimpse bits of her story: Weatherproof runners, famed architecture, lonely sail boats, the wind bending a park's green grass against the grain. But the real magic happens at night, when I remember why I moved to Chicago - just me and my thoughts, maybe a song and a running tab of all my Chicago memories. Like landing my dream job. Moving into a place with a panoramic view of the Lake. Breaking a few hearts. I had my heart broken. Meeting some of the best friends I have. The very moment I realized Chicago had become home. And that's a reminder I'll tire of never, ever, never. "Well there ain't no road just like it, anywhere I've found, Runnin' south on Lake Shore Drive, headin' into town. Just slippin' on by on L.S.D., Friday night trouble bound." - Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah read more

They say distance makes the heart grow fonder. This certainly is the case with this infamous road, Lake Shore Drive. Since moving away from Chicago 4 and a half years ago, I've realized I've taken LSD for granted. I went to Walt Disney Magnet, so most of my classrooms had an awesome panoramic view of the Lake, and of the drive itself. I don't know how many hours I spent staring at the Drive, counting cars, just daydreaming... I have a zillion great memories of LSD.... Running across LSD right by the Oak st. curve on foot(dangerous and stupid, I know)... Me and 10 friends motorcycling down the drive, wind in our hair, no helmet(dangerous and stupid, I know)... Rollerblading from Navy Pier to the Museum campus, before I even knew how to rollerblade, no pads and no helmet, going downhill and crashing into a concrete park bench (DAS,IK)... Taking the Drive from downtown up to Montrose beach to catch the sunrise after Prom... The Drake Hotel reminding me I'm getting close to exiting... The skyline at night... Journey to the End of the Night 2011... Field trips to MSI from Disney... The summer after I first got my license and could drive down LSD with the windows down, 4th gear, right lane, 40 miles an hour, just enjoying every minute of it... Taking it up to the Congress parkway from U of C, after leaving my ex's dorm... Taking it after leaving Northwestern, after leaving my other ex's dorm... I currently live an hour and 15 minutes away from Lake Shore Drive, but if and when I move away from the Chicago area, I will be hard pressed to find a drive this great. I've found no road to rival this one......yet. read more

Lake Shore Drive -- the only place around where you can drive along the lake front and take in its beauty. As a driver, I love that LSD is right on top of the lake. As a pedestrian, it always drives me crazy that the city is cut off from the lake by this ridiculous highway. I guess you can't have it both ways! read more

How often can you tell the world that you were on LSD and not get in trouble for it? Heehee! But seriously, Lake Shore Drive is one of the prettiest drives you can take in Chicago, if not the whole country! It is very scenic and makes me proud to be a Chicagoan :). Now those friggin potholes need to be taken care of because if I get another flat tire in the middle of the night I WILL go postal.... read more

For me, LSD is one of the many things that makes Chicago . . . so Chicago. A beautiful strip hugging the man-made coastline . . . messing up Lake Michigan's coastline for miles to the north. But I digress. When I didn't live in Chicago, I dreamt about the day that I would return, ridin' my 147 bus towards the iconic Drake Hotel. Chicago is my home, indeed. It is so zen to be able to gaze over the lake every morning on your way downtown. read more

I love the view in either direction at any time on Lake Sore Drive, north or south The perfect place to ride showing visitors to our city! I feel at home here. read more

It was always a treat when I was a kid and we'd drive from the south suburbs up The Drive to visit my uncles on the north side once a year. I always loved seeing the buildings, the cars and all the signs. When I was really young, I would sit up on the back seat in between the two front seats between my parents sans any seat belt so I could see it all. You definitely can't let kids do that anymore. Lake Shore Drive is simply the best stretch of scenery in the city, with the Lake to the east and the buildings to the west. You can drive it from Hollywood on the north side to the Museum of Science and Industry on the south side. Many people probably wouldn't consider driving it south of the I-55 junction because they confine (really relegate) themselves to the north side. The south side has some great, wide avenues and a lot of history that those people are missing out on based on presumptions. Lake Shore Drive is also rather convenient for linking up with other major roadways. You can easily link up with the Skyway, I-55, I-290, I-90-94 (via 290), Upper/Lower Wacker and ultimately Sheridan Road. You'll get to places faster if you know the little tricks of using Lake Shore Drive. I'll give you one. When heading to Wrigley northbound on The Drive do not attempt to get off at Belmont. Continue driving north to Irving Park and get off there. Your headache will be slightly less painful that way. The only beef I have with Lake Shore Drive is the speed limit. The City lowers it to 40 in the winter to protect its precious planters in the median. They're nice here (not on LaSalle or Randolph though where they obscure views and cause accidents), but let's be serious. Nobody will drive 40 on The Drive, including in a blinding lake effect blizzard. It's impossible. It's just another way for the City to increase revenue. I've been lucky so far (knock wood) and have always broken the speed limit (not egregiously, mind) without getting a ticket. It helps to know where the speed traps are. I always like to drive The Drive for an escape with the radio up and a cup of coffee at my side. It's one of the better things you can do in Chicago that's still free. read more

Def not a 5 star road, since there's some really stiff competition out there. In the US we have The Fairfax-Bolinas road (amazing) in NorCal, the "Tail of the Dragon" in Deal's Gap in NC, Rt 28 through the Adirondacks and Mulholland Drive in LA... all simply amazing roads. For LSD to esteem that high its gotta be pretty special right? Well its bumpy, lumpy and spunky like the Humpty Dance. Its got more traffic than the "cocaine corridor" stretch of I95 in Miami, and it separates the city from the water in alot of areas. Yet its proximity to both the Great Lake Michigan, and the city makes it the most memorable and organic drive in all of Chicagoland. Its one of the few roads in the country where you can actually see an entire city flash by. Try that on I75 in Atlanta, or the West Side Drive in NYC. Yea I'm name dropping, but I've driven these places so I'm confident how the LSD stacks up. Its also the only place in the city with curves and elevation changes, and as a dyed-in-the-leather car guy I need this fix regularly. Now if we could just pave this road with a magic material that never cracks, buckles or decays... read more

I LOVE Lake Shore Drive! The MOST beautiful drive in Chicago and a very important artery in Chicago. It is the quickest way from the South Shore to the Loop and the quickest way from the Northside to the Loop. The best vantage point is at 4700 south. I love that view of the Chicago skyline from that point. WE NEED TO SUPPORT LAKE SHORE DRIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A group of environmental extremist are hell-bent on demolishing Lake Shore Drive and they have the support of mayor Richard Daley. Mayor Daley plans on starting it's demise with the construction of a proposed children's museum in Grant Park at the expense of Lake Shore Drive. Daley plans on doing to Lake Shore Drive what he did to Meigs Field. http://foreverfreeandclear.org/ Keep an eye on this destructive, yet influential group of fascist that want to destroy Lake Shore Drive. Never had any issues with potholes on Lake Sore Drive. Then again I've always drove a Lincoln Town Car or Buick Roadmaster when visiting Chicago. My best advice is to buy a bigger sedan with larger tires. :) read more

All have summed up Lake Shore Drive pretty well, but let me just reiterate driving down Lake Shore Drive on a sunny, warm day or on a clear, night is the most relaxing and gorgeous drive ever! On one side is our city's beautiful skyline and on the other is Lake Michigan! It really doesn't get any more gorgeous than that. read more

Download McJuice-Rolling on LSD (Lake Shore Drive, not the drug you stoners) You will forever listen to that song when you drive down LSD. To all the slow D-bag drivers out there, get in the right lanes. Stop going 40 in the left lane and slowing everything down. Us good drivers are trying to get places and you are just rude and probably shouldn't be driving in the first place. I will throw things at your car, best believe. read more

I absolutely love Lakeshore Drive. If I can get to where I'm going by going on Lakeshore Drive that is what I prefer. It beats the highway by a long shot. The scenery is beautiful. read more

Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable - Local Flavor Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A spectacular drive along Lake Michigan

Chicago's finest drive, altho fools drove here so fast never enjoying the lake. It's beautiful here, so down foo.

I stand corrected in my assertion that LSD never gets a full on resurfacing...at least a portion of it anyway. LSD, from N Ave to Bryn Mawr, will be my daily commute for the foreseeable future and they have indeed done a fine job of re-paving a fairly long stretch of this jaunt...from about Belmont to the end of the Drive it's smooth sailing, or driving as it were; very nice to see now that winter is upon us. read more

As other reviewers say, driving up and down LSD is one of my defining memories of Chicago, especially that 90 degree curve, and the memory of all those abrasion marks there for all the cars that didn't quite make the turn. All the taxis and the desperate efforts to sidle into the right line so I could make my exit. Many of our coolest trips into Chicago were facilitated by LSD - thank you, LSD. read more

I love lakeshore Drive! I live on it and enjoy the view. But I hate the traffic I have to sit in on my way to work. Its so busy . But I guess is a good view to have while driving. So is a great road if you are just enjoying and loving the views but not if you have to drive. Lakeshore Drive and I have a love-hate relationship! read more

There are very few stretches of road that can rival LSD. From north to south you have the most visually stimulating scenery of any roadway in the country. I am not talking about natural beauty, for that you need to take a ride down the Pacific Coast highway out west. Just don't get too caught up in the view while you are driving otherwise I will be reading about you in the paper tomorrow. LSD is one of Chicago's defining characteristics. read more

One of the coolest running paths in the nation. You can run/bike/rollerblade towards North Avenue Beach where there's volleyball, swimming, check out some folks playing chess..Run in the other direction and you'll discover Navy Pier and all the museums nearby the lake. The paths are accessible through most of the Lake Shore Drive exits and parking is free on weekdays at Recreation Drive. Great way to keep in shape and see all the fun places in the city during summertime. read more

Lake Shore Drive (LSD) is one of the things that makes Chicago the grand city that it is today. You have to appreciate this route that goes all the way from Sheridan road down to the South Side. The city takes decent care of it, and it's a great way to show tourists a quick overview of the gorgeous skyline. read more