Montrose Beach wins beach tournament

The summer has just started and beaches are packed up and down the Lake Michigan coast.

State of play: The recent heatwave and subsequent beach surge is a perfect peg for this month's tournament: best beaches.

• After a week-long contest, Montrose Beach emerged victorious!

The big picture: It's hard to argue with that result, as Montrose Beach has long been more than just a place to put your feet in the sand.

• It's the home of the piping plovers , for pete's sake!

Reality check: It was very close. Runner-up North Avenue Beach lost by only 19 votes!

Zoom out: We have some of the coolest in the Midwest, if not the country. Our options range from best places to party with your feet in the sand to the best spots to get away from it all.

Here were the original 16 beaches we featured:

North Avenue Beach vs. Loyola Beach

North Avenue is the top seed in the tournament for good reason. It isn't just a beach, it's a destination for restaurants, volleyball and live music. Loyola Beach represents one of Rogers Park's best lakeside playgrounds.

Rainbow Beach vs. Hollywood Beach

Rainbow Beach is one of the most historic beaches in Chicago, serving 77th Street and featuring great views of the city. Hollywood Beach near Foster has become the city's unofficial LGBTQ+ beach.

31st Street Beach vs. The Ledge

31st Street Beach is gorgeous, offering great views of downtown. The Ledge isn't really a beach, but don't tell that to the folks from the Belmont Rocks or even further down toward Fullerton. Again, no lifeguards on duty but people love it.

Oak Street Beach vs. Clark Street Beach (Evanston)

Oak Street represents the city's most glamorous beaches for its skyscraper backdrop and proximity to the Magnificent Mile. Clark Street Beach in Evanston may require payment or residency, but it is a mainstay for North Shore beachlovers.

57th Street Beach vs. Ohio Street Beach

57th Street Beach is the sandy spot just south of Promontory Point. It's an oasis, really. Ohio Street Beach presents a petite swim spot right before you reach Navy Pier and offers ample views of the Playpen.

12th Street Beach vs. Montrose Beach

12th Street beach is nestled between Northerly Island and the Adler Planetarium. Heavyweight Montrose Beach, meanwhile, presents a restaurant, an athletic field, sports, fishing and a dog area.

South Shore Beach vs. Promontory Point

South Shore Beach sits just behind the South Shore Cultural Center and boy, is it beautiful. Promontory Point doesn't qualify as a true beach per se but is beloved by picnickers and swimmers, even year-round.

Indiana Dunes vs. Illinois Beach State Park

Both of these fall outside the Chicago limits but the legendary Indiana Dunes makes for a popular day trip and even weekend beach getaway. Gorgeous Illinois Beach State Park in north suburban Zion offers camping and, for decades, a view of the shuttered Zion nuclear power plant.