Travel Midwest Magazine Travel Midwest Digital ReplicaSUM17 | Page 31

LAKE SUPERIOR
The beautiful city (and county) of Racine, Wisconsin, has a
lot to offer. Whether you’re looking to bike through the town,
explore the architecture of the famous native Frank Lloyd
Wright, or peruse through the many boutiques and shops in
the downtown area, Racine is a top contender for Midwest-
ern summer destinations.
On Lake Michigan, you may hear everyone in the area
buzzing about Racine’s North Beach. North Beach is a “city
beach,” urban in style, but just as relaxing as the real thing,
with pure white sand and calming waves. There is plenty of
access to nearby shops and restaurants, so you and the
whole family can easily make a weekend out of North Beach
alone. The beach is a “Certified Blue Wave” clean beach by
the National Clean Beaches Council, and has been noted
as award-worthy by several publications and organizations.
Lifeguards are always on duty in the summer at North
Beach, so safety is not an issue for families traveling with
small children. The Beachside Oasis is in full swing during
the summer months at North Beach as well, and you will be
able to sip cocktails and enjoy live music while you’re soak-
ing up the summer sun. North Beach does get quite busy in
the summer, but the parking is free, so plan your day and
head to the best city beach in the Midwest!
Not up for sand in your pants? That's perfectly fine. There
are plenty of other things to do in Racine, like going to the
Racine Zoo! The Racine Zoo houses more than 100 different
species of animals, including lions! Purchase tickets now for
the summer Animal Crackers Concert Series, which is host-
ing four spectacular days of live music and all things jazz,
wine, and food. Tickets are about $60, and include access
to a variety of dining options, as well as the zoo itself. Doors
for the summer concert series will open at 5:30pm, with the
shows beginning at 7pm. The four concert days are July 12 th ,
July 26 th , August 9 th , and August 23 rd .
If you are up for a 3-hour drive inland from Racine, head to
Wisconsin Dells, “Water Park Capital of the World!” Home
to the most water parks per capita than anywhere else on
the planet, Wisconsin Dells has a ton of activities that the en-
tire family will enjoy all summer long. Wisconsin Dells resorts
were the first to ever put a roof over a waterpark, essentially
creating an indoor park that could be visited year-round. The
indoor waterparks are easy to fall in love with, and many are
attached to resorts for convenience. Some of the parks dou-
ble as indoor and outdoor waterparks, so a summer vaca-
tion here is a no-brainer, but a unique winter escape to an
indoor park isn’t a bad idea, which leaves no room for ex-
cuses when deciding whether or not you should visit the
area.
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