Wondering which beaches are the best to hit in Wisconsin? Here’s the Post Crescent‘s list for the best beaches:
The arrival of summer means it’s time to hit the beach, and we have a lot of choices in Wisconsin. In the state are about 15,000 lakes, plus shorelines for the Mississippi River, St. Croix River and Great Lakes of Michigan and Superior.
Much of what makes Wisconsin beaches different from those in Waikiki is the hype and personality. OK, make that multiple personalities. Some close-to-home beaches are perfect for swimming; others are good for simply watching the waves. The craggy, sandy, calm and sleek each has its fans.
Whitefish Dunes State Park, whose 93-foot Old Baldy sand dune is the state’s tallest.
Nicolet Bay Beach at Peninsula State Park, where ice cream sales and boat rentals (kayaks to paddleboats) are within steps of beach goers.
Schoolhouse Beach on Washington Island, home to one of the world’s few beaches of flat and smooth stones. It is the perfect place to practice stone skipping.
Rock Island State Park, home to Wisconsin’s most remote beach because almost everybody hops two ferries in order to reach it.
The Clean Beaches Coalition annually designates Blue Wave beaches, a certification of environmental quality. Wisconsin has three on Lake Superior, all within Apostle Island National Lakeshore: Julian Bay, Little Sand Bay and Meyers.
Wherever you go for water sports or sunbathing, pay attention to weather conditions, says Donnalea Dinsmore, state beach program coordinator.
“Wind currents on the Great Lakes can be extreme,” she says. The National Weather Service in 2015 began rip current forecasts on the Great Lakes, to increase awareness.
Also pay attention to rainstorms, Donnalea says, because they may affect water quality. “The heavier the rain, the more run-off” of anything near a lake’s shoreline.
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