6 Ocean-Like Beaches on Wisconsin's Great Lakes

Think you need to travel to the Atlantic or Pacific to enjoy a beachside vacation? Think again! Wisconsin is home to a number of ocean-esque beaches along beautiful Great Lakes coastlines. These freshwater favorites are great for families, budget-friendly and closer to home than traditional oceanside vacations.

Here are six of our most impressive beaches that will leave you with no choice but to dive in and head to Wisconsin’s fresh coasts!

North Beach - Racine

Racine's expansive North Beach is located on the Lake Michigan waterfront. This beach has 2,500 feet of shoreline open to the public for swimming, fishing and picnics and has been a designated Blue Wave Beach (America's first environmental certification for beaches) since 2004. The Beachside Oasis is also a part of North Beach, featuring a concession stand, live music, a nonslip Mobi Mat for wheelchair users, and the Kids' Cove Playground located right on the beach.

Things to Do:

You’re in America’s Kringle Capital. The Kringle, an oval-shaped, authentic Danish pastry, is produced predominantly in Racine County. With 32 layers of flaky dough and filling choices from fruits to nuts, this is a delicious pastry you can only get here. Stop by O&H Danish Bakery to try it out!

Big Bay Beach at Town Park - Madeline Island

Travel to the northernmost tip of Wisconsin to visit Madeline Island, the largest of the 22 Apostle Islands. The island’s boardwalk provides a guided walk along Big Bay Beach, allowing you to enjoy the sound of the waves while taking in the spectacular view of Lake Superior through the towering trees. With two miles of sand beach, swimming and fishing, this park is both secluded and free, everything a vacation should be. Those who need it can also check out a specialized beach wheelchair for a barrier-free beach day.

Things to Do:

Try stand-up paddle boarding, a popular activity that combines surfing and paddling. Paddleboards, canoes and kayaks are available at several nearby Madeline Island rental companies. Enjoy a beer and a sunset at the casual and eclectic Tom’s Burned Down Café. This local bar was once damaged in a fire and instead of re-building, they covered the building with a tent and now allow patrons to leave permanent marks by writing on the ruins’ walls.

Bradford Beach - Milwaukee

This urban beach is the perfect place for L.A. dreamers of all ages to catch beach vibes in the Midwest. The active sports scene (including sand volleyball and sand soccer leagues), cocktail bar and Lake Michigan views keep the atmosphere at Bradford lively and refreshing.

Bradford is also one of the most accessible beaches in the country. A state-of-the-art ramp runs from the street down the beach — with access to the outdoor bar — to the lakefront, and beach wheelchairs are free to check out. Pro tip: head to this beach early to score free parking nearby and snag a prime spot for the day.

Things to do:

Order tropical cocktails and food at The Dock and cheer on beach volleyball leagues as they compete (or play a game yourself). Just across the street is Lake Park, a serene escape from Bradford’s energy. Hike the historic park paths to find the North Point Lighthouse, Milwaukee’s last Native American burial mound and the picturesque Lake Park waterfall (best viewed after it rains).

Schoolhouse Beach - Washington Island

Not a fan of sand in your shoes? Then Schoolhouse Beach on Washington Island is for you. Here, kids make stone castles instead of sandcastles by using individual limestone pebbles polished smooth by Lake Michigan’s waves. Not far from shore, the water deepens fairly quickly for great diving, rafting and snorkeling, and excellent swimming is offered in a marked area. The limestone rocks are beautiful but be sure to leave them there for the next visitors to enjoy. The town park and scenic wooded setting are perfect for picnics and cookouts with your favorite people.

Things to Do:

The Door County Peninsula is surrounded by numerous historic shipwrecks, including wooden schooners and steamers that sank in the mid-1800s. Depths of the ships range from as shallow as 10 feet to 225 feet. Shoreline Boat Tours offers guided cruises exploring these shipwrecks and more.

Kohler-Andrae State Park - Sheboygan

Kohler-Andrae State Park is the home of majestic sand dunes, miles of golden beach and the shimmering blue Lake Michigan water. This beach has the largest dune complex along Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan coastline and the unique wetlands within it provide habitat for many rare plants, some of which are only found on Great Lakes shorelines. More than 150 bird species have also been spotted within the park, including many species of waterfowl and shorebirds and more than 20 species of warblers. The park also boasts a wheelchair-accessible cabin to stay in with two beach wheelchairs available for use.

Things to Do:

Shop and explore downtown Sheboygan. Field to Fork Café serves breakfast and lunch favorites made with wholesome, natural ingredients from local farmers. Swing by the grocery section and buy fixings for lunch (picnic anyone?). Be sure to also take some time and explore the free John Michael Kohler Arts Center. The center has 10 galleries, a theater, studio classrooms and more.

Point Beach State Forest- Two Rivers

Point Beach State Forest is a family-friendly Lake Michigan beach offering several hundred yards of beautiful sand beach, biking and walking trails and picnic areas. Concessions are available at the beach house during the summer months. Bring the bicycles to this beach and ride the Rawley Point Recreational Trail – you can ride six miles to the Rawley Point Lighthouse at Point Beach State Forest or connect with the Mariners Trail in Two Rivers and ride to Manitowoc.

Things to Do:

Visit the Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum, the only museum dedicated to the preservation, study, production and printing of wood type. With 1.5 million pieces of wood type and more than 1,000 styles and sizes of patterns, the collection is one of the premier wood type collections in the world. In addition to wood type, the museum, which is often visited by artists, typographers and designers from across the country, is home to an amazing array of advertising cuts from the 1930s through the 1970s.

Explore more of the Great Lakes at these hidden beaches, or find a beach near you with our directory!