Wisconsin Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett joined 620 WTMJ's "Wisconsin's Afternoon News" Thursday to talk about the best beaches in our state. For more, check out travelwisconsin.com.
1) If you want sand in your shoes:
- It has 50 acres of sand along 2,500 feet of shoreline and is located just blocks away from Downtown Racine.
- North Beach was also named a Top 5 Best Freshwater Beach by USA Today, Top 10 Family Friendly Beach by Parents magazine and Top City Beach by Midwest Living magazine.
- It’s the first beach in Wisconsin to be designated as a Certified Blue Wave clean beach by the National Clean Beaches Council.
- The beach has a volleyball court, a snack bar and a nearby Kid's Cove nautical-themed playground. Live music is played on weekends throughout the summer at the Beachside Oasis concession stand.
- North Beach is also home to special events, including EVP Professional Beach Volleyball and the Ironman 70.3 Racine triathlon.
- The ½ mile boardwalk along the beach connects the Algoma Visitor Center to the Marina and was built by volunteers from recycled plastic lumber.
- Visitors can swim, kayak, play sand volleyball or just walk along the lakefront.
- This year is the 30th Anniversary of Shanty Days Celebration of the Lake (Aug. 14-16)
- There’s volleyball tournament right on the beach and a fireworks display over the lake.
Fontana Beach, located on the western shore of Geneva Lake in the Village of Fontana
- The year-round population of Fontana is 1,674 but it’s home to the Abbey Resort and Avani Spa.
- The beach is just a short walk from the Resort.
- It’s a sand beach, but there’s a large grassy space that’s perfect for picnic by the water.
- Saturday nights during the summer months, Fontana Beach hosts Movies on the Beach.
- This summer they’re hosting blockbusters like The Martian, Star Wars and Disney’s Inside Out.
- Admission is only $1.00 and concessions are available.
2) If you don’t want to get sand in your shoes:
Schoolhouse Beach is located in a protected cove on Washington Island, just off the Peninsula of Door County.
- The beach is made up of individual, limestone pebbles that are smoothed by the waves of Lake Michigan.
- The limestone beach is a geological marvel – one of only five of its kind in the world. There’s actually a fine for taking one of the rocks from the beach.
- Schoolhouse Beach is great for swimming, diving, rafting and snorkeling.
- There’s a marked area with a diving raft for experienced swimmers.
- The wooded area behind the beach is great for grilling and picnics.
