White sand beach awaits on Lake Michigan

North Beach runs for 2500 feet along Lake Michigan in Racine, Wis.

North Beach map. Click for larger version.

Families can enjoy nearly a half-mile of shoreline at family-friendly North Beach in Racine, Wisconsin.

Boasting 50 acres of warm, white sand and summer lifeguards, the Lake Michigan beach nicely sits above a table of shallow water that makes wading and swimming safe for kids. There's also an expansive nautical-themed playground on the beach's south side, the 27-acre Racine Zoo on the beach's northside, and hammocks, concession stand, and volleyball courts in between. A wheelchair-accessible walkway extends across the sand to the water's edge.

To reach the beach, from the intersection of Wis. Hwys. 38 (State Street) and 32 (North Main Street) in downtown Racine and head north on Hwy. 32. After crossing the Root River, go three blocks and turn right/east onto Barker Street. A parking lot is in two blocks on the street's right/south side or you can left/north onto Hoffert Drive for additional lots. Using either the Barker Street lot or the first lot on Hoffert Drive puts you on the beach's south side.

From there, you have two options – either walk the paved Lake Michigan Pathway (dotted on map) that borders the beach’s west side or head east onto the sand.

The latter is a treat as your bare feet sink into warm white sand. You’ll enjoy great views of Lake Michigan, as sandpipers run along the shore and seagulls dart through the air. With the beach next to a marina, sailboats grace the lake.

Family-friendly
Go ahead and wade into or even take a swim in Lake Michigan. Like other Great Lakes, the water can be icy cold, which is wonderful on summer's hot, humid days.

North Beach’s 2500 feet of shoreline is family-oriented. Kid's Cove nautical-themed playground is on the beach’s southside, the 27-acre Racine Zoo stands on the beach's northside (sometimes the north end of the beach is referred to as “Zoo Beach”), and hammocks, a concession stand, volleyball courts, and plenty of sunbathing space sits in between.

Because of this, North Beach often is recognized as one of the nation’s best beaches. USA Today, Parents magazine, and Midwest Living magazine all have featured it. The National Clean Beaches Council also designated as a Certified Blue Wave clean beach – the first in Wisconsin to receive the certification.

Weekdays are best for visiting, as the beach will be crowded on summer weekends. Lifeguards are on duty from the first week in June through the first week in September. Pets are not allowed.

Other area beaches
North Beach isn’t the only great waterfront in Racine County.

You also may want to try the Quarry Lake Park beach. The 40-acre park is built around a former limestone quarry that is now spring-fed lake. A roughly 600-foot sand beach graces the lake’s south side. The park includes a picnic area and allows swimming and scuba diving; the Karen A. Nelson Memorial Dog Park is adjacent. Quarry Lake Park is located off of Wis. Hwy. 38 east of Wis. Hwy. 31.

In nearby Burlington, the Fischer County Park beach sits on Browns Lake’s southeast side. While the beach is only 400 feet in length, the park includes a dock and picnic tables, and lifeguards are on duty in summer. The park is on County Road E/Durand Avenue west of the Wis. Hwys. 83 and 11 intersection.

Day hike Area 51 2.0 in haunted walk at Wisconsin recreational park

After sunset, watch the skies for UFOs at the Richard Bong State
Recreationa Area near Burlington, Wis.

Halloween hikers can walk atop what some believe is a secret government base where UFOs can land in Wisconsin.

Rumors have long swirled about an underground base at the Richard Bong State Recreation Area near Burlington. Even if the base doesn’t exist, UFO sightings are plentiful in the area.

To reach the recreational area, if in Burlington, take State Hwy. 142 east six miles to SRA; if in Kenosha, take same highway 17 miles west. Turn south into the park at the entrance station, then take the first right. Park in Lot C.

The trail leaves from the lot’s south side, heading about 5.75 miles across a flat prairie that makes much of the southern Wisconsin landscape. Summer offers the most scenic time to walk the trail, as the grasses will be green, as opposed to autumn, when most plants are brown and withered.

The real sights, however, might be in the sky. Since summer 2004, fireballs and other brilliant lights have been spotted in the Burlington area. In one report, U.S. fighter jets were seen chasing two UFOs.

Secret UFO base?
For the first half-mile, the trail is due east of the alleged secret base. The trail runs southeast, passing between two ponds then goes due south. It then crosses a hiking path and about 2200 feet from the trailhead reaches a trail junction. At that intersection, go right/west.

During the 1950s, the U.S. Air Force chose this site – which at the time was Bong AFB – for an airstrip from which Strategic Air Command would launch bombers against the Soviet Union in case of a nuclear attack. While a two-mile long airstrip for taking off and landing was bulldozed, concrete never was poured. Still, even after all of these decades, satellite maps of the recreational area clearly show the airstrip. Some say the airstrip project was just a cover story for construction of the secret UFO base.

During the next quarter mile, the trail meanders past a pond then turns north, heading straight for the would-be airstrip. When the trail veers northwest, you're on the strip, marked as a "special use zone" on park maps. The UFO base – if it exists – is below you.

Why build a UFO base in Wisconsin, especially so close to the Chicago and Milwaukee metro areas? Because a vortex that serves as an intradimensional portal for extraterrestrial craft to travel through exists above Burlington, believers say.

For the next two miles, the trail parallels the airstrip’s south side. After passing two ponds, the trail turns north.

Alien abuduction
In 1974, the state of Wisconsin bought the former air force base and renamed the 4,515-acre property the Richard Bong State Recreation Area. Today, campgrounds grace the land aboveground, and model rocket launches, appropriately enough, sometimes are held in the “special use area.”

You may want to think twice about camping overnight, though. At least one alien abduction report has been made in the Burlington area since 2004.

Upon reaching parking lot J, follow the road back; it parallels the airstrip’s north side. Along the way, you’ll pass the shorelines of two ponds, the latter of which has an observation platform. It’s a good way to get a bird’s eye view of the pond…or a little higher ground for spotting flying saucers.

The trail leads to the road that was used to drive into lot C. At that junction, turn right/southeast and walk road back to your vehicle. And check your watch for missing time.

Find out about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.