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.

Lighthouse rises 108 ft. over Lake Michigan

Windpoint Lighthouse in Racine, Wis., was built in 1880.

Windpoint Lighthouse map. Click for larger version.

Day hikers can visit one of the oldest and tallest lighthouses on the Great Lakes in Wind Point, Wisconsin.

The 0.2-mile round trip walk crosses the grounds for the Windpoint Lighthouse. It’s located at the north end of Racine Harbor on Lake Michigan.

To reach the lighthouse, from the junction of Wis. Hwy. 32 and 3 Mile Road north of Racine, take the latter street east toward Lake Michigan. As 3 Mile Road curves north along the lake, it becomes Lighthouse Drive. Next, turn right/east onto Village Hall Drive. A parking lot for the lighthouse is at the street’s end.

The lighthouse, constructed of cream city brick and painted white, rises 108 feet in the center of the calm and peaceful grounds. Several other buildings, including the keeper’s quarters, signal house (with two red fog horns protruding from its front), an oil house with a stepped gable, garage, and two storage buildings, are on the site.

A lighthouse was built on Racine Harbor in 1837. But Racine Point, about 3.5 miles, away kept south-traveling ships from seeing it. In 1880, at a different point on the harbor, the Windpoint Lighthouse was built to solve that problem.

Its light can be seen up to 19 miles away on Lake Michigan. The foghorn when it operated could be heard up to 10 miles away.

U.S. Army officer and engineer Orlando Metcalfe Poe, who served in Sherman’s famous March to the Sea, designed the lighthouse and grounds. He oversaw the design and construction of several Great Lakes lighthouses following the Civil War. One of the locks at Soo Locks, which connect Lakes Huron and Superior, even bears his name.

Originally a three-wicked kerosene lamp magnified by a Fresnel lens served as the beacon in Poe’s Windpoint Lighthouse. Fuel for the light had to be carried up 144 cast iron steps wind to the top of the 11-story tower. The beacon light was electrified in 1924, the second of all Great Lakes lighthouses to receive such an upgrade. The light was automated in 1964. Today, the original lens can be seen at the keeper’s quarters.

In 2007, the lighthouse underwent a $210,000 restoration. The porthole windows were replaced with arched window recesses while the brickwork was tuckpointed and the tower repainted. The Village of Wind Point uses the keeper’s quarters as its village hall and police headquarters.

Tours of the lighthouse are offered the first Sunday of the month from June to October between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. as well as select Saturdays. No children under age 6 are allowed in the tower, and to climb the steps you must wear sturdy walking or tennis shoes; no flip-flops, high heels or bare feet are allowed.

The lighthouse grounds, however, are open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. To extend the walk, hikers can stroll from the grounds through a brick garden to a somewhat rocky beach. The area is a great spot for a picnic.