RIVIERA BEACH, LAKE GENEVA
Road Trippin’
These vacation destinations may feel far-flung, but each is within just two hours of Chicago. Translation: You’ll be pulling into the parking lot before you hear the words “Are we there yet?” RIVIERA BEACH Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Drive time: 1 hr 35 mins Surrounded by downtown Lake Geneva, this is the ideal beach for plopping yourself down for the day, picnic in tow. Chicagoans have been weekending here for generations, and nothing much has changed, from the floating docks kids love to the boat tours for special occasion evenings. Or have an active beach day: rent speedboats, jet skis, kayaks, and paddleboards from Clear Water Outdoor, Elmer’s, Gage Marine, and other vendors. Stay late to take advantage of Moonlight Movies on the Beach July 11 and August 8, when Geneva Theater will be setting up a big screen in the sand. Wrigley Drive, Lake Geneva, WI, 262-248-3673
MILLER BEACH Northwest Indiana Drive time: 45 mins To the chagrin of anyone who lives near this gorgeous beach in Gary, Indiana, the secret is out: This place is a bonafide hidden gem. An easy day trip from Chicago, the calm, quiet stretch of sand feels like a true vacation spot. Situated at the edge of a forest within the Indiana Dunes, it’s far enough away from industrial Northwest Indiana that you’ll forget where you are—unless you happen to glance up at the Chicago skyline, just off in the distance. Lake Michigan & the Indiana Dunes, Gary, IN
56 J U LY/AU G US T 2018 M A K E IT B E T T E R
GUSTAVO VALDIVIAI; TOP: CSFOTOIMAGES
OVAL BEACH Saugatuck, Michigan Drive time: 2 hrs Recently rated one of the 25 best beaches in the world by Conde Nast Traveler, there’s no denying this shoreline’s star quality. Kids will love getting there, as it’s best reached by the country’s only hand-pulled chain ferryboat, which departs from nearby Saugatuck and crosses the Kalamazoo River. Though the beach feels secluded, it boasts amenities including concessions and lifeguards, and temperatures reach the mid-70s in August. It’s spectacularly beautiful, too—all white, powdery sand, soaring sand dunes, and expansive skies that make for jaw-dropping sunsets. 690 Perryman St, Saugatuck, MI, 269-857-2603