My favorite lake in the Midwest is Storm Lake in Iowa, just because of how incredibly random it is surrounded by flat farmland.
Biased cuz of where I grew up, but Lake Michigan for sure. Yeah we got lake effect snow from the lake, but Lake Michigan also blocks severe weather from the Wisconsin/Illinois direction. Plus the land out by Lake Michigan is extremely lush, we’re talking Fruit Ridge/other farming areas, but also all the woodland regions near the lake too – most places within an hour of Lake Michigan are just gorgeous. And ofc the sand dunes, beaches, rivers connected to the lake, harbour towns, etc.
Lake Michigan, because I grew up so close to it and it’s always been my happy and peaceful place. I am always in awe of its beauty.
Sunset from the east side of lake Michigan is magical
Not the most original choice but being a yooper I’m biased towards Lake Superior. It’s cold to swim in but you get used to it and it’s always clean and clear. There’s a lot of nice beaches in Marquette too.
There’s a Superior beach in the Keweenaw peninsula in particular that’s my favorite though. It has beautiful “singing sands” and is shallow so it’s usually warmer water and has a really nice turquoise hue, almost Caribbean-like. And hardly anyone is ever there, only locals really know about it.
Love Lake Superior, the natural beauty along the North Shore and around the Apostle Islands is unmatched by anything else in the region. Blessed to have spent so much time there in my youth.
Idk what beach your talking about, but I used to have a blast jumping off the lighthouse (more like a pier light) at mcclain state park. Black rocks is a fun one too, just alot more people.
Blackrocks is a must, nothing quite like that long drop into Superior on a hot sunny day. McClain was a good spot too, went there and out to breakers most often while attending MTU. The beach I’m referencing is Bete Gris. It takes a while to get to being up by copper harbor and way off the highway, but it’s worth the effort.
I’ll have to check it out next time I’m up! I spent 2.5 years at MTU so I know the area well, although I rarely made the drive that far north.
I’m more of a river rat, but let’s collectively pour one out for the greatest of lakes. Gone but not forgotten.
Aren’t most of the lakes in the Midwest by default surrounded by flat farmland? Haha. I know the ones around me are.
In Illinois, it’s surrounded by development, industrial, or preserves. But if you go up to northern Wisconsin it’s mostly forested, and people like to vacation to Michigan for the sand dune beaches. I assume it looks different out east as well.
Maybe your part of Illinois. It’s all cornfield here.
