At this rate, my family should be spokespeople for this State Park, because we really love it that…read moremuch. It continues to be a favorite spot for camping trips multiple times a year, but hot dang you have to book FAR in advance to get a site! I believe they allow you to book up to 11 months in advance, which seems crazy but trust me when I say you need to, especially for weekend or holiday dates. We camp with both an RV and tents, and are always in search of sites with electric as an option. My favorite is around the #89-92 area, but honestly you can't go wrong with most all of the sites. The grounds are extremely well-kept, and it's a delight to be tucked into the forest of trees. Tons of walking paths wind around this park too, including the beautiful dunes. Great to explore in all seasons. Various trails lead straight to Lake Michigan, where you'll find the sprawling beach of white sand. In the warm months, it's great to swim, and in the cooler months the beach is flat enough to take a nice long walk on or simply enjoy the ocean-like views. Other pros: plenty of parking for single-day visitors, a huge playground alongside the beach entrance, firewood and ice on site, an 'amphitheatre' area where events like weddings can be hosted, and it's very dog-friendly. There's nothing not to love at this gorgeous state park!

Kohler-Andre State Park: Originally named just Terry Andre State Park when it opened in the late…read more1920s, the park became Kohler-Andrae State Park in 1966 following a donation from the Kohler Company. The park is in the Town of Wilson, which is just south of Sheboygan. It features a plethora of wildlife, numerous campsites, the Sanderling Nature Center, majestic sand dunes, over two miles of golden beaches along the cool waters of Lake Michigan, The Black River Marsh Boardwalk, and whispering pines. My favorite part was the miles of hiking trails through the sandy dunes. A show titles "Wildlife of Wisconsin" was also neat in the Sanderling Nature Center. The presenter shared some interesting stories and also brought along some live animals, such as baby possums, falcon, and barn owl. It can be a little chillier in the park because of its proximity to Lake Michigan and the wetlands can cause an increase in mosquitos, so plan accordingly. Overall, it's a nice park within short driving distance of Milwaukee.