The Yelon and Waukegan Harbor statement that there is an accessible kayak launch is false. The…read morelaunch is 30' into the lake, tied to a revetment that users cannot access without walking through 3' of Waukegan Harbor water. it looks like it was destroyed by winter ice. Don't go there.

Great place to fish or just be out in the water relaxing. We got a charter & went fishing in Sept…read more 2018, fortunately for us the weather was great. It was trout season so we caught some huge Lake Trout(see pics) that we ended up grilling that night. Was told by the Captain that salmon season is in June so definitely will be coming back for that. You're welcome to bring your own snacks & drinks, check with your charter to see if they allow booze on board. Happy Fishing!

Very pretty surroundings with a biergarden on site. Right by the beach/water. Lots of parking and…read moreappears very safe with the police close by.

Good place in Winthrop Harbor for boating and other kinds of fun. If not boating, then you can come…read morein for a few drinks and snacks. North Point Marina has plenty of places for putting a boat, but it's more than that. Also there's entertainment. There's things like banquets and live music. Came here the last time, and went to the beer garden. It has Harbor beers on tap. There's also cocktails, so you can get whatever. It's about $9 for a cocktail. The Harbor Lagoon is a good one. Could say it's a deceptively strong one, plus it's pretty cool looking. This is made with Blue Curacao, Long Island Mix, orange juice, pineapple juice, and Sprite. Also got some of the Knotty Pretzels, good with beer. There's not much in the way of food, but you can bring something to eat on the patio for sure. Have some good drinks and fun while boating. It's also close to a pretty cool nature preserve. This also has live music in the summer on weekends.

Such a great vibe! Went for the happy hour and discovered the music along with great relaxing…read moreatmosphere. They have a line up for every night of the week. We will be returning soon when the weather warms up for all entertainment and great beers they have to offer at the beer garden. Would def recommend For more fun places to explore follow me on IG at TalkSheBusiness.

Today, my boyfriend and I rented a paddleboat for an hour. The weather forecast indicated rain…read morewouldn't start until 1:00 PM, so we thought we had plenty of time. However, around 12:20 PM, the sky turned black. We immediately turned around and began pedaling back to the dock as fast as we could. While we were heading back, a safety staff member on a speedboat approached us. He told us we had to return to shore but added that he couldn't tow us in--we had to pedal all the way back ourselves. While we were already doing that, the storm was rolling in incredibly fast, and it was a genuinely scary experience. As we finally approached the dock in the storm, we saw two teenage employees who had been assisting people earlier. One of them looked right at us, but instead of helping us secure the boat, both boys ran back into the covered checkout area and completely ignored us. As we struggled to park and tie up the boat in the pouring rain, not a single staff member stepped out to help us dock safely. Meanwhile, at least 10 employees were crowded inside the checkout area. As a person of color, I am unfortunately always hyper-aware of how I might be treated in certain environments. I have visited this forest preserve many times, always thought it was beautiful, and was so excited to show my boyfriend around. To be treated with such a lack of care was incredibly disappointing. When we spoke to the male manager, he explained that they are required to clear the water during storms. My boyfriend clarified that we had no issue with leaving the water; our issue was the complete lack of staff assistance to help us dock safely in a dangerous situation. The manager offered us a "rain check" for a free rental, but missing out on time wasn't the issue--our safety was. No one seemed to care that we were the last ones out on the water. I hope this forest preserve implements a better emergency protocol, because storms on the water can quickly become life-threatening. I guess my question is if the staff are closely checking the weather , why even let people still go out on the water ? Instead of saying "hey there's a storm that is going to be rolling through , we are holding back on rentals at this time for safety reasons " .

One of the cleanest lakes in IL-- spring fed, and the friendly staff make every visit a treat.read more

Fantastic beach. We grew up coming here and it's amazing to see it's still open. Same as it was…read more40 years ago. Also still has the raft you swim to and lay out in. Fun place to go with family

Please don't go here because I want this place all to myself. This is a beautiful area to take…read morepictures and there is plenty of parking. There was a very nice restroom on a trailer the day I went.

A hidden gem. It was a great setting to unwind a little with the family. The water was clear, it…read morewas nice, cool and breezy. The kids loved it.

Amanda and her staff are wonderful; they do everything possible to ensure every visit is pleasant…read moreand seamless. I suppose you can tell how highly we recommend this place--we have already booked our return trip for next year!

Greatest place overlooking the water with its own private beach! It has everything from camp fires…read morewith the family to boat rentals for a day on the water. Well kept beach with a massage tent for relaxation! Only 50 minutes from Chicago - this place is a hidden gem!

Spent the morning at Illinois State Park beach...the biting…read moreflies finally win and chased us away...which led us to this little hidden gem. Jones Island Park is a well kept park full of shade trees, a playground, walking trail with benches, a shelter house, a sand volleyball court...and a beach. It's small, we'll-maintained, the swim area is marked off, the water is warm, the littles can stand, and there are no flies!!! Not quite the view of the Great Lake, but still a beautiful setting. Swim in the lake area. Fish in the canal. Relax beneath a shade tree. A little bit of something here to keep the young and the old content for a very long while!!! Annnnnd, unlike the rest of the local park/beaches....it's free!!!

Fantastic local park, with volleball field, kids park and a small beach. Great fishing too.read more

Ok so in my opinion a 5-star venue doesn't have to be at the top of the Eiffel Tower or require a…read morejacket and have a sommelier wine consultant. They just have to be at the top of their game. If you're out at fishing resort, and you go to the local rustic bar, that's the limbo stick you measure with. Jack and Lidia's is at the top of their game. I've been there twice, both on a Thursday night. That's the night they have a live traditional jazz band play. It's great fun I've been to establishments a dozen times and even IF they're fortunate enough have the same employees, they don't notice me, don't even care to say hi. Here, Jack was behind the bar both nights. By the second visit, he recognized us, said hello and interacted with every person in there ... and this is what I'm talking about. It's a nice, clean & comfortable place to have some drinks and unwind. Yes, it was a frozen pizza, but Jack cooked it right at the bar and made it fun for us. He kept an eye on everyone and paid attention that they felt welcome. So here it is... If you find yourself near Antioch on a Thursday and you can find this little bar ... I think you'll like it. Go in, order a pizza and some beer and relax. Also tip the band and say hi to Jack for me.

I was impressed with Jack and his band, had a great time! I would recommend you check it out for…read moreyourself.