With more than 2,600 kilometers of shoreline to explore, it’s easy to see why Lake Michigan is known as America’s “Third Coast.” It’s one of North America’s five Great Lakes, spanning across Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois.
Whether you want to explore its buzzing cities or reconnect with nature, Lake Michigan has it all. Of course, no visit is complete without a stop in Chicago. It’s one of North America’s most iconic cities, famous for its lofty skyscrapers, gleaming Cloud Gate sculpture and doughy deep-dish pizza.
Lake Michigan is a beach lover’s dream come true, with sugar-white “singing sands” so fine they squeak as you walk. Lake Michigan is also famous for its towering sand dunes. The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is one of the best places to discover the dunes, known for its rolling formations that rise more than 50 meters above the shoreline.
Getting around Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is serviced by a host of airports, with O'Hare International Airport in Chicago and General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee the busiest travel hubs. Rental cars are the easiest and most flexible way to explore the lake, with public and private buses also running between major cities and towns.