Beachcombing on Lake Michigan

There’s something uniquely peaceful about walking along the shoreline with the sound of waves lapping at your feet and the fresh breeze off Lake Michigan filling your lungs.

Beachcombing is an art of patience and attention to detail. While walking the beach, keep your gaze low and look for small, colorful glints among the stones and pebbles. Beach glass often hides in the soft sand or just beneath the shoreline rocks, blending in with the environment. The fun is in the hunt—there’s something immensely satisfying about discovering a perfectly smoothed piece of glass, shaped by nature.

​Beach glass often comes in shades of greens, blues, and browns—colors from old bottles or broken glassware. On rare occasions, you might find a piece of white glass or even a less common shade of red or purple. Each fragment has a story, its history softened and transformed by the lake’s ebb and flow.

​Here are my 2 favorite locations to find beach glass.

#1 Simmons Island Beach-Kenosha, Wisconsin

​Simmons Island, located just north of Kenosha's bustling downtown, is one of the city’s most scenic and historic parks. With its iconic lighthouse and stretches of golden sand, it’s a popular spot for locals and visitors alike. But for those who take a slower approach to exploring the beach, it holds a secret treasure: beach glass.

This is probably my favorite spot for a Sunday morning stroll. The Beach House at Simmons Island is a great location to grab food/snacks and also adult beverages. During the summer months the Beach House has live music and is beautiful location to enjoy summer. 

#2 Grant Park-South Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Beach and Lakefront AccessGrant Park is also home to a beautiful stretch of Lake Michigan beach. It’s a perfect place to relax, swim, or beachcomb. Just beware that the beach is much rockier than Simmons Island. This offers a great opportunity for some great glass finds. In my experience, the glass pieces found were bigger than pieces founds at Simmons Island. The beach is easily accessible from the Seven Bridges Trail, making it a popular spot to rest after a scenic hike.

Seven Bridges Trail: A Must-Do HikeOne of the highlights of Grant Park is the Seven Bridges Trail, a nature trail that winds through woodlands, ravines, and over—you guessed it—seven wooden bridges. The trail feels like stepping into an enchanted forest, with lush trees, wildflowers, and the soothing sound of babbling creeks accompanying your journey.
The entrance to the trail is marked by an arched stone gateway with the welcoming message: "Enter this wild wood and view the haunts of nature." It’s one of the most photographed spots in the park, and for good reason—this hike offers one of the most immersive natural experiences in the Milwaukee area.
As you make your way along the Seven Bridges Trail, you'll encounter scenic views of Lake Michigan, especially from cliffside overlooks. The trail is well-maintained and offers both easy and moderate hiking routes, making it accessible to hikers of all skill levels.