If you want to feel like you're in the tropics this summer without actually traveling there, check out Three Oaks Recreation Area in Crystal Lake, Illinois.
Pearl Lake in South Beloit, Illinois has been closed to the public since 2019, but now the new owner is welcoming the public back for the first time in 4 years.
If you can't swing flights and hotel costs for a Caribbean beach vacation this summer, this beach will be a very satisfying substitute for your entire family.