LAKESIDE DINING: ROOMS WITH A VIEW One of the beauties of visiting Lake County is being able to relax at a lakeside restaurant, enjoying the food and admiring the unbeatable views. Some even let you dock your boat and come inside. Here are four top-notch restaurants, all featuring spectacular patios that put you right on the glorious waters of beautiful Lake County. El Puerto Mexican Restaurant You can’t get any closer to the water…
Ahh, the sun sparkling on the water. The sweet breeze off the shore. Feel the spray as you slice through the waves. Grab an icy beverage from the cooler. It’s another glorious day boating with family or friends in Lake County, Illinois. Oh, you don’t have a boat? Don’t feel left out. It’s easy to rent one. There are boats for every kind of adventure on lakes big and small. For human-powered excursions, try…
Saturday, June 16 from 3–7 p.m. Diamond Lake Beach & Recreation Center 1016 Diamond Lake Road, Mundelein Hurry! Registration ends Saturday, June 9th. If it floats, it’s a boat. So, grab some friends, family or business colleagues, and join the exciting Cardboard Regatta on beautiful Diamond Lake in Mundelein, starting at 3 p.m.. All you need is cardboard, duct tape, paint…and some imagination. There’ll be awards for the fastest boats, the most creative boat…
When your boat’s running smoothly, so will your day on the water in beautiful Lake County. Remember, a little maintenance goes a long way. Change the oil Cars require regular oil changes. So do boat engines. As a rule of thumb, four-stroke outboards, inboards and stern drives should have their oil changed at least every 100 hours of operation and at the end of the boating season. Don’t forget to replace the oil filter…
Spring is here and it’s time to start preparing for the upcoming boating season. We’ve checked off some essentials on safety. Just follow these few simple precautions with care—and delight in your time spent on the boat with family and friends. 1. Pay Attention and Be Aware. The simplest safety tip can also be the hardest to follow. The average boater should realize that that main culprit behind boating accidents is—Inattention. Stay mindful of…
It tastes with its body, has cat-like whiskers, and the biggest ones can weigh as much as a seven-year-old boy. It’s the channel catfish. It may be news for some, but channel catfish are delicious. Once you get the thick skin off, you’ll find that the meat is white, crisp and juicy. Breaded and deep-fried, broiled or pan-fried, you’re in for a great meal. Channel catfish are primarily bottom feeders. During the day, they…
Unlike cars, fueling a boat safely requires more than just ‘filling it up.’ Here are some tips every boater should know. FIRST Get all passengers off the boat. Extinguish any flames (like in onboard grills). Close hatches and ports. START FUELING Attach a “fuel catcher” to the fuel vent. Use an absorbent pad, bib, or fuel collar at the fuel fitting. Calculate the fuel you’ll need using the ‘rule of thirds’: 1/3 to reach…
Add together unlimited boating, easy access to boat launches and some of the best fishing action in Lake County, and you’ve got Pistakee Lake. Pistakee is the Algonquin Indian word for ‘buffalo,’ which once roamed Illinois prairies. At 1,700 acres, Pistakee Lake shares the position with Fox Lake as the largest lake on the Chain O’Lakes—one of the most popular inland water recreation destinations in the country. You’ll find that Pistakee Lake is exceptionally…
Yoga on a paddleboard? Absolutely. And if you haven’t tried this wonderful fusion yet on a Lake County lake, it’s time to get started. Standup paddleboarding (SUP) is the fastest-growing watersport in the world. And no wonder, it’s fun, easy to learn and adaptable to every level of skill. All you need is a board, a paddle and a floatation device. Add in yoga, and you have something truly unique. Keeping the board stable…
No one plans to go overboard when boating in Lake County. But if someone does, you should immediately deploy a U.S. Coast Guard-approved throwable personal flotation device. Also known as a Type IV, the throwable is one of the most underrated pieces of safety equipment on your boat. At least one is required on all boats 16 feet and over. But, actually, a throwable should be present on smaller boats as well. There are…
