Palatine Lakes

Lakes Around Palatine

The weather is warm and that means it’s time to plan your next summer adventure. If you’re looking for a fun destination, consider visiting a lake near Palatine. A stay at a lake can be wonderful for those that enjoy the outdoors too, because they offer opportunities to take in the local scenery and all that nature has to offer.

It doesn’t matter if you’re looking to go kayaking, get active with watersports, go swimming, or just lounge at the beach, the lakes near Palatine provide you with plentiful beautiful locations for outdoor fun. Scan the local listings directly beneath this paragraph to see the options from swimming lakes with beaches to all sports lakes for you to enjoy.

Lakes Near Palatine

Lake Activities

A day trip to the lake, or a longer trip provides a nearly endless list of activities for couples or families.

Any stay at the lake offers you all the options from partying to restful bliss.

Grab a board. If paddling is your thing, pack up your board of choice and find yourself a lake near Palatine with a boat launch and get out and enjoy the scenery on the waterfront.

Fishing. For those that love to fish, finding a good fishing hole shouldn’t be too hard to help you have a relaxing day with a line in the water whether you’re drifting behind a trolling motor or standing on a dock with a beer in one hand and a rod in the other.

Partake in some delicious delights outside. Palatine’s lakes offer all sorts of great picnic areas for you to pack up some foods, or a quick snack while enjoying the scenery. Should you be with someone you want to impress, good food and a view is hard to beat.

Lake Checklist

A day at the lake can vary quite a bit when you take into consideration which lake you choose, when you decide to go, and what you want to do while you’re there. However, we’ve put together a list of popular lake necessities for you to use as a checklist prior to locking up the house and heading out.

Lake basics

When the plan is to be outdoors for the majority of the weekend, the list below should be an excellent starting point for essentials you are likely to need.

  • UV protection
  • USB charger
  • Bug spray
  • Radio or speaker
  • A fully stocked cooler
  • Plates, bowls, utensils, cups
  • Proper footwear
  • Beach blanket
  • Dry shirt
  • A receptacle for trash

More lake gear

Take into consideration what you’ll be doing when at the water and your guests, the following items will likely be helpful and worth a quick spot check before hitting the road.

  • Fishing gear
  • Something to clean up with like sanitizers or wet wipes
  • Licenses and registration for boating and fishing
  • Tackle box and lures
  • Games for the beach
  • Bait
  • Rafts for the kids
  • Goggles or masks
  • Books
  • Wine key

Lake Safety

Of course your getaway to your favorite body of water can provide lots of fun, everyone’s safety needs to remain top of mind. When you decide to spend a day at the lake these are some extremely important tips for keeping everyone safe.

  • Don’t mix alcohol with swimming
  • Make sure you have a life jacket for every person on the boat
  • Make sure no one swims alone
  • Regularly apply sunblock throughout the day – following the product’s instructions
  • Have an emergency plan if you run into trouble on your watercraft
  • Stay close to shore and avoid areas with shallow water or where the current is strong
  • Keep children within arm’s reach at all times while swimming in deep water

More Palatine Lake Tips

Some people may not get a chance to make their way to the lakes near Palatine and likely have a few questions regarding planning. Certainly, each lake near Palatine will possess unique qualities and trappings, but it’s worth noting a couple key points to review when assembling your itinerary which could help start your trip on the right foot.

  1. Rent a boat. It’s common that lakes will have nearby marinas where you can rent a boat. Boats are expensive to own, but a rental will still allow you to enjoy a day fishing on the lake or tubing with the kids. Asking a local can usually allow you to find a marina that has what you need.
  2. Make the most of the best local resources. When there’s time for a longer stay, look for local state parks and recreation areas that offer the option to camp in a spot that is right on top of the water at an affordable price.
  3. Research your beaches. If you pick the wrong time of year, sometimes beaches may be packed with tourists. If you want more space to spread out, do some digging on multiple lakes and beaches to see if you can find one that’s less crowded to find one with a slower pace. If you want to be where the party’s at, then look for the biggest, most happening beach!