A Little Time and a Keyboard: Taking in Magical Lake Michigan Views from Upper Lake Park in Port Washington, Wisconsin

Taking in Magical Lake Michigan Views from Upper Lake Park in Port Washington, Wisconsin

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

 

Taking in Magical Lake Michigan Views from  Upper Lake Park in Port Washington, Wisconsin

Upper Lake Park in Port Washington, Wisconsin offers quite a magical view of Lake Michigan. We visited on one quiet Sunday morning and quickly found ourselves amazed by the breathtaking views of the lake. Port Washington truly has some of the best views of Lake Michigan I have seen.


Incredible view of Lake Michigan just past green foliage from the bluff  in Port Washington, Wisconsin.
Incredible view of Lake Michigan just past green foliage from the bluff
 in Port Washington, Wisconsin.

Magnificent Views Highlight Lake Michigan in Port Washington

A variety of breaks in the foliage greeted us with splendid views. At one point, we had a pretty nice view of Port Washington's Breakwater Lighthouse. If you look at the picture below, you can catch a glimpse of the lighthouse. Breakwater kind of looked like an itty bitty game piece from this distance.

Breakwater Lighthouse looks like a little, mini game piece in the middle of Lake Michigan when viewing it from up on the bluff in Port Washington, WI.
Breakwater Lighthouse looks like a little, mini game piece in the middle of
Lake Michigan when viewing it from up on the bluff in Port Washington, WI.

Upper Lake Park has plenty of spots for a picnic, benches, and a sizable playground. The park is also a focal point for a variety of community events. Overall, Upper Lake park is a beautiful spot for a range of outdoor activities. The park even has a Beer Garden series in the warmer months.

The playground at Upper Lake Park is known as Possibility Playground and has been structured so children of all abilities can play together in the same place. The design also stimulates interaction between children with and without disabilities. It is pretty amazing! My daughter would have loved it when she was younger!

A variety of outlooks allow you to see crystal blue Lake Michigan unfold before.
A variety of outlooks allow you to see crystal blue Lake Michigan unfold before.

 

Upper Lake Park does have beach access - 83 steps separate Upper Lake Park and North Beach Park. However, North Beach Park has been closed recently, so I would verify before your visit.

We did discover some nearby hiking trails, however, we did not have time to explore them on our visit. We would like to return and wander the trails on a future visit. We did not plan well on this stop over but next time we would love to have lunch with a view, too!

Remember to Visit Breakwater Lighthouse

While visiting, you also should check out the Breakpoint Lighthouse itself. Our walk along the pier to get a closer glimpse was quite interesting as choppy Lake Michigan splashed pretty aggressively upon the walkway. The 1935 structure is pretty interesting and built in the Art Deco style. It is the second tower that has stood in that spot. The lighthouse is truly remarkable and interesting to explore.

The Art Deco Breakwater Lighthouse cuts and interesting figure in Port Washington.
The Art Deco Breakwater Lighthouse cuts an interesting figure in Port Washington.

As you can see, the views in Port Washington are phenomenal. Port Washington is a good day trip from Chicago -- about two hours. So, a visit provides a wonderful little adventure with new Lake Michigan discoveries to be made. We visited on a trip through the area but would like to take a bit more time to just enjoy. I love my lake, so I will be back to check out these views again!

Taking in Magical Lake Michigan Views from  Upper Lake Park in Port Washington, Wisconsin



5 comments

  1. The lighthouse was constructed in 1935, and is the original lighthouse at the end of the north breakwall. The previous pierhead lighthouse was located on the non-extant pier that would have connected to what is now the southeast corner of Rotary Park. This light would have been inside of the current outer harbor basin, and would have been about even with the east end of Coal Dock Park.

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  2. Google "Port Washington Wisconsin Song" for more about Upper Lake Park.

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  3. This is my hometown! Thanks for the writeup!

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  4. Can I park/camp overnight here?

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    1. I don't believe so but I am not sure. Here are some in the area. I have been to Kohler-Andre and it is beautiful: https://heycamping.com/Port_Washington/Port_Washington_Upper_Lake_Park/

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