The southern Lake Michigan shore is home to beautiful beaches full of unique finds. Racine, Wisconsin’s Zoo Beach is a top Lake Michigan beach to search for hidden treasures, comb for beach glass, fossils, pottery, and other unique treasures. This beautiful stretch of Lake Michigan’s southern shore is a great way to spend a day!
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History of Glass in the Great Lakes
The Great Lakes have historically served as dumping grounds for glass and industrial waste from factories, plants, and mills. Consider an example from Lake Erie. A General Electric plant in Conneaut, Ohio that operated from 1941 to 2008 dumped excess glass from the production of incandescent lightbulbs into the lake to reduce beach erosion. The glass used in the production of these lightbulbs was cobalt blue or black amethyst. Known as vitrite glass, this is commonly found along the shores of Lake Erie in this area.
Glass Production in the Great Lakes
Glass was produced in the eastern United States in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania in the late 1800s. From these states, glass was transported across the country at great cost. Glass was first produced in Wisconsin in 1880, when the first glass company was established in Milwaukee.
Common Places to Find Beach Glass
Today, along the southern shore of Lake Michigan, beaches closest to Chicago and Milwaukee offer the best opportunities to find beach glass. Bottles, pottery, and other glass are smoothed and polished by the power of Lake Michigan over many years. Waves, sand, and rocks, smoothed sharp edges to create rounded pieces. Common items found along Lake Michigan Beaches include pottery, glass bottle fragments and bottle stoppers. Crinoid fossils and the occasional marble can be found.
Zoo Beach Location
Located at 730 Washington Avenue in Racine, Zoo Beach sits on Lake Michigan directly east of the Racine County Zoo. This beautiful stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline lies directly north of the more active, crowded North Beach. It is less crowded and more quiet – a plus for beachcombers, in my opinion! Zoo Beach is located at 2131 N. Main Street, at the intersection of Goold Street and Main Street in Racine. See the map below from Topozone.
Zoo Beach Access
Immediately south of the Racine County Zoo, you can find street parking along Washington Avenue. Street parking is easy to find during the early to mid-morning hours. However, parking spots fill by late morning with zoo visitors and beachgoers. In my opinion, early morning is the best time to visit the beach if you enjoy solitude and the sound of the waves.
Murals at Zoo Beach
At the base of the paved pathway from Washington Street to the beach, you’ll find several beautiful tiled murals and benches. This pathway is wheelchair accessible; however, there is also a stairwell down to the beach.
Beach Views
Zoo Beach Rules
The beach is open for swimming; however, there are no lifeguards on duty. Not permitted on the beach are pets, bicycles, and feeding of gulls. Walking on dunes is not permitted to avoid damage to the beach ecosystem. There is a wheelchair accessible path to the beach available during the summer months. Beach hours are 6:00am-10:00pm from the first week of June through Labor Day.
Beach Glass at Zoo Beach | Racine
Other than my obvious love for the Great Lakes, a major motivation for visiting Zoo Beach is the variety of lake-tossed treasures I find here! This has always been a favorite spot of mine to search for beach glass of varying hues. This is also a great location for ceramic pottery, bricks, and crinoid fossils. I have even found pottery dating back to the 1920s!
Beach Glass Fun Fact
Did you Know? Beach glass, pottery, and fossils are smoothed and rounded more quickly in fresh water than in salt water due to the lower pH of fresh water.
Best Time to Find Beach Glass
In my experience, calm days that follow big summer storms provide excellent opportunities for beachcombers. Large waves churn up the lake, bringing hidden treasures to shore. If you enjoy quiet – and a good sunrise – I highly recommend visiting early in the morning.
Zoo Beach | Fossils and Pottery
In addition to beach glass of varied colors, I often find unique fossils, colorful metamorphic rocks like the unakite pictured below, and larger pieces of pottery, china. I have found entire bricks. A common fossil found along Lake Michigan beaches is crinoids, occasionally found in stacks. Crinoids are ancient marine animals from the mid-Cambrian period, first found over 300 million years before dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Structurally, crinoids look like ancient sea lilies, with floating flowers that open to gather food. Keep your eyes peeled from these tiny treasures! See the images below. (image credit Fossilera.com).
Gear for Beachcombers! | Durable Sandals
I generally prefer to go barefoot when beachcombing; however, some beaches can be rocky or rough to walk on. Keen’s Newport H2 Sandal is the perfect option for walking on sand, rocks, or wet surfaces. This sandal is a hybrid design (shoe/sandal), making it grippy and quick to dry. This sandal is ideal for slippery breakwaters or even just wading in the water.
For a lighter option, Chacos Women’s Rapid Pro Sandal is a lightweight sandal that’s perfect for the beach. Orginally marketed for river rafting, this sandal is equally grippy and durable. Chacos have excellent arch support, and last for years. The Rapid Pro is also available in Men’s.
Baselayers and UPF Sun Protection
Sun protection is a TOP priority for me in the spring and summer months. Below are a few solid options for sun shirts that I recommend.
- Women’s Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Long-sleeve Hoodie is a soft, stretchy and breathable UPF 50 sun shirt. It is extremely lightweight, with an adjustable hood for sun protection. Also available in Men’s.
- Women’s Outdoor Research ActiveIce Spectrum Sun Hoodie. Also available in Men’s.
- Women’s Outdoor Research Astroman Air Sun Hoodie. Also available in Men’s.
For a lightweight windbreaker, the EMS Women’s Tech Wind Shell is light as a feather, wind-resistant, and water-resistant. For beachcombing at night, this shell has reflective detailing.
A Mini Pack for Beach Treasures
I like to travel light and have found that a waistpack is a comfortable option to store my beach finds on hot days. Osprey’s Daylite Mini Waistpack is the perfect size pack for my beach finds. This pack has a zippered main compartment, external front pocket and interior mesh organizer.
Nearby Lake Michigan Beaches to Explore
The southern Lake Michigan shore is home to an abundance of beautiful beaches full of hidden treasures. Read about 3 more of my favorite Lake Michigan beaches in my recent article: Lake Michigan’s Hidden Treasures: Southern Wisconsin’s Best Beaches.
Recent Articles – Join in my Adventures!
April 1, 2025 by Erin
Marquette Michigan, located on the southern shore of Lake Superior, is the largest city in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Home to 20,000+ residents and known for outdoor recreation opportunities, this historic city on Lake Superior’s southern shore is a must visit!
Marquette Michigan, located on the southern shore of Lake Superior, is the largest city in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Home to 20,000+ residents and known for outdoor recreation opportunities, this historic city on Lake Superior’s southern shore is a must visit!
Happy treasure hunting – enjoy your exploration of this beautiful Lake Michigan beach!
– Erin
