Waukegan Travel Guide

  Waukegan's Campari's comp bread and...
by XtravelloverX
 
  • Waukegan's Campari's comp bread and pesto oil sauc
      Waukegan's Campari's comp bread and...
    by XtravelloverX
  • Campari's Angel hair w/carbonara sauce & scallops
      Campari's Angel hair w/carbonara sauce &...
    by XtravelloverX
  • Waukegan's Campari's tiramisu
      Waukegan's Campari's tiramisu
    by XtravelloverX
  • Waukegan's Campari's bruschetta with extra cheese!
      Waukegan's Campari's bruschetta with...
    by XtravelloverX
  • View of Lake Michigan from Waukegan's Beach
      View of Lake Michigan from Waukegan's...
    by XtravelloverX
 

Explore Waukegan

Things to Do  

Waukegan Harbor; A Year 'Round Pleasure!

Waukegan Harbor; A Year 'Round Pleasure!, Waukegan

 XtravelloverX Says:  Going to the harbor to watch the sailboats pass by, catch a tan or a fish on the pier, or enjoying an ice cream or hotdog, sums up a day at Waukegan Harbor.There's Dockside Dogs (see my restaurant tips), an ice cream parlor, deli and the Waukegan Yacht Club for your dining... 

Gurnee Mills

Gurnee Mills, Waukegan

 dzni Says:  Huge mall... over 200 stores here. And there's a Rainforest Cafe here also, plus a movie theatre. I like Outdoor World myself, with some good prices on a lot of outdoor gear and clothing. 

Hotels  

Restaurants  

Campari Ristorante: Do NOT miss the pasta here!

Campari Ristorante: Do NOT miss the pasta here!, Waukegan

 XtravelloverX Says:  CAMPARI RISTORANTE...formerly known as Bacci's Trattoria - Campari is now under new dedicated and passionate owners: amazing Chef Gabe & personable Jay! They have brought back fantastic food and incredible ambiance!Their pasta is fresh. Their menu is simple and... 

Bistro 17 Bar and Grille: Swank new place in an up and coming downtown!

Bistro 17 Bar and Grille: Swank new place in an up and coming downtown!, Waukegan

 XtravelloverX Says:  Bistro 17...it's not a French Bistro, that's for sure!And you know what, that's not a bad thing. :) It's an American-style bistro with excellent burgers!This restaurant is very clean, modern and swanky.It can get very loud but that only adds to the atmosphere on a Saturday... 

Madison Avenue: Do you love a lakeview like me?

Madison Avenue: Do you love a lakeview like me?, Waukegan

 XtravelloverX Says:  UPDATE: AS OF 12/31/07, THE RESTAURANT IS CLOSING FOR GOOD. I'M DEVASTATED.My favorite neighborhood "fine dining" joint!I love Madison Avenue! For everything it represents, i.e., old Waukegan...the place to go for good solid food, good solid service. It is our fine dining... 

Casa Bonita: Best Margarita in Waukegan!

Casa Bonita: Best Margarita in Waukegan!, Waukegan

 XtravelloverX Says:  How can their best dish be a Taco Caesar Salad Wrap?OK, they claim to be Lake County's Favorite Mexican Restaurant and I'll say this, they're my favorite in all of Lake County! :)Willie is always there and always attentive to your requests/needs. The staff is extremely... 

Green Town Tavern: Who doesn't love a bar!?!

Green Town Tavern: Who doesn't love a bar!?!, Waukegan

 XtravelloverX Says:  A cool & clean bar!Green Town Tavern, formerly known as Hussey's on the Bridge is a two level bar that has balconies upstairs for a breath of fresh air and a smoke as the upstairs is smoke-free. The staff was attentive and friendly. The food was served promptly and you can... 

Hussey's: Worst Experience Ever

Hussey's: Worst Experience Ever, Waukegan

 GhostOfPerdition Says:  Had probably the driest burger that I've ever had. They don't ask you how you want it cooked, so I guess dry must be the standard. Staff was entirely rude. Never go to this restaurant if you plan on making it to a show at the Genesee, as no matter how much time you leave,... 

Dockside Dogs: Great Dogs at the Dock

Dockside Dogs: Great Dogs at the Dock, Waukegan

 XtravelloverX Says:  Dogs, Brats, Burgers and Frito Pies!It's great to get a snack and walk to the end of the pier and on a clear day you can see the Chicago skyline, yes, the skyline 50 miles south. The best items are the frito pies (fritos, cheese & chili) and hot dogs! You load all your hot... 

The Quonset Pizza: The BEST Pizza in all of Lake County, IL!!!

The Quonset Pizza: The BEST Pizza in all of Lake County, IL!!!, Waukegan

 XtravelloverX Says:  Incredible sauce and excellent crust. They also sell their pizzas frozen for take home which you can't beat! :) Very simple, quality-induced experience. Sausage pizza all the way! The sauce is unique and flavorful. This is the only pizza place I'll eat sausage on, it's that... 

Los Compadres: The best Mexican cuisine in the world!

Los Compadres: The best Mexican cuisine in the world!, Waukegan

 cbrads Says:  We just got back from vacation and found this restaurant to be absolutely wonderful. The food was the best Mexican we've ever had, the waitress had a wonderful personality and was very helpful, and the prices were quite reasonable. My husband never before really liked... 

Baker's Square: Baker's Square

Baker's Square: Baker's Square, Waukegan

 dzni Says:  PIES! This place has some of the best pies anywhere, and they're a chain! I know, hard to believe. Anyway, I like their peanut butter pie and French Silk, but everything here is good. They have other foods too, which are kind of Denny's-style. ;) peanut butter pie 

Not a restaurant at all, but a...

Not a restaurant at all, but a..., Waukegan

 dzni Says:  Not a restaurant at all, but a dish.... this area used to have a large concentration of eastern European immigrants (many Slovenes), and a lot still remain. You may have to search around, but find a bakery in Waukegan that makes potica (pronounced puh-tee-za)... it's like a... 

Full Moon Restaurant: Full Moon Restaurant

Full Moon Restaurant: Full Moon Restaurant, Waukegan

 dzni Says:  It's kind of a truck-stop cafe, or so it is advertised, but the inside is basically a family-style restaurant. Anyway, I went here for breakfast and the food was excellent (albeit loaded in calories and fat and such), and their coffee was one of the best cups I've... 

Brown's Chicken: Brown's Chicken

Brown's Chicken: Brown's Chicken, Waukegan

 dzni Says:  For most people in Waukegan, I'm sure this nearly fast food place is of little consequence, but I think they have the best fried chicken anywhere. I live in KFC's hometown now, and I STILL can't stand their food. No, Brown's is definitely the best. Hehe... although, meal I... 

Nightlife  

The Genesee Theatre: A Theatre Revitalized!
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XtravelloverX 33 reviews
The New Genesee Theatre as seen on their website.

This theatre has finally opened after being closed for decades. The opening act in December 2004 was Bill Cosby and the show was a hit! This theatre is both elegant and refreshing for a town that is hoping to become just that.

There's a bar to have a drink or two before the show. The architecture will marvel you while you wait for the entertainment to start. The staff is very courteous and helpful and there isn't a bad seat in the place.

With the reopening of Genesee Theatre, the Waukegan downtown will, hopefully, attract more patrons and businesses.

The goal is for the town that was once the "place to be" in Lake County to become that again!

Some shows/acts we've seen include:

1. Bill Cosby
2. 42nd Street
3. Jerry Seinfeld
4. Ringo Starr
5. Dennis Miller
6. Vicki Lawrence
7. Ferris Bueller's Day Off during Cinema Week

Some shows/acts we didn't see:

1. James Brown
2. Lord of the Dance
3. The Styx
4. James Taylor
5. Wanda Sykes
6. Kenny Loggins
7. Rick Springfield

Please visit and catch some of the upcoming events like Rent, David Copperfield and Lonestar!

Dress Code: There is no established dress code as the Genesee Theatre is the host of a variety of acts, so, you be the judge of what would match the show you're seeing that night. :)

Updated Mar 10, 2007

Address: 203 North Genesee St. Waukegan, IL 60085

Phone: 847.782.2366

Website: http://www.geneseetheatre.com/

Related to:
 Family Travel
 Theater Travel
 Music

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Shopping  

Waukegan Auto Auction: Charity Car Auctions
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2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

rmdw 596 reviews
Waukegan Charity Car Auction

Every Wednesday afternoon and Sunday morning an inexpensive car auction occurs up in Waukegan.

The cars have been donated to charities by people throughout Chicagoland. They're auctioned off, with prices starting at just $100.

Even if you're not planning on buying anything, it's still an interesting event to watch.

Note: If you can make out more than 2 words of what the auctioneer is saying then please let me know!!

What to pay: Often less than $500 per car

Written Oct 23, 2004

Address: 2731 Belvidere (Route 120) Waukegan, IL

Phone: (847) 662-0100

Website: http://www.waukeganautoauction.com

Related to:
 Road Trip
 Family Travel

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Off The Beaten Path  

Try the North Shore Bikepath. ...
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2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

dzni 697 reviews

Try the North Shore Bikepath. It goes from Lake Bluff to Kenosha, following the Metra railroad tracks. Actually, the bike path is under a different name, I believe, if you wish to go farther north or farther south than these points.

Written Oct 5, 2002

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Favorites  

Cessnas during the summer.
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travelingrobNIU 6 reviews

Favorite thing: Living in the northern part of Waukegan, I was gracious enough to live right next to the airport. When we were kids, we use to ride our bikes up there and have fun. Living next to the airport and hearing the planes fly over your head during the summer is the coolest experience.

Fondest memory: Lakehurst Mall will always have a place in my heart. Before Gurnee Mills, Lakehurst was the center of attention to the people of Northern Lake County. There was no food court but random restaurants inside. The anchors were JCPenny, Carson Piere Scott, Montgomery Ward, Dunhams and many more throughout the years. Something about the place, I loved so much.

Written Feb 5, 2005

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Map of Waukegan