I just read an article in Chicago’s New City Summer Guide that has a great summer trip idea. Take the Metra north to Kenosha, Wisconsin, ride about 35 miles to the ferry terminal on the south side of Milwaukee, and take the ferry to Muskegon, Michigan. Camp at Pioneer County Park just north of Muskegon or at Muskegon State Park a little further north. Reverse trip to return.
The trip the article author actually takes goes to Muskegon and then continues south to South Haven, where he takes a bus back to Chicago.
The possibilities with the ferry are endless. A warm summer weekend spent riding around and sleeping on the east shore of Lake Michigan (where the wind keeps the biting bugs away).