Mark-

You live up north--aren't there any beaches closer to you in Wisconsin? Or what about Zion? Waukegan? Glencoe? Lake Forest (even more expensive for non-residents, though)?

Wilmette does get very crowded on summer weekends, and I don't know whether they allow trailing in cats. It's really only worth it if you have a space there. I'm extremely lucky and live only 2 blocks away.