Waukegan looks out over Lake Michigan from the Lake County shoreline, and the harbor gives the city a working waterfront character that is easy to feel on a walk. The Genesee Theatre anchors downtown with a restored stage that draws audiences for concerts and shows, while Waukegan Municipal Beach offers sand and open water in summer. Illinois Beach State Park lies nearby to the north in Zion, and Naval Station Great Lakes lies just south in North Chicago, so the area carries both natural beauty and deep military ties.