Timeline
09:00
Southport Light Station Museum
Walk the grounds of the Southport Light Station Museum. Arriving at 9:00 AM on a spring morning offers the best chance for a quiet, unhurried exploration of the keeper's house and the lighthouse itself, before the day's visitors arrive.
09:45
Walk 11 minutes to Franks Diner. This historic diner car serves homemade breakfast and lunch. Since waits can be long, especially on weekends, arriving shortly after opening ensures you get your meal without a long queue. The 06:00-13:30 weekday hours or 07:00-13:30 weekend hours make this the perfect spot for a mid-morning snack or early lunch.
10:30
Head back toward the water to Simmons Island Park. It is just a short walk from the diner area. This small park sits directly on the island, offering a peaceful place to sit and watch the harbor traffic and the light station you just visited, completing your loop.
Local tip
Franks Diner is a local institution featured on national television. The wait is part of the experience, but the homemade food makes it worth it. If you arrive right when they open, you might beat the line.
Check before you go
- Franks Diner is open Monday-Friday from 06:00 to 13:30 and Saturday-Sunday from 07:00 to 13:30. Plan your visit within these hours.
- The Southport Light Station Museum does not list specific opening hours in the provided context, so check ahead for access times.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Kenosha (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).