It’s that time of year again: cozy sweatshirts, bonfires, blankets, and boots! Can you smell the crisp air? The leaves burning? Caramel apples??? Can you smell caramel apples, really? Maybe not. Anyway, I am not usually a huge fan of shopping, which is why I typically stay away from those types of posts. But boot shopping is fun for me, for some reason, and I have some places around Lake County where you can score some cool boots for all that bonfire watching, caramel apple eating you are going to be doing. Ooh! That’s the next post I could write! “Where to find Caramel Apples in Lake County.” But for now, enjoy your new boots.

Where to Find Boots for Kids (and YOU!) in Lake County
Boot Barn
6170 W. Grand Ave. #625, Gurnee | (847) 855-2652
If your kids are anything like my nine-year-old, they will love this place. Now, my daughter is in love with horses, horse riding, boots that you would possibly wear while horse riding, and the smell of horses. Not that this place smells like horses, but something about leather makes me think of horse riding. They offer western boots, equestrian boots, casual boots, and much more. But seriously, go just for the leather smell alone.
Forest Bootery
284 E. Market Square, Lake Forest | (847) 234-0201
I love a good old-fashioned shoe store for many reasons but the main reason is that they are very rare. Forest Bootery has been around since the ’70s and is only considered a chain because they opened a second location in the ’90s. You will find a large selection of boots here, some very expensive and some right at your price range but you pay for service and that is indeed what you will get here.
Bootery Boutique
525 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville | (847) 234-0201
Once a part of Forest Bootery, in 2019 it became its own shop focusing on shoes and clothes in a boutique setting.
Plato’s Closet
1420 S. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville | (847) 996-6644
If you have teenagers, most likely you’ve been to Plato’s Closet. Be warned; it’s a tad overwhelming because they have so much in such a small space, but I love the thrill of the hunt. They have a massive selection of fashion boots to choose from all year long, which is excellent since most places sell out long before winter even begins.
Worth the trip
North Face Outlet
11601 108th St. Space # 577, Pleasant Prairie, WI| (262) 857-1188
If you’ve never had to buy kids winter gear before, let me offer this piece of advice: GET IT EARLY. Like, buy the snow pants in September, get the gloves in October (actually buy five pairs, trust me), and buy those boots even when it’s 80 degrees out. Because come January when you really need these things? Gone. Buh-bye. And you will have no other choice than to order them online with a 20 dollar shipping charge.
Tell me where you buy your boots in the comments section below.

By Kari
Round Lake
Kari loves to write and take photos, not necessarily in that order. Kari loves making people laugh, being real, and spending time with her husband and two daughters. She also really loves her dog Buddy and fish Lucy. When she is not busy writing or going through the Starbucks drive-thru, you can find her talking to her plants Zoe, Evie, and Albert. She didn’t name Evie. Her nine-year-old did. But she’s totally an Edna so that’s what Kari calls her when her nine-year-old isn’t home.

Leave a Reply