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Sheboygan, Wisconsin, on the shores of Lake Michigan, is a picturesque coastal city with a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities and cultural landmarks to explore. Spend time outdoors in one of the city’s 34 gorgeous parks, or take to the water for some of the best sailing and charter fishing on the lake. Read on for more ways to have the perfect day in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
A great place to visit, it includes activities for everyone in the family, from museums and galleries to festivals and the arts to new golf courses.
STAY AT THE BLUE HARBOR RESORT
725 Blue Harbor Dr, Sheboygan, WI 53081, 920-452-2900
For a fun and relaxing lakeside vacation, check out Sheboygan’s Blue Harbor Resort and Conference Center Water Park. The resort exudes a laid-back beach vibe. Family-friendly activities include splashing in the indoor waterpark, exploring the great outdoors, or unwinding with spa treatments.
The lake and lighthouse are both within walking distance of the resort. The resort has several locations, including conference rooms and terraces, that can accommodate gatherings of varying sizes. Enjoy a drink on the balcony while taking in the view of Lake Michigan, and several restaurants are available.
You can see the charming fishing boats on the Sheboygan River from certain rooms, while others offer a view of the Sheboygan Breakwater Lighthouse. The best spot to stay in all of Sheboygan is unquestionably Blue Harbor. You and your family can enjoy water slides, arcade games, and the beautiful sunrises over Lake Michigan while spending valuable time together.
Open Hours: Indoor Waterpark (as always, check before you book, things change so much in travel right now!)
- Friday: 4 pm – 8 pm
- Saturday: 9 am – 8 pm
- Sunday: 9 am – 2 pm
CHECK OUT KOHLER ANDRAE STATE PARK
1020 Beach Park Ln, Sheboygan, WI 53081, Phone: 920-451-4080
Two kilometers of sandy beach on Lake Michigan make Kohler-Andrae State Park in Sheboygan, southeastern Wisconsin, one of the best locations. The park features a variety of scenic natural areas. You can go fishing, kayaking, swimming, sunbathing on the beach, boating in the summer, and snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter.
For information on the park’s flora, fauna, and dune system, overlooking beautiful Lake Michigan, stop by the Sanderling Nature Center in the northern part of the park. Over 150 birds, including red-tailed hawks, sanderlings, sandhill cranes, belted kingfishers, and great horned owls, either call the area home or pass through it frequently. It’s free and open to the public, so make it a priority this summer.
JAMES TELLEN WOODLAND SCULPTURE GARDEN
OK, I am a folk art junkie, and this is just a fun thing to walk through and experience. Over thirty concrete sculptures, some as large as life, are displayed in the James Tellen Concrete Park. From 1942 until his untimely death in 1957, concrete artist John Tellen produced his iconic works. The wooded environment of the former Tellen vacation residence is ideal for his depictions of religious and mythical beings.
The sculptures are a collection of large and small figures, staged in reenactments with the natural world, serving as a backdrop. Together, they form a bizarre, mystical bond with nature and reveal something about the artist’s inner life.
You could perhaps encounter wildlife, such as deer (we saw a few!). The log cabin the Tellens call home is there, as is the “brat house” and a converted Boy Scout hut called the “artist in residence retreat.” People can visit the park whenever they choose because it is always open.
Tellen’s Forest has been called “one of the finest in the state, ” an outdoor art show of the highest caliber.” In 2000, the Kohler Foundation donated the building’s preserved environment to the John Michael Kohler Arts Center.
GRAB A BRAT AT SLY’S MIDTOWN SALOON
508 N 8th St Sheboygan, WI 53081 (920) 783-6644
On July 1, 1993, pool hall owners David and Janet Sly established their business in Sheboygan’s historic downtown, just a few blocks from the lake. A fire at Sly’s in January 2010 necessitated a complete remodel, including adding a tiny kitchen.
Sheboygan’s Sly’s Midtown Saloon has become one of the area’s most iconic bars due to the legendary warmth of its patrons. The restaurant serves Unpretentious American comfort cuisine and cocktails in a sports bar and restaurant with a pool table and TVs.
Enjoy a wide variety of bottled and on-tap beer and contemporary and traditional cocktails. A brat plate on the daily specials menu features double brat alongside American potato salad and baked beans. And yes, butter goes on the baked beans – don’t knock it until you try it! It really works, and not just because you are in the dairy state.
Sunday through Thursday, service is from 7 am to 8 pm. Weekends from 7 am until 2:30 am.
(SPRING/SUMMER) BOOKWORM GARDENS
1415 Campus Dr, Sheboygan, WI 53081
Sheboygan, Wisconsin, is home to Bookworm Gardens, a lively and imaginative botanic garden influenced by children’s books, the outdoors, and the power of the mind. The seasonal Bookworm Gardens comprise 65 individual gardens, each devoted to a different children’s book. Garden visitors of all ages can appreciate the literary concept that inspired this garden. There are special events, summer camps, classes, field trips, a nature preschool on the premises, and public access to roam the grounds at your leisure.
Planning your perfect day at the Gardens in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, ahead of time is highly recommended. You’ll need a ticket—either one you print out or scan at the door—to enter. Wheelchairs and stroller access are available throughout the bulk of the site. Parking is free but only available on a first-come basis.
Readers, hikers, and gardeners will be captivated by the stunning gardens dotted throughout the landscape in the same way a great book can. The gardens are open from May to October (every day but Monday).
(FALL/ WINTER) ART PRESERVE JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER ARTS CENTER
3636 Lower Falls Road, Sheboygan, WI 53081.
The Art Preserve is a 56,000-square-foot, three-story facility that is about three miles from the JMKAC and houses more than 25,000 works from the Arts Center’s renowned collection, which comprises whole and partial environments by more than thirty vernacular, self-taught, and academically educated artists.
Visitors to the Arts Center get unprecedented access and insight into the presentation, conservation, and interpretation of the Arts Center’s crown jewel collection. We highly recommend making a reservation in advance due to limited capacity.
Visitors come into contact with newly commissioned artworks by artists, designers, curators, and academics inspired by the museum’s art surroundings. New artists are commissioned to create site-specific artwork as part of the Arts Center’s cooperative concept. Opening hours are 10 am to 5 pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Thursdays are 10:00 am until 8:00 pm. Hours on the weekend are 10 am-4 pm.
Shop A Little
Sheboygan, Wisconsin, has some of the best opportunities in the country for a perfect day of shopping. Whether you’re looking for a unique souvenir, a new wardrobe, or a cute accessory for your house, you won’t be disappointed.
GET TREATS AT THE VICTORIAN CHOCOLATE SHOP
519 S. 8th St, Sheboygan, WI 53081, 920-208-3511
Personally, I think chocolate should be the 5th food group and we all need at least three servings a day!
Have you had enough of the same old dull commercial chocolate? Try the shop’s trademark truffle if you’re ready for some Victorian-era chocolate. Sheboygan’s Victorian Chocolate Shoppe, run by a friendly family, has a nostalgic atmosphere, complete with the sweet aroma of chocolate. The building’s original design dates back to its days as a trolley stop and bus depot. They have a massive kitchen on the premises, where they make a wide selection of homemade chocolates with the help of family and friends.
Chocolate is manufactured in tiny batches to ensure the highest quality. Chocolate-covered raspberries, for example, are only one of more than eighty varieties of hand-dipped, handcrafted chocolates available. Open from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays.
TREAT YOUR SKIN TO OLIVU426
502 N 8TH ST, SHEBOYGAN, WI 53081
I fell in love with the origin story of this place and don’t want to spoil it for you. Let’s just say that all of their products come from an amazing love story. You need to get your hiney in here and learn about it all yourself.
Olivü 426 is the place to go for all-natural, artisanal skin care. The team will assist you in making your lip balm, sugar scrub, body spray, and other cosmetics based on who requests assistance first. To maintain a relaxing and enjoyable environment for all visitors, they do not accept reservations for large parties or gatherings. Here are just a few samples of what’s on offer:
- All-Natural Sunblock
The ingredients in the all-natural sunblock, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, are the industry standard for daily sunscreen recommendations. The sunscreen is less thick than usual so that it won’t leave a white film. That means you shouldn’t utilize it to soak up the sun’s rays and instead use it for more practical purposes.
- Emu Oil
Emu oil’s increasing popularity as a topical remedy for skin conditions is mainly attributable to its versatility. The fact that it is an animal oil makes it more compatible with human cells, which may explain why it works so well. People who suffer from skin illnesses like eczema and psoriasis may benefit from using the oil. Compared to similar products, Emu’s are more affordable.
- Whipped Oil
Whipped oil lotion contains no alcohol. When opened, the product has a two-week shelf life. Use clean, dry hands when working with the product, and don’t let it sit on the shelf for more than a week after use.
I got adorable squirrel soaps, different flavored lip balms, and a hand cream that is AMAZING!
Weekday hours of operation are 10:30 am to 5:00 pm, Saturdays, 10 am – 3 pm. On Sundays, the shop is closed.
DINE AT LINO RISTORANTE ITALIANO
422 S Pier Dr, Sheboygan, WI
Have you ever been enchanted by a place? That was my experience here. I was sitting on the couch in the foyer, with my amazing cocktail, and watching the guests come in and be greeted by the owner. He hugged patrons who obviously had become great friends, kissed the backs of ladies’ hands, and made you feel more like you were a guest than just a customer.
Lino Ristorante Italiano is a cozy Italian eatery that provides traditional and innovative dishes in a relaxed atmosphere next to the Sheboygan River. Lino Autiero, a restaurant industry veteran with over 35 years under his belt, owns and operates Lino Ristorante Italiano.
Here diners can enjoy a menu of authentic Italian cuisine that draws inspiration from Lino’s childhood favorites from the Amalfi Coast and the more modern techniques and ingredients he has developed throughout his career. Lino is the place to go for excellent service and genuine old-world charm, and the end to a perfect day in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
Signature specialties include melt-in-your-mouth desserts such as tiramisu, panna cotta, homemade gelato, and classics like lasagna and spaghetti Bolognese. Frutti de mar, chicken piccata, and pasta primavera are all on the menu. Incredible craft cocktails, craft beers by the bottle, and casual wines from Italy and other wine areas round out the delectable dining options.
Wednesday through Sunday evenings, Lino Ristorante Italiano serves supper.
FINAL THOUGHTS on Sheboygan Wisconsin
Sheboygan, Wisconsin, is home to a wide variety of fun and educational pursuits for people of all ages. Whatever your preferences, you can spend the perfect day in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, as it has something to offer everyone.
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