Travel to Sheboygan, Wi (home of the Blue Harbor Resort) for an Exciting and Beautiful Experience at Little Cost!

Sheboygan, Wisconsin is a city of 51,017 people. It is basically right in the middle of Green Bay and Milwaukee (about an hour drive to either one). I have lived in Sheboygan for all of my 23 years. During this time, I have seen the natural beauty and historical relevance of this place. I would like to encourage everyone to visit Sheboygan at any time of year. There is something for everyone in this perfect lakeside city.

The most obvious natural attraction of Sheboygan is Lake Michigan. No matter where you are in this city, you are literally only minutes from the beach. The city has designed a wonderful beach area with parks, play areas, places to sit and enjoy the view, volleyball nets, and shelters for parties. Since the lake borders the entire east side of Sheboygan, there are many other attractions other than the famous "North Beach" to enjoy. Not only is the lake a great place to relax in the sun or take a swim, but it is also home to the Dairyland Surf Classic, the largest freshwater surfing competition in the world. Go to 1.http://www.wistravel.com/wisconsinevents_september.htm to learn more about this and other current or upcoming events in Sheboygan. Also, the Sheboygan River has become quite an attraction over the years. The river front boardwalk is filled with little shops and shanties, restaurants, and health food stores. Grab a coffee drink or vegetarian sandwich from The Weather Center Café, and enjoy it outside on the boardwalk. Almost every shop has a place to sit and enjoy the fantastic view, and the boardwalk makes for a romantic nighttime getaway. To see a map of some local favorites, go to http://maps.citysearch.com/location/10976938 .

Sheboygan is also home to some wonderful outdoor activities. The Ellwood H. May Environmental Park (Maywood) is a gorgeous place to discover nature. Spend hours walking through the wooded trails, or admire the glass-like ponds. A trip here can either be exciting or relaxing. Currently, construction is underway for the addition of the Wm. A. Hayssen Pavilion Ecology Center. For more information, visit www.gomaywood.org . Also, go to http://www.ohwy.com/wi/i/inmouprk.htm to learn about the historic Indian Mound Park which is a burial ground built by the Nomadic Indians between 500 and 1000 AD. The park also features a boardwalk nature trail through wetlands where you can see rare plant species indigenous to Wisconsin. What makes these parks great is that they are very desirable in all 4 seasons. The fall foliage here speaks for itself, as do the snowy trees that sparkle in the sunlight. And there is nothing like visiting the historic downtown area during the holidays.

Another odd but interesting event in Sheboygan is Bratwurst Days. This annual event sponsored by the Sheboygan Jaycees is nothing but three solid days of fun. This festival was started in 1953 to honor Sheboygan's German heritage. It went on for more than 13 years, when it was canceled. (the streets were getting too crowded to hold everyone). Finally in 1978 brat days came back to life! There is live music, amusement rides, games, beer, and of course, brats. (If you are not familiar, brats are German sausages that are quite famously eaten in large numbers by most "Sheboyganites"). Bratwurst Days also features the ever famous brat eating contest that was featured on ESPN. (Not to mention numerous websites this year.) Go to http://www.sheboyganjaycees.com/projects/bratday/history.htm to read about this world famous festival.

In June, 2004, the Blue Harbor Resort opened in Sheboygan, Wi. Owned by Great Wolf Lodge, the Blue Harbor Resort and Conference Center is the first of its kind. It features 183 guest suites, ranging in size from 500 to over 2,000 sq. feet. The indoor water park, "Breaker Bay", will amaze every child and adult with 43,000 sq. feet of super fun water activities. There are 7 exciting water slides, 12 levels of fountains, spray guns and hoses, and a tipping ship that dumps 1,000 gallons of cascading water from above. Not only is this a perfect family getaway, but also a beautiful and romantic place to stay. Blue Harbor also provides a choice of great restaurants, ranging from buffet to bar/grill to fine dining/tapas. Go to http://www.greatwolflodge.com/ or http://www.blueharborresort.com/ to see first hand how spectacular this resort is. Also, visit http://www.blueharborresort.com/lodging.aspx to see some stunning images from an inside view.

There are so many wonderful places to visit in or near Sheboygan, that I simply will have to make another installment. Also, it is difficult to try and list the positive points, as there are so many. Sheboygan has small town friendliness and charm, but also has big city shopping and excitement. The prices of food and lodging here are considerably lower than most tourist spots in the U.S. so you can have an even longer vacation for less money. We experience a dramatic four season change, which showcases our ever-changing beauty; I strongly suggest catching the sunrise from a pier on the lake or from the river for a breathtaking experience. I hope I have shed a little light on this little lakeside city, and given you an idea of where to take your next vacation. Sheboygan is a city of great culture, history and beauty. This is the city I love, the city I treasure.