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Enjoy Sheboygan for Little to No Cost

Railroad Museum in Sheboygan WI
There's plenty to see and do in Sheboygan with your family and friends. Here, we review some of our local favorites. The best part? Everything below has either inexpensive or free admission!

The Sheboygan Breakwater Lighthouse

The Sheboygan Breakwater Lighthouse stands at the end of North Pier, a beautiful place for a summer stroll. Take in views of Lake Michigan and the Sheboygan skyline, as well as the northern coastline to Manitowoc and the Sheboygan reef. The wheeling seagulls and ocean-like smell will put you in a beach frame of mind, even on chillier days.

Sheboygan Bookworm Gardens

Kids love the Sheboygan Bookworm Gardens, a vibrant botanical garden that brings children's books to life. Open each year from early May through October, there are more than 70 different gardens to visit, each inspired by a different classic children's book. Since 2010, the Sheboygan Bookworm Gardens have hosted local field trips, classes for learners of all ages, and weekend events. Enjoy nature and exploring imaginative scenes with your family. Check out the Bookworm Gardens website to learn more about how to visit and to download their Bookworm Book List.

John Michael Kohler Arts Center

The John Michael Kohler Arts Center has worked to preserve, study, and exhibit works by vernacular artists. The term "vernacular artists" refers to those who are not trained professionally as artists, and may not even regard their work as art, but who transform their homes, yards, and personal surroundings into multifaceted works of art that embody the local community and time where each lived and worked. The Arts Center also hosts the Arts/Industry collection, made up of works of art produced by the Center's artists-in-residence program. The program is often cited as one of the most unusual and exciting collaborative projects between arts and industry in the United States. A visit to the John Michael Kohler Arts Center is a wonderful way to explore and support the arts while learning more about the local Sheboygan community and heritage.

The Sheboygan Railroad Museum

Avid railroad fans of all ages will love the Sheboygan Railroad Museum. The museum started as a club in 1977 of the Sheboygan Society of Scale Model Railroad Engineers who were excited to share ideas about railroading, preserve the history and traditions of railroads, and get others involved in the hobby. Eventually, the society needed a home, and the museum at 1001 North 10th Street was founded. These days, you can visit the museum and take in the Society's extensive collection of books, videos, and periodicals covering all aspects of railroading, as well as a collection of historical railroad artifacts, and eight model layouts in six different scales that accurately represent different eras of railroading. Check the museum's calendar of events online to see what's coming up. There's something for everyone to enjoy in Sheboygan, from kids who love to read or play with trains, to adults who want to immerse themselves in the arts. Check out some of our favorite places to visit in Sheboygan.   Image via Flickr by dksfjoe
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Fun Places in Sheboygan to Have Fun While Learning

Time off from school can be fun and relaxing, but it could better if spent learning as well. Fortunately, education doesn't only happen in school and Sheboygan has plenty of places where you can have fun and continue to learn. Here is a look at such exciting places in Sheboygan. Kohler Arts Center The Kohler Arts Center is one of the big art museums in the area and features the work of many local and well-known artists. There are art exhibits throughout the facility, including some that look like a part of the facility. You'll be surprised by the creativity and talent of many of the artists on display. The exhibits change regularly, so it is worth planning periodic trips to see what has changed. more The art museum is known for having art environments -- large art installations that change the environment around them. Some of these art environments use the local surroundings to create a setting for their pieces. For others, the environment is changed to be a part of the installation. These installations take up a lot of space and become a fully immersive experience. Sheboygan County Historical Museum If you are a local history buff, check out the Sheboygan County Historical Museum. It researches, collects, and preserves artifacts related to Sheboygan County. It has an extensive collection of documents and other artifacts from the county's early history as well. The museum covers several acres and has several historical buildings on it. These buildings have been restored so that visitors can get a good look at how life was in previous centuries. The best part about the Sheboygan County Historical Museum is that tickets are affordable. Plus, you can become a member. Membership gets you admission at a reduced price, and gives your guests free access. If you are an active or retired military member, you and your family will also get free admission. Bookworm Gardens Bookworm Gardens takes an unusual design approach. Its design is inspired by storybooks, so you can have an immersive experience with a wide range of books. The garden changes regularly to match different themes. If you are into books, especially fantasy novels, it is a great place to visit to bring a part of your favorite books to life. The Bookworm Gardens is more than just a nice place to look at. It can teach you a lot about plants and books. There is a story-time session for kids which matches the theme of the garden at any given time. Plus, there is a mix of common and unusual plants that you can learn more about while visiting the garden. If you want to keep learning while you are out of school, all you have to do is visit these places which have a lot to teach you. Sheboygan is a great place to learn more about a wide variety of topics. Visit these outdoor spots and make your holiday an equally exciting and educating experience. Image via Flickr by NewsHour

Best Place to Live in Wisconsin

Sheboygan #10 in Best Places to Live in Wisconsin

The City of Sheboygan with its population of over 45 000 has made it onto the list of 10 Best Places to Live in Wisconsin. The Chamber of Commerce ranked 2,509 cities with populations larger than 25,000 and enough data to analyze. They released their study based on the following five factors. Employment The number of establishments and the median earnings in Sheboygan was taken into account for the ranking. Thanks to a high employment rate and plenty of job opportunities, Sheboygan is a great place to call home. According to Someplace Better, the city was chosen as number five for the Best Places for Millennials to Move To in 2019. One of the reasons is because of the availability of employment. more Housing The study also looked at housing. This includes owner-occupied homes with a mortgage and monthly housing expenses. The 2010 Census showed that there were over 20,000 households in Sheboygan and over 12,000 families living in the city. According to the AARP, Sheboygan is the second most "livable" city  in America among peer-sized communities. There's a variety of housing to choose from depending on your needs. Homes are available to rent or buy, along with condos and apartments. Other forms of housing include senior living, building homes, and temporary housing. Quality of Life This is the reason most people use to choose a city to live in. Quality of life looks at the way we live. This includes the daily commute to and from work, and the poverty level of the city. In 2017, Sheboygan County proudly claimed the title of the Community with the Lowest Poverty Rate in the Nation from 24/7 Wall Street. Readers Digest recognized the city as the Best Place to Raise a Family in the United States in 1997. Education With various high schools, two universities, a Graduate School of Management, and a technical college, education is not an issue in Sheboygan. Add to that the many daycares and preschools, charter schools, private schools, co-ops, and internships. Sheboygan also has five of the top 100 school districts in Wisconsin. The Chamber of Commerce study also looked at the percentage of residents with a bachelor's degree or more. Health Health is an important factor in today's stressful way of life. The study particularly looked at health in the light of obesity ratios. Fortunately for Sheboygan, they have a lot of wellness-centered programs popping up encouraging healthy eating and fitness. Currently, St Nicholas Hospital and Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center serve the community. However, construction is underway for Aurora's new modern hospital complex due for completion in 2021. Apart from the factors for being chosen as number 10 in the list, Sheboygan offers many other reasons to attract residents. It's a welcoming city that is thriving as a tourist destination. The public transport network is growing as is the sense of community. It's easy to see how it became number 10 in Best Places to Live in Wisconsin. Image via Flickr by Brett VA

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4 Ways to Stay Cool in Sheboygan This Summer

Summertime in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, can get very hot. Fortunately, Sheboygan sits directly on Lake Michigan, meaning there are a lot of fun ways to stay cool this summer. Swimming There are many beaches in the Sheboygan area where you can enjoy the refreshing cool water of Lake Michigan. Kohler-Andrae State Park is just one of the many options and offers a few swimming spots. The north beach stretches over 11,000 feet with white sand beaches, a boardwalk, and numerous picnic areas. Deland Park is another swimming option with sandy beaches, plenty of grass, and a few public boat launches. There are also many shaded hiking trails within the park that are perfect for cool outdoor recreation. more Water Sports Enjoying one of the many water sports on Lake Michigan is also a great way to cool off. A lot of people choose to rent kayaks from EOS Surf along the waterfront but you can choose to rent a paddleboard, surfboard, or sailboat instead. If you prefer to stay on land, rent a fishing pole for the day! There are many launch points in the city, making it easy to quickly get on the water. Many of the rental places also offer guided tours which will take you to some of the best sights in the area. Explore the Local History As the humidity sets in, you might prefer spending your day indoors. Fortunately, there are many museums that are worth checking out in the area. The Above and Beyond Children's Museum is dedicated to young minds who enjoy learning through interactive and educational experiences. There are specific themed events over the summer including the Eat. Play. Grow. Event and the STEAM Storytime summer camp. The Sheboygan Railroad Museum is also a must-visit experience in the Sheboygan area. The museum was organized in 1977 when a group of hobbyists came together to share their dedication of the local railroad history. Today, you can explore different types of locomotives, railroads, and other rolling stock. This free museum will tell you the story of railroads in the Sheboygan area with artifacts that date back over 100 years. Breaker Bay Waterpark What better way is there to cool off than with an entertaining water park? The Breaker Bay Waterpark is located within the Blue Harbor Resort and offers over 54,000 square feet of indoor water entertainment. Younger children will enjoy the kids-only areas and older children will enjoy sliding down the twisting water slides. Even adults will have fun at the Breaker Bay Waterpark riptide rides. It's always a comfortable 84-degrees inside, so you can enjoy the park even on chillier summer days. If you prefer to drop the older kids off at the waterpark, you can go and relax at the refreshing on-site spa or upscale restaurant. Stay cool this summer in the Sheboygan area. You can easily seek respite from the heat by visiting one of the local beaches, the waterpark, or by spending the day at the spa. Image via Flickr by Brett VA