11 Things to Do in Sheboygan for a Perfect Visit
Wisconsin is home to over 15 harbor towns, and Sheboygan is by-far one of my favorites. From stunning beaches and hiking trails to delicious restaurants and nightlight, you’ll never run out of things to do in Sheboygan.
This post includes 11 of the best things to do in Sheboygan, in no particular order.
Just an FYI that some of the activities I share in this post were hosted by Visit Sheboygan, but I only recommend things I truly love and all opinions are my own.
When you make purchases through the links in my post, I may earn commissions at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As always, I only provide links to products and services I recommend. Read my full disclosure here.
Best Things to Do in Sheboygan:
Stop by the Sheboygan Visitor Center
826 S 8th St, Sheboygan, WI 53081
While I don’t normally include a region’s visitor center as a top thing to do, Sheboygan is unique. Not only does the Sheboygan Visitor Center provide incredibly friendly and knowledgeable staff, but the center also has an awesome gift shop.
However, the must-visit spot at the Sheboygan Visitor Center is the Science on a Sphere (SOS) exhibit where you can view hundreds of programs, such as the solar system, wind and weather patterns, and airline flights across the globe.
Because of the unique features of the globe, remember that if the blinds are closed, the visitor center is open, but if the blinds are up, then the visitor center is closed. It’s opposite what you’d expect, but the globe needs darkness for you to experience it fully.
Relive your Childhood at Bookworm Gardens
1415 Campus Dr, Sheboygan, WI 53081
Children and adults will love visiting Bookworm Gardens, a botanic garden inspired by more than 80 children books. The gardens are well-designed, providing both an artistic and literary element.
Truly, there’s a garden that everyone will love here. I wasn’t expecting to see The Rainbow Fish represented, but boy did it bring back a lot of wonderful childhood memories.
There’s a great mix of classic children’s books and current-day books so there really is a book for everyone here.
You can spend an hour browsing Bookworm Gardens or an entire day. The gardens have copies of all the books represented in the gardens so you can spend the day reading and enjoying the associated garden experience.
As an adult, I love visiting the gardens and reliving my favorite childhood books like Winnie-the-Pooh and The Magic Schoolbus. It’s also magical to see children’s eyes light up as they wander through the paths and find their favorite stories.
Tickets are required to visit Bookworm Gardens and cost $12 per adult and $10 per child aged 3-17. However, Sheboygan County Residents can access the gardens free of charge if they purchase tickets more than one day in advance, or $3 if tickets are purchased at the door.
Visit the John Michael Kohler Arts Center
608 New York Ave, Sheboygan, WI 53081
Located near downtown Sheboygan, the John Michael Kohler Arts Center provides a popular art spot to visit when in the Sheboygan area.
The Arts Center is so much more than art work – the location consists of 8 galleries, 2 performance spaces, a gift shop, cafe, and drop-in art-making studio. There’s even an on-site daycare center.
And make sure you visit all of the bathrooms inside the Arts Center. You’ll understand why once you visit.
If you love this space, you’ll also love the Art Preserve next on this list of the top things to do in Sheboygan.
Check out the Art Preserve of the John Michael Kohler Arts Center
3636 Lower Falls Rd, Sheboygan, WI 53081
A newer addition to the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, the Art Preserve showcases over 35 artist-built environments. If you’re like me and have no idea what an artist-built environment is, it’s a space that’s been individually transformed by the artist to represent either the artist or the artist’s work or background.
The building that houses the Art Preserve was designed by the famous design firm Tres Birds specifically to meet the needs of the artist-build environments and is situated on 38-acres of land. The collections are curated over three floors and visitors can visit all collections, along with the curated storage system of art.
There’s no cost to visit and I highly recommend a hike at the Glacial Lakes Conservancy after your visit, which is the property adjacent to the Art Preserve.
Browse the Shops in Downtown Sheboygan
Downtown Sheboygan
Downtown Sheboygan is home to several incredible shops, many of them located along 8th Street.
Mother Nature served a very rainy weekend during my first visit to Sheboygan, allotting plenty of time to check out the shops. I’ve listed a few of my favorites below, but I highly recommend taking a few hours to walk along 8th Street (and the cross roads) to enjoy all the shop offerings.
– EOS Surf & Outdoor – 510 N 8th St.
– Freaktoyz – 520 N 8th St.
– Olivu 426 – 502 N 8th St.
– Victorian Chocolate Shoppe – 519 S 8th St.
– WordHaven Book Store – 923 N 8th St.
Explore Kohler Andrae State Park
1020 Beach Park Ln, Sheboygan, WI 53081
One of the most impressive outdoor spots in the state, Kohler-Andrae State Park provides visitors with gorgeous lake views, hiking trails among the sand dunes, and miles of beach.
My favorite trail is the 2-mile Dunes Cordwalk where you’ll wend between the sand dunes and be afforded stunning views of Lake Michigan as you hike. However, the Woodland Dunes Trail and Creeping Juniper Nature Trail are also gems. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of the over 7 miles of trails in the park.
Pro Tip: Arrive to the park early on summer weekends to avoid lines and parking delays.
A vehicle admission sticker or daily pass is required for park entrance.
View the World’s Largest Symbol of Freedom
2800 S Taylor Dr, Sheboygan, WI 53081
You might be surprised to learn that the world’s tallest symbol of freedom calls Sheboygan home. Now, this might not sound that interesting, but this flag pole and flag is truly amazing to see up close.
At 400-ft tall, the flagpole is almost 100-feet taller than the Statue of Liberty. And with a flag pole of this magnitude, the flag does not disappoint either. The flag is 70 by 140 feet and weighs 250 pounds.
The flagpole is located on the Acuity campus, an insurance company that has a beautiful courtyard and pond surrounding the flag. There’s also a Veteran’s Memorial at the base of the flagpole.
Explore Maywood
3615 Mueller Rd, Sheboygan, WI 53083
Looking to recharge among the trees? Head to Maywood, the city of Sheboygan’s largest park which features over 135-acres to explore, including six unique habitats. As you meander through the prairie, wetlands, pine forests, and more, take in the sounds of the birds around you and the occasional rabbit or squirrel running by you.
Maywood offers several hiking trails varying in length from .1 miles to 1.5 miles. The park is open daily and does not charge an admission fee.
Spend the Afternoon at Deland Park
Broughton Dr, Sheboygan, WI 53081
Head to Deland Park for the perfect beach day in Sheboygan. With two playgrounds, volleyball courts, an awesome beachfront, and bathroom and changing facilities, the entire family will enjoy an outing to this park.
The Lakefront Trail also passes in front of the park, which is an excellent running and walking path along the water. Sam loves this trail for his weekend long runs.
Grab parking in the free lot or on the street, pack a picnic lunch, and head to Deland Park for an afternoon at the beach – and maybe even catch a few lake surfers while you’re there.
Enjoy Dinner at the Black Pig
821 N 8th St, Sheboygan, WI 53081
The Black Pig in downtown Sheboygan is a delicious restaurant, perfect for a date night, girls’ night or even solo night out. This elevated restaurant serves amazing cocktails and wines, unique appetizers, and delicious entrees like BBQ Pork Mac, Pork Ragout, and Vegetable Curry.
The restaurant is located across from the Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts, making it a great option for dinner before a show.
And if you’re looking for additional Sheboygan restaurant options, I’ve got you covered!
Grab a Brew at 3 Sheeps Brewing Co.
1837 North Ave, Sheboygan, WI 53083
Your visit to Sheboygan is not complete without enjoying a brew or two at the 3 Sheeps Brewing Co.’s taproom. Over 10,000 square-feet, the dog-friendly taproom is full of picnic tables to encourage gathered seating and has 25 taps which feature beers you can only get while visiting 3 Sheeps and seasonal specials.
Non-beer drinkers like myself can enjoy a hard seltzer or a 3 Sheeps Craft Soda (Root Beer, Lo-Cal Root Beer, and Orange Creamsicle).
On a nice evening or sunny afternoon, expect the taproom to be full of friends, families, couples, and of course, pups gathered to enjoy a drink and great conversation. Is there really anything better?
There’s also a second taproom location in Milwaukee.
Conclusion
As you can see, Sheboygan is home to a plethora of wonderful outdoor spaces, local shops and restaurants, and fun spots. I find more to explore every time I visit, and always plan my next Sheboygan weekend getaway before I even get home.
