Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Sheboygan is a Lake Michigan city at the mouth of the Sheboygan River, about an hour north of Milwaukee. Proudly known as the Bratwurst Capital of the World, it is also called the Malibu of the Midwest for the surfers who ride the lake's waves, and its long sandy beaches and lakefront parks give it a relaxed, coastal feel.
Sheboygan punches above its weight in the arts. The John Michael Kohler Arts Center downtown is famous for its creative exhibitions and artist-designed washrooms, and its Art Preserve, opened in 2021, is a museum devoted to artist-built environments. Along the river, a boardwalk of former fishing shanties now holds shops and restaurants near the marina.
Families enjoy Blue Harbor Resort's indoor water park, Bookworm Gardens and the effigy mounds of Sheboygan Indian Mound Park, while Kohler-Andrae State Park protects dunes and beach just south of town. The village of Kohler, with its golf courses and resort, is minutes away.
A respected downtown arts center known for innovative exhibitions of contemporary and self-taught artists, plus performances and classes. Do not miss the artist-designed washrooms, each a work of art covered in handmade tiles and fixtures. Admission is free; allow one to two hours.
A striking museum opened in 2021 by the Kohler Arts Center, the first dedicated to artist-built environments, showing thousands of works from visionary artists' homes and gardens across three floors. It sits in a wooded setting on the city's north side. Admission is free; plan two hours.
A state park just south of Sheboygan with about two miles of sandy Lake Michigan beach, wooded dunes and the Cordwalk boardwalk that protects fragile dune plants. The Sanderling Nature Center explains the ecosystem, and campsites sit in the pines. A vehicle admission sticker is required.
A lakefront park near downtown with a sandy beach, walking paths, a playground and views of the breakwater lighthouse and harbor. It is a popular spot for summer swimming, sunrise walks and watching surfers on windy days. Parking is close to the beach, and the marina is next door.
Sheboygan is one of the best freshwater surfing spots in the country, with waves best in fall and early winter when strong north and east winds blow across Lake Michigan. The annual Dairyland Surf Classic draws surfers each Labor Day weekend. Beginners can rent gear and take lessons locally.
A boardwalk along the Sheboygan River near the harbor, where former commercial fishing shanties now house shops, galleries and restaurants. Watch boats head to the lake, grab a meal with a view or join a charter fishing trip. It is lively on summer evenings and a short walk from downtown.
A red steel lighthouse at the end of the north breakwater, marking the harbor entrance where the Sheboygan River meets Lake Michigan. Walk the long breakwater from the lakefront for views back to the city and of surfers and sailboats. Avoid the pier in storms or high waves.
A lakefront resort with a large indoor water park featuring slides, a lazy river and splash areas, plus restaurants and a spa. It is a year-round family favorite, especially in winter. Day passes are sometimes available but limited, so check ahead or stay overnight for full access.
A free public garden inspired by classic children's books, with themed areas where kids can explore scenes from favorite stories, read in cozy nooks and play among flowers and sculptures. It is a delight for young families. Open from spring to fall; donations help keep it free.
A wooded park preserving a group of effigy mounds built by Native Americans many centuries ago, including mounds shaped like deer and panthers. A short trail with signs explains their meaning, and a nature path follows a creek. It is a quiet, respectful place to visit; free to enter.
A city-owned nature park on the north side with trails through woods, prairie and wetlands along the Pigeon River, plus an ecology center with environmental programs. In winter, trails are popular for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Free to visit; trail maps are available at the center.
A shady downtown park with a fountain, gardens and a bandshell, hosting summer concerts and the city's weekend farmers market. It is a central meeting spot near shops and cafes on Eighth Street. Visit on a summer Saturday morning for local produce, cheese and baked goods.
No reviews yet. Been to Sheboygan? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Sheboygan? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photosPhoto: AsherHeimermann, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Verklaerbaer, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Austinvantreeckscedc, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jordan M. Lomibao, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jordan M. Lomibao, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Corey Coyle, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Downspec, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Djngsf, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Djngsf, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Valdyr, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Valdyr, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: self, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: self, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: self, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Michael Steeber, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Michael Steeber, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Asher Heimermann, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: self, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: self, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Royalbroil, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Archbob, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jordan M. Lomibao, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jordan M. Lomibao, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jordan M. Lomibao, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jordan M. Lomibao, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: self, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Royalbroil, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: self, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: self, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Daniela Kloth, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 de
Photo: Purple Slog from West Allis Wisconsin, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: AsherHeimermann, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Paul R. Burley, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
