Seniors Discover the “Spirit on the Lake”

The Spirit on the Lake is Sheboygan, Wisconsin. This senior has always liked that name “Sheboygan”. This city of around 50,000 is located on the western shore of Lake Michigan 50 mi north of Milwaukee and 64 mi south of Green Bay.

TripAdvisor suggests Bookworm Gardens  followed by the John Michael Kohler Arts Center. After those fun visits, I’d want to head off to the Sheboygan County Historical Society. They note that it is believed that in 1635 Jean Nicolet, the French explorer, was the first recorded European settler to have visited this locality.

Senior visitors will find plenty to see and do in Sheboygan. I counted nine additional museums in town. The Blue Harbor Resort is a classic lakeside getaway. The Lake View Mansion B&B is another choice for a stay with a memorable view of Lake Michigan. And seniors will find that Harbor Centre is a popular hangout.

Seniors Enjoy Views of Lake Michigan

From breathtaking views of Lake Michigan and large sandy beaches to world class sailing and premier charter fishing, this costal community is full of “spirit.” For time spent out of the water, the historic downtown district boasts unique shopping, dining, and entertainment for senior visitors.

Sheboygan has 34 beautiful parks and 3 athletic complexes that offer a variety of outdoor recreation options. The Hmong population (over 5,000) are part of the city, and like many towns in Wisconsin, Sheboygan has few readily apparent signs that such a large Hmong population is indeed there.

Sheboygan was officially founded in 1846 and lumbering was the first major industry. Trees were harvested and shipped to eastern markets through the Great Lakes. There are many theories as to how Sheboygan got its name, but most likely Sheboygan was a Chippewa Indian word meaning “passage or waterway between the lakes.”

 Seniors Enjoy Downtown Historic District

You will find nine buildings, including four churches, in the downtown historic district that are worthy of National Register listing. In addition, The Sheboygan Indian Mound Park is a public park with 18 Indian burial mounds distributed over 15 acres.

Many of us remember the (in)famous ‘80′s commercials featuring the phrase, “Charlie’s cookin’ Johnsonville Brats!” Few others know that these are the very sausages that have made Sheboygan famous. Visitors can attend the annual Bratwurst Days festival as well as see the Dairyland Surf Classic, the largest lake surfing competition in the world.

Put your clubs in the trunk and play a couple of rounds at the Whistling Straits golf course that “Illuminates The Sheboygan Area” to get a taste of Pebble Beach right in the heart of the Midwest.  It is where the 2015 PGA Tournament was played.

The University of Wisconsin has a campus in Sheboygan. My wife and I always enjoy a nice walk through the campus. Seems like something is going on all year long and all four seasons. -jeb