When you decide to see the James Tellen Woodland Sculpture Garden, be sure to double check your…read moremap. It's located in a residential neighborhood, south of Sheboygan, that is off the beaten path. The first thing you see is a log fence along Evergreen Road. In the trompe-l'œil sculpture, you'll find a Native American family, a momma bear climbing a tree and her two cubs playing in a tree. Park your car in the lot off Evergreen Road and walk back up to the road to take a closer look at the fence. The amount of detail that James Tellen put into his work is evident in the logs. You'll find a Native American family, a momma bear about to climb a tree, and her cubs playing on the tree top. Near the large sculpted tree (go ahead and stick your head in the large opening!) you'll find a box with an information sheet that describes the sculptures you'll be seeing as you walk the path into the woods. Where did this all come from? James Tellen worked in a Sheboygan furniture factory where he painted stripes and other details on the products. When not working, he studied painting under local artisans and later worked with other media. During the depression, production slowdowns gave him time to pursue his artwork. This log cottage and land, south of town, was a family refuge and became a place for him to pursue his artwork. During the winter, he would work on sculpting heads in the basement of his home. In Spring and Summer, he attached the heads to armatures that supported his concrete sculptures. Tellen died in 1957, leaving a legacy of 30 such sculptures at the family cottage. The Kohler Foundation acquired the sculpture garden in 1988 and in 2001, the collection was gifted to the John Michael Kohler Art Center. The Tellen environment is the first addition to the JMKAC collection that is off premises. (The JMKAC is in downtown Sheboygan.) A sculpture of a young Abraham Lincoln, splitting a log, shows Tellen's incredible dedication to detail. It is reminiscent of Clarence Shaler's "Lincoln the Dreamer" sculpture on the campus of Ripon College. Tellen tried to depict everyday people, and the young Lincoln is represented as an everyday neighbor rather than as the statesman that we all remember. The Tellen collection is open dawn to dusk daily. It is one the art environments restored by the Kohler Foundation and listed as part of Wandering Wisconsin. I have reviewed some of these sites on Yelp, too. https://www.jmkac.org/exhibitions/wandering-wisconsin.html

Nice walk through the woods. Interesting in a kitschy way. Go back to the roadhouse a half mile…read moreback down the road for some good drinks.

Lion's Den in Grafton is a peaceful and scenic spot right along Lake Michigan. The hiking trails…read moreare well maintained and offer beautiful views of the shoreline, making it an easy and enjoyable walk for all levels. The park has a nice pavilion area and clean, well-kept bathrooms, which makes it comfortable for longer visits. Throughout the trails and overlooks, there are several benches dedicated in memory of loved ones. These add a very touching and reflective feel to the experience and make it more than just a hike--it's a place to slow down and appreciate the moment. Overall, it's a beautiful, quiet place for nature, reflection, and lake views, and definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.

Great hike in lovely Port Washington WI, just north of Milwaukee. Ample free parking. Not to say it…read moredoesn't get crowded, but it wasn't bad when we were there on a weekend. There is a paved trail which isn't too long, but is ADA compliant so that's a plus. We did a three mile loop, checking out the bluffs and taking the stairs down to the secluded little beach. Lots of poison ivy....which is normal to the area, but really it's best to avoid it by staying on trail and covering up. Seemed like leashed and/or well behaved dogs were welcome. Worth checking out.

This bridge was fun to see. A pretty little park. We went in winter but I still enjoyed it. A…read moreshort drive from downtown Cedarburg.

I was here to check out the Cedarburg Covered Bridge but I also took the time to walk around this…read morelovely park. So let's combine both into one and here we are. The bridge was built by the Town of Cedarburg to replace a number of periodically washed out bridges. Pine logs were cut and milled in Baraboo, fitted into place in a lattice truss construction with 3x10 inch planks secured by 2 inch hardwood pins, eliminating the use of nails or bolts, and floored by 3 inch planking. The Ozaukee County Board in 1940 coted to assume the preservation and maintenance of the bridge. While the bridge is not open for vehicular traffic and there is a concrete and steel bridge adjacent, you can absolutely walk the bridge or even bicycle it. The nearby park has benches and picnic tables and a building with a picnic shelter complete with power outlets and public restrooms. There's plenty of space in the park to spread out and enjoy the second, smaller bridge. Plenty of parking. This is a great spot for your photo ops and in fact a couple was getting their engagement photos done here when I visited. [Review 20675 overall - 245 in Wisconsin - 1656 of 2023.]

At this rate, my family should be spokespeople for this State Park, because we really love it that…read moremuch. It continues to be a favorite spot for camping trips multiple times a year, but hot dang you have to book FAR in advance to get a site! I believe they allow you to book up to 11 months in advance, which seems crazy but trust me when I say you need to, especially for weekend or holiday dates. We camp with both an RV and tents, and are always in search of sites with electric as an option. My favorite is around the #89-92 area, but honestly you can't go wrong with most all of the sites. The grounds are extremely well-kept, and it's a delight to be tucked into the forest of trees. Tons of walking paths wind around this park too, including the beautiful dunes. Great to explore in all seasons. Various trails lead straight to Lake Michigan, where you'll find the sprawling beach of white sand. In the warm months, it's great to swim, and in the cooler months the beach is flat enough to take a nice long walk on or simply enjoy the ocean-like views. Other pros: plenty of parking for single-day visitors, a huge playground alongside the beach entrance, firewood and ice on site, an 'amphitheatre' area where events like weddings can be hosted, and it's very dog-friendly. There's nothing not to love at this gorgeous state park!

Kohler-Andre State Park: Originally named just Terry Andre State Park when it opened in the late…read more1920s, the park became Kohler-Andrae State Park in 1966 following a donation from the Kohler Company. The park is in the Town of Wilson, which is just south of Sheboygan. It features a plethora of wildlife, numerous campsites, the Sanderling Nature Center, majestic sand dunes, over two miles of golden beaches along the cool waters of Lake Michigan, The Black River Marsh Boardwalk, and whispering pines. My favorite part was the miles of hiking trails through the sandy dunes. A show titles "Wildlife of Wisconsin" was also neat in the Sanderling Nature Center. The presenter shared some interesting stories and also brought along some live animals, such as baby possums, falcon, and barn owl. It can be a little chillier in the park because of its proximity to Lake Michigan and the wetlands can cause an increase in mosquitos, so plan accordingly. Overall, it's a nice park within short driving distance of Milwaukee.

We came here to attend a Mother's Day hike. I didn't even know this place existed until 2 days ago!…read moreThis place is a hidden gem. Our hike was wonderful and we saw so many things coming to life. Plants, trees, and flowers were starting to bloom. The area is very large and the trail is beautiful. They offer classes during the Spring and Summer, not sure about Winter. All of the classes are about nature. They have a large pavilion for you to have a party or whatever. I was just so happy to find this place! We'll be going back this Summer!

Nice camp ground very private sites well maintained bathrooms and shower house. Campers tents…read moreground sites. Public beach area for yor dogs and trails for hiking

We made a last-minute stop at Harrington Beach on an unseasonably warm day at the end of September,…read moreand it turned into the best surprise. Our grandkids went straight into the water--clothes and all--and played in the sand for hours. The sand was lovely, the water was clear, and we even spent time out on the sandbar. It made for very happy little people, and it felt like we were hanging on to summer just a bit longer.

such a fun day for adults and kids! Accessible for wheelchairs and strollers, bathrooms for…read moreindividuals and families. Very interactive and engaging activity for the family!

Wow, what a place! Everyone, with kids or not, should experience the beauty and creativity of these…read moregardens. I've heard of it many times but since we don't live in the area, we hadn't been able to go until recently. Entry is $12 for adults and $10 for kiddos (free under 2), all of which goes to supporting the grounds keeping. These botanic gardens are all inspired by children's books literature, and the stops along the way are wonderful! From hopping on the Magic School Bus and riding in Little Blue Truck, to seeing all the fishes swim with Pout Pout Fish and climbing into Winnie the Pooh's house, all of it is so well done. Just when you think you've seen them all, you find another winding path through lovely landscaping to discover more. It sounds like they also have various themed events throughout the year, offer workshops, and host fun field trips. Overall really awesome place!

Here's something you don't hear often -- the drive to a park being part of the experience. Coming…read morein off Highway 41, the views leading into Lakeside Park already set the tone. The landscape opens up beautifully as you approach, and by the time you pull in, you're already in the right headspace for a great afternoon. Lakeside Park sits on the southern shore of Lake Winnebago, and the moment you step in, you understand why locals love it so much. Mindtrip The Lighthouse This was the highlight of our visit. The lighthouse is the city's signature attraction and most photographed structure in town -- built in 1933, with a flagstone base and a wooden staircase that winds up through the tower to a 40-foot observation deck. We walked all the way to the top and the views over the park and lake were stunning. It's free and open for self-guided tours from May through October 15, dawn to dusk. No excuses not to climb it. Fond du Lac Fond du Lac What's waiting for your next visit We only scratched the surface -- next time we're coming back to explore the full park. There's so much more: Vintage miniature train rides & antique carousel Petting zoo Multiple playgrounds including an all-access area Splash pad Volleyball, softball, picnic shelters Kayak/canoe rentals & full marina Flower gardens & color-changing fountain Paved walking paths along the lake Many features are completely free -- the lighthouse climb, petting zoo, and playgrounds -- making this one of the best bang-for-zero-bucks stops in Wisconsin. Mindtrip It's beautiful in scenery -- the trees, waterways, bridges, and the lighthouse overlooking Lake Winnebago all come together in a way that feels genuinely special. We'll be back to do the full loop around the park. Fond du Lac, you surprised us.

This park has been a repeat visiting spot my entire adult life…read more This is a great place to park for fifteen or twenty minutes and just watch the lakefront activity, or bring friends and family to have a picnic. Incessant Research

Much quieter and safer than other parks in Ozaukee county. Kids that go there are always polite and…read morerespectful.