Property at a Glance: Blue Harbor Resort

The blue-green waters of Lake Michigan are a majestic backdrop to Blue Harbor Resort. The property's lakeside suites, outdoor patios, and three-story lobby all have great views of the lake, and they're all just steps from a stretch of sandy beachfront dotted with Adirondack chairs. There are plenty of spots to enjoy the scenery, including a lakefront bike path, beach volleyball courts, and bocce courts on the front lawn. For indoor fun, head to Breaker Bay Water Park, open Thursday–Monday, which boasts water slides, giant tipping buckets, and a lazy river.

• Fresh seafood: Local perch and walleye, Atlantic salmon, and dungeness crab are on the menu at Latitude Restaurant, along with more than 100 wines.
• Make a toast: On the Rocks Bar serves a large selection of local beers, cocktails, and wines by the glass.
• Award-winning spa: Milwaukee Magazine named Reflections Spa, which specializes in botanical treatments with Aveda® products, one of the best boutique spas in the state in 2012.
• Kid-friendly rooms: Kid aquarium suites feature whimsical bunk beds and an underwater theme.
• Go fishing: Guests can book fishing charters with local guides right at the resort.

Sheboygan, Wisconsin: Fishing Town on Lake Michigan with Acclaimed Arts Scene

One of Wisconsin’s premier harbor towns, Sheboygan is located along Lake Michigan, halfway between Green Bay and Milwaukee. During the spring and summer months, fishing boats cruise the lake in search of rainbow trout and king salmon. Sheboygan is a popular surfing destination, as well. The coastline juts into Lake Michigan, exposing it to strong winds that create swells up to 24 feet high. The largest gathering of freshwater surfers in the world, the Dairyland Surf Classic, takes place here every year.

In the spring, boat tours through Broughton Sheboygan Marsh Park give visitors glimpses of nesting waterfowl nurturing their soon-to-hatch eggs. A few miles inland, Maywood Environmental Park boasts six diverse ecosystems and 135 acres of hiking and mountain-biking trails.

Sheboygan is also home to a unique arts scene. The John Michael Kohler Arts Center showcases contemporary American art exhibits and sculptures, though it’s probably best known for its artist-created bathrooms, which are ornamented with floor-to-ceiling murals, hand-glazed china lavatories, and other whimsical touches. You can see mythical statues at the nearby James Tellen Woodland Sculpture Garden, including the 65-foot-long Fallen Log masterpiece. And no trip to Sheboygan is complete without trying a double sausage on a hard roll. The town is, after all, the "brat capital of the world.”

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