This Is the 'Malibu of the Midwest'-and It Has Sandy Shores and Stunning Blue Waters

"Nestled along the shores of Lake Michigan, this laid-back town pairs freshwater surf culture with a thriving, yet under-the-radar culinary scene. Affectionately known as the " Malibu of the Midwest" and the "Freshwater Surfing Capital of the World" for its impressive waves, Sheboygan also embraces its heritage as the " Bratwurst Capital of the World"-a nod to the German immigrants who made sausage-making a local art form."

"In warmer months, locals and visitors head to the North Beach at Deland Park-the city's main waterfront area-to swim, paddleboard, and play volleyball along wide, sandy shores. Just south, King Park offers another relaxed spot for sunbathing and lake views. But come fall and winter, the scene shifts. Colder air and stronger winds over Lake Michigan create ideal conditions for freshwater surf, drawing wetsuit-clad adventurers to North Point."

Sheboygan, Wisconsin sits an hour north of Milwaukee on Lake Michigan and combines freshwater surf culture with sandy beaches and a growing culinary and arts scene. North Beach at Deland Park serves as the city's main waterfront for swimming, paddleboarding, and volleyball, while King Park offers relaxed lake views. Colder months produce stronger winds and waves at North Point, where a curved section called "The Elbow" creates powerful freshwater surf. Whistling Straits, a Pete Dye–designed 36-hole complex north of the city, features the Straits Course along two miles of shoreline and the Irish Course. German immigrant traditions foster a bratwurst heritage.

Read at Travel + Leisure