Priority Playtime

When we’re kids, there’s nothing more exciting and important than playtime. Playing is a means for releasing energy, learning more about the world and about yourself, a source of fun and happiness, a break from your day-to-day schedule, a time to get together with friends, to be silly, and so much more. Why then, do we reserve the idea of playtime for just children? The results of play are positive and universal to all ages. Play can take on many different forms depending on what your needs for play are.

With summer nearly upon us, there’s plenty of opportunities and desire to fulfill our playful needs. After all, summer is the season we all grew up looking forward to: time off from school, visiting friends, playing outdoors, taking lessons for new activities, going on family vacations, etc. Whether you have kids of your own now or not, summer holds endless excitement, and regardless of your age, we all deserve time to loosen up, get silly, and have fun. Here are some ideas for you to implement play into your summer this year.

Make Waves

We love the heat of the summer because it gives us an excuse to cool down in the water. Depending on where you live, summer might be the only season you can comfortably swim outdoors. For this reason, we love to take any chance to hop in the water and make waves during summertime. Here in Sheboygan, there are plenty of opportunities for water-filled fun. After all, Sheboygan’s location on the shores of Lake Michigan are what make it the Malibu of the Midwest. Sandy beaches and big crashing waves will have you second guessing if you’re by the Lake or on the Oceanside. The water in Lake Michigan will definitely cool you down if you want to take a dip, otherwise try surfing the impressive waves of the Great Lake! The surf culture in Sheboygan is very prevalent because of the town’s location smack-dab in the middle of the Lake Michigan shoreline. The winds coming from different directions create the ideal conditions necessary for surfing, which is why Sheboygan has been crowned the title of Freshwater Surfing Capital of the World. Regardless of if you surf, give surfing a try for the first time, or just dash into the lake to splash in the waves, the shores of Lake Michigan are a no-brainer destination for playtime.

Splash Around

We’re not done with water fun because there’s more than one playful way to enjoy some splashing around. Although we love being outdoors during the hottest time of the year, sometimes the weather has other plans in mind that prevent us from fully enjoying Mother Nature. Blue Harbor Resort’s Breaker Bay Waterpark is open daily during the summer season and is a playtime oasis for kids and adults. There’s everything from waterslides to pools, a lily pad hopper and hot tub, dumping buckets and a lazy river, even a surf simulator! The best part about the waterpark is its versatility; you can enjoy the waterparks features while also enjoying adult beverages, private cabanas for when you need an energy break, and your favorite elements of the summer (warm temperatures and water to float around in) no matter the weather outside. On days when the weather is cooperative, pop outside the waterpark on the patio to jump in the outdoor pool and enjoy more poolside beverages, the sun on your skin, and refreshing cool water slipping down your skin.

Expel Energy

After a long winter of staying inside, resting, and overall being cooped up, the idea of getting out and letting all your built up energy out is incredibly tempting. Luckily, there are endless outdoor activity opportunities across Sheboygan County! Parks for hiking, biking, swimming, and… kite flying? Yes! You may associate kites with your childhood, but who doesn’t get a nostalgic thrill from running up and down grassy hills and sandy beaches watching a colorful flag rise and catch in gusts of summer wind? Like surfing in Sheboygan, the parks and beaches here have the great kite flying conditions and is actually quite a popular activity spring through autumn. Feeling the warm sun on your skin, and sand under your feet is as fleeting as the breeze that carries your kite, so enjoy this nostalgic summertime activity and allow your mind to get lost in the clouds.

Festival Fun

Summer is stuffed to the brim with different festivals; food and beverage events, music festivals, holiday celebrations, the list goes on. One festival that is quite popular and special to Sheboygan is Freedom Fest, which takes place on the Fourth of July. Well, to be exact, the celebration actually commences the night of July 3^rd with the Venetian Boat Parade, where people decorate their sailboats with beautiful lights and themed décor. On the morning of the fourth, the Independence Day parade commences, followed by the Castaway Challenge and Freedom Fest. The Castaway Challenge is a cardboard boat engineering contest where the participants must construct a boat out of cardboard and sail in it attempting to stay afloat the longest. Freedom Fest takes place at Deland Park and Beach and has all sorts of fun ranging from live music, food trucks, beach volleyball games, and activities for kids including bouncy houses. Sheboygan also holds Brat Days, a Brat festival on August 2^nd and 3^rd 2024. The festival has free admission, live music, a marketplace, family area, rides, and of course plenty of brats. Sheboygan is the Bratwurst capital of the world after all!

Get Artsy

Who said all art had to be serious? Everyone has a bit of creativity in them, so let your inner-artist out and create something pretty or funny, simple or complex. Set up a painting night on the patio or on a picnic blanket on a summer afternoon, maybe it’s time to take a shot at that DYI project for your home that you’ve been too nervous to commit to. Being creative is a playful process at its root, and it’s something we all have somewhere inside us from when we were a kid. There is something so releasing and lighthearted about the creative process; deciding to attempt creating something just for fun that has no deadlines, feedback, or consequences. It’s simply for you, for fun, and an outlet for your inner child to play for an afternoon.

Play More, Save More

If you need a further excuse to take some playful time for yourself, Blue Harbor Resort is running a Play More, Save More promo right now! Spend two or more nights between June 10th and 27th, 2024, and you'll get a bigger discount the longer you stay. Dedicate a whole day to waterpark fun and another sunnier day for the poolside and beach. No need to catch a flight in order to spend time by the waves, a beach vacation is closer than you think. Click here to learn more and get your playtime on!