Unique. Imaginative. Fun. Creative.
I could go on. Bookworm Gardens, just minutes off of I-43 in Sheboygan (http://www.bookwormgardens.org), is the most amazing place I have visited in a while. My first visit was last year with my mother and my 3 kids, then ages 8, 5, and 3. We spent hours exploring the woods that have been transformed into literary-inspired "rooms". We couldn't wait to return again this summer!
Upon parking in the free lot, we walked passed a small school bus, to which wings have been added. Inspired by the Magic School Bus series, the bus invites kids to climb in and crawl around. A few steps later, we entered the gardens proper, greeted by the Hansel and Gretel Learning Cottage, which houses all the information about Bookworm Gardens, the friendliest volunteer, and a large reading room full of kids-sized furniture and books for kids to enjoy (plus crazy-clean bathrooms built with kids in mind).
Then off to the "gardens," better thought of as clearings in the woods. Each clearing has a literary theme, and all items in that clearing relate to the theme using natural materials as much as possible. The Little House in the Big Woods garden has books, along with a large log cabin and a stagecoach wagon big enough for kids and parents to play in. Nearby is another garden with three Adirondack chairs in bright colors -- the smallest perfect for one child and the largest big enough to hold our party of 5 all at the same time (guess the books found here :) Further along is a huge tree house with a pile of books (Magic Tree House), and next to it, a large "tree stump" that allows children (if my son will share) to open a door and enter a small living room inside the stump. A sign above reads "Mr. Sanders" with the "S" backwards, just as Pooh would've seen.
I am known to ramble, so will stop now. Bookworm Gardens is fun for kids who love to read, and for those who just like to get dirty. It is fun for all ages -- book themes range from The Three Little Pigs (with three kid-sized "homes" built of straw, sticks, and bricks) to Charlotte's Web (brought to life with a barn and vegetable garden). And it is extremely friendly to the pocketbook -- other than to buy gas to make the drive, you don't need to spend a dime. Parking and admission are free, and they don't sell refreshments, preferring to encourage visitors to pack their own food while being mindful to keep this beautiful place clean.
This is a great place for a family day trip or a school field trip. But act fast -- as this is a serene outdoor venue, it does close for the winter. October 31, 2013 it's last day this year.
