A book is like a garden carried in the pocket. ~Chinese Proverb
Bookworm Gardens is a hidden treasure tucked away within the UW-Sheboygan campus.
Bookworm Gardens is built around children’s storybooks. All the displays are interactive: open up the door to Pooh’s tree home, wash off the pup of Harry the Dirty Dog, and visit the home of the Playhouse for Monster. These are just a few of the delights to be found as there are dozens of displays, large and small. As you walk through the gardens, you will find musical instruments to play, books to read, and a Koi pond to sit by for a quiet moment.
There is also a pretend farmyard with live plants to water and where all the farm-themed book displays are placed.
It is about a 2 hour trip from Madison and well worth the travel. Admission is absolutely free unless it is an event day (on one such occasion, we paid $2 to get in). Parking is a bit awkward but we’ve never had a problem finding a spot even on a more crowded special event day. There are restrooms which include changing stations. There is no café or vending machines, but there is a small gift shop with books and few gardening themed items. You are welcome to carry in food as long as you carry it out again after your visit. Most paths are shady, but not all of them. On hot, sunny days be sure to bring a hat and sunscreen!
Once you’ve wrapped up your visit of the Gardens, consider stopping in downtown Sheboygan for their art gallery (see post coming soon!) and find some awesome vegetarian food . Or venture closer to the water and enjoy access to one of the public beaches for an afternoon swim!