BK Olson, Travel Blogger

Category: Wisconsin

  • Have a Nice Day!

    Have a Nice Day!

    Random Photos = Wisconsin Road Trip

    I had some downtime recently and was looking through some older photos. When I came across the photo above, I realized I had never posted about several short day trips taken in the summer and fall of 2017, which could be a great addition to someone’s Wisconsin road trip. With eyes made of bees – perfectly placed above a nose and smiley-face made of its seeds – this fabulous sunflower just looked like it was telling me to “Have a Nice Day”, so I had to share!

    When Jim was working and I wasn’t, I could just pick up and go for an entire day to take photos or to just hang out somewhere new. Sometimes using hidden treasures suggested on Facebook or photography groups as my destinations, I would set out to parts unknown usually doing a little research to see what else was around to make my time away more efficient. I haven’t taken off for the day since he’s been home all the time. I’ll have to think about why that is exactly, and either take him along or head on down the road by myself. Either way works for me, because exploring a new destination really helps to clear my head and relieve some cabin fever.

    So this post contains a lot of random stops I’ve made over the last couple of years – in an order that makes sense so I can categorize it with other road trips. Enjoy!

    Horicon Marsh, Horicon

    Only about an hour from home, we have been to Horicon Marsh many times over the years. It’s a great place to get your big-bird fix and enjoy the great outdoors at its finest. It is the site of both a national and a state wildlife refuge and is the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States.

    This Place Has it All

    A 7,000-pound wooly mammoth (made of steel rebar), all types of waterfowl, frogs and turtles – with a great dose of flowers and colorful weeds during the summer months to add to its beauty.

    At over 30 square miles, there are several entrances to the Marsh. The photos above and below were taken near the Education and Visitor Center just off Hwy 28. With many wildlife education programs, a spectacular Marsh viewing area with binoculars for a birds-eye view, and the Explorium on the lower level, this visitor center offers a wonderful glimpse into marsh life. From the Visitor Center there is access to miles of trails that encircle the marsh.

    Floating Boardwalk

    The north entrance of the Marsh is off Hwy 49 (east of Waupun). From there, the three-mile Horicon Marsh Auto Tour is paved and leads to a great floating boardwalk, three hiking trails and bicycling access to the Wild Goose State Trail. During deer gun seasons, the auto tour route is closed to vehicles but hikers are still allowed, although wearing blaze orange is required.

    The Sounds of Nature

    On our way through after a weekend in Wisconsin Dells early this spring, we stopped to check it out again. Without the distractions of the beautiful flowers and lots fewer birds, we were left to concentrate on the turtles – and the frogs, which were heard but not seen. You’ll see what I mean if you turn up the volume when you watch the video below. Listen to the background sounds behind the honking geese. As it turns out, the sounds of the marsh are as awesome as the sights.

    Windmill Alley

    About half an hour west of Horicon on State Hwy 33, is the start of what feels like wind turbine alley. With 90 turbines in service since 2011, Glacier Hills Energy Park is now part of the power grid and the largest wind farm in the state of Wisconsin. And what road trip would be complete without a photo of the road (and some wind turbines)?

    Pauquette Park, Portage

    We travel through Portage almost every time we go back to northern Iowa these days. One day I decided to take a tour of the town and found the greatest little park, which makes me think all towns deserve a second look. After a lot of rain on our last trip through, the water was above the bridges, which wasn’t nearly as pretty (or accessible) as this fantastic day.

    The Tin Forest

    After many trips to Bookworm Gardens in Sheboygan with my grandkids, my grandson’s favorite book to read is now “The Tin Forest” by Helen Ward, and it is required reading with every visit.

    “The Tin Forest is a powerful book that kids and adults could learn from. It teaches us about not letting go of a dream, of seeing the beauty out of ugly things, of creating something extra-ordinary out of the normal and ordinary. It also teaches us how to love our environment, of taking caring of all living things, of recycling and reinventing.” from Goodreads

    When some friends went to the Dells for the weekend, they stumbled upon an absolute treasure that I just had to check out – for my grandson, of course! About two weeks later I brought all of the kiddos and we had a blast exploring an amazing array of scrap metal!

    Dr. Evermor’s Art Park, Sumpter

    A Beautiful Junkyard

    Located on Highway 12 in the town of Sumpter, this fabulous art park is loaded with magical creatures built from salvaged factory parts created by Tom Every. Hundreds of creatures, ranging from two- to twenty-feet tall decorate the grounds. “Disintegration chambers, spaceship gun turrets, and huge contraptions suggest pre-historic or space-age insects.”

    “[Now 69]-year old Tom Every, was himself reborn in the early 1980s. After nearly three decades of work as an industrial wrecker, Every began to question his role in the wholesale destruction of well-designed buildings. In 1983, he gave his demolition business to a son, renamed himself Dr. Evermor, and began to build what he called the Forevertron. His new identity and mission, which he admits was a ‘total figment’ adopted by ‘a man under great duress” was to construct an extraordinary spacecraft that would ultimately deliver him from the ‘phoniness of this world’ to the truth and unity of the next.

    The present-day Forevertron [shown below] is a monumental sculpture weighing roughly 300 tons and standing 120 feet wide, 60 feet deep and 50 feet high. It consists almost entirely of metals – iron, brass and stainless steel are the most evident – and it is both welded and bolted together to maximize stability. The overall arrangement is symmetrical with the principal central section anchored by a broad bank of generators, thrusters and other electromagnetic power sources. The whole structure is capped by a copper-strapped glass ball meant to serve as Dr. Evermor’s space capsule. Yes, you read that correctly. The ultimate use of the structure is to send Dr. Evermore into space when he dies.” – READ MORE from Scrap by SnagFilms

    A Place for Memories

    A ways through our tour, we took a break in the shade of a rusty old gazebo and read The Tin Forest yet another time. A woman took our picture to add to the rest of our group photos reading the book. Contact Lady Eleanor Every if you’d like to schedule a tour of the park and/or to confirm the times that she will have the park open. We were all very excited that we were able to tie in a field trip with our favorite book and it is definitely worth a look!

    Pope Farm Conservancy, Verona

    The beautiful little sunflower at the start of this blog was just one of many at the Pope Farm Conservancy in Verona, Wisconsin. The conservancy has a lot to offer as you’ll see if you click on their link, but on this day in late August the sunflowers were all that I had on my radar!

    First off, how could I be this old (29?) having never looked straight into the face of a sunflower? How could I have never noticed the symmetry in these beautiful little flowers? I will admit I was rather offended by the last photo below, although maybe they were offended by me? Was it something I said? Actually sunflowers follow the sun, silly girl. What do they do when there is no sun, you might ask? They face each other and share their energy. Now, if that doesn’t make you smile, nothing will!

    Hyde’s Mill, Ridgeway

    Hyde’s Mill was built in 1850 next to the original stone dam on Mill Creek. It is one of the most photographed mills in Wisconsin, with its wooden waterwheel in a lovely setting near Ridgeway, Wisconsin.

    Have a Nice Day!

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • Upper Dells Boat Tour

    Upper Dells Boat Tour

    I have had a love/hate relationship with the Wisconsin Dells for quite some time. As a kid, my folks always had a cabin (built by my carpenter father) on a lake or river and we were fortunate to travel quite a lot to visit family across the U.S. I don’t recall ever going to the Dells until adulthood – once we moved to Wisconsin, but I know of several people whose only vacations brought them to this neck of the woods – every year. One woman never wants to go back, and I can see her point, especially since it looks exactly the same as it did in the 60s. But a recent trip made me rethink my opinion of the place and the Upper Dells Boat Tour boosted its standings quite a lot.

    We have been to the Dells many times over the last 20 years – because of its close proximity to home. We have a timeshare there and it’s a good way to use up leftover points after our vacations to other parts of the country. Our timeshare was so-so (or worse) for a while and it was never a top choice. Since then, great improvements have been made to Christmas Mountain Village and its a lot more appealing these days. Our daughters have enjoyed coming as young adults with their kiddos. They have fun with the old-time photos from each visit and always enjoy Paul Bunyan’s bountiful breakfasts (and donuts)!

    Shopping in the Dells is very touristy – not my cup of tea – unless it’s to one of several outlet malls. If hubby can keep me out of the Coach Factory Outlet, then we’re good to go – in HIS opinion. The fudge is pretty good and several restaurants are excellent, and of course Noah’s Ark and Mt. Olympus are great fun.

    Since we have always been outdoorsy and we love to hike, take tours, snap pictures of the natural beauty of the area, the Upper Dells Boat Tour was a fun and easy way to see the bluffs and beautiful scenery along the river, with a couple of stops along the way for a quick exploration. Click for a link to some of the history of the Upper Dells.

    Our journey began just north of the dam that separates the Upper and Lower Dells – shown in the top photos. We enjoyed towering sandstone cliffs on the most scenic section of the Wisconsin River during this two-hour ride aboard the Yellow Thunder. We sat on the back end to make it easier for pictures, although my husband would have preferred to be on the top deck – which was full by the time we boarded. Either way, if you’re outside bring your sunscreen because it gets a little scorching out there. There was an intercom system that would have worked better had we been in the interior seating section, but we strained to hear what the tour guide was saying and we purchased the brochure that they passed around at the end of the tour so we could read about what we kind-of heard. This brochure will be very helpful as I recall the highlights of our trip.

    Our first stop was Witches Gulch – a beautiful self-guided tour via a boardwalk to keep you dry while traversing the waters that flow below.

    “As provocative as its views, are the eerie tales that help define Witches Gulch. Hugged by steep bluffs on either side, explorers are lured into the depths of the cavern passing by Witches Falls as it empties into Witches Bathtub, elements of a fast-moving trout stream continually transforming the gorge. Passage through Spooky Lane conjures up thoughts of venturing into the gulch at night. Look into Witches Window to see if the hag will light your way.” – from the Official Guidebook of Dells Boat Tours

    “According to Native American legend it was a great serpent, wriggling down from the north and his home near the Big Lake, that formed the bed of the Wisconsin River. Crawling over the forests and the fields, his huge body wore an immense groove in the land and the water rushed in behind him. When he came to the sandstone ridge where the Dells begins he thrust his great head into a crevice between the rocks and pushed them aside to form a narrow, winding passage. At his approach, lesser serpents fled forming the canyons which lead off from the main channel. It was these timid, lesser serpents that formed Coldwater Canyon and Witches’ Gulch, so the legend goes.

    The true story is just as exciting. When the great glacial lake of Wisconsin started to break free from its large ice dam the waters rushed free in a catostrophic flood and carved out the great rock formations we see today. It is hypothesized that the noise of the rushing water would have been heard up to six states away.” – READ more about the history of the Wisconsin Dells

    Any time I can get out of the hustle and bustle of “reality” and step into the beauty of nature, it’s a good day in my book. Now, back to the boat.

    Next stop is Stand Rock. HH Bennett, a photographer famous for his pictures of the Wisconsin Dells area between 1865 and 1908, captured his son making this 5-ft leap in 1886 to prove that his new invention of an advanced shutter technology worked. After that photograph went viral, he would snap pics of brave tourists making the jump! That practice continued until insurance companies put a stop to that in the 1940s and specially trained dogs took over the task. There is a net below, but not sure that was there years ago.

    The popularity of Bennett’s photographs helped turn the city of Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin into a major tourist destination, and he created many other innovations that changed photography forever.

    “No history of Wisconsin Dells would be complete if it did not include H.H. Bennett’s stop-action photo of his son Ashley leaping to Stand Rock in 1886. The studio that H.H. Bennett founded in 1865 has been continuously owned and operated by successive generations of his family. It is the oldest family owned photographic studio in the United States.

    In 1999 the State Historical Society of Wisconsin acquired the studio with its priceless collection of photo prints, negatives and antique equipment. The studio has been restored, and its doors are open to the public.” – READ more about the history of the Wisconsin Dells

    The walk from the boat into Stand Rock was pretty easy, even though they talk like it’s not. I suppose they want to discourage people with difficulty walking to take the trip, because once you leave the boat it moves downstream a bit to pick us up at the end of this one-way trail, so there’s no turning back. It was my favorite part of the trip, with stunning views and cool alcoves to catch a break from the heat of the day.

    The natural beauty, along with some more history about a state I’ve come to love, made this a beautiful day. I don’t remember being as impressed by the Original Wisconsin Ducks Tour, but maybe I’ll have to give that another try. I’m sure you’ll be the first to know when that happens!

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • Atop St. Mary’s Hill

    Atop St. Mary’s Hill

    St. Mary's Catholic Church, Port Washington, WIPort Washington is nick-named the City of Seven Hills and this post will cover a part of this city that’s high atop St. Mary’s Hill – one of the city’s most prominent hills. St. Mary’s Catholic Church sits on its perch and is visible from almost anywhere in the city. We saw it from Coal Dock Park in our last post (pictured above), and today we’ll see it up close.

    “October 1, 1881- Very Reverend L. Batz, Vicar General, spent Sunday in the village. His special mission was in the interest of St. Mary’s Church. The object being the building of a new edifice, which is much needed to accommodate the large and constantly increasing congregation. He met with satisfactory encouragement, and the effort to erect a new building will be pushed with vigor. Fr. Willmes, the pastor of the church, will at once begin the work of raising the funds needed by subscription, as it is the intention to erect a building, which will be an ornament to the place, and the pride of the whole county. The style of architecture will be Gothic, and in all its departments complete tasteful, capacious, the size will be 64 by 135 feet, the spire looming skyward 160 feet.” – READ MORE history of St. Mary’s church

    Within a couple of months, enough money was raised to start the project and it was dedicated in October 1884, with the tower clock being installed in January of 1885. I have never been inside, so for today you’ll have to settle for outside photos, which are pretty nice – especially if you’ve only worshipped it from afar from one of the vantage points of the city. But with the encouragement of a friend who HAS been inside, an interior tour will have to be taken, and photos added as soon as possible. So stay tuned!

    The stairs (pictured below) look a lot less intimidating than they do when viewed from the bottom, which I’ll show you in another post. Even though I could really use the exercise, I chose to drive up the hill, come around the backside and park to see the church up close. Maybe you’ll take the steps?

    If you continue past the church, you’ll come right up to the Historic 1860 Light Station, a fabulous structure – the first of three lights that would help protect travelers as they voyage on the treacherous waters of Lake Michigan.

    While a lighthouse is a building with a powerful light that guides mariners, a light station is a grouping of buildings – one of which is a lighthouse. This historic light station includes a light tower, a keeper’s house, a generator building and garage, as well as a kerosene storage building.

    “Port Washington’s first lighthouse was built on the city’s north bluff, overlooking the harbor, in 1849. This tower, detached from the keeper’s dwelling, was replaced in 1860 by a square, wooden tower mounted atop a new two-story brick residence for the keeper.” – READ MORE from LighthouseFriends.com

    As you can see from the photos, there are some nice chairs where you can sit and relax for a while and enjoy the view. Sitting on the concrete bench (below) will have you feeling like your feet are dangling over the edge of the bluff! For you history buffs out there, be sure to read the great informational board that’s next to that bench. Titled “The Lights of Port Washington”, it contains some pictures of the original buildings, a timeline and some history of the light keepers who lived here.

    “In late 2000 the Port Washington Historical Society embarked on the restoration of the 1849 Light Station, including the iconic 1860 lighthouse that guided 19th and early 20th century Lake traffic.

    The destroyed tower and lantern were replicated by craftsmen of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and donated to the Society, while volunteers assisted by paid contractors restored the facades and recreated the interior of the living quarters and outbuildings. Visitors tour the restored quarters that depict the life of a lightkeeper and his family in the 19th century and enjoy spectacular views of Lake Michigan and surrounding area from the light tower. The former watch shack/backup generator building has additional museum exhibits that feature maritime and local memorabilia and historic artifacts.

    The property, maintained and managed by Port Washington Historical Society volunteers, is sustained through private funding. Tours of this historic site are conducted by volunteer guides.” – From the Port Washington Historical Society website. For some great interior photos of the light station, click here.

    portwashington_pier_1914_cgTours are offered on Fridays (12-4), Saturdays (11-4) and Sundays (12-4) from Memorial Day to mid-October. We took our first tour last summer and it was very interesting! A little tight squeeze to get up to the top, but so worth it. Volunteers give the tours and I am always amazed at the hard work and dedication it must have taken to be a lighthouse keeper back in the day.

    The Pierhead Light (pictured at left) became the main light at Port Washington when the 1860 Light Station was decommissioned in 1903 after plans to improve the harbor were implemented. In 1935 that one was replaced by the “Art Deco” version that we know and love today. Almost always referred to as a lighthouse, it should really be called a pierhead light since it marks the outermost end of the breakwater and the entrance to the harbor of Port Washington, Wisconsin.

    Click here for more history of the lights of Port Washington.

    Next up: Beautiful downtown Port
    Previous Post: Port Washington, Wisconsin: Part One

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • Port Washington, Wisconsin: Part One

    Port Washington, Wisconsin: Part One

    We moved from Oregon to Port Washington, Wisconsin in 1986. We loaded up the back of a big yellow Ryder truck with all of our worldly possessions. Lindsay, our Golden Retriever, kept Jim company up front. I followed in our Datsun station wagon with our 2-year old and 4-month old daughters and my big black cat Ben. It was a very eventful trip to be sure – and certainly a blog for another day.

    We lived in Port Washington for 16 years before heading up north (just a tad) to hopefully enjoy the steady growth of the housing market. We built a bigger house in hopes that the urban sprawl would follow us and we could eventually downsize and pad our nest egg. Well, we all know which direction the housing market went, don’t we! We signed our papers to build on September 12, 2001, still reeling from the events of the previous day. We had no idea that our hopes of the urban sprawl may be delayed – or even sidelined forever.

    Since our current little town doesn’t offer much in the way of amenities, we have continued to feel at home in Port. Only about 6 miles away, it’s not too far to enjoy the restaurants, shopping and beauty of the marina and historical features of the city. But before we get into those photos, I have to share a few of the things that I’ve come to love about the part of the drive between the two cities.

    Our grandchildren love the drive because of the wildlife we see along the way. I use that term loosely, but the horses, sheep and cows (and last year baby cows) have become a source of conversation as we pass by when the grandkids are in the car. Don’t tell anyone, but I usually check when I’m alone as well. On almost every trip, we take notice of which animals “are out” and if there is a long period of time where they’re not out, we wonder what’s going on. Of course farm life can sometimes seem cruel to the kiddos, so we usually talk about haircuts for the sheep or “they’re probably just in the barn”.

    The last couple of years, one of the folks who live along this route has been adding fun features that also brighten our day. The addition of the two Minions was a wonderful surprise. Made of bales of hay, they joined the party right after the first movie came out.

    Dusty Crophopper (from Planes) and (Tow) Mater (from Cars) just crack me up and the Weeping Willow tree with the tire swing just feels like home.

    Without further ado let’s get to the star of this blog. Port Washington is a beautiful little city, right on Lake Michigan with a couple of great lighthouses and lots of places along the shore to experience the beauty and sometimes thunderous waves of that massive body of water.

    Cooler by the lake is a term that we know all too well around here. In the summer it can be a welcome relief, keeping temps a little cooler. In the winter – believe it or not – it’s also a blessing, since the not-usually-frozen water is usually warmer than the air temperature. But even on a hot day in the middle of the summer – if the wind shifts – you’ll be running for a sweatshirt. The only time I’d rather be inland is during springtime, when you are craving the warm sun on your face after a long winter. Instead you get a strong stiff wind that will chill you to the bone, similar to the day that these pictures were taken.

    I started my visit today at Coal Dock Park, a recent addition to the city when the coal-burning power plant was replaced by natural gas in 2004. Since there was no need for a big pile of coal at the ready, the city developed an absolutely beautiful green space where you can cop a squat and enjoy the views. I am particularly enamored by this red-roofed gazebo with the spiral staircase. The red really pops in today’s somewhat gloomy photos and at every angle, Port Washington’s iconic structures can be viewed through its fabulous columns. Check out an article in the Journal Sentinel when Coal Dock Park was about to open.

    I just love the iron bridge that takes you on a walking path through a bird sanctuary and over to South Beach. South Beach is very close to a parking lot for quick access and offers a kayak launch and a great place to view the Fish Day fireworks. But we’ll talk more about the beaches on a much warmer day!

    The Honor Flight Memorial is very cool, with names of fallen veterans engraved in the stones beneath it.

    “Just in time for Veterans Day, a new memorial is unveiled along the lakefront that’s meant to honor veterans from all wars. Some of the bravest men and women from southeastern Wisconsin gathered to dedicate the new memorial that’s an exact replica of the Wisconsin pillar from the World War II memorial in Washington D.C.” – READ MORE about the Honor Flight Memorial

    Coal Dock Park offers stunning views of the city, a bird’s eye view of the lighthouse, the fabulous red-roofed gazebo and a great iron bridge for access to South Beach. If you haven’t been here yet, it should definitely be on your list.

    If you haven’t been to Port Washington in a number of years, the improvements that have been made to the marina are really quite fabulous. With great shopping, wonderful restaurants, beautiful lake views and lots of history, it’s definitely worth another visit. Visit Port’s website for more information.

    Next up: An historic lighthouse and more Atop St. Mary’s Hill

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • More of the Door: Finale

    More of the Door: Finale

    This post will conclude my blogs from several visits to Door County over the summer of 2015. Although I have been there many times before, I never took the time to document those trips, so this was a little different. I really enjoy the “having a reason to take lots of pictures” because in the past I would take them, but they were rarely seen by anyone and sometimes they’d get lost in the shuffle. Hopefully you enjoy them – either when reminiscing about a trip you’ve taken or when thinking of new places to visit.

    Last summer my husband joined me for a long weekend in August, but I was alone for the rest of the week. I went solo in October as well, to take in Washington Island and Rock Island, where I thoroughly enjoyed my solitude, with no feelings of uneasiness as I ventured out on my own. No one was going to rob me and then wait for the ferry to putt them back to the mainland. It was a totally laid back experience and I can’t wait to go back again, so I can do it all over, although next time I might travel with hubby, a daughter or a friend.

    If you’re new to this blog, be aware if you hover over most photos, a caption will pop up that will give a location where they were taken. Sometimes, especially when just photographing random barns along the way, I don’t have a clue where it was, so if there’s no caption, that’s probably the case.

    Last post we finished up in Peninsula State Park, so I’ll continue heading north on the western side on Highway 42 and start this blog in Ephraim. The photos above (and two below) were taken in Ephraim – pronounced with a long E. Ephraim is by far the most historic of all the towns in Door County, with an historical foundation, several historic buildings, a gorgeous church and of course, the shopping and eating that you’ll come to expect from all towns up and down the peninsula.

    “The Ephraim Historical Foundation (EHF) preserves and sustains the history of Ephraim through its historic collections and its buildings. Several of these buildings, including the Anderson Store, Anderson Barn, Pioneer Schoolhouse, and Goodletson Cabin, are regularly open as museums during the summer and fall. The Iverson House is open for special events and programs.

    Visitors can also learn about Ephraim’s history through the EHF’s tours, including the Classic Tram Tour, the Historic Walking Tour, the Heritage Tram Tour, and the Moravian Church and Iverson House Tour.”  – READ MORE at the Ephraim Historical Foundation

    The red barn-like structure above is an art gallery and the exterior is decorated with graffiti. Read about it below.

    “Founded in 1962 by the Peninsula Arts Association, the Hardy Gallery is a not-for-profit community gallery committed to address the needs of the local artist community, the creative enrichment of local youth, educating the public and promoting the visual arts and artists of the Door County Peninsula. Located in the old warehouse on Ephraim’s historic dock that dates back to the 1850s, the Hardy is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The exterior of the Hardy is covered with graffiti left behind by visitors.” – from artistsnetwork.com

    Next up is Sister Bay. Another great town, this is home to the restaurant with the goats on the roof that I spoke of in my Washington Island post. A gentleman on Washington Island wanted to have goats on his roof as well, but was almost sued. Apparently Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant & Butik wanted to be the only restaurant with such an attraction. It is pretty cool… I guess.

    Ellison Bay is home to Ellison Bluff State Natural Area which is very beautiful. Wills Park is another nice area, complete with an Inukshuk. I’ve seen a lot of rock stacking going on all around the lakeshore, but this is actually in the likeness of a human, so it’s officially an Inukshuk and not just stacked rocks.

    “The Clearing is a folk school founded in 1935 by landscape architect Jens Jensen. This “school of the soil” is nestled within 128 acres of Door County forests and meadows and overlooks the dramatic Green Bay shoreline. It was built as a place where ordinary people could, as the name implies, “clear one’s mind” by reconnecting with nature and with one another.” – READ MORE about The Clearing

    The Clearing is not the only place in Door County to learn about or participate in art. A lot of the galleries offer classes and Hands On Art Studio in Fish Creek, as the name implies, offers a hands-on experience with ceramics, glass creations, metal work and spin-painting. No matter what type of art you’re into, I’ll bet you can find an outlet in Door County.

    Linden Gallery along with being a gorgeous building with beautiful landscaping, displays wonderful collections of Asian art. You won’t believe some of the fabulous things in that shop. It’s definitely worth a stop for the historical value alone. “The enchanting 6,000 square foot gallery is dedicated to rotating exhibitions of leading Asian artists, antiquities, and Asian objects of art. The gallery is open from May-October each year.”

    The photo above left is the Door County Maritime Museum in Gills Rock. It doesn’t look like much from the outside but my husband will vouch for the quality of its interior with interesting exhibits and some cool old ship equipment.

    The Northport Pier Visitor Center and Ferry Landing in Northport is the place to buy your tickets if you’re heading to Washington or Rock Islands via the Washington Island Ferry. There are several options, depending on your schedule. You can take the people ferry, but with over 80 miles of paved roads on the island you might not get far on foot. Of course you can rent bikes or mopeds. Tour busses are an option, or you can take the car ferry and take your own tour of the island. I would suggest spending a couple nights on Washington Island so you can tour it one day and then take another ferry to spend another day on Rock Island. Check out my blogs about my experience and I may just convince you to make a trip of Washington Island and Rock Island.

    My final Door County photo is close to the end of the road (literally) near Northport, Wisconsin. I will quote a fellow blogger for the great synopsis of the “who and why” of this great road:

    “At the town of Liberty Grove, at the very tip of the county, town road commissioner Walter Kalms says his grandfather complained that “whoever laid out that road had something wrong with his head.”

    But Kalms, and deputy clerk Janet Johnson, actually do know the reason: The road was designed by an artist, not an engineer.

    Johnson says famed landscape architect Jens Jensen had a hand in laying out the end of Highway 42 to enhance its scenic beauty. Jensen, a Danish immigrant, designed parks in Chicago and Madison before coming to Door County in the 1930s to create The Clearing, a school to train landscape architects.

    Jensen, who had a near-mystical belief in the civilizing power of nature, would probably scoff at my hurry to get to the island so I could start relaxing.

    Next time, I’ll appreciate the curves that were put there just so I’d slow down and see the beauty of Wisconsin.”  – READ MORE

    If you started somewhere in the middle of my Door County posts, click for Rock Island to continue.

    Happy trails,
    Barb