BK Olson, Travel Blogger

Category: Wisconsin

  • More of the Door: Part One

    More of the Door: Part One

    Door County is a great area to visit, but don’t expect to see much if you only stay for the weekend. If you want to get in some shopping, a play or two, a nature trail or six, a couple rounds of golf and see several lighthouses, we’re talkin’ at least 5-7 days – maybe more!

    Every time we go, we check out a few new things. We bought into our timeshare so we could check out new things with every trip, even though we tend to return to our favorites from time to time. Close to home and fabulous, Door County is one place we return to often.

    The white barn below (of course donning a barn quilt) greets you as a way of saying, “You’re getting closer to a great vacation!.”

    Door County, WIWhen calculating drive time, take into consideration that while yes, you may see open stretches of highway on the map, rarely is there a place to pass. Depending on the time of year you visit, traffic and other visitors can be considerable. We usually opt to go somewhat off-season, or visit through the week to avoid the weekenders. Back when the kids were small, we would visit in the wintertime. Great deals on hotels and very few people around make that a very inviting time to go, especially if the kiddos like to play in the snow, but be aware that many of the restaurants and attractions close down for the season after the crowds subside.

    Door County, WI

    Door County is full of antique shops (above), vineyards (left) and wonderful creations by fabulous artists. From pottery to metal art and literally everything in between, if you love to shop for unique, often hand-crafted items, this is the place to do it. Click on the link for a list of the Art Galleries in Door County so you can get an idea of the multitude available. Most of the shops have gorgeous landscaping and exterior designs and some may have sculptures or metal art to showcase their wares outside their shops or in the town squares.

    Below are some photos of Egg Harbor. Click on the link for more information about what’s available there.

    Egg Harbor is a lovely town with a great harbor, lots of great restaurants and some beautiful touches that make this town very unique indeed.

    Fish Creek is home to great fish boils, fabulous stuffed French Toast, a beautiful beach and the Peninsula Players Theatre.

    “The Peninsula Players, America’s oldest resident summer theater, has a history which is as captivating as the plays staged at the theater during the past 80 years. And it began simply with “two planks and a passion.”

    Patrons have returned year after year, drawn by the theater’s tradition of providing exceptional professional productions of classic and contemporary literature. They are also delighted by the talent of its acting company and the theater’s serene location along the shores of Green Bay.”

    Just north of Fish Creek, be sure to check out Peninsula State Park. With golfing, hiking, biking, great views of Green Bay and a lighthouse, what more could a person ask for? Oh ya – Eagle Tower. “Eagle Tower is a 76-foot observation tower located atop the 180-foot limestone Eagle Bluff. The tower offers views of the park, surrounding islands and the Michigan shoreline.” Although it is currently closed for repairs, click on the link to see if it has reopened.

    Just above are photos taken at Eagle Panorama, a great place to take a break with awesome views. The stone wall and the overlook itself is as beautiful as the view – well almost. Just down the road is Eagle Bluff Light.

    “By 1899, 12 lighthouses illuminated Door County’s 300-mile shoreline and islands. Eagle Bluff Lighthouse, constructed in the midst of the growing demand for navigational aids, was operational on October 15, 1868. Situated on a bluff overlooking Green Bay, Eagle Bluff Lighthouse was constructed for $12,000, a very large amount of money at the time. In addition to Cream City brick shipped from Milwaukee, materials and supplies arrived by water from Chicago and Detroit. The delivery of the goods was made at Lighthouse Bay, later renamed Tennyson Bay.”  – READ MORE

    “As the Civil War’s firestorm was extinguished, and the North and South stood once more united, pioneers discovered the riches of northeastern Wisconsin. But the trek westward from the cultured east coast was challenging, an arduous journey of hundreds of miles through the frontier. Traveling through the St. Lawrence Seaway, down the Erie Canal, and through the Great Lakes, the schooners and steamboats that carried the new immigrants and settlers were constantly in harm’s way. The journey was long and difficult…the waters dangerous.  If not for the lighthouses hugging the shoreline, clinging to rocky bluffs, or speckling solitary islands, many a ship would never have seen dry land.”  – READ MORE

    My next post will finish up our trips to Door County for this blog, which I meet with mixed emotions. Maybe I’ll have to visit again this summer to get some more material!

    Next Up: More of the Door: Finale

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • Southern Door County Barn Quilts

    Southern Door County Barn Quilts

    I first discovered barn quilts on a trip up north in the spring of last year. I had noticed a few here or there before that, but I didn’t really think about it being “a thing” until last spring while passing through Shawano County. I stumbled upon quite a few and when I returned home to write the blog about my trip, I discovered a short video where a gentleman who set out to – and achieved – the status of Barn Quilt Capital of Wisconsin for Shawano County. In the video he explains where he got his inspiration, where some of them are located and how it all came about. I added a few photos of the barn quilts that I saw on that trip in a blog called Wisconsin Embellishments, if you’d like to check them out.

    This week I discovered that Door County has quite a number of them as well – not enough to be the Capital or anything… but enough to warrant a map to point them all out and to locate a couple of historic churches. I’d recommend getting that map at any of the places that offer the free flyers about attractions in the area, if you’re interested. You know me – I set out to see them all, but missed a few here and there because I’m sure the map was wrong. It couldn’t be that my map reading skills were insufficient, or anything that ridiculous! I had a great time though. Several were located on pretty major highways and where difficult to photograph, but most were on country roads with lovely landscaping surrounding the barns they adorned.

    The picture above left was one of a dozen rusty old farm implements along a county road. I thought they fit in nicely with the weeds that engulfed them and the farm theme of today.

    The barn just above with the star and not a quilt, housed the beautiful horses below. They seem to stand at attention as I pulled up and stopped near them. They didn’t seem too annoyed at me and were quite photogenic, unlike my dog who looks the other way when I try to get his picture.

    There is also a great book about the history of barn quilts called “Barn Quilts and the American Quilt Trail Movement“. Click on the link for more information.

    What a great day, checking out the barn quilts and the beautiful farms. My next post will take you through several of the great towns of Door County, from Egg Harbor all the way up to Northport Pier, where you’d take the ferry to Washington Island and Rock Island (earlier posts).

    Up Next: More of the Door: Part One

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • Cave Point County Park

    Cave Point County Park

    My road trip this morning would lead me to Cave Point County Park, but if you’ve read many of my blogs you know I like to make the most of every trip, so there were a couple stops before and even more after that. The dilapidated homestead above and the beautiful red-roofed barn below are just a few of the things that make my little car automatically pull over for a closer look and a photo or two. I guess that’s one of the things some people like about this blog – you never know what you’re gonna get. I hope you think that’s a good thing!

    Cave Point is on the eastern side of the peninsula, fairly far south toward Sturgeon Bay. Since it’s only a county park you may have missed it on previous visits, but it’s definitely worth the drive to check it out. Signs warn that children should not be left unsupervised – so watch your step. There are no fences to keep the careless among us from falling into Lake Michigan. On days when the lake is particularly violent, even more care should be taken as some of the lake water ends up ashore, making the rock walkway quite slippery. Today the lake was fairly calm, so no violent splashing, but just the right amount of action to remind you that the lake should not be taken lightly. As I was checking out the view from one area, I heard a booming sound which startled me at first until I figured out what was happening. The water was crashing into the indents in the rock, giving off a thunderous roar. I can image that sound on a more turbulent day! It was pretty cool – once I knew what was going on. The pictures below on the left show the area with the loudest volume.

    With the higher level of the lake, there was a layer of rock just below the surface of the water that was so pretty with the contrast of the beautiful blue of the lake.

    A little farther down was a beach filled with smooth and flat rocks that are great for rock-stacking. I don’t usually do the stacking, since there are plenty from previous visitors.

    “Cave point is known for its underwater caves and wave-worn limestone cliffs by fisherman, scuba divers, photographers and nature observers. It has picnic tables, cooking grills, fire rings…

    It is especially picturesque when the winds and seas are from the East. The winds blow the waves into the work away areas under the cliffs. When the waves break from this direction the resulting splash of water is beautiful to watch. During the Winter time, for the brave-hearted, you can see the winds, waves and freezing weather have coated the rocks and trees with a glistening coat of brilliant sparkling ice.” – READ MORE

    Whitefish Dunes State ParkJust south of Cave Point is Whitefish Dunes State Park, a day-use park which preserves the most substantial sand dunes on the western shore of Lake Michigan.

    There’s a lot to do at the Dunes include hiking, fishing, canoeing, boating and swimming. Or bring a blanket and a picnic basket for a nice relaxing day at the beach.

    The Nature Center offers programs for children and adults to learn about the park’s natural and cultural history. It is open year-round, with naturalists available to answer questions and give tours.

    Last stop today is at La Salle County Park just south of Whitefish Dunes in the Town of Clay Banks. The pictures below were taken at Lower La Salle County Park, which turned out to be a great stop, complete with a park bench where I could sit and ponder all of life’s questions. There is something about sitting on a park bench and hearing the water below that is so relaxing…

    What a splendid day exploring the eastern shore of the Door Peninsula. Have you made reservations for your trip to Door County?

    Up Next: Southern Door County Barn Quilts

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • Baileys Harbor

    Baileys Harbor

    I’ll continue our tour of Door County with photos taken in August of 2015, so you can forget about the frostbite on your nose. We have been to Door County lots of times over the years, but usually stay on the traffic and touristy side around the Fish Creek area because we love the shopping, the food and the bay-side of the Door. The eastern side is much more relaxing with additional lake views and interesting lighthouses, as well as more great restaurants and shopping.

    We had come to Baileys Harbor once for the Fourth of July fireworks and another time to check out PC Junction, which our grandson loved! PC Junction is located just west of Baileys Harbor in Peninsula Center and is a great, casual lunch spot for all you train lovers out there. If you’re lucky enough to grab the counter up close to the model train that circles the bar area, your lunch will be delivered by railroad! The food is good and there is lots of train memorabilia to keep the kiddos happy while waiting for their lunches and other historical decoration to keep you happy. Check out this YouTube video that will tell you more about PC Junction.

    It’s hard to miss the fabulous mural below, and it’s not easy getting a picture with no cars in front of it! On weekends in summer, I don’t think it would be possible, since the Nelson Shopping Center offers just about everything you need at any given moment. The mural is quite amazing! Click on the link below to read how it all came about.

    “If, as some people believe, there are no coincidences in life, then the giant mural emerging on the north wall of the Nelson Shopping Center in Baileys Harbor was destined to be.”  – READ MORE

    Baileys Harbor is a pretty little town. I spent the day walking around the harbor and feeling lucky that there weren’t people all around, which is sometimes the case on nice weekends. Since today was a weekday and the weather was a little iffy, I had all the peace and quiet that I was craving. I stumbled upon Anclam Park, which was a delight, with all the park benches and wildflowers I love.

    With a boardwalk leading out to the lakefront and a beautiful rock wall (complete with flowers) surrounding steps to a play area, this was a great find!

    A must-see in the area is The Ridges Sanctuary. The Ridges has four distinct areas: Hidden Brook, the Sanctuary, the Family Discovery Trail and Logan Creek. Trails are easy to follow and well-marked. There are guided and self-guided hikes, as well as guided snowshoe hikes. A modest fee of $5 will provide you with a day pass to visit all four areas. In the Sanctuary are the Range Lights, which I was very interested in. They can also be accessed from the road, but for only $5, it was well worth supporting the conservation efforts of this beautiful place.

    “Built in 1869, at a cost of $6,000, the Range Lights guided ships into the safety of Baileys Harbor for a century. These modest but enduring structures played a critical role in the history of Baileys Harbor and in the founding of The Ridges. They are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

    At the time they were built, the Range Lights were considered a more effective way to keep ships off the treacherous reefs and shallows at the entrance to Baileys Harbor. From the water, a sailor got “on range” by vertically aligning the white light in the Upper Range Light, which shone at a height of 39 feet above the water, with the Lower Range Light’s red beacon, fixed at 22 feet above the water.

    The Upper Range Light was home to eight lighthouse keepers and their families. In 1930, the lamps were replaced by automated electric lights and keepers were no longer needed.”  – READ MORE

    “Our naturalist-guided hikes are the best way to experience The Ridges. Approximately 90 minutes in length, these relaxed walks highlight many of the features of the Sanctuary and are suitable for all ages. Learn about the history of the Ridges, the Baileys Harbor Range Lights, and of course the diverse flora of this unique natural area. On any given day, you’re likely to see carpets of wildflowers, nesting cranes, delicate Hine’s Emerald dragonflies, migrating Monarch butterflies or the occasional porcupine.

    Please check our calendar for the current hike schedule.”  – READ MORE

    Baileys Harbor’s eastern location seems to offer a more relaxing day in Door County away from the traffic and madness of the western side. A little off the beaten path, it is definitely worth a look.

    Up Next: Cave Point County Park

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • Newport State Park

    Newport State Park

    Since I started my Door County blogs way up north with Rock Island and Washington Island, I may as well stay way up north and east in the peninsula at Newport State Park. The pictures in this post were taken the end of August in 2015, so this will be a nice break from the bare trees, snow and ice that going on outside my window now. Not sure where you are reading this, but I hope it’s nicer than here! This was a fabulous day and Newport State Park offers lots of great trails and some awesome Lake Michigan views, as well as a beautiful lighthouse.

    We have been to Door County quite a few times over the years, but have never been to this Park. I hope that this post encourages you to visit if you are a nature/trail lover. It is really quite beautiful!

    “Newport State Park, northeast of Ellison Bay, is Wisconsin’s only formally-designated wilderness park. With 2,373 acres and 11 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, the park offers quiet alternatives to bustling Door County. Explore 30 miles of hiking trails with hike-in campsites. There are evergreen and hardwood forests, wetlands and upland meadows.”  – READ MORE

    We’ll start with Fern Trail (above) which, as the name implies, was a great walk in the woods with some dense and lush greenery and a pretty easy trail. Somehow we got turned around, so I don’t think the pictures of Lake Michigan (below) are still on the Fern Trail, we may have switched trails to the Europe Bay trail mid-walk, but we didn’t care. It was a great day and the trail was easy on the legs and full of beautiful scenery and no bugs – which we were kind of expecting. It was a great day all around.

    As you’ll notice in these pictures and a few of the next, the Lake has risen, so a lot of the trees seem to be growing in the water. Not sure how long they can withstand that “over-watering”, or whether the Lake will be lower next year, but I’m sure some things will be a little different on our next trip here. The sun was intense as it glimmered off the water, but wow, what a fabulous day.

    The pictures above are of the lake right next to the causeway to the Cana Island Lighthouse, a dilapidated building on the grounds (my favorite kind of photos) and our first glimpse of the lighthouse. I have seen pictures of this lighthouse at night, even though the sign at the entrance clearly says it closes at dusk, I think. The pictures are stunning, but take great caution if you plan a trip after hours as the causeway is a little tricky to maneuver even during daylight hours sometimes. It was definitely wet and the waves were crashing pretty close as we passed by, but it wasn’t too bad on our visit. I just love the picture of the lake above. It was the most beautiful shade of blue and the contrast with the whitecaps and the vegetation growing along the shore was really something.

    “Travel back in time and explore one of Door County Wisconsin’s most popular lighthouses that’s been standing watch on the shore of Lake Michigan for more than 140 years.

    Investigate the entire 8.7-acre island that includes the 89-foot-tall light tower, the original home of the lighthouse keeper and his family, and the oil house where fuel for the light was stored.

    The highlight of any Cana Island visit is climbing the 97 steps of the tower’s spiral staircase to reach the gallery deck. The outside deck delivers a sweeping view of Lake Michigan and the Door County peninsula.

    While the ascent is fun for visitors, imagine the lighthouse keeper’s job as he trudged up and down the steps each night, carrying heated lard to keep the light burning!”  – READ MORE

    Out front of the lighthouse was a wonderful natural fence that beckoned us to check out the lake. Our shoes crunched on the beach of millions of tiny shells that had washed ashore. The views of the lake were fabulous from this vantage point with the “floating” trees and the lighthouse behind us.

    We decided there was time for one more trail, so we decided upon the Upland Trail, which was close to the entrance to the Park and only about 2 miles long. Similar to the Fern Trail, it was green and lush but also had lots of mushrooms and a wonderful root cellar that was pretty great.

    Almost immediately as we entered the trail, there was a sign about Poison Ivy (above). “Leaflets Three, Let It Be” was the sign that warned us of its prevalence on the trail. Funny, growing up in Iowa where every summer included at least one slathering of Calamine Lotion, I was never really sure what it looked like. So there you have it!

     

     

    As we left the park, there was a great farm with a couple spectacular barns and a barn quilt. As much as I like the bright red barns, these were just great, giving off that “lived-in” vibe that I love so much.

    Wisconsin – with its nature and barn quilts, cows and dilapidated buildings, cornfields and Lake Michigan – can add up to one of the prettiest states around. Door County has a little bit of all of those things – along with some great cherries, yummy wine and great fish boils (we’ll talk more about that later!). I can’t wait to return ASAP!

    Next up: Baileys Harbor

    Happy trails,
    Barb