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!.”
When 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 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
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