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"Waterside villages, towering limestone bluffs, and 250 miles of coastline vistas that this peninsula such a look similar to New England its been named Cape Cod of the Midwest."
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The Green Bay coast offers cozy harbors and calm waters, while the Lake Michigan side lures visitors with its wild surf, sandy beaches and superb fishing. With so many miles of shoreline, Door Peninsula can guarantee that you'll never be more than 10 minutes from a scenic view.
Stop #1 :P
Potawatomi State Park
Take Route 57 NorthEast out of Green Bay. This 1,200 acre park is located at the mouth of Sturgeon Bay. Named after the Indian Tribe which was it's first residence. This park is dominated by dense forest of sugar maples, pines and birches. The beach is speckled with granite cobbles and boulders brought down from Canada by the glaciers. On a clear day the park's 75ft high observation tower is a great spot to outlook on the bay. For the birdwatchers this is a great local spot to observe our Eagles and many other critters.
Stop #2 :P
Sturgeon Bay
Named "The Gateway to Door County" and the largest city of the area. The city itself gained its appreciation from the huge numbers of these Sturgeons which were once caught in its waters. The former lumbering community now boast one of the biggest shipyards in our nation, producing from small crafts to our navel ships. There also is a historic district well worth the excursion.
Stop #3 :P
Whitefish Dunes State Park
Some 12,000 years ago the movement of glaciers left an huge indentation in the entire shoreline of the Door. One of the molding done in the Door was at Whitefish Dunes, created the Clark Lake and Whitefish Bay. Over time, lake currents deposited sand in the bay and then moved it shoreward, forming the large sandbar that cut off Clark Lake. The dunes here are among the most impressive in Wisconsin, with the tallest, Old Baldy rising 93 above the lake. At nearby Care Point County Park, the erosion forces created a not-to-miss spectale: whipped by winds, pounded by turf against spectacular cliffs. This is a certain favorite hotspot located near the parking lot for crazy folks to jump directly into the Lake. Trust Me I Know!
Stop #4 :P
Baileys Harbor
The oldest village in the Peninsula, Baileys Harbor (founded in 1851) is home to the Ridges Sanctuary, one of the largest wildflower preserves in America. Named for its corduroylike ridges of undisturbed sand. Outcome of centuries of continued wind and wave shifting. This sanctuary embraces some 1,200 acres of wooded ridges, bog wetlands and sandy beaches. Amongst its highlights are rare ecological communites of carnivorous pitcher plants, 27 species of native Orchids and a standing tall century old white spruce. Please respect the designated trails. Also take a few minutes to get a photograph of the nearby Cana Island Lighthouse.
Stop #5 :P
Sister Bay
This community is celebrated for its cherry and apple orchards, where yes let the kids go nuts and put them to work havesting fruits. Please do purchase some local jam, (it's excellent) at one of the roadside vendors. This area is gorgous in late May, when the trees are in full bloom. Another must experience is Al Johnson's restaurant noted for traditional Swedish cuisine and its strikingly unconventional roof which is SODDED in the style of old European farmhouses. Another note Don't feed the goats or they'll end of eating your Crepes! For an unforgettable vista, visit Ellison Bluff near Ellison Bay.
Stop #6 :P
Gills Rock
Nearly everyone calls this part of Door County the Top-o'the-Thumb because of its position on the tip of the Wisconsin "Mitten." Here while your waiting for the Washington Ferry to take you across. Check out the gift shop, museum, scavage the beach (you might be lucky to find a gemstone) and grab a bite to eat.
Stop #7 :P
Washington Island
Many inlucky souls have fallen victim to the turbulent currents between the tip of the peninsula and Washington Island. The past Indians named the waters "place of death." On hearing this some 300 years ago, the French explorers dubbed the strait Porte des Morts (Death's Door.) If you are lucky enough to cross at night you might spot some paranormal activity on the water or beach fronts. Don't worry visitors can safely traverse across on a quick ferry ride to the island. Once there, you'll find the largest and oldest Icelandic settlements outside of yep Iceland. Check out the Architecture. With more than 100 miles of roadway, the island is ideal for biking. If your lucky enough to stay overnight during the Aurora Borilis (Northern Lights) Schoolhouse Beach has awestruck me, I have never seen a more beautiful sight! At Jackson Harbor you can take another passenger ferry to Rock Islnad State Park, were you can photograph Potowatomi Lighthouse. Lake Michigan's first lighthouse. Warning watch out for the Poison Ivy.
Stop #8 :P
Newport State Park
Back on the mainland, this 2,400 acre park was once the site of a logging village and is now a semi-wilderness containing several forest, wetland and meadow habitats as well as 11 miles of shoreline. Though nature has clearly reclaimed the land, your still able to spot traces of Newport's earlier days as a lumbering community ruins.
Stop #9 :P
Ephraim
As you approach Ephraim's "white" village, you quickly discern that this is a place of elegant simplicity, a town that reflects the purity and plainlyness of its Moravian founders. When they arrived at this lovely site in 1853, they named it Ephraim (Hebrew for The fruitful land.)
Stop #10 :P
Peninsula State Park
Stop at Peninsula State Park for a glimpse of what the true north woods looked like before settlement. Grayish-white cliffs, lush forests, beige beaches and the bright blue waters of Green Bay combine to form an ageless portrait of Mother Nature at her finest. 3/4 of the 3,800 acres are vertually unspoiled by man. Breath taking views can be seen along Shore Road and Skyline Road. Eagle Tower and Eagle Bluff Lighthouse hold another view all to its own.
Continuing south on Rt 42, you'll visit Fish Creek a excellent spot for Bed and Breakfast retreat. From Egg Harbor, take Rd G into Rd B to enjoy a relaxing coastal tour of Green Bay quiet country.
Stop #11 :P
Algoma
Looping back through Sturgeon Bay and continue due south, the drive passes through Algoma. This town has a scenic walkway along the Ahnapee River that offers vies of some Historicly old fishing shanties, boats and the Algoma Lighthouse.
Stop #12 :P
Point Beach State Forest
This 2,800 acres encompasses the best of both worlds: in addition to a sunny lakefront beach, the preserve includes a shady notrhern pine forest. Bulging out as a headland into Lake Michigan, Point Beach features some six miles of sandy shore, as well as nature trails, camping and picnic areas. If you bring your metal dectector you might locate some float copper which travel to the region as part of the Native American trade routes, but Do Not do it within the confines of the park or you might come home with a nice fine!
All in all the entire region of the Door Peninsula is the great outdoors at its best.
