Door County – Live Laugh RV

Every now and then hubby and I come across a place that’s so picturesque, it calms the body and clears the mind. Perhaps for some, it even stirs the soul. A place that’s home to quaint villages and distinct agriculture. A place that could easily become an addiction and for many it has. Door County, Wisconsin has a way of luring folks in causing them to return time and again.

The land may be one addiction but the water is another. Most of Door County’s shoreline is surrounded by shallow, rocky ledges. Delightful islands both large and small add to the splendid scenery.

Whether it’s sailing, power boating, or paddling; boating of any kind is a beloved sport around here.

Algoma, Wisconsin — home for the week was in a marina in the town of Algoma surrounded by water – RV center rear

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, lighthouses assisted sailors in navigating the lake and bay waters of the Door Peninsula and surrounding islands. Many of the lighthouses are still operational to this day and are open to the public. There are eleven historic Door County Lighthouses. I was able to visit the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse which I found charming and interesting. My mother was a huge fan of lighthouses, and I always think of her when photographing one of these delightful landmarks.

Lake Michigan Lighthouses — Eagle Bluff Lighthouse built in 1868 located in Peninsula State Park, Door County, Wisconsin

So where did the name “Door” County come from?

In a dangerous and unpredictable confluence of currents is Death’s Door. Historians have long blamed these waters for more shipwrecks than any other body of fresh water in the world. It’s here, where the waters of Green Bay meet the waters of Lake Michigan with sudden, unpredictable squalls, erratic wave patterns, and shallow shoals resulting in many a fine ship being dragged to a watery grave.

The Door Peninsula got its name from the dangerous straits that pass between the tip of the peninsula and Washington Island. 213 identified wrecked vessels in the waters of Door County have been listed. The Door County Maritime Museum in the town of Sturgeon Bay, is a must see for any nautical buff.

Door County agriculture — Sharing the road

Since our RV was parked in the little town of Algoma, south of Sturgeon Bay, we were able to not only explore Door County’s scenic towns and shoreline, we ventured inland navigating some off the beaten path roads.

It was here we discovered the agricultural side of Door County. We passed vineyards, cheery orchards, berry orchards, and apple orchards. During our end of August visit, cherry and berry seasons were pretty much over, but apple season was just around the corner. There’s something so appealing about a crisp juicy apple that I personally picked from a

apples — In another month, these beauties will be ripe for the picking

tree, or enjoying a cup of fresh milled cider directly from the orchard’s store that captivates my attention. The thought evokes cool days and stunning fall colors. The inland peninsula is dotted with farm stands, wineries, and small shops selling local goods; homemade pies, jams, fudge, and local honey, just to name a few.

The fall colors of Door County easily rival those found in the northeast, and although our original plans were to stay in this part of the country to enjoy the fall festivities, we ended up changing directions. More on that to come.

But I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the fine people that call Wisconsin home. No matter where we went, we felt welcomed and valued as a visitor.

And then there’s Al’s buddies… the guys had a great time fishing out on Lake Michigan and although the fish stories were plenty, the guys did all agree they had hoped for a little more action (as in more fish).

And while the guys were out fishing, I was off connecting with a fellow blogger. When I made mention in one of my blog posts several months ago that I’d be visiting Wisconsin, I received an email from Kathlin of The Badger and the Whooping Crane inviting me out to lunch should I be near her neck of the woods.

Well, she didn’t have to twist my arm. Thanks Kathlin. It was a joy and a pleasure spending the day with you. Next time, I’ll definitely hang around a little longer for those great fall colors.

Our time in the Midwest has come to an end and although we had a fabulous time, we’re ready to have the wheels on the RV rolling again.

“The mountains are calling and I must go” – John Muir

Door County Tales:: Shipwrecks, Cherries and Goats on the Roof (American Chronicles)
Levin Dual USB Port 5000mAh Portable Solar Panel Charger for iPhones, Windows and Android Phones

We truly enjoyed our visit to Devil’s Lake, but had commitments necessitating we pull up jacks and start rolling north toward Marshfield, Wisconsin.

Baraboo Wisconsin — Baraboo, WI Farmer’s Market

Between the hiking, the crane foundation, and the Baraboo farmer’s market, we had a wonderful stay at Devil’s Lake State Park and wouldn’t mind returning some day.

It is however Wisconsin’s busiest state park and even though I booked our reservation five months in advance, I was still unable to secure a site over a weekend. During the week, there did appear to be plenty of open sites available for drop-ins. (We stayed here during the middle of August)

friendship — driveway camping at a friend’s home

Al’s best friend from college and best man in our wedding was eager for our arrival. We fit comfortably in Roger’s driveway and set up house within minutes. Even though we only stayed in Marshfield the weekend, we managed to get in plenty of catching up. That Sunday was preseason football and the Green Bay Packers were playing. This is serious Packer Land and Cheese Land.

Oh no, this Bronco’s fan has been turned into a ‘cheese head’

Roger planned a tailgate party at his house which included a bunch of people we hadn’t seen in years. Even though the Packers lost, it was a super fun day. We loved visiting with everyone and the weekend flew by. I may have worn Packer green that day and been turned into a cheese head, but I assure you, it was a momentary lapse and I’m back to wearing the orange and blue of the Denver Bronco’s.

But there was more impending fun with the guys to be had …. for hubby; a fishing trip on Lake Michigan.

The day after the football game, we packed up the RV and headed to Algoma, Wisconsin. But first, a stop at Cabela’s to empty the holding tanks was necessary and a cruise by Lambeau Field (home of the Packers) was in order, for posterity. After all, we were Green Bay Packer fans for a day.

Pulling into the Green Bay Cabela’s was easy. Quite a few Cabela stores offer a dump station free of charge. Not this one. (for all you non-RVer’s, this talk is about the not so fun and stinky part of RVing. Our holding tanks contain our waste water, including potty waste and when we’re not staying in an RV Park with full hook-ups we need to find a place to clean out our tanks before they fill up).

There was a $5.00 charge to access the dump station or free if we bought something. Hmm! We stepped inside the store and quickly purchased some chocolate walnut fudge. We took our receipt to the customer service counter and were given a number that would unlock the dump cover. Let’s see – they gave us fudge and we gave them shit …. literally! Sounds like we got the better end of the deal 🙂

With clean tanks and plenty of fresh water on board, we continued the drive from Green Bay to the little town of Algoma, Wisconsin. The rest of the fishing gang wouldn’t be showing up until late the next day allowing Al and I to have a day to explore Door County.

Door County is a popular tourist destination especially for residents of Wisconsin and Illinois, boasting 300 miles of scenic shoreline, 5 state parks, and 19 charming communities.

With our RV comfortably parked in Algoma, we set off on a scenic drive that had us skirting up County Road B, along the waters of Green Bay. It didn’t take long for Al and I to realize why this is such a popular place for vacation homes. Homes of varying architectural styles are nestled in the woods along the shores of Lake Michigan’s Green Bay. Most homes enjoy their own private dock for easy watercraft access. As we approached the quaint town of Egg Harbor, we were greeted by plenty of old fashion charm. This would be merely the first of several such communities we explored that day.

Door County, Wisconsin — quaint shops offering locally grown and handcrafted products.

We saw plenty of unique shops, eateries, brew pubs, wineries, art gallery’s, and marina’s, but what stuck out to me the most were the beautiful gardens.Each business seemed to take the extra effort in the gardening arena, adding more character and ambiance to an already lovely place.

Considering this is Wisconsin, I shouldn’t have been surprised with all the lush and beautiful vegetation. The rich, black soil makes it easy to grow just about anything. All those flowers did continually captivate my attention to the point hubby asked jokingly, “How many more Black Eyed Susan’s do you have to look at?”

And then there’s the orchards…. apples, cherries, and berries oh my! Up next.