Canadian wildfire smoke is blowing on the northern Minnesota towns I have been trying to visit once again. In 2023, I was smoked out due to Canadian wildfire smoke. At that time I was literally in the smoky area and drove out of it. My weather app indicated the air quality index for each town I was interested in visiting along with weather alerts. I simply chose to drive south away from the smoke. Traveling away from the wildfire smoke also meant I did not visit the western part of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as I hoped. Maybe another time I will return to the area.
Once across the state line into Wisconsin, I stopped at a cheese shop for cheese curds! Now I need to portion out my snacks so I don’t eat it all too quickly! If you are in the Green Bay area, do stop at Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary. They have an incredible nature center with so many exhibits. There are trails to hike around fenced areas where some animals are being rehabbed or now provided homes. Some animals had been pets and now cannot be returned to the wild, thus the sanctuary is now their home. I noticed a couple of groups of young children on an adventure with a teacher/leader and also a teenage group with cameras photographing wildflowers. I loved hiking here and seeing what this place offers; fantastic place!
Have you been to Door County?
I have arrived and am camping in Door County! Often when I mentioned Wisconsin in the past, someone would ask me if I have been to Door County? Wow, 19 communities have truly united in providing a variety of activities: art, theater, a drive-in theater, orchards, wineries, breweries, state park, local parks, open spaces, land trusts, marinas, antique shops, boating, hiking, bicycling, museums, restaurants, dog parks, and you name it, they have it! I think I spent an hour just flipping through their “official destination guide” to map out a plan for my next day visit. (So much to do, so little time. I see they recommend 4 days to visit this county.) I’ll do my best to see the 300 miles of shoreline, lighthouses, marinas and various places in a day.
My jam-packed day in Door County began at Sturgeon Bay. There is a Maritime Museum and tugboats, but I was delighted watching an artist painting a tugboat while his art students looked on … as did I! But the most delicious stop was at Seaquist Orchards. I ate the most delicious slice of cherry pie. Each cherry burst with flavor in my mouth as I watched and learned, on their outdoor video, that they make 20,000 pies a year. They, now 6th generation originally from Sweden, have 1300 acres of cherry orchards. Their first cherry tree was planted in 1912. Tart cherry trees are shaken and collected by machines, whereas the sweet cherries are hand-picked. Informative signage about the family and a huge store to meet all your cherry shopping needs.
There are numerous places to pull off the road for views of the lake or to travel away from the main route. Each town has its own vibe and some are very walkable, such as Ephraim with all its shops having a view of the waterfront. An off-the-main-road stop I made was at Garrett’s Bay Park. Here was a boat launch for non-motorized watercraft. An interesting sign also about a wooden schooner, the Fleetwing, missing the Death Door’s passage and crashed onto a rocky beach in Garrett Bay. The crew survived and additional gale force winds have left the schooner in pieces. Divers, snorkelers and kayakers can still explore the remnants of the wreckage on the lake bed’s floor.
On the east side of the peninsula, the temperature dropped about 15 degrees. What was a warm morning became a cold 50 degrees with 30 mph winds. I stopped by Cana Island and also Anclam Beach where even the diving Caspian terns were challenged as they dove straight-down into the water to fish. Loved watching them! But alas, my day must come to an end and I return to the campground an hour away, yet still in Door County. The landscape is beautiful and I understand now why people ask if I have been to Door County. Have you been here?
