Belated Happy New Year to everyone - especially the Door County Wisconsin lovers. Our family spent part of our Christmas holiday in Door County at Little Sweden. It was my 5th consecutive year and I think this one was by far the best. Here’s why:

• Snow, Snow, Snow! As many know, Door County has been in a drought for sometime. When we went there this last summer, most of the golf courses had been having a hard time keeping the fairways green because of lack of water. This winter it seems to have turned around. We went cross country skiing and had a wonderful time in the snow.
• Al Johnson’s was perfect as always! The Swedish Pancake Special has been my favorite since I was introduced about 6 years ago. I love getting strawberries on the side too. My little boy, who’s now 3, did ask “Where’s the goats Daddy? Are they sleeping?” We explained that it was too cold for them and they had to stay in the barn because of all the snow.
• The Steak Medallions at The White Gull Inn. As you can see from prior posts, my two favorite places to go every year are Al Johnson’s and The White Gull Inn. This time I had the Steak Medallions and, as I type this, my mouth is watering I’m sure there are other Door County restaurants that are great too, but The White Gull Inn is definitely a high recommendation.

Let’s make 2008 a great one! We’ll be going to Door County at least three times this year and look forward to discovering more and more of what Door County has to offer.

My husband and I often get into debates about where we were raised: he’s an Idaho boy, and I am Wisconsin proud through and through–go Bucky! But football is not the only thing we discuss: the natural beauty of our homelands is another.

We currently live in Utah, which has a landscape similar to Idaho, and let me tell you, the people here are in love with their mountains. After living here for 8 years, I have to admit, the Rockies have grown on me. Until you’ve hiked up to a glacial lake or overlooked the sunrise from the craggy rocks of a summit. it’s impossible to appreciate the full splendor of these majestic mountains. They are, in every sense of the word, awesome.

Wisconsin’s beauty, however, is of a more accessible kind. You don’t need to hike up 10 miles of shale rock staircases to enjoy the lush comfort of the forests that surround you in Wisconsin. And there are few things better for the soul than sitting back and enjoying the soft breeze off sparkling blue water that fades into the horizon. Yes, I do love the mountains in the west, but I must admit, I would trade them in an instant for the green and blue of home. To me, Door County Wisconsin is the best beauty of all. It nourishes my soul.

Recently we got a question from a http://www.DoorCountyReviews.com registered member about what they should do in Door County Wisconsin on their weekend trip. A tantalizing question, to be sure. So many options, so little time, so here’s a quick list. If we had only 2 days to spend in Door County, these are the things we wouldn’t want to miss.

1. Breakfast at Al Johnson’s: the goats on the roof might get you in, but the swedish pancakes will bring you back! Located in Sister Bay.
2. A show at the new outdoor theatre, home of the Peninsula Players. Professional theatre, gorgeous new facility, and waterfront location. Located on Peninsula Players Road in Fish Creek.
3. Peninsula Park: either drive it, bike it, or hike it…but don’t miss it! The southern entrance is in Fish Creek and the northern entrance in Ephraim.
4. Dinner at The White Gull Inn in Fish Creek. This place will not disappoint! We love the white tablecloths, the candlelight, the fireplace, and the stuffed pork chops!
5. Golf a round at The Orchards: even though their clubhouse recently burnt down, this is still one of the most beautiful and well-kept golf courses in Door County. Located on Heritage Lake Road in Egg Harbor.

Let us know what you all think.

Hello Door County lovers! It has been awhile since our last post, and in these precious few weeks, the verdant loveliness of the Door landscape has been transformed into an autumn splendor–a showcase of nature’s golden hues. Autumn leaves are responsible for an entire batch of nature-lovers over-running Door County Wisconsin, and mark the end of “peak season” for the tourist industry here.

I’ve recently been reading Bill Bryson’s book, I’m a Stranger Here Myself, and am quoting a passage in which he describes fall in New England. I thought it was a poetic expression of Door County as well, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Maybe it will even inspire you to drive up to the Door! I wish I had gotten the chance this fall.

It was one of those sumptuous days when the world is full of autumn muskiness and tangy, crisp perfection: vivid blue sky,deep green fields, leaves in a thousand luminous hues. It is a truly astounding sight when every tree in a landscape becomes an individual, when each winding back highway and plump hillside is suddenly and infinitely splashed with every sharp shade that nature can bestow–flaming scarlet, lustrous gold, throbbing vermilion, fiery orange.

Hello Door County lovers! I just got back from a week in wonderful Door County…notice I didn’t say wonderful week. That’s right, folks, it was overcast, cold, and rainy every single day of our vacation. We didn’t see the sun until we were packing our bags and heading south down Hwy 42. But…did that ruin our trip? Oh no…we still had a fun, relaxing time. Here are the top 10 things we thought of to do on those rainy days:

10. Go to Al Johnson’s–but be prepared to wait–everyone else will have the same idea.

9. Go bowling in Sister Bay, but same story on waiting. With only one small bowling alley in Northern Door, this place can get crowded. Try early afternoon or late morning to get right on the lanes.

8. Go to a movie in Sturgeon Bay. The Cinema has all the new releases and it’s right next to Pick N Save in case you forgot to pack any necessities.

7. Go shopping. Fish Creek offers two shopping strips with covered porches: Top of the Hill shops are probably most convenient, but the shops right on Main Street can keep you fairly dry as you browse as well. In Egg Harbor, the Main Street Market shops are entirely enclosed as well.

6. Go to your favorite sit-down restaurant: whether it be Summer Kitchen, the White Gull Inn, Harbor Fish Market & Grille, or the Inn at Cedar Crossing, you can sit back and enjoy a leisurely meal without worrying about missing out on outdoor fun.

5. Go for a drive: Enjoy the scenery and explore parts of the Door you’ve never seen before.

4. Tour a winery: There are plenty to choose from, and you’ll get to see wine in all stages of production. Of course, the best part of your tour will be sampling from over 50 varieties of fruit and grape wines.

3. Peninsula Players: If you haven’t seen a production in this state-of-the-art new facility, you should. You will feel like you are in another world in the midst of mother nature, yet you’ll be warm and dry in a beautifully crafted modern outdoor theatre. Bring a blanket and cuddle with your sweetie as you hear the soft whispers of rain on the roof.

2. Hand’s On Art Studio: Get your creative juices flowing and while away the water-filled hours creating masterpiece after masterpiece at this wonderful studio. You could literally spend a week’s worth of rainy days (and a week’s worth of wages) creating everything from your own custom-made dish sets to mosaic wall hangings.

1. The best thing to do on a rainy day in Door County might just be the same as the best thing to do on a rainy day anywhere. Cuddle up with your sweetie, grab a good book and a cup of hot chocolate, find a window with a view, and laze away the hours. How often do you really get the chance?

Interesting question, don’t you think?  I have to say, being from Idaho originally, that I’m not really one to say one way or the other.  So, to make it fair and to get an opinion from all, I open the question up for discussion.

Is Sturgeon Bay really part of Door County, Wisconsin?

I’ve been using Facebook a lot lately to meet fellow Door County lovers and actually proposed this question there. Here are a few responses I received:

While Sturgeon Bay technically IS Door County, I personally don’t think of that town when I think of Door. It’s far too commercialized and doesn’t share the same essence and overall feel of the villages further north. I suppose it’s necessary to have some sort of business district in any county, but Sturgeon Bay, to me, feels like it could be transplanted into any other water-bordering Wisconsin county — especially with a Super WalMart coming in the next few years. I’ve told people before that I think of Door as truly beginning once you pass the last stop light (the 42/57 split). - Nick F., Lake County, IL

Nick is an avid Door County Fan and has been going to Door County for years.  He really appreciates the culture and heritage that the Door has to offer.

Another person I talked to, Steve who is originally from Milwaukee but now lives in Chicago, said the following in answer to our question:

I do. They are so close to each other, Even Washington Island is part of Door County in my opinion. My wife and I agree that going to Door County is like a piece of Heaven! The drive up there is so scenic.

So, a few mixed reviews.  Personally, after having visited Door County now for 5 years with my wife’s family (who has gone to Door County at least 2 or 3 times per year for over 25 years), I think Sturgeon Bay is a bit commercial to really be a “Village” in Door County.

I talked to a man today who stated to me clearly, and almost with a bit of disgust, that I had “forgotten to include Sturgeon Bay in the Reviews on the Door County Website.”  He insisted that Sturgeon Bay is definitely part of Door County, the map says it all.

What do you all think?

Okay, are you ready to join in the Door County conversation?

Here’s a quick tutorial on how to post comments on our blog:

1. Go to our blog web address: www.doorcountyreviews.com/blog. Ha, you’re already here!
2. Read our posts: you can scroll down to read older posts. The most current posting will show at the top. On the far right side of the bar that shows the date of the posting, you will see a small graphic that lists the number of comments. (Sadly, right now the number is zero on most of them).
3. Click on the graphic that says ____ comments. A new screen will appear with the blog post at the top. As you scroll down you will see a smaller box with the words: “Leave a Reply.”
4. Simply type in your comments and click submit. Don’t worry, we don’t share you’re email address and if you don’t have a website, just leave it blank. Congratulations! You’ve just posted to a blog! You are officially internet-savvy!

Things to share on a blog: Opinions that may agree or disagree with the blog post, stories or personal insights relating to the blog post, links or other resources that add to the blog post, answers to questions posed by the blog.

Hope to see you on our blog soon!