August 12, 2007

Sturgeon Bay – Is it part of the Door?

So, in the last few weeks, we’ve been having a friendly debate about which Door County, Wisconsin village is the “best.” Some people have noticed that I did not include Sturgeon Bay in this debate. Which, of course, inspires the question: do you consider Sturgeon Bay to be part of your Door County experience?

Geographically, Sturgeon Bay is, of course, part of Door County. However, my Door County experience begins at the stoplight where 57 and 42 part ways just north of Sturgeon Bay. Why? To me, Door County is all about leaving “the real world” behind. No malls, no Wal-marts, no chinsy chain stores. Everything is quiet, old-world, authentic. To me, Sturgeon Bay feels like either the jumping off point to a simpler time and place, or the re-emergence into a busy life, depending on whether we’re coming or going.

Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I don’t like Sturgeon Bay. It’s great on a rainy day to hit the cinema. We almost always stop at the Pick n Save here to stock up on groceries, and let’s face it–it’s always nice to have a Target within driving distance. We’ve even bowled here a few times in the winter when Sister Bay Bowl was all booked up. And Sturgeon Bay even has a few bastions of Door County culture hidden in its “big city” streets. The Inn at Cedar Crossing is somehow part of my Door County experience, even though Sturgeon Bay is not. The ambiance of the restaurant somehow transports it back in time and into the Door County culture I love to escape to. But, dear Sturgeon Bay, don’t be offended, but you just don’t quite cut it–and you aren’t part of my Door County.
Is Sturgeon Bay a part of yours?

Filed under Door County Reviews