Rewind: Door County Summer 2018

Rewind is a series where I share about my past trips and experiences.  Like watching an old video on a VHS tape, it gives the photos and memories stuck in limbo a chance to see the light of day once again.

Every year for the past two years, my mom and I go on a camping trip to somewhere new. The summer of twenty-eighteen we decided on Door County. As lifelong residents of Wisconsin we felt a deep seated guilt in not having visited this part of our state which is a popular tourist destination. My knowledge of Door County was a composite of word of mouth stories from friends and internet searches, mostly about goats on restaurant roofs. My mom and I are outdoor enthusiasts and we were more excited for the natural beauty and unique environments of the Peninsula, far more than just Al Johnson’s. 

We planned to visit all four of the state parks on the mainland of the peninsula: Potawatomi, Whitefish Dunes, Newport, and Peninsula. 

Our first destination on our five day journey was Potawatomi State Park in Sturgeon Bay. We explored the trails, and visited the Eastern Terminus of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.

We also visited the lake shore side of the Peninsula at Whitefish Dunes, and Cave Point County Park. These parks are located about a half hour outside of Sturgeon Bay. It was a beautiful summer day so of course both parks were crowded. However, the beach at Whitefish dunes was beautiful and well worth the drive across the peninsula.

The surf was up and I had a wonderful time playing in the waves. After exploring both parks we headed back to the relative peace and quiet of Potawatomi.

We set up our site and settled in for a relaxing summer evening.

The next morning we woke up early and stopped for breakfast at Good Eggs. It is a beach cabana style restaurant which serves delicious breakfast burritos at a fair price. We sat at a surfboard picnic tables and chatted with the really lovely staff. There is really no better way to wake up than with a freshly made breakfast burrito, a warm cup of coffee, and a clear view of Green Bay.

From Good Eggs in Ephraim, we made our way to Newport State Park, the northernmost state park on the peninsula. It is the only State Park in Door County that one can have a true “backpacking” experience and it is one of 48 Dark Sky Parks in the World.

This trip was the first time my mom and I had ever been backpacking. We were bursting with excitement at the prospect of strapping our belongings to our backs and hiking to a remote site out in the woods. It looked like luck would be on our side tonight too, as there was no rain or clouds in the forecast meaning that we would have clear skies for stargazing.

We wandered the long stretches of beach and enjoyed a bright, warm, and breezy morning. We also explored a few of the many hiking trails located in the park. The trees provided a deep cool shade from the warm summer sun,  but the minute we stepped into the woods we were swarmed by mosquitoes.   

As the sun sank lower towards the horizon we followed a trail back to our little home for the night. We got to work setting up our campsite and explored our wooded surroundings. The forest was a mix of white cedar, oak, and maple. We had a stretch of beach all to ourselves and also a clear place to view the sky.

We collected bundles of sticks for a fire, prepared our dehydrated dinner, and waited for night to fall.

I don’t have any photos from that evening, but with perfectly clear skies, my mom and I were able to see the arc of the Milky Way Galaxy and stayed up well into the night, listening to the waves of lake Michigan and pointing out all of the constellations we knew and making up ones that we didn’t.  

The next morning we woke later than normal, sleepy and with sore necks from star gazing, but still in awe from our night of amateur astronomy.

After breaking camp, and making sure that the embers from our fire were properly put out, we made our way back to the trail head.

Our next stop was Peninsula State Park.

Peninsula State Park is the second most popular state park in the state of Wisconsin, the most popular being Devils Lake. The best way to see both is to beat the crowds and get up early. Getting up early can be difficult if you were awake only a few hours before looking at stars and pondering your place in the universe.

Monday we took it easy. We spent it visiting some local wineries and exploring our surroundings at Peninsula. A foot path and bike trail went right past our campsite and connected to us to most of the major landmarks in the park. One of these landmarks was the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse. By the time my mom and I stopped by, the museum located inside the former lighthouse was closed. However, the lighthouse is perched on the side of a cliff, and the views do not disappoint.   

Just outside of the campground where we were staying was Welcker’s Point, which is the northernmost point in the park. The views of Green Bay are unmatched especially at sunset.

The next day we woke up with an early morning kayaking session, and then we were off to Eagles Bluff.

The Eagles Bluff trail snakes down the side of impressive limestone bluffs and meanders along the shore through old cedar forests.

The trail was rocky in places and my mom and I were glad for our solid pairs of hiking shoes. The highlight of the hike was Eagle’s Cave which sits over fifty feet off the ground and is what remains of an ancient sea cave. 

We ended our trip with a night at the theater and the best part was we didn’t even need to leave the park. The Northern Sky Theater is an open air amphitheater and production company that performs original musicals and plays based off of Wisconsin folklore and culture right in the middle of Peninsula State Park. We were treated to Dairy Heirs, a musical comedy about siblings deciding what to do with the family dairy farm after their father passes away. The sister stayed on the farm, the brother moved to L.A. ,shenanigans ensue.

After the show we made our way back to our campsite in the dark with only our headlamps to show us the way. We didn’t mind taking our time, my mom and I enjoyed the warm summer night air and excitedly talked about which songs from the musical we liked the best.

My trip to Door County and other places in Wisconsin have taught me that I don’t have to go far to find an “adventure.” I certainly don’t have the money to afford the price of plane tickets to far flung destinations on the other side of the globe. Maybe one day? Right now I do what I can afford. By taking the time to explore my own state I have found so many new places and learned so much. Seriously, most state parks have tons of information about local histories, geology, and ecosystems. Taking on the mindset of student and simply taking the time to read has given me a much greater appreciation of my home state. These trips have taught me that some of life’s most amazing experiences can be found close to home.  Please stay curious, it makes life far more interesting.