Door County Wisconsin

Why have I never heard of Door County until now? What a fantastic place to vacation.  In the summer, you have the whole of Green bay and all the small bays along the shore to explore. On a Door County Adventure Raft tour yesterday, we got to see the Strawberry islands up close, a quaint light house from the water and then a ship wreck in the corner of Eagle harbor. It leaves from Fish Creek Town dock. There’s a quaint little marina in every village, I think.

This lighthouse was built in 1868. I love the Scandinavian touches on the roof line.

A vacation home on a private island. Nobody can live on the islands year round, per law, because the state doesn’t want to have to educate the children with access only via water.

The captain and owner of Adventure Rafting tours said that he noticed the shipwreck looking at a picture on Google Earth!

Of course the food here in Door County, which has a strong Scandinavian influence has been tasty and plentiful.

The Kitchen Sink from Door County Coffee.

Jeff didn’t get the camera out fast enough before I’d sipped part of the decadent Hot Chocolate at Door County Coffee. So RICH!

Villagio’s Portabella Mushroom caps smothered in all things tasty and rich were amazing.

We sampled 8 varieties of pizza and they were all good, but this one with was especially good.

I think I’ll save the rest of Jeff’s photos and tales about some more of the events for possible use in the articles I will write. The hike, the kayak tour, the raft/boat ride and today’s bike rides were amazing.

We did tour several art galleries and some some interesting, beautiful and creative pieces. Great art has the effect of making me want to explore the medium myself, much more than wanting to buy it. But one of the fun things I saw today was Scrimshaw. Its the art of carving or drawing with a stylus on ivory or bone. The laws concerning it were surprising. It’s legal to buy and sell extinct mastadon or Mammoth tusks, but not Walrus or elephant ivory. Some of it was truly beautiful and all of it was interesting. The art form began when whalers starting saving the whale teeth and carving on them, sort of like whittling when wood is scarce. Women were apparently a common theme, but nautical art dominated the wares as Scrimshanders. If you come to Door county, don’t miss this fascinating shop.

Light house carved in mastadon tusk ivory. Color is added after the carving/etching is done. 

Jeff was fascinated by the blown glass work. This octopus at Fine Line Designs Gallery looks alive!

He’s using the good camera, so his scenery shots are amazing and he’s catching on with the food photos.