Ellison Bay power boaters...
Ellison Bay power boaters enjoying the open water.
Sister Bay is just up the road from Ephraim. A large harbor area accommodates boaters and the annual Fall Festival is one of Door County's largest. The Norwegian heritage is quite evident at Al Johnson's, which is a very popular restaurant in Sister Bay. Featuring a Swedish menu the restaurant is covered with a grass roof. In traditional Scandinavian fashion goats are set out on the roof each day to keep it trim, to the delight of tourists
The northern Door coastli...
The northern Door coastline.
Traveling farther up the western shore brings us to the Ellison Bay and Gills Rock area. Ellison Bay is a historical area and at nearby Ellison Bay County Park you can see the 200-foot cliff escarpment from a viewing platform. Traveling up through Gills Rock brings you to Northport, where a ferry can take you and your vehicle over to Washington Island. Washington Island is a nice, quiet 35-square-mile island located 5 miles off the northern tip of the peninsula. The Maritime Museum tells the stories of the Scandinavian "iron men" who fished these waters.
Proceeding back down the eastern shore takes us to the "quiet side." Centrally located on the Lake Michigan side, Bailey's Harbor contains The Ridges Sanctuary, which is a 1,600-acre natural area. The ridges were formed as the waves in Bailey's Harbor deposited ridges of lake sand, then receded, repeating this process for hundreds of years until a series of ridges and swales formed parallel to the shoreline. This created unique environments for wildlife and vegetation. Five miles of hiking trails pass through the sanctuary.
Cana Island Lighthouse is...
Cana Island Lighthouse is a wonderful place for kayakers.
The lighthouse at nearby Cana Island is another popular place. The island is accessible on foot via a causeway except in early spring when the water level is too high to get to the island. Surrounded by a rocky beach area, the lighthouse helps mark the shoals in the area and directs mariners south to Bailey's Harbor, which was first discovered by Captain Justice Bailey during a fierce storm in 1848. You can climb to the top of the lighthouse, which was built in 1869, and tour the grounds and quarters of the keepers.
South of Bailey's Harbor, near Jacksonport, Cave Point County Park allows viewers to stand on rocky bluffs and watch as Lake Michigan pounds away, carving out caves in the rock structure beneath your feet. Whitefish dunes have miles of sandy beaches and the highest sand dunes in Wisconsin.
No trip to Door County would...
No trip to Door County would be complete without a visit to Wilson's Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor. Wilson's has been an Ephraim landmark since 1906.
Fresh cherry pie is a Door...
Fresh cherry pie is a Door tradition.
What To Expect For RV's
While there are many campgrounds in Door County, many of them are small and do not feature full hookups. If you want a big rig friendly campground, Bailey's Grove is the best choice. Centrally located on the Lake Michigan side in Bailey's Harbor it's a great location to set up camp. You can easily traverse the peninsula to get to the busier towns and it's very close to many of the scenic areas. During the summer season be sure to call ahead and reserve your site early regardless of where you choose to stay. Fall weekends are also quite busy and feature a number of festivals that coincide with the peak fall colors so place your reservations early at this time of year also. Most tourists arrive on Friday and leave Sunday afternoon so if you can time your travel plans to arrive earlier and leave later you'll miss the heavier traffic. The extra time will let you kick back and enjoy the area.
Horseshoe Bay Golf Club's...
Horseshoe Bay Golf Club's 18th hole.
If you plan to travel in the...
If you plan to travel in the fall, this is what you will see along Highway 42!