Door County

We had planned to settle in Sturgeon Bay after completing America's Great Loop. Delays cost us dearly. By the time we were ready to stay there, the marina Dave had secured had been sold to a conglomerate and was no longer an option for us. We ended up across the bay at Nestegg, a small marina on the Menomonie River. If we had docked at Sturgeon Bay, we would have been able to explore Door County from our marina. Instead, we took several day trips by car this summer. 

Calm day at Nestegg Marine

Always beautiful sunsets

Rainbow over Green Bay

Our first visit to Sturgeon Bay was to West Marine for bottom paint for S/V Mystic. After grabbing the paint, we headed north up the peninsula. The drive was beautiful, taking us through tiny towns and vast farmland. Door County is a rural, destination community that offers a glimpse into the past, of a place that hasn't changed a ton over the years. The eastern coast is on Lake Michigan, the western on Green Bay. Each side has it's own draw but everything about Door County is rustic and beautiful, from the apple and cherry orchards to the tiny coves with gorgeous shorelines. It reminds us of other attractive popular coastal areas like the Apostle Islands, Down East Maine and Traverse City, Michigan. There is something for everyone! 

We drove up the east side of the peninsula and stopped in Jacksonport. We walked out on a very blustery Lake Michigan beach. The park was full of families enjoying the beautiful weather. The temperature was 30 degrees colder on the lake side than it was on the Green Bay side. It was quite chilly but also refreshing!

Dave walking across the dunes

Beautiful Lake Michigan

Dog walking and beach combing

Jacksonport shoreline view of cave point

Wisconsin Maritime Shipwreck Sanctuary

Back on the road, we drove to Bailey's Harbor a quaint town that was busy with visitors but not overcrowded. The marina harbor is shallow. Mystic would not be able to enter this port. Door County Microbrewery is on Main street. We stopped in for a beer and a stamp in our Wisconsin Hop Passport. Mike, the General Manager came over to say hi. Before we left, he gifted us a four pack of an experimental IPA, unavailable to the public, to enjoy on the boat. In addition, he gave us wooden beer coins for free brew on our next visit.

Door County Brewing Co.

DCBC Stage

DCBC Sticker Wall

DCBC Brew List

Enjoying a brew at the bar

Bailey's Harbor Marina

Lupine growing in someone's garden

On our way home we stopped in Egg Harbor where to check out Shipwrecked Microbrewery. It was more of a modern restaurant style craft brewery than a true brew house. It was okay, but we prefer the smaller breweries where the bartender is also the brewer, like Door County Brewing. 

We drove up the west side of the peninsula, along Green Bay on our second visit to Door County. We wanted to check out every port for future visits aboard Mystic. Sturgeon Bay, Ephraim and Sister Creek we're our favorites because they were less crowded. Fish Creek was really cool but way over crowded; tourists we're wandering through the shops and enjoying lunch at the cute restaurants. We followed highway 42 until it ended at Northport where you can take the ferry to Washington Island. We didn't have cell service for most of the drive but we found our way to the east side of the peninsula to Bailey's Harbor where we stopped for at Door County Brewing. Before heading back to Marinette, we explored Sturgeon Bay. 

View of Sister Cliffs at Sister Bay

Sister Bay

Looper Tug Boat docked at Sister Bay

We've been working on filling up our Wisconsin Hop Passport all summer. Bridge Up Brewing is located at the south base of the lift bridge, in front of Skipper Bud's Marina in Sturgeon Bay. We enjoyed a great cold microbrew at the outside patio overlooking a huge marina. We took a walk over the Michigan Street lift bridge then around and back over the Oregon Street bridge. I found a rubber duck with an Instagram link that indicated the duck was meant to go on an adventure. We were supposed to take photos of the duck in new places and post them on social media.

Bridge Up Brewing

Bridge Up Brewing Patio

Sturgeon Bay, Door County Wisconsin

Wisconsin Ice Age Trail

Next year we hope to take Mystic across Green Bay and through the Sturgeon Bay canal leading to the big lake. We have enjoyed exploring the area and recommend it as a stop for cruisers. We found dockage ranging from $2 to $2.50 per foot in Door County which is pretty typical for Lake Michigan ports. There is so much to see and do. Every one of the towns along the peninsula has a fall festival. We may just have to make a third visit this fall!

Duckie made it to Nestegg

Duckie under Marinette Sunset