I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this enough, but I love Wisconsin. LOVE it. I have yet to visit a state I love more than Wisconsin. With the exception of some European cities, I don’t think I’d want to live anywhere else besides Wisconsin. I think our little state gets a bad rap. Sure, we’re not perfect, but we’ve got a lot of great things going on for us: Summerfest, the Milwaukee Art Museum, fantastic shopping, beautiful Lake Michigan, and so much more. Small towns, big cities. Everything you could want.
Besides the Dells, one of Wisconsin’s big tourist towns is Door County. It’s a good three-hour ride from Milwaukee, but well worth the trek. I went camping in Egg Harbor this past weekend with three friends. Here are some highlights from the trip.
Al Johnson's: If you're in DC (as it's called), you must stop by this lovely Norwegian restaurant. The roof, made of grass, is trimmed daily by goats. The restaurant has a regular spread of delicious food, but everyone flocks here for Swedish pancakes, which are just a little bit thicker than crepes and slathered in maple syrup and lingonberries. Can you say yum?
Located right on the water, you have to take advantage of DC's water activities. We went kayaking in the morning, taking in the beautiful sunshine and gorgeous view of the bluffs.
Sweet Treats: DC is the worst place for anyone on a diet, but the best place for anyone with a sweet tooth. I fell in love with The Cherry Hut's fudge, especially the Heath and Praline flavors. And you cannot resist saltwater taffy in huge bathtubs. They're a great snack to take you through a long day of shopping. :)
As I mentioned before, the beautiful lake views make a trip to DC more than worthwhile. The shoreline and beaches are the perfect place for a picnic. Grab an ice cream cone from one of the numerous shops lining the coast and plop down on a bench along the docks. You won't regret it.
Wilson's: If you want a delicious, all-American dinner, look no further than this burger and ice cream shop. The service was beyond speedy and the food was scrumptious. Their cherry Coke came with diced maraschino cherries in it (yum) and their ice cream was killer (double yum). Plus side: a cute patio with a fabulous view of the water.
Cherries Galore: Since DC is famous for their cherries, you cannot pass up the opportunity to sample the many treats DC folks have made from this fruit. Go to The Cherry Hut for free wine tasting, as well as a sampling of cherry vinaigrette, cherry mustard, and (my favorite) cherry salsa. Then pop outside and take a picture with their cherry mascot! That's what I did!
Look...we match!
Shopping: Okay, I admit, I went camping, but really I went shopping. But it's hard to pass up all the cute little stores that offer everything from clothing to DC souvenirs to Swedish recipe books to paintings to antiques to beeswax lotion! We hit up Egg Harbor, Fish Creek, and Ephraim for prime shopping locations.
Flea Markets: One of my favorite things about summer/small towns are the flea markets and antique shops. This one we visited in Sister Bay had vintage hats, old books, classic beer mugs, krumkake presses, jewelry, CDs, and so much more. I found the cutest bow-tie gold necklace for only $3!
Moral of the story? Wisconsin has a lot more to offer than bikers and beer. If you're heading to our lovely state, be sure to stop in Door County to experience homemade food, fabulous shopping, and the great outdoors.
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