Located in Bailey's Harbor, The Blacksmith Inn has been by far the best "accommodations" we've experienced in our travels. Upon check-in we were greeted by the friendly inn staff which escorted us to our room. In #13 we found a comfy four poster bed, fresh flowers, and a view of Lake Michigan from our private balcony. Although we did not use them, the inn had kayaks and bikes available for the guests to use. Paul's favorite aspect of the inn was the hammock on deck. Mine was the garden surrounding the place - gorgeous! Together, we would vote for the breakfast we enjoyed on the deck every morning. The muffins were delicious. The coffee was Free Trade friendly. The yogurt made from goat's milk (but wasn't bad - really). Plus different fresh fruit every day.
Although Bailey's Harbor is not a large community, it is a short distance from most of the other sites you may want to see while in Door County. The only attribute of the inn that detracted from its tranquility was its proximty to the road - mere feet from Highway 57.
Check out their website: www.theblacksmithinn.com. I would recommend it.
In the Door County literature, it says if you only visit one of the many lighthouses located on the pennisula the one at Cana Island is the one to see. Our visit was late in the afternoon and there was still a bit of "morning mist" on the lake. Parking, literally, at the end of the road, we walked across a bit of rock to the island. The water is very low this year, so we weren't in any danger of getting wet feet.
Once on the island, there is a short walk to the lighthouse grounds. There was (what I assumed to be) the "out house," the fuel house, and the lightkeeper's house in addition to the tower. To tour it all, the cost was $4 per person at the time of our trip. There are also a few rock stairs that lead to the lake shore. Again, because of the low water, we were able to wander out quite a bit from the island. The lighthouse is quite picturesque and would agree it is one landmark that shouldn't be missed.
We ventured north of Bailey's Harbor a bit to hike through the Ridges Sanctuary, which is a private nature preserve. At the time of our visit, there was only a $3 entrance fee for each adult, which you pay at their "nature center" (aka gift shop). It is a small price to pay for the variety of terrain experienced there: forest, sand dunes, Lake Michigan, and marshes. The wildflowers are abundant too. Wildlife encountered consisted of racoon family, a turtle, and countless birds.
All of the trails are flat, but you must watch your step so you don't trip on any rocks or roots. If you are adventurous, you can swim at the public beach you will find at the end of the Rangelight trail.
Although we did not go on one, they do offer guided tours. You can learn more about them at their website: www.ridgesanctuary.org. If you decide to stroll their trails - don't forget the bug spray!
We arrived in Gills Rock just a few moments too late so had to wait an hour for the next ferry. The schedule varies throughout the season, so be sure to look it up ahead of time and plan on boarding about 15 minutes ahead of the departure time. Also be sure to know the time of the last ferry ride back to the mainland - otherwise you'll be stuck on the island. Nearly everyone involved with our trip over and back cautioned us about this.
The ferry ride took about 20 minutes. We had a beautiful day for the boat ride - clear skies and little wind. The captain did slow down as we passed through "Death's Door" to point it out and if the morning mist wasn't still hanging around we would have had a view of the other smaller islands in the bay. That was the only rough part of the entire voyage. Didn't slow down on the way back - so was smooth sailing the whole way.
At the time we purchased our ferry pass, we also purchased tickets for the Viking Train Tour. The name is misleading - it is NOT a train. It is just "wagons" that some lady pulls behind her SUV. She does tell you quite a bit about the islanders' way of life. Just a little over 600 folks reside there year round. Everything costs more because it has to come over on the ferry. The airport has grass for a runway. There is one hardware store that also sells furniture. There is only one grocery store (been there almost 100 years). However, there are two gas stations. We got those details you just wouldn't learn by exploring the island on your own.
The tour did stop at an ostrich farm, the hardware store (so we could buy some souvenirs), and the famous School House Beach (only 4 others like it in the world). If we had been visiting earlier in the day, we could have also stopped at the museum. I would advise to take the tour if you don't arrive early in the day, but otherwise save the $10 per person and use it to rent bikes or mopeds.
We stayed at the Stone Harbor Resort while in Sturgeon Bay. It is a large facility on the water, although the only swimming that you'll do is in the pool. There is a bar, restaurant, pool, gift shop, and a terrific view of the old bridge. The room was fairly standard. The bed was comfortable. The biggest complaint I would have about the place is the fact it took us about 10 minutes to find the right wall switch to either turn on or turn off the lights.
The location of the hotel was great. We were able to walk up to their main drag to hit the little shops, restaurants, and the Maritime Museum.
We spent most of a day at Potawatomi State Park, which is a short drive south of Surgeon Bay, WI. A drive through the park is free of charge, but they have either hourly or day rates for those that chose to explore. At the time of our trip, the fee for the entire day was $10.
We hiked the Tower Trail, which is only 3.5 miles long and is mostly flat. There are some steep hills and some steps to tackle - I was glad to have my walking stick with me. There is also a stretch that winds along a steep cliff at the edge of the lake. Also, you must take care to not trip over any rocks or roots popping up in the trail.
The Tower Trail is 98% through forest with quite dense canopy. Although it was a hot day we took the hike, it was much cooler out of the sun. As the name implies, the trail leads to a tower. I wasn't daring enough to climb it, but Paul took some pictures of the fabulous view up there. I was not alone in my chicken-ness. There were 3 other couples that started up after us. Only 3 others made it to the top...and let me just say that they weren't all the men.
There are a few shorter trails for hiking - none are noted to have steps but all are unsurfaced. There is quite a long loop for bicyling or cross country skiing. Like most state parks, there are campgrounds and a boat launch. There are only "flush toilets" at the center of the park.
