Door County, Wisconsin - by Peggy

Where and what is Door County? 

Door County is the peninsula at the "Top of the Thumb" of the state of Wisconsin.  Some 250 miles of scenic shoreline outline the county, with the bay of Green Bay on one side and the shores of Lake Michigan on the other.  Where the waters meet at the tip is called "Death's Door", due to all the shipwrecks over the years in the sometimes turbulent waters.

Most days though, Door County is a beautiful array of harbor side towns, wildflower meadows, state and county parks, biking trails, art galleries and shops and shops and shops full of handmade, hand cooked and fun-to-browse-at goods, jewelry, pottery and foodstuffs.  There is also a vibrant summertime performing arts scene, with classical and jazz music, theatrical performances and park concerts.  Best of all, most nights there are beautiful sunsets to enjoy after full days of fun activities.

Our "home" for two weeks was a wonderful upper unit in a house across from the swimming beach in the village of Fish Creek.  We had a kitchen and a grill, so in addition to the great restaurants in the area, we had three "home grilled" meals (to go along with Green Bay Packer preseason football games on TV! -- Poor Tom!) We also had good company for a weekend with our friends Tim Elverman and Denny Miller from Milwaukee.  The weather cooperated fully, with only three days of rain in three weeks of fun! Here is the view from our living room.

Our August adventures started with a very fun weekend with our friends Pam and Len Larsen in St. Germain, right in the heart of the beautiful forested areas of northern Wisconsin.  They have a fabulous lake home and three active sons who prompted this year's new toys of a speed boat, water skis and tubes.  Tom experienced the thrill of tubing for the first time and boy, is it an exciting thing to do (and watch!).  Here are Pam and Len, already old hands at skidding along the waves at breakneck speeds, TRYING to run into each other and get all wet.  Great fun, guys!

Our water sports action continued with the assistance of another old friend, Jim Halron, who graciously lent us his top-of-the-line jet skis for a few hours of scenic riding in the "chain of lakes" area near St. Germain.  Pam and Peggy took top honors in the speed categories as drivers, while Tom and Len hung on and pretended to enjoy just being passengers. (They did get to air out the jet skis too!)  We were treated with another sunny, warm day and being on the water was the best way to enjoy our time in this splendid lakes region.