Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
thatonceoccupiedtheland.Theparkisdominatedbydenseforestsofsugarmaples,pines,
and birches but also contains a beach sprinkled with granite boulders brought from Canada
by glacial ice. On clear days the park's 75-foot-high observation tower affords a majestic
view all the way to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, some 16 miles away.
2.
Sturgeon Bay
The gateway to Door County and its largest city, Sturgeon Bay is named for the huge num-
bers of these fish that were once caught in its waters. This former lumbering community
nowboastsoneofthebiggestshipyardsinthenation,producingvesselsasvariedasluxury
yachts, racing craft, and naval ships. Its two historic districts have more than 100 distin-
guishedoldbuildings.VisittheDoorCountyMaritimeMuseumtodiscoveritswaterypast.
3.
Whitefish Dunes State Park
About 12,000 years ago the movement of a glacier left an indentation in the shoreline of
what is now Door County, creating the basin of Clark Lake and Whitefish Bay. Over time,
lake currents deposited sand in the bay and then moved it shoreward, forming the large
sandbarthatcutoffClarkLake.TheduneshereareamongthemostimposinginWisconsin,
with the tallest, Old Baldy, rising 93 feet above lake level. At nearby Cave Point County
Park, the waters of Lake Michigan pound against cliffs up to 50 feet tall.
4.
Baileys Harbor
TheoldestvillageinDoorCounty,BaileysHarbor(foundedin1851)ishometotheRidges
Sanctuary, one of the largest wildflower preserves in America. Named for its corduroy-
like ridges of sand—the product of centuries of wind and wave action—this sun-dappled
sanctuary holds some 1,200 acres of wooded ridges, boglike wetlands, and sandy beaches.
Among the highlights of these rare ecological communities are carnivorous pitcher plants,
27 species of native orchids, and a century-old white spruce. For a treat, visit nearby Cana
Island Lighthouse.
5.
Sister Bay
The road from this waterside village north to Ellison Bay passes some of Door County's
celebratedcherryandappleorchards,whereyoucanpickyourownfruitandbuyjelly,jam,
andjuice at roadside stands. The area isespecially beautiful inlate May,whenthe trees are
in full bloom. Another memorable sight—Al Johnson's restaurant in Sister Bay—is noted
forbothitstraditionalSwedishcuisineanditsstrikinglyunconventionalroof,whichissod-
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