Riding with Todd - Sturgeon Bay Day 2
Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin is considered the gateway to Door County. Door County is a great tourist destination on a peninsula between Green Bay and Lake Michigan, in the state of Wisconsin. Here is an excerpt from the Door County Visitor Center:
"Sturgeon Bay’s rich shipbuilding history got something of a spotlight during the two world wars in the 20th century. As the nation needed battleships in World War I and again in World War II, the otherwise sleepy shipbuilding town got new life, importing workers to cover the military’s growing needs. While some of the shipyards that provided these military vessels are gone, Bay Shipbuilding still operates out of the shipyard in Sturgeon Bay that dates back to 1918.
In the late 1940s, cherry picking in Door County hit its peak when approximately 10,000 workers were employed ranging from eight to 60 years old. Workers were paid on a per pail basis and lived in basic camp buildings provided by growers. The cherry industry is still one of the most robust in the county and Door County remains one of the top cherry producing regions in the world."
We started our morning with a walk into town and a hearty breakfast at one of the local restaurant. After breakfast we headed back to the hotel, suited up into our riding gear and started on the great loop around the County. The weather was pleasant for the ride. Since Memorial Day could still be chilly in this region, there wasn't a lot of other tourists nor traffic on this day. Many of the small towns we passed through were having local holiday celebrations. This made it fun to see the different types of celebrations as we passed through the towns
With the weather warming up, many cherry tree orchards were coming alive.
When we reached the northern tip of the peninsula we stopped at the tourist center for a short break. This is also the location of the ferry landing to Washington Island. We learned that many tourists visit Washington Island, and that the Island is home to many people.
As customary, LoriAnn took a moment to put here foot into the chilly waters of Lake Michigan.
As we drove through Sister Bay Wisconsin we passed by Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant and Butik. This restaurant features a grass roof with goats upon it. We didn't stop to eat there but LoriAnn manage to capture a picture of a goat on the roof.
About 3/4ths the way around the pennisula, we stopped for a late lunch at Casey's BBQ and Smokehouse. Sitting outside in the back yard we found the scenery overlooking Lake Michigan very pleasant and the BBQ quite good.
Back at the motel we sat around outside listening to a band at the hotels marina. It was fun mingling with both locals and fellow tourists.
As the afternoon party ended at our hotel, across the channel another band started at another marina's restaurant; Sonny's Italian Kitchen and Pizzeria. So for dinner, LoriAnn and I walked across the draw bridge to the new location. We entered the restaurant and made our way to the bar section in back where the band was playing. After listening for awhile we decided it was time to eat so we went up the back stairs to the restaurant area. Seeing an open table we sat down and waited for a waitress. Little did we know there was a hostess at the front seating people. When the hostess confronted us, we told her there was no sign nor anyone to stop us, so we just sat down. She didn't get snide with us, but just asked us to move to another location. Our view of the band wasn't that great at the new location, but at least we didn't have to wait for another table.
After dinner we walked out unto the docks at the marina and enjoyed another beautiful sunset.
The ride for the day was only 100 miles. But throughout the countryside we saw many unique and eclectic tourist sites. We know this is another area we need to return to take more time to visit them all.
If you enjoyed this blog entry, don't forget to select that follow function. Leave us a comment also.
"Sturgeon Bay’s rich shipbuilding history got something of a spotlight during the two world wars in the 20th century. As the nation needed battleships in World War I and again in World War II, the otherwise sleepy shipbuilding town got new life, importing workers to cover the military’s growing needs. While some of the shipyards that provided these military vessels are gone, Bay Shipbuilding still operates out of the shipyard in Sturgeon Bay that dates back to 1918.
In the late 1940s, cherry picking in Door County hit its peak when approximately 10,000 workers were employed ranging from eight to 60 years old. Workers were paid on a per pail basis and lived in basic camp buildings provided by growers. The cherry industry is still one of the most robust in the county and Door County remains one of the top cherry producing regions in the world."
We started our morning with a walk into town and a hearty breakfast at one of the local restaurant. After breakfast we headed back to the hotel, suited up into our riding gear and started on the great loop around the County. The weather was pleasant for the ride. Since Memorial Day could still be chilly in this region, there wasn't a lot of other tourists nor traffic on this day. Many of the small towns we passed through were having local holiday celebrations. This made it fun to see the different types of celebrations as we passed through the towns
With the weather warming up, many cherry tree orchards were coming alive.
When we reached the northern tip of the peninsula we stopped at the tourist center for a short break. This is also the location of the ferry landing to Washington Island. We learned that many tourists visit Washington Island, and that the Island is home to many people.
As customary, LoriAnn took a moment to put here foot into the chilly waters of Lake Michigan.
As we drove through Sister Bay Wisconsin we passed by Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant and Butik. This restaurant features a grass roof with goats upon it. We didn't stop to eat there but LoriAnn manage to capture a picture of a goat on the roof.
About 3/4ths the way around the pennisula, we stopped for a late lunch at Casey's BBQ and Smokehouse. Sitting outside in the back yard we found the scenery overlooking Lake Michigan very pleasant and the BBQ quite good.
Back at the motel we sat around outside listening to a band at the hotels marina. It was fun mingling with both locals and fellow tourists.
As the afternoon party ended at our hotel, across the channel another band started at another marina's restaurant; Sonny's Italian Kitchen and Pizzeria. So for dinner, LoriAnn and I walked across the draw bridge to the new location. We entered the restaurant and made our way to the bar section in back where the band was playing. After listening for awhile we decided it was time to eat so we went up the back stairs to the restaurant area. Seeing an open table we sat down and waited for a waitress. Little did we know there was a hostess at the front seating people. When the hostess confronted us, we told her there was no sign nor anyone to stop us, so we just sat down. She didn't get snide with us, but just asked us to move to another location. Our view of the band wasn't that great at the new location, but at least we didn't have to wait for another table.
After dinner we walked out unto the docks at the marina and enjoyed another beautiful sunset.
The ride for the day was only 100 miles. But throughout the countryside we saw many unique and eclectic tourist sites. We know this is another area we need to return to take more time to visit them all.
If you enjoyed this blog entry, don't forget to select that follow function. Leave us a comment also.
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