Born and raised in northern Illinois, I frequently took road trips throughout Illinois and neighboring Wisconsin. In the early 1980s, one of those road trips was to Door County in northern Wisconsin. Situated between Lake Michigan and Green Bay, Door County makes up most of the peninsula. Many tourists flock to Door County throughout the year, with Summer being the busiest. Having not returned to the peninsula in many years, I was afraid the area had become one big tourist trap, like so may other areas of the country. Even parts of Alaska are starting to suffer from too many tourists, and Alaskans always complain of motor homes on our highways.
I was pleasantly surprised to see that for the most part, Door County had retained its charm. Sure there were more hotels and B&Bs, and definitely more people, but there was still the atmosphere about the area that I remembered.
I started my journey by flying from Alaska to Chicago, and renting a car. I spent the first 3 days in late July, 2022 attending my high school reunion and staying in my friend Scott’s RV in Rock Cut State Park just outside of Rockford, Illinois. This was special for me as I had never stayed overnight in an RV. I flew there on a Friday, and stayed through Sunday night. On Saturday, we toured the high school and attended the reunion that evening. Sunday night was spent hanging out around the campfire in the park with friends. On Monday morning, after helping Scott move his RV back to his home, I began my journey towards Door County.
I stayed overnight in Point Beach State Park, north of Two Rivers, Wisconsin. Nearby is the privately owned Rawley Point Lighthouse. We get a lot longer daylight hours in Alaska during the summer, and I was not yet used to it getting dark so much earlier in the evening. I am glad to have thought of packing a headlamp in my gear!
On Tuesday, the next morning, I continued driving north along Highway 42. North of Kewaunee, I came across Alaska! No, not the state, but the little unincorporated town of Alaska, Wisconsin. I had to stop and take a few photos.
Staying on Highway 42, I finally entered Door County, crossing over Sturgeon Bay, and through its namesake city. I continued on Highway 42, as my destination and home for the next two nights was Peninsula State Park, on the Green Bay side of the peninsula. A beautiful state park, with many things to see and do for travelers of all ages.
While in the state park, I discovered something I had never seen before: a firewood vending machine! Wow, we could really use these up in Alaska. You use cash or card and for $10, you get a decent bundle of firewood. So cool.
Peninsula State Park is a beautiful state park situated between Fish Creek and Sister Bay, Wisconsin. I spent two nights there. Scott recommended I make reservations ahead of time for camping there (something I’m not used to having to do in Alaska), and I was glad I did. The campgrounds there did fill up pretty well.
During my first full day in Door County, I traveled to the northern most tip to Gills Rock. The ferry to Rock Island used to depart from this little town when I first visited Door County, but they have since moved it further east to Northport.
Traveling south along the eastern side of the peninsula, along Lake Michigan, I wanted to see one of my favorite places during my first visit to Door County: Cave Point County Park. Here, there are natural limestone bluffs and caves on the shore of Lake Michigan. My first visit there was in the month of October, so not many people were there in the fall. This visit however, found many people jumping off the bluffs into the water and swimming in the lake. Kayakers were also present paddling nearby.
Later, I traveled back to the state park for another night of camping. I again utilized the firewood vending machine.
The next morning, I went to Eagle Bluff Lighthouse, located within the state park. They have a self-guided tour of the place, so I took the ‘tour’. I have an affinity for lighthouses of all types, and not all are open to the public.
Traveling south to Sturgeon Bay, I spent some time shopping and photographing some more lighthouses along the canal.
Upon leaving Door County, I stopped to get a photo of the sign leading back into the county. I was happy to see that the place was mostly like I remembered it, and hadn’t become as touristy as I thought it might have. Perhaps in another several years, I will get yet another chance to visit the place.
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