Door county

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 6:24 pm

We've been to Door County once before, spent an awesome spring break there a few years back, but I'm trying to remember which park is which. If you had just one day to spend on the peninsula, what would you do? Where would you go? What is the best caching? Or just for the sights?

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 6:49 pm

Always have to stop at the candy store for some salt water taffy! www.doorcountycandy.com

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 7:10 pm

My children thank you for that recommendation!

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 7:18 pm

Each park has its own personality, so it depends on what you'd like to see. Peninsula is the popular one, and they have a great bike trail, the Sunset Trail, along with a nice swimming beach for the kids. Whitefish Dunes has....the dunes, some neat trails that bring you to varied habitat. Potowatomi is where we camped with our kids, and there are some wonderful trails in there as well. Newport is another one that has a great mix of trails that are more wild. We enjoy Door County in the off season, when the tourists aren't so abundant, and we aren't into the shopping. Cherry picking and winery tours are a fun attraction during the summer. I can't really pick a favorite, but some birding friends have been sharing things about Tofte Point SNA, which looks like a place to go. Don't forget the Cana Island Lighthouse while you're at it. Ellison Bay County Park is also a nice one, and I think that might be where Door County Challenge is located, another one we still haven't done...yet.

We still need to get to the islands. We always find so much to explore on the mainland, we never quite get to the ferry docks.

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 8:09 pm

Thanks for the recommendations. I remember we went to one of the state parks, I believe there was a tower, and at the ranger station there was a big container of bird seed. We went out and held out our hands and they landed in them and ate seeds from our hands. It was so cool! I felt like Snow White.

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 9:05 pm

Kelso is right about the taffy, good stuff. Some of my favorites caches:

Door Bluff County Park has five fun caches. Beware, some climbing involved.

Ellison Bluff State Natural Area. The Door County Challenge (GCGE6B)

Potawatomi State Park is the one you are thinking of with the tower. (GC1V50D)

Horseshoe Bay favorite (GC2EH2A)

And this is only the Bay side! Lots of great spots and locations everywhere!

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 9:18 am

Definitely remember to check out Cave Point County Park, located right next to Whitefish Dunes. Great sounds of the waves crashing into and under you as you stand on the rock cliffs above the Lake. So completely different from the dunes and less than a mile away.

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 11:27 am

Ditto what hotdogs said!

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 5:53 pm

Thanks guys. The kiddos have off of school the day before the chili event so I'm thinking of going up Thursday night, spending Friday in Door county, then over to GB for some chili!

WGA Member Joined: 2009-07-04 Posts: 382

hotdogs_off_trail wrote:

Definitely remember to check out Cave Point County Park, located right next to Whitefish Dunes. Great sounds of the waves crashing into and under you as you stand on the rock cliffs above the Lake. So completely different from the dunes and less than a mile away.

Very awesome place!

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 10:38 pm

Val and I usually plan our Door county trips a weekend or two before Memorial Day or a weekend or two after.

Alot less of the flatlanders there. This year we received a Segway tour for Christmas, so will have to make the trip sometime during the summer

WGA Member Joined: Jun 13, 2011 Posts: 12

If u ever decide to camp at Penninsula keep it in mind that you have to book way far in advance because it is in very high demand.

The museum in Sturgeon Bay is good, but struggled to find many of the caches in that area.

Camping on Rock Island with caching and Salmon fishing is on my bucket list, I wish I hadn't been busy for the WGA camp out there last year.

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 2:32 pm

Jomusky reminded me of the fact that you can volunteer to be a docent at the Rock Island Lighthouse for a week at a time. Long waiting list, but it gives you the opportunity to live and work in a lighthouse on the Great Lakes.

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 2:41 pm

beccaday wrote:

Thanks guys. The kiddos have off of school the day before the chili event so I'm thinking of going up Thursday night, spending Friday in Door county, then over to GB for some chili!

Crossing threads, but if you do go up to Door County, and happen to be in that area that is closed for geocaching, (but perhaps a CITO), if you happen upon a ranger or park manager, maybe mention the idea. If one is ever going to happen, I can help.

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 6:29 pm

Northwoods Tom wrote:

Jomusky reminded me of the fact that you can volunteer to be a docent at the Rock Island Lighthouse for a week at a time. Long waiting list, but it gives you the opportunity to live and work in a lighthouse on the Great Lakes.

Really? Cool!