Up Next

My next trip will be to the wonderful San Francisco, California! In a week and a half I will be meeting my immediate family (mom, dad, sister, bro-in-law, and nephew) in San Fran for a long weekend trip! We have family out in California (San Rafael, San Francisco, and Sonoma) so, to say the least, this isn't our first trip but what a fun one to frequent!

View of downtown San Francisco

More to come later on Classic tourism and hidden gems of San Francisco.  Grad school has completely taken over my life this week!

A few pictures from last year's trip:

Sister, Mom, and I at the wineries in Sonoma

Winery hopping in style!

Chocolate Wine Shots

Sonoma Vineyard

While we did spend a lot of time in Sonoma last year...we did hit up some San Fran faves:

Chinatown

Bought lots of nicely priced colorful scarves!

and can't pass up IN-N-OUT

Do you have any suggestions for San Francisco? Always looking for new experiences when I re-visit a wonderful city!

Destination: Door County, WI

Door County has often been referred to as the Cape Cod of the Midwest and it's no wonder how it got that reputation.  From shore to shore, this skinny strip of land in Lake Michigan has it all. Come take in the scenery and relax on a trip to Door County, Wisconsin.

Classic Tourism:

• Beaches: With over 300 miles of beaches, it won't be hard to find a good spot to lay out or build a sand castle.  While July is the warmest month with temperatures reaching the upper 80s during the day, June and August can also be beach going days with temperatures reaching mid to high 70s.
• Parks: There are 24 parks total in Door County with tons of activities to keep you busy for days.



Eagle Tower
Photo Credit

• Hiking: Hike on the many trails through the tree filled parks for wonderful views of Lake Michigan.  
• Cross Country Skiing: Visiting in the Winter? Rent some cross-country skis and glide through the snow filled parks and maintained ski trails.
• Bikes: Bring your own or rent bikes at Nor Door to ride on the trails throughout the parks.
• Eagle Tower: Located in Peninsula State Park, Eagle tower rises 75 feet up in the air for amazing views of the park, Ephraim, Lake Michigan, the Green Bay Islands, and on a clear day you can see the Michigan shoreline.
• Water Sports: With Lake Michigan at your doorstep, you have to take advantage of the water if you're visiting during the summer months.  Grab a boat and pack a cooler and set out on the water for the day or try your skills at fishing or paddleboarding.  
• Shopping: Door County has shopping for everyone.  Shop main street in Fish Creek for a variety of stores.  And if antiques are your thing, Door County has quite the collection.  Try Peninsula Antique Center in Egg Harbor.
• Wineries: Here you will find some great wineries! Along with the classic wines, Door County produces some distinct wine flavors, the most notable being their cherry flavored wine.  The cherry tree is a native grown plant in the Door Peninsula and is flavored in everything from wine, pie, and juice to mustard, salsa, and salad dressings.  Visit one of my favorite Door County Wineries, Orchard Country Wine & Market in Fish Creek.

Hidden Gems:

Anderson Dock
Photo Credit

• Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant: This restaurant serves a delicious breakfast and is a must go every time we're in DC.  Most interestingly about this restaurant is that there are goats on the roof! Yes, real goats on a grass roof. From late May to mid October, you can watch them on the Goat Cam here.
• Anderson Dock Marina: This dock is also the site of the historic Anderson Warehouse which is well known for its boat name graffiti and is also the location of the Francis Hardy Gallery.
• JJ's and La Puerta Restaurant: Another 'must go' every time we're in Door County is this fun and delicious Mexican restaurant.  JJ's is known for their signature shot, called the 'bernie'.  Created by a German man named Bernie, this is a shot of gold tequila but is served with an orange slice with cinnamon sugar on top instead of the classic salt and lime. Stop in for a margarita and a 'bernie' or two.
• The Sister Bay Bowl: The Sister Bay Bowl is truly a triple threat of awesomeness with great food, fun atmosphere/bar, and a bowling alley.  Often the sight of live music, the Bowl is a locals hot spot on a Saturday night.  The staff is friendly and will remember your name if you come around often enough. 

Have you ever tried a Bernie?

Visit www.doorcounty.com for more information.