Having been above the tension line

Back from a week above the “tension line” otherwise known as Washington Island,  a 30-minute ferry ride away from the over-commercialized Door County.  We stayed at Cascio Cottages on the waterfront and loved every waking and sleeping moment! Lots of biking and campfires, talking with the locals at the bars and grocery stores. RELAXATION!

Can’t say I don’t enjoy “North Door,”  as some call it. The series of communities boast as many shops as full-time inhabitants and there I always find unique purchases. One of my “must shop” visits is Sister Bay’s Chelsea Antiques and Blue Willow Shop where I like to pick up one antique novelty (sounds oymoronic) each year. This year it was an antique English cheese dish, last year a mahogany crumb duster–you get the picture. Another preferred stop is at Fish Creek’s Bungalow by the Bay next door to Pelletier’s Restaurant, grandfather of the Door County Fish Boil. Bungalow by the Bay offers really unique home decor and bargains on artwork as well as cool furniture, modern and antique.  My other antique must shop is Egg Harbor’s Bay Trading Company with its seemingly endless collection of architectural antiques. Terance, the owner, is willing to find anything you aren’t able to put your hands on in his already burgeoning antique mall and make accomodations to ship or deliver to your door. Last year, we bought some brackets for our Victorian style home and he sent them to us via another customer who lived only 15 miles away from us. Worked great for everyone! This year, I brought home a Captain’s Wheel among my treaures. I thought it was pretty cool…now each of my kids wants one too!

Of course, we dined at Al Johnson’s famous restaurant and gorged on Swedish pancakes covered in his special maple syrup and Lingonberries. Al wasn’t there and I don’t think he is of late, but I have fond memories of his pouring bottomless cups of coffee for his patrons and that custom still continues. Al’s absence isn’t the only change in the county, but Door County continues to retain a charm that speaks to not only moms and dads, but brothers and sisters who grow to become the moms and dads of tomorrow. All in all, Door County is a worthwhile vacation destination. Of course I’m a bit biased–we have taken our familyin its evolving form to Door for twenty-five of the last thirty summers!