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Part 3: Everyone is familiar with the stereotypical Wisconsin diet of cheese, bratwurst, and beer, and we cover all the bases.
By Cynthia Barnes — Spring
2004
CHEESE, GLORIOUS CHEESE
Come morning, we’re ready to explore more of the shoreline. We cruise by Eagle Bluff Lighthouse, admiring its restored grandeur high on a limestone bluff. Built in 1868, the lighthouse is now part of Peninsula State Park. Tours run daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., allowing visitors to ascend the wrought-iron staircase and check out the period furniture. Across the channel, there’s a great view of the Strawberry Islands.
We anchor near Nicolet Beach and take the dinghy in to the sandy shore. Nicolet Beach Rentals offers sailboats, paddleboats, kayaks, and hydrobikes for anyone without the deck space to carry their own. I start with a kayak but find it tough to maneuver. Turns out, the awkward-looking watercycle is just my speed. The bicycle-ish contraption is mounted on two pontoons, making a stable platform—and a great way to get a little exercise in the sun.
When calories are burned off, they must be replaced. We cruise back to Fish Creek for lunch—but first, we squeeze in a little time for some shopping. Main Street is compact but crammed with cute stores and restaurants. On Deck Clothing Company sucks me in at first sight of a 1948 mahogany Chris-Craft smack in the middle of the store. After admiring it for an unseemly amount of time, I check out the merchandise. Upscale sportswear is perfect for ladies who lunch on such a launch. There’s a nice selection of men’s apparel, too. I spot some good deals in the sale section and indulge in a little retail recreation before being dragged reluctantly away from the Chris-Craft. (Did I mention it’s mahogany?)
Everyone is familiar with the stereotypical Wisconsin diet of cheese, bratwurst, and beer, and we cover all the bases at the Bayside Tavern, smack in the middle of Main Street. This is what my mother would call a “joint,” but it’s noisy, cheerful, and friendly to visitors. The menu is classic tavern fare. When I can’t decide between a burger and a brat, the bartender helpfully points out the “brat burger.” They flatten the bratwurst into a patty, and then serve it on top of a good-size hamburger. With cheese, of course. Instead of potatoes, I order a side of “fried cheese curds.” I know this sounds bad, but it actually tastes surprisingly good. After a few pints of Billy’s Bayside Brew, we’re ready to go native and root for the Packers.
Stuffed, we consider our afternoon options. There are bikes and Vespas available to rent, and healthy hikes beckoning on the many nearby trails. After such a lunch, dessert is definitely not an option. Why, we wouldn’t even think of motoring up to Ephraim for an ice cream at Wilson’s, no matter how delicious and authentic our fellow Carver cruisers say the 1906 soda fountain may be.
Of course, there are a lot of interesting historical sights in Ephraim, so maybe just a quick cruise. After all, it’s Door County. We’re open to anything.
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