I am going to apologize ahead of time for the overuse of words like ‘quaint’, ‘picturesque’, and ‘charming’ – but it’s almost impossible to look back on our long weekend away without this pool of words coming to front of mind. It’s full steam ahead in to this upcoming weekend, yet I cannot stop thinking about the last. It was a weekend I was anticipating for a very long time (in reality, we only just booked our stay about a month ago, but hey, it was a long month!). We just needed to get away. It was time for us to unplug and when my husband suggested Door County, Wisconsin, we agreed it was the perfect destination to do just that. We reserved a room at the Church Hill Inn, an adorable bed and breakfast located just steps from downtown Sister Bay. I had visions of spending three days soaking up the fresh air by the lake and enjoying fresh cherry treats. Everything we experienced was precisely what I pictured and more.
The Labor Day Weekend traffic to Wisconsin was less than desirable and as a result, it took about six and a half hours to get to Sister Bay. We arrived around 11 pm and our keys were waiting for us at the desk. Each room at the B&B had a theme and our room was called the ‘Croquet Room’. It was so cozy and comfortable and I loved the simple, yet elegant touches that completed the theme of the room. A pair of old fashioned croquet mallets hung on the wall and as a table centerpiece, there was a small bowl with some wooden croquet balls. Next to this set up was a couple of chocolates and a letter welcoming us to the Church Hill Inn. I was already in love with the Inn and the town and I hadn’t even put my bags down. I was thrilled I could hop into a beautiful bed so that I could enjoy our adventures the next day.
Bryan and I woke up on Saturday and realized it was September 3rd. September 3rd was the first day Bryan asked me to be his girlfriend when we were just thirteen years old. Despite being married and having a real anniversary to celebrate now, September 3rd always puts a smile on our face. This particular year was significant because it officially marked the point in our lives that Bryan and I have been together over half of our lives. I simply cannot imagine another man to share this beautiful life with. We quickly got ready and headed downstairs to a gorgeous breakfast prepared for us by the staff at the Inn. We filled our plates with large pieces of artichoke and egg casserole, freshly baked almond scones (I was elated), slices of cantaloupe, and coffee. I can honestly say this was one of the best breakfasts I have ever had. After filling our tummies, we decided to drive about ten minutes away to the local farmer’s market. I absolutely had to come home with some sort of treat filled with Door County cherries. Bry was excited to pick out some cherry salsa, a favorite of his as a kid. I picked up a couple cherry scones and an adorable little succulent to take home with us. We wandered just a bit before heading back towards Downtown Sister Bay. Since it was a bit chilly (Welcome, Fall!), a top priority was some more warm coffee. Analog Coffee and Ice Cream was an obvious first stop. I ordered a Maple Latte that paired perfectly with the sunny, but cooler, weather. We stumbled upon the annual Marina Boat Festival held each year on the Saturday before Labor Day. We watched as boat owners showed off all different kinds of boats and took in the incredible views. I took a ton of pictures (obviously) and we finally decided to settle on a bench, people watch, and share an order of cheese curds from the festival (when in Wisco….). I wish I could convey in words and pictures how relaxed I felt this particular afternoon. We explored some more of the little shops, purchased some sweatshirts (I’m telling you,it was cold!), and actually headed back up to our B&B for an early afternoon nap! It was a mini-vacation after all!
Saturday evening was not any less wonderful. Despite some initial sadness because it was pouring when we woke up from our naps, that just meant it was time for the winery! My wonderful in-laws are frequent DoCo visitors and highly recommended the Harbor Ridge Winery in Egg Harbor. We each picked five different wines to sample and ultimately settled on three delicious bottles to bring home with us-the Rose, Merlot, and signature Blueberry. We ordered a glass to bring upstairs with us while we chatted and waited for the rain to pass. I truly believe everything was meant to be during this weekend because as soon as we left, the clouds opened up and it was a sunny drive back to Sister Bay. We got ready for an evening out and headed back to the downtown area. I should have mentioned earlier that if it sounds like all we did was eat, drink, nap, and look at the water last weekend- it’s because we did. We decided on dining al fresco at Wild Tomato, an eclectic and delicious brick oven pizza place that seems to be a favorite of everyone when they are in Door County. We ordered the sausage and pesto pizza to share and I finally caved and ordered my first Oktoberfest brew of the season 🙂 We spent the remainder of the evening roaming in and out of a couple places for drinks and live outdoor music. As if I could not get enough of the water and fresh air, the night unexpectedly ended with the MOST INCREDIBLE fireworks show that was being set off from the lake. It might be because we didn’t really get the chance to see fireworks on the 4th of July this year, but I think these had to be the loudest and brightest fireworks I’ve seen in a long time. I was still in awe of how much I was loving being here.
Literally the only definite plan we had going in to last weekend was hiking at the Peninsula State Park. It was 75 degrees and sunny so we were pumped to wake up early and throw on our gym shoes. We drove about fifteen minutes before reaching the beginning of our desired trail. Bryan picked the most difficult one and while I was nervous in a few spots (we’re talking a few mini cliffs..), he helped me every step of the way. It took us about two hours to hike about two miles with a few stops for photos along the way. The views were breathtaking. I kept questioning why I don’t live directly next to a body of water. I was fairly tuckered out afterwards and needed a pick-me-up so I suggested we stop at a little Juice bar and cafe I stumbled across while researching DoCo ‘musts’. Cloud Nine was absolutely one of my favorite stops of the weekend. They work with local organic farmers to bring the best fruits and veggies in to their shop. The decor is simple, fresh, and welcoming. I could tell that Miranda and Taylor, the owners, were very passionate about what they do and the goodness that they serve. I ordered the ‘Erin’ – a smoothie made with banana, orange, mango, kale, and hemp seeds. Bryan had the ‘Feel Good Milkshake’ made with almond milk (crafted right in their shop!), banana, sea salt, almond butter, cinnamon, vanilla, and hemp seeds. Enjoying our smoothies was a perfect way to cool down after the hike. We went back to Church Hill for yet another nap before enjoying the last evening before we had to head home the next day.
Bryan and I decided to head down the street from the Inn and go mini-golfing! This was something I hadn’t done in a long time and we had the silliest time. I was a little worse at mini-golfing than I remember but we didn’t keep score and just enjoyed laughing at how many times it really took me to complete each hole. To finish off our evening, we had a few brews at the Garage at Husbys for some more outdoor live music. The weather was perfect again to sit by the marina and watch the sun set. My favorite photo of the weekend is from this precise moment. A handsome husband and a gorgeous sunset by the water was an ideal way to end a long weekend.
Leaving the next morning was all too difficult, however, I am so overjoyed that I have a new favorite getaway. To say I was relaxed was an understatement and I am already proposing we go back as soon as possible. This weekend was proof that sometimes going into your adventure without a set plan can turn out being one of the best ideas. Bryan and I were truly able to unplug and enjoy each others company before a busy fall season filled with crazy work schedules, weekend obligations, and grad school (for him). I highly recommend spending some time in Sister Bay during your next weekend getaway. As if the gorgeous views and friendly people are not enough, the delicious treats and brews are aplenty. Just don’t expect any cheese curds for a while. I MAY have eaten DoCo out of all of their supply….. 😉
Happy Friday All!