Last month, I visited Door County with my family. Before heading up there, each of us picked an activity that we wanted to do while on vacation. One aunt wanted to visit the casino (I lost $12), my other aunt suggested we visit one of our favorite restaurants, and right away I knew what my choice was going to be: Cherry Lanes in Sturgeon Bay.
I discovered Cherry Lanes a few years back after a friendly bartender suggested Michael and I check it out. It did not disappoint. We bowled, drank and shot the shit with locals to our hearts’ content.
While a bar might not be the first place you’d think of taking your mom and aunts on a Saturday afternoon, I knew this was the perfect spot for one reason: pinball.
Pinball Wizardry
Yep, Cherry Lanes is more than just the lanes. This bar has a dynamite selection of pinball machines, and my mom loves pinball.
We rolled up with $10 in quarters each and had a hell of a time playing all sorts of pinball like Hook, Cleopatra and Super Mario Brothers (some only cost 25¢!). I also tried my hand at Frogger, Ms. Pac Man and that weird quarter-pushing game that you see at dive bars.
It was a blast bopping from game to game, and not a bad way to spend $10 or so. And, most importantly, my mom loved it.
The Drinks
While Cherry Lanes is the name of the game here, it is first and foremost a bar. In the past, Michael and I enjoyed hot toddies and super cheap taps. But when I visited with the fam, we treated ourselves to some of the specialty cocktails—and what a treat!
Being in Door County at the tail end of summer, we all were craving cherry (like real cherries—not phony maraschino cherries). Cherry Lanes’ cherry margarita was divine, but I have to say their Gutterball (a mix of tart cherry juice, lemonade and vodka) was a nice treat as well.
Best-Ever Bar Food
There’s nothing wrong with basic bar food. After all, who doesn’t crave a frozen pizza or some cheap mozzarella sticks while sipping Miller Lite?
But Cherry Lanes goes completely over the top with their menu. We ordered a cheese tray and expected something very Wisconsin. You know a few yellow cheeses, salami and a few pickles. That would have been fine.
But when the bartender came out with the tray, it truly rivaled any fancy charcuterie board I’ve had at more elegant venues. This cheese board was incredible. The blueberry cheese was something I dream about.
Anyways, this is my love letter to Cherry Lanes (and also Door County—it’s my favorite).
Heading up to Bayfield, Michael and I didn’t have much of an agenda besides see lighthouses and go hiking. Well, that and visit Apostle Island Booksellers. We did minimal research on our destination, but this was one shop I knew I wanted to visit. Michael and I love books, so why not pop in?
Before we even got into Bayfield proper on our first day we stopped at Seven Ponds Winery. It’s situated in the Fruit Loop which is what locals call the string of orchards on the hills surrounding the town; I obviously love this name.
My favorite food the whole trip was a late dinner at the Fat Radish. This felt pretty serendipitous since I had my eye on the place but when we walked by previously, they weren’t set to be open for dinner during our stay. But wouldn’t you know it, when we went to peep the menu, it was open!
OK, so as we were strolling around downtown LaPointe, Michael and I saw what I assumed was the city dump. It looked like a junkyard – tents, car parts, metal sheeting. Then we got closer and realized that it was a bar. We walked in, and honestly, I can’t describe it to you; it’s a mess but in a good way. It looked like the kind of bar you’d build after getting shipwrecked on an island. But we settled in for a drink and had a good time chatting up the locals.
Last, but in no way least, I’d highly recommend the bed and breakfast where we stayed. It’s always difficult to book a place based on a few pictures and some reviews (no matter how glowing), but I’m so glad Michael and I choose this inn.
This winter, as we sat home in the midst of another snow storm, Michael and I dreamed up our third-anniversary vacation. After spending our first all the way in Jamaica (so much fun) and our second just over in Madison, we decided we’d stay closer to home but visit somewhere entirely new to us. Within an hour we booked a stay in Bayfield, Wisconsin.
I’ll get into all the charming local haunts in another post, but I wanted to dive in right away with how downright beautiful Bayfield and the Apostle Islands are. As we cruised down the hill into the town, we saw Lake Superior and Michael and I were truly in awe. Living in and growing up near Milwaukee, we are both very familiar with Lake Michigan and how it can definitely feel closer to a sea than a lake. But, honestly, from the second we got up to the shore, there was a major difference in how different Lake Superior felt. It’s massive and dark, and while the waters are churning, there’s definitely a sense of stillness around the lake. My friend told me prior to this trip that when he visited Bayfield, he felt like something was watching him. I didn’t get those vibes precisely, but there’s definitely something unique about the atmosphere.
But, I’ll be honest, what I loved the most were the lighthouses. I’ve been interested in lighthouses since I was young so indulging in a lifelong curiosity was pretty fun. We got to see the Raspberry Island and Devils Island Lights from the boat, and I really really loved it. And I loved how Michael shares my enthusiasm for them (we’re thinking about visiting again for a special tour where you get to go inside!).
After the tour, our interest in the islands was really piqued. Right after we disembarked, we turned around and got on the ferry to Madeline Island, the biggest of the Apostle Islands (and the only one with any inhabitants). We poked around in La Pointe, the village on the island, for a little bit before we made our way over to Big Bay State Park for some hiking.
This felt a lot like Cave Point County Park (for you Door County folks), but ten times bigger and a hundred times more serene. Michael and I spent a lot of time just listening to the waves and the loons. It was a good place to meditate or at least have a few moments of introspection. But it wasn’t the only state park we were visiting on this trip.
Also on this little jog, I got to see two more lighthouses – Wisconsin Point (in Superior) and Duluth Harbor North Breakwater Lights. That’s four lighthouses in one trip. Pretty darn good.
And that’s all she wrote for this one, folks! Now get out there while the wild blackberry picking is still good! If you’re in southern or central Wisconsin, you might be able to nab a few. Lucky northerners might have another week or two.