bay trading company
A few years ago, I went to Door County with my husband for our anniversary. It was our first time visiting the peninsula, and we explored every nook and cranny in two days flat. On this particular trip, we were in search of a unique piece of art to bring home. It was to be our anniversary gift to each other. We shopped the many (many) antique shops of the county, but came up empty handed. That is, until we visited The Bay Trading Company. This vast warehouse is home to a unique, eclectic and downright amazing collection of architectural and everyday antiques. We scooped up a vintage plane propeller that is still one of my favorite things in our home.
During my most recent visit, I wasn’t scouting anything in particular, but was still entirely taken by the many treasures at Bay Trading. There were vintage wooden sleds stacked against a wall, which I think would be charming to use as a piece of outdoor decor during the holiday season. Next to the sleds was an antique pitchfork. Call me crazy, but I think it would make a fascinating conversation piece. The stone lions head would be perfect in a garden, as would the old metal watering cans.
Inside, there were rooms upon rooms of fascinating finds. The old ship wheels intrigue me every time we visit, and I always think about hauling one back home to hang on a wall. Other nautical paraphernalia fills a shelf, below which are baskets filled with fishing nets, ropes and buoys. A back corner contains a heaping pile of baskets and old wood buckets, tempting me every time pass by.
I did find a couple things I couldn’t leave without. The first was this miniature dress form. It’s only about 18″ tall, which makes it the perfect size for my dresser. The second thing I couldn’t pass up was this vintage kitchen scale. I’ve been keeping my eyes open for one for awhile. Bay Trading had several, and most were in great condition. I loved the style of this particular Universal Scale, and I think it will be a nice addition to my almost bare kitchen counters.
The very, very best part about The Bay Trading Company are their prices. Because, folks, this stuff is sold for pennies (at least compared to most other antique retailers). Each time I go, I think that I must return with a truck and a little wad of cash so I can haul the loot back home and either fill my house with it, or resell it. All you interior designers and decor junkis out there should take note. If you are ever on the hunt for something really unique for a project, take a trip to Egg Harbor, Wisconsin, and visit Bay Trading. You won’t be disappointed!
eating our way through the county
I’ve mentioned before that one of my favorite aspects of traveling is all the eating I get to do along the way. That sounds wrong. Let me rephrase. I simply love to sample the culture and flavor of a region by partaking in the best eats it has to offer. This trip was no exception. Door County is well-known for its ideal growing conditions. Farms are abundant, with fields full of everything from corn to carrots, and from to cherries, to apples and pears. There are farm markets scattered across the peninsula, but my favorite is Koepsel’s just south of Sister Bay on Highway 57. Shelves upon shelves of canned goods make the store a fascinating place to wander. Homemade jams and fruit butters sit along side canned pickles and pie fillings. Salsas fill another shelf, near the maple syrups and spices. Outdoors, tables are laden with baskets of homegrown veggies. It’s a feast for the eyes, as well as the palate.
As healthy and as satisfying as farm-fresh produce can be, we were on vacation, so there came a time when health sense was thrown to the wind and we indulged. My favorite place on the peninsula to satisfy a sweet tooth is, by far, Wilson’s. Nestled in the quaint and cozy town of Ephraim, since 1906 Wilson’s has been famous for their home-brewed draft root bear, tasty burgers, and old-fashioned soda fountain. Oh, and don’t let me forget to mention the ice cream. Their daunting list of flavors draws visitors from miles around. I chose “coconut joy”–coconut ice cream with bites of chocolate and pecan swirled in. One word… YUM.
After dessert (yes, dessert comes first while on vacation), it’s time for dinner. Door County has plenty of waterfront restaurants, but one only Fred & Fuzzy’s. After driving down a tiny, twisting road, one will come upon this casual outdoor bar and grill. It reminds me of beachfront dining in the Carribean; sunny, carefree, with no worries and no rules. Seated under a red umbrella with a perfect view of Lake Michigan, we enjoyed our last dinner of the trip. I had a “perchwich”, Fred & Fuzzy’s take on a classic fish sandwich, featuring fresh Lake Michigan perch on a toasted bun. Again, YUM.
We were quite well-fed on this trip, but thankfully made up for it with daily hikes and healthy breakfasts at the cabin. I always try to maintain balance with my eating. Eat healthy and say no to pointless extras, but then don’t feel guilty about splurging every once in awhile with a tasty dessert or a special meal while on vacation. Everything in moderation, and always erring on the healthy side of things (for instance, we had salads for dinner one night, and made chicken sandwiches for lunch).
Anyways, I did manage to cross off another thing on the bucket list with our meal at Fred & Fuzzy’s. The list is getting shorter all the time, as the days of summer are dwindling! While Labor Day usually marks the unofficial end of summer, I plan on carrying the bucket list through a few more weeks until fall makes its official arrival. Not sure if I’ll mark everything off, but I do have a few more plans up my sleeve!
eat at fletcher’s, the chocolate moose,
angry trout cafe, coho cafe and fred & fuzzy’s
Tomorrow will be my last post on Door County, and it is decidely geared towards all other decor addicts. I’ll have some eye candy for you, so stick around…
a theater in the woods, wine tasting, and waves
No trip to Door County is complete without a visit to the American Folklore Theater. Nestled in the pine forest of Peninsula State Park, the Theater puts on a variety of original musical comedies. The shows are hilarious, professional, and filled with Midwestern flavor. The setting is stunning, under a canopy of towering pines, with stars twinkling overhead. This year, we saw Bone Dance, a musical collection of ghost stories gathered from around the world. The play was a little bit eerie, but full of good humor and fantastic costuming.
Another favorite pastime in Door County is wine tasting. The county is known for its wineries, and the locally-grown fruits make for a nice variety of flavors to blend. In previous years, I’ve visited the county in July, when cherry picking is in full swing. This year, we made our way there in August, and the cherries were long gone. Since I missed my opportunity to pick, I chose instead to do the next best thing–sample a glass of Door County cherry wine. Mmmmm, and it was delish–sweet, and bursting with that famous Wisconsin Montmorency cherry flavor.
The peninsula that is home to Door County juts into the northwest corner of Lake Michigan. One side of this peninsula is bordered by the famous Green Bay, and the other is open to the endless expanse of water shared by Milwaukee and Chicago. Being near the big lake almost feels like being near the ocean, except the water isn’t salty and pines instead of palms dot the shoreline. On this trip, we made plenty of time for the lake, as we hiked along the shore, lazed on the beach, and played in the waves. As I bobbed in the clear, clean water, letting waves crash over me, with an endless blue sky above, I thought to myself that this simple, lovely, summer moment would be one I carried with me through the cold months ahead.
Tomorrow, it’s on to talking about the food of Door County, but first, one more thing checked off the bucket list. I changed this one around a bit, since I wasn’t able to pick cherries on this trip.
pick cherries in door county and dip my toes in lake michigan, or, better yet…
sip cherry wine in door county and play in the waves of lake michigan
as sweet as wild berries
Door County, Wisconsin in the summer; simple, unhurried, and as sweet as wild berries. We arrived last Wednesday to a breezy day on the peninsula, cool enough for jackets, but ripe with possibility. Hours spent wandering winding country roads, hiking worn trails through the cedar forest and along the rocky shore, taking in snippets of beauty, and pausing for a bite of something delicious. My mom, my best friend and I, all ready to explore, hike, shop, linger, taste, swim, and soak in three days of togetherness in this timeless summer destination. The hours passed all too quickly each day, and we collapsed into bed each night tired, content and sun-soaked. Quiet, restful nights spent in a tiny log cabin in the woods had us rested and ready for the next day of adventure.
Hiking along the shore of Lake Michigan, and watching the sun set over her glistening waters were two highlights of the trip, and two more things checked off the bucket list of summer.
go for a long hike in a beautiful place
watch the sunset
I have too many photos and stories for just one post, so I’ll be using the next few days to share the rest. Stay tuned, my dears!
casual traveler {black hills, take 2}
First of all, thank you, truly, to those of you who took the time to comment on this post. You have no idea what your words meant to me. They filled me up in an almost tangible way, and lifted me and carried me along like a balloon floating above the treetops. Today I feel a renewed sense of energy, and I must say that the power of encouragement never ceases. Thank you, again.
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I’ve finally taken the time to get photos together from the trip, and I have to apologize in advance for the overload here. I will try to use fewer words so you’re not absolutely overwhelmed by the length of this post!
Last year, we headed west to the Black Hills for a quick family getaway. Somehow, without entirely realizing it, I fell in love with the rugged, quiet beauty of the landscape there. It was rough and wild and beckoned to the spirit of adventure that is deep within my soul. We decided to return there again this year, despite the fact that the forecast was calling for cold temps and snow. Tropical vacations are highly overrated. Ahem, not really. At all. In all seriousness, our next vacation will be somewhere that does not require long underwear and a stocking cap.
Despite the cold and snow, we were once again captivated by the majestic beauty of the hills within and around Custer State Park.
We stayed at Stylan Lake Lodge, just off the Needles Highway. It is a stunning place. You may recognize the scenery at Sylvan Lake from the National Treasure movie. It was filmed right there.
On one of the warmer days, we took a hike… to the highest peak east of the Rockies and west of the Alps. The trail led us among the famous rock needles. It was breathtaking, in more ways than one.
3.5 miles from the trailhead to the peak, and it was the last 1/4 mile that just about did us in. Once at the top of Harney Peak, however, we were glad we made the trek. The view was worth a million bucks.
We also took a less daunting hike to Meeker Ranch, which is a historic ranch just outside Custer. It is on Forest Service land, and open to the public. Walking through the aged buildings is like going back in time. There are artifacts of the past at every turn, leaving one with a slight sense of wonder.
We snagged a couple photos by the barn, just for fun.
On another day, we channeled John Wayne and went for a fantastic horseback ride through a little place called Country Charm Corrals. Our guide, Owen, was full of stories, and allowed us to really ride our horses. We got to trot and gallop and ride with a bit of freedom as we romped through forests and fields. Unfortunately, I ended up with quite a cranky horse, to say the least. “Ginger” was a bit of a handful, which I learned quickly when she gave my dad’s horse a swift kick in the haunches. Not that I have any experience with horses, but I thought I handled the manner quite well. Further proof that I probably should be a cowgirl. Haha! Ahem.
Besides the antics of my wild horse, we got to see lots of real wildlife up close and personal.
I think the wild burros were my favorite. They trotted right up to our car when we slowed down and didn’t hesitate to lean in and say hello.
Despite the fact that getting to South Dakota requires ten hours of the most boring driving known to man (picture endless miles of flat agricultural land), it is not without its perks. On both the drive to and from the Black Hills, we were witnesses to some very incredible sunsets.
All in all, we had a great trip. It was just what I needed… quiet, simple and refreshing. In many ways, I feel like being in the outdoors, close to God’s creation, recharges my spirit. Getting back in the routine after a trip is always hard, I think. We were only gone for 5 days, but it’s taken almost a week to get back into my groove. I love having the time off, away from work and home and all the things that tug at my attention, and yet, coming back to it all is a bit overwhelming. However, when it’s all said and done, I am thankful for those five days of rest for my soul, for the beauty that surrounded us, and for the precious memories made with those I love most.
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