So I guess that about wraps up the honeymoon blogs! I think you can tell from the pictures that we had a really nice time and enjoyed the cruise and Alaska tremendously. We’d definitely recommend Holland America; we’d definitely recommend Sitka and other less popular ports of call; we’d definitely recommend choosing adventurous excursions; and for goodness sakes we’d definitely recommend packing a raincoat, waterproof shoes, a great set of binoculars, and some Bonine! There was only a five hour time difference between Alaska and Cincinnati, but that jet lag absolutely ruined me. For the next week and a half I was, ironically, downright exhausted and useless. Our anniversary trip to Door County, scheduled for two weeks later, could not come soon enough!
After our wedding in Door County we decided that if we could possibly make it happen schedule-wise and financially, that we’d journey back to Door County every year in October in celebration of our anniversary. Well, this October is jam-packed with work and moving priorities, so we booked ourselves a weekend in September. We took a four day weekend, drove to Green Bay for the Packers home opener game against the Saints, and then spent two days in Door County before driving back to Cincinnati on Sunday. It was a marvelous little getaway! We enjoyed perfect, cool weather, the leaves were just starting to change colors, the Packers won, there was a great fly-over with four F-16s at the game, we got to see family and celebrate all the August & September birthdays, and hit up our favorite Door County hotspots. It was glorious!
We made sure to dine at The Cookery, Goats on the Roof, and to make fish boil reservations at Square Rigger Galley, the amazing little beach-side restaurant in Jacksonport where we booked our rehearsal dinner. The food, as always, was totally superb. I dug into the world’s best hot chocolate at Goats on the Roof (which is about 65% whip cream…love), along with Swedish crepe pancakes with fresh lingonberries, Swedish meatballs, and Swedish fruit soup (fruits stewed in juice and cinnamon, served chilled). Eating at The Cookery is always a treat because their menu is so simple and teeming with comfort foods, but the ingredients are so local, so fresh and they pair unexpected combinations of ingredients together in such a refreshing way. They had salted caramel ice cream, which was as delicious as it sounds, and a butternut squash soup infused with roasted red pepper glaze and apple cider that was beyond tasty. The fish boil was out-of-this-world perfect, as it has been the past three times we’ve done it. Both the atmosphere and food are do-not-miss fantastic. We also made pit stops for cherry gelato at Double Delites (where we took a few of our wedding photos), and the Confectionery where I downed the biggest, most delicious caramel apple in existence. We did, in fact, do more than eat though.
We reserved tickets for a performance of American Folklore Theatre’s hit original musical production of Guys on Ice, we dropped in at Cave Point state park to take in the cliffs that are part of Niagara Falls and build a rock castle, we browsed the Fish Creek shops and walked the little main streets, and we took our families’ cherry orders and bought enough dried cherries, cherry salsa, Orchard County fruit wines (the ones served at our wedding), and cherry oil to leave with two bulk boxes of cherry-stuff and a few illicit-ed stares. We also drove up and down the Door Peninsula soaking in the lovely little villages and scenic sights. We sat on the beach and walked in the waters of Green Bay and Lake Michigan, stayed at a little B&B called Trollhaugen in town of Ephraim where we were treated to the fireplace room. We made a wonderful fire in the fireplace at night while we settled in for a movie, and the next morning we had the most delicious B&B breakfast – waffles, hand-whipped cream, four berry sauce, pastries, and more – all homemade.
As always, our time in Door County was just perfect and we had a beautiful weekend! Clearly, we love this place!! Oh, to spend the entire summer here doing professional theatre! Our day will come :-)
