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Category: Outdoor

Getting outside in Door County is a must! While you can always explore a trail or lake shore on your own, the calendar is dotted with guided hikes, wildlife tours, bird watching treks, and cross-country skiing meetups. Find a group bicycle ride, a naturalist session, or paddleboard tour and explore Door County’s natural wonders.

  • Door to Nature: The Eastern Hemlock Tree

    Years ago Charlotte and I visited our neighbors a few miles southeast of us and enjoyed wonderful stories by the homeowner, 92-year-old Alfred Flock. He told of their barn and house being framed and beamed with Eastern Hemlock that had been cut in their own woods when he was a child. Even though hemlock lumber […]

  • Master Gardener Program Focuses On 2016 Trends

    The Northern Hemisphere is less than four weeks into the official winter season but that isn’t stopping the Door County Master Gardeners from looking forward to spring. On Jan. 19, the association will host Sunnypoint Gardens co-owner Kori Zawojski for its second free public program of the year, “What’s New for 2016.” The popular program, […]

  • A New Era at the Ephraim-Gibraltar Airport

      At a regular town board meeting in Gibraltar, committee reports were going along as usual. There was nothing from the Noble House committee, a bit on the waterfront redevelopment and a report on a house fire that was taken care of smoothly. When it was time for the Airport Commission’s report, Myrvin Somerhalder stood […]

  • Peninsula State Park Needs Help to Complete “VISITOR” Archives

    Peninsula State Park is in need of copies of the VISITOR for the following years for archival storage: 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1990. If you have or know someone who has copies from any of these years please contact Kathleen Harris at 920.868.3258 or [email protected].  

  • Winter Golfers at Bay Ridge Golf Course

      The first two golfers of the year played in 24 degrees to begin the 50th year at Bay Ridge Golf Course in Sister Bay. They golfed nine holes with colored golf balls, and were armed with lots of hot coffee. Photo by Dianne Trenchard.

  • Ice Carvers Needed for Fire and Ice 2016

    The Sturgeon Bay Visitor Center is currently seeking beginner, intermediate and advanced ice carvers for Fire and Ice 2016. The ice carving competition will take place from 9 am to 2 pm on Feb. 13. A panel of volunteers will judge all ice carvings. Cash prizes and ribbons will be awarded based on competitor level […]

  • Free Music, Family Art Day, Winter Hikes & More Weekend Plans

    It’s sure to be another beautiful and quiet weekend on the peninsula. Looking for something fun to do? We’ve got our top picks for the weekend ahead to get you out of the house! Friday, January 15 Loaves and Fishes Enjoy a free family style meal at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College during this month’s Loaves […]

  • Roy Lukes: Hairy Woodpecker

    The Hairy Woodpecker, that bird without so much as one hair on its body, is one of my favorite birds on our property. I say this from an ecological viewpoint and not from what these wood “chiselers” had done to our wooden house built in their woods. It has been known for a long time […]

  • Learn to Improve Habitat Naturally at Master Gardeners Lecture

    On Jan. 12 at 7 pm, the Door County Master Gardener’s Association Continuing Education Program will present “Improving Habitat with Native Plants” at Crossroads at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay. Coggin Heeringa is the presenter. Most gardeners love songbirds, butterflies and other wildlife. Recent research on the interactions between plants and wildlife done by Dr. […]

  • When Snow Blankets the Forest

    The elementary student stared at the thermometer in disbelief. His class was on a winter field trip to Crossroads at Big Creek and at one of the activity stations, the children were asked to take the temperature of the air and then to insert the thermometer as deeply as possible into the snow and check […]

  • Science Snippet: Jan. 8, 2016

      The dragonfly’s head is mostly eyes, as it has been for more than 300 million years. These eyes are essential to their survival because they are carnivores (meat eaters) and they must catch and eat smaller flying insects such as mosquitoes, flies, and even smaller dragonflies. Their oversize eyes, which have a visual range […]

  • Ski and Snowshoe for Free at Crossroads

    Crossroads at Big Creek lends, free of charge, an array of ski and snowshoe equipment, sizes to fit age 3 through large adult. When trail conditions permit, go to the Crossroads Maintenance Building where volunteers will fit you with equipment, share a few pointers and a trail map and send you out on groomed (classical […]

  • Enough Snow to Ski for Free at Crossroads

    Crossroads at Big Creek looks very different now that Door County has some snow. Sparkling drifts cover the hills, trees appear flocked, and tracks reveal the evidence of the mammals that make Crossroads their winter home. Volunteers at Crossroads have established trails. Some trails are designated as ski trails which Facilities Manager Rich Propsom grooms […]

  • Framed: Polar Bears in Jacksonport

    Jacksonport Polar Bear swimmers make their way back to warm, dry land after taking the plunge on New Year’s Day. Photo by Len Villano.

  • Ski for Free, Distinguished Lectures, Wild Card Playoffs & More Weekend Plans

    A quiet weekend on the Door Peninsula awaits you, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything to do! We’ve got our top picks for the weekend ahead. Friday, January 8 Strap On the Snowshoes Take advantage of the recent heavy snowfall during a naturalist-guided snowshoe hike at The Ridges on Friday afternoon. Snowshoes are available […]

  • Ridges to Host Saturday Story Hour for Kids

    The Ridges has many ways to help everyone get out and get connected to nature during the winter months. Learn about winter ecology while burning off some of those extra holiday calories. The Ridges offers naturalist-guided snowshoe hikes each Friday and Saturday beginning Jan. 2. Hikes depart from the Cook-Fuller Center, 8166 Hwy. 57, Baileys […]

  • Start 2016 with a New Year’s Day Hike at Ida Bay

    The end of December has always been a time for celebration and Crossroads at Big Creek hopes everyone’s New Year’s Eve is happy and safe. Entering the New Year, Crossroads invites the community to celebrate sunlight. On Dec. 31 at 3:45 pm, enjoy the Sunset on the Year Hike. This is a Crossroads tradition; this […]

  • Door County Triathlon Registration Opens New Year’s Day

    Registration for the July 16-17, 2016 Door County Triathlon will open at 12:01 am on New Year’s Day. The two-day event will once again feature a Sprint race on Saturday morning, a Kids’ Triathlon for children ages 6-14 on Saturday afternoon and a Half Iron race on Sunday. Last year’s Half Iron sold out in […]

  • Polar Bear Swim, Mini Golf, First Day Hikes & More Weekend Plans

    From the annual polar bear swim in Jacksonport to a frosty mini golf tournament in Ephraim (not to forget Egg Harbor’s yearly New Year’s Day Parade), we’ve got the top picks to start your 2016 off right! Friday, January 1 Jacksonport Polar Bear Swim Take a plunge in the brisk waters of Lake Michigan for […]

  • Baptism By Ice: Jarosh Family Celebrating 30 Years of New Year’s Day Plunge

      The seed for the Jacksonport Polar Bear Plunge was planted in 1984 when 11-year-old J.R. Jarosh challenged his father, Joe, to compete in the five-mile race during Sister Bay’s Fall Fest. “Being an overconfident 11-year-old, I thought I could beat this 39-year-old geezer,” J.R. said. “He bet me, and the bet was whoever lost […]