Neighboring Cities - AmericInn® Sturgeon Bay, WI
Welcome to the Cities Neighboring our Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin Hotel
Mileage to Neighboring Cities:
- Sturgeon Bay to Carlsville - 10 miles
- Sturgeon Bay to Jacksonport - 16 miles
- Sturgeon Bay to Egg Harbor -17 miles
- Sturgeon Bay to Baileys Harbor - 22 miles
- Sturgeon Bay to Fish Creek - 23 miles
- Sturgeon Bay to Ephraim - 28 miles
- Sturgeon Bay to Sister Bay - 33 miles
- Sturgeon Bay to Gills Rock - 43 miles
- Sturgeon Bay to North Port Ferry - 45 miles
Carlsville Wisconsin
Clustered along Highway 42 halfway between Sturgeon Bay and Egg Harbor, the tiny community of Carlsville has been small in size but big in spirit throughout the past century and a half.
When Door County was being settled, it was unusual for a community to develop inland, away from the lake or the bay, but that's just what this unincorporated community did.
A nameless crossroads' community, it consisted in the late 1860s of a cheese factory, a school, and a general store. A blacksmith shop and a combination saloon and dance hall were added to the business mix later.
The first settlers in the community were of Irish descent, but they were soon outnumbered by people of German heritage. It was these new settlers who gave the town its moniker. Karlsville was named for the relatively high number of men in the community with the first name Karl - as many as six at one point, according to historian M. Marvin Lotz. The name was later Anglicized to Carlsville.
Today, the ten businesses that make up the Carlsville community band together in the summer to bolster business and pride in Carlsville. Carlsville Days, which is held in mid to late July, features tours of both the local winery and the dairy farm/ice cream parlor, as well as food, live music, games for kids, parade, doggie contest, and more than 40 vendors displaying arts and crafts. Carlsville may be small in size, but it's large in pride and spirit.
Jacksonport Wisconsin
In 1869, Jacksonport became the last of Door County's communities to be formally organized. Settled in 1848 as a lumber town, the community was named after Andrew Jackson, a logger and prominent business owner in the community.
Today this quiet little community offers visitors old-fashioned hospitality and a relaxing break from the pressures of everyday life.
Whitefish Dunes State Park, located just south of Jacksonport on the sand dunes of Lake Michigan, is one of the jewels of Wisconsin's state parks system. A large expanse of sandy beach and the highest dunes in the state lure visitors to the park. Once there, the hiking, biking and cross-country ski trails create serene memories that keep vacationers coming back for more.
Cave Point County Park is immediately adjacent to Whitefish Dunes State Park. Bring your camera and imagination to capture the wild beauty of Lake Michigan pounding against the park's limestone sea caves. The din of waves crashing against rock and moving through the caves is unforgettable.
Jacksonport boasts one of the county's biggest and most popular festivals, Maifest. Music, ethnic foods, a wide variety of crafters and artisans, and numerous other inviting activities make Memorial Day weekend fun and Jacksonport synonymous for people from all over the United States.
Jacksonport also plays host to the annual and popular Jacksonport Polar Bear Club swim, held at 12 noon each New Year's day in Lakeskide Park. Come watch hundreds of "polar bears" start off the new year with an icy dip in Lake Michigan. And if you're feeling adventurous, feel free to join in the fun.
Baileys Harbor Wisconsin
In October 1848, a cargo ship loaded with lumber and carrying several passengers left Racine, bound for Detroit. That evening the ship, commanded by Capt. Justin Bailey, encountered a violent storm. Buffeted by high winds and heavy rain, the ship pitched and rolled in the angry Lake Michigan waters.
Concerned for his passengers and cargo, Bailey kept watch for a place in which to ride out the storm. Late that night he found a quiet cove where he could drop anchor until the storm passed and his journey could be resumed.
That act of nature assured Capt. Justin Bailey a measure of immortality; the village that sprung up there the following year was called Baileys Harbor.
Located on the shore of Lake Michigan, the area has thousands of acres of wetlands and wilderness, much of it preserved as part of Björklunden, Toft's Point and the Mud Lake Wildlife Area.
Birding and hiking are at their very best at the Ridges Sanctuary at Baileys Harbor. The Ridges, a privately held wildflower preserve, includes the Baileys Harbor Rangelight and Lighthouse, and a beautiful sand beach that's open to the public.
The Baileys Harbor business district is situated on the lake and includes many fine shops, galleries and restaurants. Charter fishing boats leave here daily carrying anglers in search of a memorable day on Lake Michigan.
Egg Harbor Wisconsin
There are several conflicting stories about how Egg Harbor got its name. One of the favorites, however, has to do with an incident that allegedly occurred in 1825, 28 years before the village was founded and 36 years before it gained official status.
As the story goes, six boats owned by Pierce Roulette, a French fur trader, were headed for Mackinac Island. Along with other supplies, the boats carried a large number of eggs. One day, Commodore Roulette ordered the paddlers to put ashore for lunch in a sheltered cove.
Traditionally, the commodore's boat led the others. This time, however, another boat took the lead. The commodore ordered the other boat to fall back, but the paddlers refused. Then, the story goes, the crew of Roulette's boat began throwing eggs at the other boat. That boat's crew retaliated and soon both boats and their crews were covered with raw eggs.
However the village came by its name, it is today a popular destination for visitors longing for simpler times.
A leisurely stroll downtown delights the eye with shops, galleries and restaurants located in lovingly restored historic buildings and in newer buildings that capture the village's old Wisconsin charm.
Located just outside of Egg Harbor is the Birch Creek Music Center, a nationally acclaimed music academy. Evening concerts in the barn at Birch Creek are a tradition for Door County's residents and visitors alike.
In October, business owners and residents deck their properties with pumpkins, scarecrows and other fall decorations for the annual Pumpkin Patch Festival, a favorite weekend with visitors.
Fish Creek Wisconsin
Sturgeon Bay, Door County's first community, was settled by Increase Claflin in 1835. Nine years later, following a frightening confrontation between his son-in-law and local Indians, Claflin moved his family north to Fish Creek.
Although Claflin was the first settler, Asa Thorp is regarded as the man who founded the village. By 1853 Thorp owned much of the land in the Fish Creek area and had begun building a pier from which he could sell cord wood to Lake Michigan steamers.
The beauty that held Claflin and Thorp in thrall claims today's visitors to Fish Creek as well. The entrance to Peninsula State Park is located in the village. Within its 3,700 acres is located Claflin Point, the site of the settler's cabin. The breathtaking view of the bay from Weborg Point makes it easy to see why he chose to live here.
For those who prefer getting away from crowds, a bike ride through the park is just the ticket for relaxation. The park, with its sand beaches and nature trails, also is popular with campers. There are well-kept private campgrounds located near the village too.
Over the years, Fish Creek has become the heart of the county's artistic life. Here you'll find Peninsula Players, the country's oldest professional summer theater; The Peninsula Music Festival; American Folklore Theatre; Peninsula Art School; Peninsula Arts Theater, and the Door Community Auditorium, which plays host to dozens of well-known artists and shows each year.
A wide variety of shops, galleries and restaurants draws visitors back year after year. After a fine dinner, take a stroll to the marina and check out the pleasure boats moored there, or sit on the city beach and watch as the sun paints the sky red and gold.
Ephraim Wisconsin
In the spring of 1853, 40 Norwegian Moravians, led by the Rev. Andrew Iverson, settled the area around Eagle Harbor. The hardy pioneers named their community Ephraim, a biblical term that means fruitful.
Modern villagers, mindful of Ephraim's rich heritage, have preserved a good deal of its history. Many buildings still reflect the elegantly simple architecture painted white that is a hallmark of Moravian tradition. Exhibits at the Anderson Barn Museum give visitors and residents a glimpse into a vibrant past.
Anderson Dock, where tourists in the 1890s disembarked from Lake Michigan steamers, now is home to the Hardy Gallery. Area artists and special events make the Hardy a must-see on vacation itineraries.
Peninsula State Park, Wisconsin's largest and most popular state park, rests on Ephraim's west shore. Golfers playing at Peninsula's excellent course may have trouble keeping their minds on the game, so beautiful is the scenery.
June means Fyr Bal, a Scandinavian tradition welcoming summer. Bonfires, great food, music and art all are part of the fun. Be sure and catch the Midsummer's Music concert- chamber music on the water.
July brings a regatta with boats decked out in their finest and most colorful sails.
When the ice is at its best, a community of ice-fishing shanties springs up on Eagle Harbor and cross-country skiing at Peninsula State Park becomes a passion.
Ellison Bay / Gills Rock / Rowleys Bay, Wisconsin
Ellison Bay was founded in 1866 by Johan Berndt Eliason, who came to America from Denmark. In 1848, Eliason reached Buffalo, New York, where he bought a sizeable piece of land in Door County through the U.S. government. The U.S. Land Office later reported the land belonged to "John Ellison" and that the cove on the property was called "Ellison Bay".
As in the past, Mother Nature has something special in store for visitors traveling north of Sister Bay: a breathtaking vista of Ellison Bay from the crest of a 200-foot-high escarpment. The sight is particularly beautiful when fall wears its fancy dress. Visitors to Ellison Bay will find numerous potters and other artisans plying their trade.
North of Ellison Bay's quaint business district lies The Clearing, a school of the arts, literature and ecology. The Clearing's campus is set amid a pristine woodland high above the shores of Green Bay.
Nearby Newport State Park, a semi-wilderness area, has within its boundaries secluded hiking and cross-country ski trails.
Gills Rock was originally known as "Hedgehog Harbor," the name given it by Washington Island fisherman and boat builder Amos Lovejoy. In 1855, Lovejoy decided to winter his sloop on the shores of a cove he liked to fish. Over that winter, a family of hedgehogs, also known as porcupines, moved on board. When Lovejoy launched his sloop again in spring, he didn't notice the numerous holes the hedgehogs had chewed in the hull. The boat began taking on water through those holes and Lovejoy was forced to abandon the sloop and come ashore. The cove was "Hedgehog Harbor" until 1870 when it and the settlement on it were renamed Gills Rock in honor of Elias Gill, a prominent lumberer.
At the very tip of the Door County peninsula lies Gills Rock, where a strong tradition of commercial fishing continues today. Gills Rock offers divers the opportunity to explore the many shipwrecks in and around Death's Door. The Door County maritime museum houses many artifacts from these wrecks and chronicles the fishing industry. Ferries to Washington Island depart regularly from Gills Rock and nearby Northport Pier.
Four miles east of Ellison Bay on the Lake Michigan shore lies Rowleys Bay, the gateway to the Mink River estuary. The Nature Conservancy shoreline of pristine wilderness is the home of many rare plants, birds and animal life. The cross on the shoreline is a replica of one built by Jesuit missionaries in the late 1600's. The bay bears the name of Peter Rowley, who lived there during the middle 1800's.
Washington Island Wisconsin
Washington Island is the largest of Door County's islands.
In 1815, the island was named "Colonel John Miller Island" after the leader of the first white men to set foot on the island. Later settlers changed the name to honor George Washington.
Many of those later settlers were from Iceland, and today Washington Island is the oldest Icelandic community in the United States.
The island lies northeast of the peninsula just beyond the straits of Death's Door. This name was given to the six-mile-wide passage between Lake Michigan and Green Bay by Native Americans. The name was translated by French explorers as "Porte des Morts" because the treacherous currents and unpredictable wave action claimed war canoes and schooners alike. Today, divers can explore many of the shipwrecks.
Ferries from the mainland, with their views of spectacular bluffs and rocky shores, make the crossing of Death's Door a pleasure for today's passengers.
Once on the island, many visitors take in its leisurely pace and pastoral beauty while bicycling. Others prefer to take their cars, rent mopeds or take a guided tour.
Washington Island offers visitors museums, galleries, full-service marinas, shops, lodging and a golf course.
