winters

Magic The of Door County

Winters

What’s more magical than waking up to frost-covered grasses, spiked with frozen dew, illuminating the earth in an ethereal wonderland? Listen to the eerie guttural howls of the lake making ice, resonating like the soundtrack of a sci-fi film. Look up to a dark grey sky of giant, fluffy snowflakes slowly falling, when the silence is not heard but felt, like a physical pressure of lusty breathing and drumming heartbeat. The deep polar freeze brings out the Scandinavian in each of us. We load the wood burner, don our thick sweaters, slip into shearling-lined mocs, finally given permission to sit and…read a book!

Many think of Door County in terms of summertime memories, filled with beaches, ice cream, and riotous fun. But what the average visitor might not see is the spectacular beauty and engag-

Photo ©2021 Lucas Smith

ing events of other seasons. I’ve been asked the question SO many times. “Is there anything open in winter?” Or “What is there to do?” I chuckle and reply that we live here year-round and yes, some places are open. And I tell them there are so many good things to explore outdoors, especially silent sports!

Even without snow, you can ice skate, go ice fishing, ice boating, and kite skating. Unbelievably, you can often feed wild birds like chickadees right from your hand in Newport and Peninsula State Parks, among other locations. There are two big ice rinks, one in Sturgeon Bay on Memorial Field, located near the high school. The other, Theresa Highlander Ice Rink, is at the sports complex in Sister Bay, where you can both rent skates and enjoy a pick-up hockey game.

Snow-based activities like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and hiking abound in all five of the state parks, the Ridges Sanctuary, Crossroads at Big Creek and the 14 Land Trust preserve sites. Enjoy skate/ski trails, fat tire biking, downhill sledding and snowmobiling. The Door County Snowmobile clubs welcome snowmobilers to explore the 250 miles of state and club trails from Kewaunee County to the top of the thumb in Gills Rock. Plus, there are ski, snowshoe and inner tube rentals at various local outfitters.

Everyone here knows it’s a special time of year... try it on for size and you, too, can experience the magic of a Door County

winter! — By Marise Redmann