Door County 2009 Visitor Guide - (Page 17) BEATING o you brought the kids to Door County with visions of long days wearing them out at the beach and in the park – but now you’re here and the forecast calls for rain. What do you do? You’re forgiven if you’re initially stumped for ideas when the rainclouds move in, but don’t let the frustration get to you. There’s plenty to entertain the kids in Door County when the weather refuses to cooperate, especially if you want to take your children on a creative journey. Door County is renowned for its dedication to the arts, and that important aspect of the County translates to children as well. Businesses don’t get much more family-friendly than Hands On Art Studio in Fish Creek, where they cater to families year round. Hands On is a great place for kids (and adults) to fuel their creative impulses painting and decorating bowls, plates, cups and other pottery. Kids will love it, and so will you. It’s a great way to make a keepsake of your Door County vacation. You can even enroll your kids in a Hands On Art Camp during the summer. The Peninsula School of Art offers free Family Art Days once a month from September through May, during which kids can create projects to take home at the end of the day. In July and August, the School offers 3-day kids’ workshops. If you’re looking for a place to eat while you wait for the weather to clear, the little ones are sure to find plenty to do at PC Junction in Peninsula Center, at the junction of County Highways A and E. Here, the fantastic food is delivered around the bar by train. Even if there’s a wait for a seat, the kids can take over the grounds to play games, race peddle-powered carts, visit the sugar shack, paint signs and generally run wild. Another great family dining experience can be had at the Northern Grill in Sister Bay, with its great arcade, big-screen TV, friendly service and some of the County’s best pizza. For the history-minded, the Door County Historical Museum, Door County Maritime Museums and the Maritime Museum at Jackson Harbor on Washington Island all feature exhibits and artifacts S ENTERTAINING THE KIDS WHEN MOTHER NATURE WON’T THE WEATHER the kids will find fascinating. If arcades are more your style, visit Johnson’s Park in Sister Bay, or the Egg Harbor Fun Park, both of which offer everything from ske-ball, to dual racing games and arcade classics. For a classic Door County experience the whole family will love, head to the Sister Bay Bowl and roll a few frames in one of the only bowling alleys without electronic scorekeeping. Your kids will probably battle over who gets to keep score, while you get a chance for a nostalgic afternoon in the 6-lane alley that’s barely changed in nearly 50 years. Kids who love the pool (and what kid doesn’t?) will love the indoor slide and pool at Meadow Ridge in Egg Harbor, available to non-guests for a small fee. Try a trip down the water slide or enjoy the tumble buckets and water geysers. Or you can take them to one of the Door County YMCA’s program centers in Fish Creek or Sturgeon Bay for a day in the pool or games in the gym. For more quiet pursuits, Novel Ideas in Baileys Harbor has children’s books, games and puzzles; Spielman’s in Fish Creek has a vast array of toys. Don’t rule out the outdoors just because the rain falls or the skies are gray. Roiling waters may keep you off the beach, but they make Cave Point a thrilling place to watch the waves crash, and Door County’s shoreline is a great vantage point to watch the storms and lightning roll in over Green Bay. To really experience why our 19th century lighthouses were built, the adventurous can visit Cana Island in a foggy rain. It may be wet but it’s well worth the excitement. Now, instead of running for cover, get set to explore a different aspect of “the Door.” - Myles Dannhausen, Jr. 17
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