Door County 2009 Visitor Guide - (Page 48) Sailors DELIGHT Recreation SISTER BAY MARINA © RENEE PUCCINI W hat is it that makes Door County boating so extraordinarily special, so unique? It is the undeniable fact that Door County has something for every boater–from relaxed sailboat cruising to high-speed powerboat getaways and everything in between. Door County truly has it all for anyone who wants to share in the nautical experience. Door County offers boating opportunities that are unmatched. With 300 miles of shoreline, the County encompasses pristine sandy beaches to stunning limestone bluffs to scattered islands that can challenge even the best navigators to pay attention. The best part is that the harbors are short distances apart. The boating season lasts from early April until the last diehard sailboat is hauled out in before the ice forms. For true boating aficionados, there is always the promise of a smooth ice boating season, on Clark or Europe Lake. An unparalleled attraction of Door County is the wide open waterways and the range of options that are offered. Whether it is for a day or a week or a weekend, cruising the waters of Green Bay and anchoring at an island on a warm summer day is alluring. If you want a little adventure beyond the lapping of the waves, try Fish Creek with its own anchorage and marinas and its shops, restaurants, and nightlife. Next is Ephraim, where no stop would be complete without a side trip to Wilson’s for ice cream and watching the regattas at the 100-year-old Ephraim Yacht Club. On your way up the Door Peninsula, the new marina at Sister Bay makes this harbor well worth a stop-over. Ellison Bay and Gills Rock also beckon you to visit on your way north. Anchor at Washington Island for a step back from the mainland and the mainstream. Crossing the Death’s Door channel can be complex but the sense of accomplishment in navigating islands, buoys and freighters make for great stories. The southern area of the County – including Sawyer Harbor, Riley’s Bay and Little Sturgeon – provides great fishing and relaxation opportunities. Save a day for Sturgeon Bay with its maritime heritage museum, shipbuilding, marine service yards and the great downtown shopping & dining. If you don’t own a yacht or a boat or even a little dinghy, that’s not a problem. Everything from Jet Skis to sailboats can be rented at a choice of harbors throughout the County. If do-it-yourself is not your inclination, try a day out charter fishing with a knowledgeable licensed captain, or hop aboard a relaxing boat tour. You could scuba dive on the over 200 shipwreck scattered throughout the county, or kayak and canoe on the bay or lakeside. Sample the serene waters of Moonlight or North Bay, or for those who are daunted by the idea of Lake Michigan or Green Bay, try the inland waters of Clark Lake, Kangaroo Lake, or Europe Lake. artha urris 48 The Official Door County Visitor Guide
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