5389. Hit all the wineries on the Door County Wine Trail -- Door 44 Winery

 I had great plans at hitting all the Door County Wine Trail wineries by my 46th birthday. Since my cousins didn't make their annual trip to Door County this year, I knew it wasn't happening. I only had 4 wineries to go and I figured I could knock off Door 44 Winery on our trip for cherries and apples since my cousins have been there before.

Door 44 Winery is a branch of the Parallel 44 Winery in Kewaunee. It is located North of Sturgeon Bay off of Hwy 42. It is open daily 10-6. I wanted to stop on way to Jorn's Sugar Bush but we got a late start so I convinced the hubby to stop on the way home. It is $10 for 4 samples

When you enter Door 44 Winery, a hostess will give you a run down of the winery and the wine tasting. I found it all very stuffy and pretentious. I was just there to try some wine and check it off my list. They are known for their Ice Wines.

I went to the bar and made my selections of wines. Many of the wines on the list were on the dry side and had no fruit wines. Definitely not my kind of winery. 

I struggled to find 4 wines to samples. I went with the following

Frozen Tundra White which is a semi-sweet wine that has tropical fruit undertones. It was too dry for me. 

Frozen Tundra Original which is a semi-sweet Rose with ac citrus finish. It is their biggest seller. It was better than the Frozen Tundra White but still too dry for me.

Frozen Tundra Red which is a semi-sweet red. For a red, it wasn't bad. I just didn't like it well enough to buy a bottle. I would probably have a glass if I would go back.

Pink Frosting which is a sweet rose peaches and apple notes. It was actually the best I tasted but I won't drink a whole bottle. It would be another one that I might have a glass of if I came back with a group.

Door 44 was not my favorite winery on the Door County Wine Trail. My cousins and Andrea said the same thing. However don't let our opinions stop you from trying it. It is a popular winery but just not my style.

7 down, 3 more to go to complete the Door County Wine Trail. Maybe I will get it before I turn 50. 

5844. Go to Jorn’s Sugar Bush in Egg Harbor

 One of the random places I had left to visit in Door County was Jorn's Sugar Bush. I've seen the faded billboards advertising for the place for years. I've read the articles that say Jorn's Sugar Bush has the best maple syrup and I really wanted to check it out. To be honest, I just wanted to buy some real maple syrup. The hubby is game for the slight deour.

Jorn's Sugar Bush is located on Hwy T just off of Hwy 42 as you are coming into Egg Harbor from the south It is open 10-4 daily. 

Jorn's Sugar Bush is a one man operation. You literally ring the door bell, walk in, turn on the light, and wait for Mr. Jorn to come down to his little store from his house. I felt bad that we stopped because the poor man was on crutches and I made him hobble all the way down to sell me some maple syrup. 

The Store doesn't offer much just some maple syrup in various sizes along with some jellies and cherry pie filling. It is  nothing more than a cinder block shack. However it is the best in Door County.

The hubby stayed in the car while I went in to get some maple syrup. After talking to Mr. Jorn for awhile, I texted the hubby and told him he had to meet the man. He's 98 years young and had stories to tell. He may have repeated the same stories a few times in the short time we were there but what do expect from a nonagenarian. He was very interesting to listen to and well worth the extra time spent buying a quart of maple syrup.

If you haven't been to Jorn's Sugar Bush, stop by the next time you are in Door County. His maple syrup is worth it and so are his stories. I am so glad we stopped and got some real maple syrup. I know we will be back next year. 

5968. Go to the Ludington Tug Boat in Kewaunee

 When planning our annual Door County Cherry run, I gave the hubby a couple options of things to do that we've not done before. I didn't get past option 1 which was the tugboat in Kewaunee. He thought that was a good idea.

Ludington Tug Boat is located in the Kewaunee Harbor. It is open daily 7-3:30 from April 15 to October 15. There is a donation of $5/person to visit. We just parked on the street but there is a parking lot nearby as well. Tours are self-guided.

Ludington Tug Boat was built in 1943 specifically for World War II. The Germans thought tugs were too small to waste torpedoes. It was part of the D-Day operations towing ammunition barges across the English Channel.  After D-Day it spent the rest of the war in Cherbourg France assisting in Harbor Operations.

Climbing aboard Ludington Tug Boat, I turned right and went into the hull of the tug where I saw the galley, engine room, bathroom, and sleeping quarters. By no means was it big or luxurious. We went allow below deck.  

Back topside, I ventured into the wheelhouse.

I did not venture to the front of the ship. 

I won't lie, I was a little afraid exploring the tug by myself. There were ladders to get to the main part of the tug and I wasn't wearing proper footwear. I was afraid of slipping and falling. I am not a huge fan of ladders to begin with. The hubby stayed on dry ground and read about it instead. 

It was definitely worth the $5. I would have liked to have a volunteer there to show you around or answer questions but then again it properly won't be open so much if they did. If you ever find yourself in Kewaunee check out the Ludington Tug Boat which is almost across the street from the giant clock. 

Oh the Places I Went in Summer 2025

Brenda Novak challenged us to another photo contest. Originally I planned on brining my copy of The Summer That Changed Everything with me to Two Rivers in June. Instead I decided to bring it along on any bucket list adventure this summer. I have quite an extensive bucket list. It started with 1000 and morphed into a bucket list, travel guide, to do list. I am just trying to get as many done as possible.

This is where it ended up going this summer. The numbers relate to the number on my bucket list. Click on the link to learn more about each place.

5856. Go to Sisson's Peony Gardens in Rosendale 

5551. Go to the University of Wisconsin Geology Museum in Madison

5544. Go to Dotty Dumpling's Dowry in Madison 

5975. See where Sputnik landed in Manitowoc

5977. Go to Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum in Two Rivers

5976. Go to Rogers Street Fishing Village in Two Rivers

5981. Explore the Washington House in Two Rivers

286. Bike the Old Plank Road Trial near Plymouth

3265. Go to the Minnesota Transportation Museum in St. Paul

305. Go to the EAA Fly In in Oshkosh

Tall Ships in Port Washington -- Okay so this really wasn't a bucket list item per se but I really wanted to see them. 

7608. Have a margarita flight

5979. Go to the Rahr-West Art Museum in Manitowoc

2475. Go to the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend

4233. Go to the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton

7156. Ride in a caboose

7249. See a drone light show

5244. Follow the Marigold Mile in Menasha

7470. Drink in a cornfield

5334. Go to Vande Walle’s Candy in Appleton

2286. Go to the Leaning Tower of Niles

2292. Go to the Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum in Oak Park

2281. Visit Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park

189. Go to the Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, IL

2284. See Al Capone's Grave in Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hillside

7458. Go to Rainbow Cone

2301. Go to the Graue Mill & Museum in Oak Brook

2291. Go to the Schaumburg Sculpture Park in Schaumburg

116. Go to Long Grove

2295. Go to the Sock Monkey Museum in Long Grove

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