HOW DOES ONE EVEN BEGIN to describe the glory of an autumn landscape?
A view from the Eagle Panorama overlook in Peninsula State Park where you can see Horseshoe, Strawberry and Chambers Islands, Welcker’s Point and the Upper Michigan shoreline.
Peninsula State Park in Fish Creek in Door County, Wisconsin, shows us what words can never summarize. Natural blazing beauty beyond belief.
My husband, Randy, and me at Eagle Panorama. Yes, Randy is wearing the shell of his winter coat over a heavy hooded sweatshirt. I was not smart enough to bring along my winter coat or a hat. Photo by Miranda Helbling.
My husband, Randy, with our daughter Miranda, who has lived and worked as a Spanish medical interpreter in Appleton, Wisconsin, an hour south and west of Door County, for nearly two years. This image was shot at Eagle Panorama.
My husband, Randy, daughter Miranda and I toured northeastern Wisconsin’s scenic peninsula on Thursday when fall colors were at their prime.
Except for the raging wind blasting us from Green Bay on the west side and, later, Lake Michigan on the east, we savored the day. How could we not, with colors this stunning, these from Peninsula State Park?
Treetop view from Eagle Tower. Photo by Randy Helbling because I would not climb the 75-foot tall tower which rises 225 feet above the shoreline. You can barely see Shore Road, bottom right, the road we drove through the park.
See me standing down there waving at my daughter atop 75-foot Eagle Tower? Photo by Miranda Helbling.
If I wasn’t afraid of heights, I could have seen this view from Eagle Tower shot by my husband, Randy. The road on the left is Shore Road, the route we took through Peninsula State Park.
Eagle Tower, built in 1914 as a forest fire observation platform, offers a scenic view of Green Bay and beyond. Photo by Randy Helbling.
Horseshoe Island as seen from Eagle Panorama, not to be confused with Eagle Tower.
The Eagle Bluff lighthouse, built in 1868 and on the Wisconsin State Register of Historic Places. Door County is home to 11 lighthouses. No, we did not tour any and saw only this one.
Remember my earlier mention of the wind? Well, these waves on Green Bay show you just how windy it was on Thursday morning when a wind advisory was in affect for Door County. I believe winds were around 25 – 30 mph.
Near the pier in Peninsula State Park.
Do not let this illusion of calm waters fool you. We did not walk very far onto the pier because of the fierce wind.
It’s a scenic drive along Shore Road through Peninsula State Park in Fish Creek.
HAVE YOU VISITED Door County? If so, what were the highlights of your trip?
CHECK BACK for additional posts of Door County.
© Copyright 2012 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Favorite picture is the last one!!! Love that!!! We took a trip to Door County probably 20 years ago and I have great memories of it. The boys were little and it was a magical trip for us for some reason!!! Lovely place and lovely pictures as always!
Well, I can’t take credit for all of the photos this time since I didn’t climb Eagle Tower. But thank you anyway. I wondered if this was a place that kids would enjoy given all the little shops which are so much a part of Door County. I’ll give an overview of this tourist destination in an upcoming post.
We love, love, love Door County…..both sides of the peninsula. Went to a dinner/theater on the lake side and never laughed so much! Super terrific food but the production was hilarious! Not sure if it was supposed to be quite that funny but the acting was so “campy” that it came off that way. Huge room….large enough to accommodate the several coach buses filled with peeps plus others!!!! Don’t remember the name. The drive towards Washington Island is my fave when the colors are like the ones you picture—-the trees totally “canopy” the narrow road…..awesome!!!! Those pictures are great…..you do make me chilly, though, standing next to Randy!!! Miranda is definitely her mother’s daughter!!!! Hugs, D
It’s interesting to me how the two sides of the peninsula are so different with the western side more developed than the eastern side. We definitely need to return and perhaps spend a night in Door County since we only saw a minimal of what we could see and do there.
There is so much that doesn’t cost an “arm and a leg”, too! Enjoy both sides of the land piece very much. Almost a feeling of desolation on the Eastern side.
That’s the thing I most noticed about Door County, that distinct difference b/n the east and west side.
The “Bay” side has the park areas, marinas and upscale shops that so appeal to tourists but the lake side is more ‘up our alley’ for exploring, etc. The Fall colors are so awesome there!!!! (more so on the Bay side, though!)
You are right on that the Bay side definitely has the better fall colors. We noticed that, too.
what an incredible, enchanting and brilliant day.. such colour.. you are right.. and what were you thinking going out without your warmie!! and your daughter has inherited your eye, her photos are lovely as are yours.. what a day.. c
What was I thinking? I was not thinking temps in the 40s and with the wind, even lower.
Yes, Miranda definitely has an eye for photography and Randy did quite well, too.
What great Fall pictures in Door County. A friend was married there, but we were unable to attend the wedding. Winconsites rave about Door County!
Door County is most definitely worth raving about. Wisconsin is such a beautiful state, at least all parts that I have seen.
Well as you know we were there just a few weeks ago….not quite prime colors then but it looks like you hit the nail on the head. We never went into Pennisula state park, but drove past it several times….so much to see, so little time. We did enjoy the Cana Island lighthouse, and Cave point county park. Your pictures are beautiful, thanks for showing us the things we missed 🙂
You are welcome, Jackie. And I feel the same way about “so much to see, so little time.” Ours was only a day trip, meaning we missed a lot and had to keep moving along at a rather rapid pace.
The Colors are AMAZING – What a Beautiful Place to Explore – loving your photos – thanks for sharing! Happy Tuesday:)
Amazing would be an appropriate adjective to describe the fall colors in Door County. Glad you enjoyed the pix.
What fun to read and see the photos. It was nice to be able to say, we’ve been there to all of them. How lucky we are to have family live there so we get to go visit regularly. Jon and I went with the girls for a long fall weekend years ago and I agree that the colors are truly amazing. Thanks for reviving the memories!
You’re welcome. We drove through Sturgeon Bay, but didn’t really check it out as we were on our way back to Appleton. Next time.
Several times, Marilyn and Joyce have come for a “girl’s retreat” and our destination was Door Co. We had a blast besides all the scenery, the people are very friendly. Glad you got there, even for a day.
That’s right; I’ve heard about your girls’ excursions to Door County. We stopped in Wautoma Thursday afternoon en route to Appleton. Since you were at work, I assume, we didn’t try to touch base. On our drive through Sunday afternoon, we were tired and just ready to get home.
Gorgeous photos of my favorite time of year. Fall color is more … well… subtle … in Texas, where I currently live. You’ve shown me one more place I need to try to see when I’m up north.
The colors were unbelievable.
Ahhh I was just in Door County this past weekend and the colors were spectacular. I have my own pictures from the top of Eagle Tower.
I wish I’d found your blog before we went to Door County. Just checked it out and you have some great info out there. Next time.
I have yet to get to Door County. Such lovely images. My best friend goes there every year. I know that you can get great flavored olive oil in Fish Creek. (Ok, I think it’s Fish Creek.)
Yes, there’s a Fish Creek and you can get flavored olive oil in many of the towns. I’ll have another post online tomorrow with additional photos and info from Door County.
Also want to add that salmon fishing is excellent. My husband and I have been out twice and have brought home lots of salmon. (Which I don’t care for, I prefer walleye). So if you don’t like to fish and he does, send the guys off and you go to the wineries.
Fish or wine. Fish or wine. Maybe some wine with your fish.
These are nothing short of DIVINE! Thank you for taking me, in a way, along on the journey.
Thank you and you are most welcome, Emily. So many times you’ve taken me on lovely journeys through your camera lens. Just returning the favor.
Marvelous! I’ve been to Door County once, about 15 years ago. So beautiful. I wish I could go again – and your photos are marvelous! I do wish you’d climbed the tower, though! Darn.
Oh, Gretchen, Gretchen. I am terrified of heights. So I called in the reserves to take photos and I’m quite happy with the results.
I am glad you’re happy…I’m just sad for you that you missed out on seeing the view from the top yourself! Too long on the prairie, my friend… 🙂
Never too long on the prairie. But you are right. I am a flatlander. There are times even when trees become too dense and I need to see open space.
It’s funny how we are prone to love that which we grew up with, isn’t it? It becomes a part of us. Part of our spirit.
Precisely. I will always be rooted in the Minnesota Prairie.