The tour will begin at Capital Brewery in Middleton, Wis. It is here you will begin the search for gold -- the color of the harvest, the color of Washington Island wheat.
From Middleton you will head northeast across rolling farmland and remnant prairies. Along the way you will come to Fountain Prairie Inn and Farm. Your hosts, John & Dorothy Priske will provide a sandwich lunch buffet using foods grown and produced in the Columbus area. John & Dorothy will also answer all your questions about their sustainable family farm with grass-fed Highland beef and restored tall grass prairie and wetlands. You will spend the evening in Beaver Dam.
East of Beaver Dam you will touch the southern tip of the Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area, the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States. The marsh is designated a “Wetland of International Importance” because it is a habitat for endangered species and a rest stop for migrating ducks and Canada geese. Further east you will enjoy the beauty of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. We will overnight in picturesque Port Washington and enjoy taking in the expanse of Lake Michigan.
Morning will find you heading north alternating between rolling farmland, welcoming small towns and the spectacular Lake Michigan shoreline. Take time to visit Kohler-Andrae State Park where you can see majestic sand dunes and miles of golden beach in one of the last natural preserves along Lake Michigan. From there you will head north to Manitowoc which is rich in shipbuilding history. We will overnight in Two Rivers, home of the ice cream sundae.
Day four will find you following the Lake Michigan shoreline through some more great Wisconsin towns. Ironically, you will “find” yourself in the charming harbor town of Kewaunee, a town that got its name from a Potawanomi term meaning “we are lost,” where you can visit the Marquette Historical District. Next you will visit Algoma which is known for its sport fishing and is called the “salmon and trout capital of the Midwest.” You can tour the historic von Stiehl Winery and visit the Art Dettman Fish Shanty - a remnant from the 1920’s. From there, you head north to Sturgeon Bay which you will find a welcoming host town for the evening.
On day five you will exit Sturgeon Bay, called the doorway to Door County, and see what the rest of the county has to offer. It will be a day of charming port towns and beautiful shoreline. You can explore the beautiful Whitefish Dunes State Park and the breathtaking Cave Point County Park. You will join the Capital Brewery delivery truck at the northern tip of the county to board the ferry and head to Washington Island for an evening of celebration.
Saturday you will have time to bike around the island, walk on the beach and enjoy the Harvest Fest celebration in the afternoon. You can head back to Middleton on the Saturday night transport or stay overnight and leave on Sunday Morning.
