Door County - autumn colors and blue waters





A fall weekend getaway took us to Door County (Wisconsin's peninsula jutting into Lake Michigan).
Here at the tip of the peninsula, a ferry takes cars and people to nearby Washington Island.




Door County is dotted with quaint little tourist towns - in this case Gills Rock with its Scandanavian gift shop.




We saw lots of beautiful fall color during our drive from Madison. Near the coast the leaves were only just starting to change. Here we found a splash of color from one tree at Ellison Bluff.





Ellison Bluff itself, from the dramatic lookout.




Walking along the shoreline at Newport State Park, where we backpacked in (if only a mile) to spend the night.




Calm water at Europe Lake.




Moon rising as we finished our walk.




Another walk in Newport State Park the next morning - a seagull floats over the bay.




Amanda on the rocky shore of Newport Bay.  




For brunch we stopped at a restaurant in Sister Bay famous for (1) Swedish pancakes with lingonberry jam, and (2) goats on the grassy roof.




From Ephraim, looking across Eagle Harbor at the colorful bluffs of Peninsula State Park.  Note the tower...




On our way up that tower - Amanda with multi-colored leaves and the blue water of Green Bay.




From the top of the tower - dazzling color and landscape.




Looking in the opposite direction from the tower.




The last stop on our tour was Whitefish Dunes State Park.  We walked along the sandy beach, then climbed into the dunes.




A curious mix of vegetation made its home on the sandy terrain.




Driving back toward Green Bay on our way back to Madison, we were treated to a brilliantly pink sunset.