As they burst against the rocky ledge on which I was standing, the waves of Lake Michigan sent forth a refreshing mist to my skin. Here at Door County’s Cave Point County Park, though it was a warm day in June, with the help of the breeze on this eastern side of the peninsula, my husband, dogs, and I were fairly comfortable.
I returned to the rocky but flat trail that parallels the edge and offers incredible views of the water. Along the way behind and ahead, our dogs, Elsa and Ana, easily jumped the couple of downed trees across the path, while getting over them was more awkward for us. At the half-mile border with Whitefish Dunes State Park, we were tired enough to turn around.
Cave Point County Park delighted my husband and me from the very start; it is a part of our love for Door County and something we never miss.
Caves sculpted by the waves—and the picnic area’s lookout point to view the largest cave—give the park its name. Kayak tours bring paddlers close to smaller caves all along the shoreline—some which can be seen from points along the trail.
Viewed from the platform at Cave PointThis picture symbolizes my faith. I am the tree. My roots cling to Jesus, who is my Rock.
The force of the water has sculpted rugged splendor, but it’s easy to forget that erosion has unfortunate effects for the shoreline. It dissolves the soil and exposes the roots of the trees and other plants that grow there. Twisted trees along the trail are interesting, adaptive, and beautiful, but they are clinging for life to whatever solid ground their roots can find. The waves will slowly eat away at their lifeline.
The waves of our lives are no different: they hit us, often unexpectedly, and even a gentle impact can weaken us and eat away at our emotional core. Thankfully, there is a Rock that will never dissolve away. Faith enables us to stand up to the forces against us. If we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, His strength enables us to grow roots and stand on solid ground. He is our solid foundation. The only impenetrable rock is Jesus.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield ,and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:2 NIV)
What strategies do you use to maintain your health and well-being?
I begin my day with exercise, but more significantly and eternally, I begin with God.
As I warm up on my stationary bike, I read several Christian devotionals that convey what I need to hear, comfort me, help me make a decision, or just remind me of God’s love.
I wrap up my fitness routine with prayer on a short walk outside. I express my appreciation to God for the nature around me and for many other blessings, like the ability to move my body and eat healthy foods.
God is in control. At all times, when I release my anxieties and concerns to him and remind myself of all the ways that he has guided me and blessed me, and when I read his Word, I am filled with peace. And peace is necessary for well-being.
Door County is a peninsula in eastern Wisconsin that separates Green Bay from Lake Michigan. While the origin of the name is “Death’s Door”, due to the treacherous waters around its tip, it is more truly a door to life and wonder—to outdoor adventures, natural beauty, charming towns, famous fish boils, and Scandinavian and maritime history.
This is the introductory, first post in a series about this cherished and frequent destination for me, my husband, Mitch, and our dogs.
View from the lookout at Ellison Bay Natural Area
The gateway to this spectacular peninsula begins just over the bridge from Green Bay, Wisconsin, at Sturgeon Bay—the largest municipality and one that is rare in having chain stores, chain restaurants, and stoplights.
The picturesque towns along the shores as you travel north give this area a sweet reputation as the Cape Cod of the Midwest. The harbors, inns, and unique small shops and restaurants often face the oceanlike views of Green Bay. One of our favorite towns is Sister Bay, which among its many assets has a park that is perfect for lakefront sunsets that we enjoy with our dogs on many evenings.
Sunset from Sister Bay
My husband and I first visited and fell in love with this place in June of 2022. We have returned three times since, and we have another planned stay in our travel trailer in September 2025. Our campground home is in Ellison Bay at Hyland Court RV Park, just north of Sister Bay. It is this region that calls us back to Door County at least once a year.
The possibilities for exploring nature keep us in anticipation of the next visit—for both the familiar and the not-yet familiar.
Favorite places:
Newport State Park in Ellison Bay. We have never seen this area to be overly busy, even in the summer. Many of the hiking trails are easy. It is designated as a Dark Sky area for stargazing and possible viewing of the Northern Lights.
Newport is the only public beach that allows dogs.
Elsa at Newport State Park BeachAna at Newport
Sand Bay Town Park and Beach in Liberty Grove. This is a less-populated, lesser-known, and smaller beach for swimming and launching a kayak on the Lake Michigan side. A hidden gem
Back roads ideal for bicycling. Door County can be hilly; the mild assistance from my e-bike certainly helped tackle the short ascents.
Garrett Bay, where the clear waters cover the shipwreck of the Fleetwing submerged at about twenty-five feet. It may be possible to see it while kayaking or even swimming, as it is not far from the shore.
Ellison Bay Natural Area. The sunset is gorgeous from the high overlook. Hiking trails wind through the forest.
Europe Lake. In the same township, the serene inland Europe Lake offers calm waters for kayaking. Bonus: On our drive from Newport Beach to Europe Lake, we found Uncle Tom’s Candy Store. This place is highly worthy of a stop. Chocolates and other candies, special popcorn, jams, and salad dressings are among the homemade goods for sale.
Cave Point County Park*. This is our never-missed destination for cooling breezes and misty sprays as waves pound the bluffs along the trail. My next post will focus on this gem.
Other wonderful stops in Door County include Peninsula State Park, various lighthouses that include Cana Island, and Whitefish Dunes State Park. TIP: Cave Point County Park is free, while Whitefish Dunes–like all of the state parks–incurs a fee. These are adjacent, and if you begin in Cave Point and continue on the trail into the state park, you can avoid the fee; however, consider the distance.
Daytime view of Green Bay from Ellison Bay Natural AreaCave Point County Park
Still on my to-do list is Washington Island. The ferry takes off from Gill’s Rock, which also offers an interesting shipwreck museum. I hope to experience the island on my e-bike on my forthcoming return to Door County. Reader, if you are only there for the weekend, research and consider whether the island will be worth the time on the ferry.
Friends, Door County invites you to experience the wonder and pleasure of God’s creation; however, there is another Door that is even grander. It is one that is always open for every person and invites us to connect with God through Jesus.
Matthew 7:7-8 says: 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
View of Sand Bay Beach from my kayak.I paddle at Sand Bay on the Lake Michigan side in Liberty Grove Township.
Various pictures around the peninsula:
Delicious fish boil in Ephraim at The Old Post Office. It was wrapped up perfectly with cherry pie.
A rocky and hidden gem at the end of a road in Ellison Bay. It pays to talk to the locals!Mitch and me at the harbor at Sister Bay.
Campground pictures at Hyland Court RV Park in Ellison Bay:
Truth in my Travels 