My go-to source for researching travel accommodations is always Trip Advisor, and I have never been disappointed. The key to success is choosing the accommodation in your price range and desired location with the highest ratings and the most positive reviews written by REAL people. Has the reviewer written only one review EVER (or very few reviews that are all glowing and gushing with raves)? Chances are they were offered some sort of incentive—or, they are friends or relatives of the owner of the establishment. That’s a Trip Advisor no-no. I look to see how many reviews a Trip Advisor member has written and how many helpful votes those reviews have received, and then concentrate on what the most experienced reviewers have to say. (For comparison, I’ve written 102 reviews and have received 100 helpful votes; however, there are many reviewers who have written a lot more.)
Once again, my research paid off when I booked a room at the Holiday Music Motel in Sturgeon Bay for our three-night stay. As soon as we entered the parking lot, we knew it was going to be a cool place—at least if their garden was any indication.
Entering the lobby, it felt like a blast from the past. I’ll let the pictures tell the story, but if you want to get the full details, check out my Trip Advisor review.
The tree was loaded with music-themed ornaments, and there were a bunch of instruments in the corner.
Cool postcard!
Continental breakfast was included, so we went behind the counter to grab some cereal and juice to enjoy at the cute little dinette table.
Love the phone booth!
Our very comfortable upstairs room was much larger than what appears in the photo.
Note the drawer contents containing a “bible” (see below) and complete lyrics to “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall.”
This is my kind of bible!
After checking in, we drove up the east coast of Door County’s peninsula to Cave Point County Park on Lake Michigan. What a gorgeous place! The hiking trails through the woods along the lime-stone cliffs were stunning. Although it started to rain, we kept on hiking, because we wanted to see more and more.
A nice surprise was this rocky beach and seeing the creations made by industrious (and patient!) visitors who passed through. It reminded us of the beach in Stanley Park, Vancouver, where we had first seen rock sculptures of this kind.
Our next stop was at Baileys Harbor for a walk around the marina before heading across the peninsula to Fish Creek where I had made dinner reservations for a Traditional Door County Fish Boil at the White Gull Inn.
Baileys Harbor
By now, we had really worked up an appetite after our very full day. Between our tour of Lambeau Field in Green Bay, the drive to Sturgeon Bay to check into our motel, our hike around Cave Point, and walks around Baileys Harbor and Fish Creek; the all-you-can-eat fish boil (not fried!) sounded GREAT!
We were NOT disappointed.
Fish oils rise to the surface of the boiling cauldron, and when the fish is perfectly done, the Master Boiler tosses a small amount of kerosene on the flames under the pot.
The great burst of flames causes the boilover, spilling the fish oils over the side of the pot and leaving the fish perfectly done, steaming hot and ready to serve.
Count me in as one of the 758 Trip Advisor reviewers who gave the White Gull Inn the top rating.
Just when I thought the day and evening couldn’t get any better, we were greeted by this gorgeous sunset as we left the White Gull Inn and took a stroll to nearby Sunset Beach Park:
Coming up next: EGG HARBOR, PENINSULA STATE PARK, AND SISTER BAY (“BRING IN DA GOATS!”)
Elaine-iaK's Travels: A Traveler's Tales of People, Places, Photos, Pools... and CHOCOLATE! 