Great Lakes Boating

JULY 2022 | GREAT LAKES BOATING 17 www.GreatLakesBoating.com that is incredible (especially when the sky is that romantic sunset shade of bronze and pink). My first step onto Door County ground was in Sturgeon Bay outside of Sonny's Italian Kitchen & Pizzeria. This place was a great introductory taste of the county, let me tell you. I was fortunate enough to try the lobster ravioli. The pasta was perfectly tender with bites of succulent lobster and juicy shrimp. I also got a mouthwatering bite of the linguine po- modoro with flavorful cuts of chicken breast, tomatoes, basil and fresh mozzarella. The rigatoni with porcini mushroom cream sauce was oh-so decadent, and the pesto and tomato pizza was absolute perfection. I've sampled my fair share of authentic Italian cuisine. This was some of the best I've ever tasted. After such a magnificent feast, I was ready to declare myself an honorary new member of the community. I took a short walk to the water's edge outside the restaurant and drank in the setting sun. It had been quite a day. Now it was time to make my way to my lodgings in Bailey's Harbor for a good night's sleep. BAILEY'S HARBOR, THURSDAY NIGHT I stayed at the Bailey's Harbor Yacht Club Resort, a year- round waterfront resort situated between the rustle of for- ested trees on one side and lapping waters on the other. My immediate reaction upon opening the door to my room was surprise and excitement. The room was massive yet delight- fully cozy at the same time. I knew I was going to enjoy my stay here. I took full advantage of the amenities available in my suite, starting with the jet tub in the corner. This made the best private hot tub you can imagine. I was definitely ready for a good night's sleep. The king-size bed was very inviting. I knew the only thing that would make the setting even more perfect would be to let in a little bay breeze through the balcony door. Folks, don't try this at home. I really got to know the hospitality of the people from Door County at a whole new level when I went searching for the balcony light, in the dark of course, and somehow managed to find the fire alarm instead. In my defense, it was located very close to the actual light switch. Talk about a class act. Even after waking up a host of volunteer firefighters and the hotel manager (not to mention all the sleeping guests in my building), I was still treated with the utmost respect and kindness and even a follow-up phone call the next morning to see how I was doing. I got the best sleep of my life. My bed was extremely com- fortable. If you're ever looking for a place to stay in Door County, I highly recommend the Bailey's Harbor Yacht Club Resort. ELLISON BAY AND GILLS ROCK, FRIDAY MORNING Friday morning dawned with perfect weather. This made for a very pleasant and scenic drive to Ellison Bay near the top of the peninsula. My tour group made our way to Kick Ash Coffee and Door County Love Granola for a tour of their facility. The stunning Kick Ash building with its beautiful arched ceilings of curved wood paneling is a sight to behold. The historic structure was originally a Lutheran church. While this may seem like an unusual setting for a coffee distribution plant and storefront, the setup totally works. Photo by John Nienhuis/Destination Door County Photos by Kick Ash Coffee and Granola

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