Our new community is filled with variety. This page shows some of the area "attractions" and some of the simple pleasures that we appreciate.
Many of these images are available in notecards and prints from QuietGiants.com

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Sturgeon Bay is a wonderful small town of 9,000 people located in Door County, WI. Big enough to have a Target Store, but not big enough for a Home Depot (have to travel to Green Bay for that). We are within a short four block walk from downtown - the bank, post office, department store and restaurants are all a pleasant stroll down the sidewalk.

Our home is situated right across the street from the ship channel where we can see large ore boats traveling to and from the shipyards to be repaired. Sturgeon Bay has the largest crane on the Great Lakes and used to be a major ship building town during World War II. The channel runs east and west cutting across Door County between Lake Michigan and the Bay of Green Bay.

Winter sees many oreboats coming in for repairs in the off-season. The photo below shows such a boat (some up to 1,000 feet long) docked waiting for repairs in a staging area.
This is a panoramic view of the bay from the new city park located one block from our house. They are redoing an old shipyard to make a new marina, park, pavilion, public space, artists' lofts and condo/residential area. Below is the "new bridge" (now about 20 years old) to the south of us on the bay.
(left) A view of the old bridge from the walkway along side the bay on the downtown side of the bridge.

We found a nice new lunch spot (Stone Harbor) on the east end of the bridge (our side). You can sit on the patio and have a nice view of the old bridge (which they are fighting to keep with plans for a new downtown bridge in the works).

The old bridge is really interesting in its structure and would be a sorely missed icon if it is removed. The gears are massive. If you get a chance, walk onto the bridge around the top of the hour and watch it open up.

Below you can see one of the horse carriages whose route takes them clomping right past our front porch (our favorite place to sit and sip and chat).

I have posted a page of Door County sunsets, too. Check out the breathtakingly beautiful and ever-changing art that we are treated to most evenings.
(left) Sturgeon Bay is home to the largest crane on the Great Lakes. (below) The old stone quarry. This was a major source of large flat rock for piers located around the Great Lakes.
(above) The clubhouse at the new Marina a half block from our house. (That doesn't mean we get to use it, but it does class up the neighborhood a bit.)
At the west end of the old steel bridge is the world's most stunning Applebee's restaurant. The food is actually pretty good and the views are incredible!
(left) I was walking to the old bridge to shoot the sunset and came upon hundreds of seagulls sitting on the undeveloped marina dirt. I don't know if they do this every night, but I have never seen so many seagulls in one place in my entire life. Below is the flock as they launched into the evening sky.
(left) An ore ship makes its way through the bay.

On the right, is one of the "weed-eaters" that are constantly removing weeds from the Bay and ship channel.
Door County offers a bountiful harvest of old barns and picturesque countryside - these photos were taken just a few miles north of Sturgeon Bay.
(above) This farm is right across the street from our grocery store - just four miles from our house. Talk about your food being "farm fresh!"
From 1950s vintage motels (for sale if you are looking for a project) to turn of the century homesteads that have been converted to bed and breakfasts, Sturgeon Bay has many interesting lodging possibilities.

(below left) 4th of July fireworks as seen over the shipyard.

(near left) The Pub at the Inn at Cedar Crossing is our favorite place to have a beer, glass of wine and a light meal. This is a smoke-free pub (rare in Wisconsin) and has good food served in the atmosphere of an small English pub.
Like many cities, Sturgeon Bay has sidewalk art based on an appropriate animal (fish in our case). Every year a new batch of fiberglas sturgeons are decorated by local artists, displayed for the summer and auctioned off to raise money for local charities.
From sunrise (above) to sunset (left), the concrete expanse of the Bayview Bridge provides a striking focalpoint on the bay.
(above) many communities complain of having "White Trash" (ie. those who inhabit trailer parks).
Sure, Sturgeon Bay has those, too, but our biggest plight is the "White Cash."
Speaking of cash - Palmer Johnson is world renowned for building luxury yachts. These babies sell for upwards of forty million dollars!

(below left) Part of the massive lift bridge mechanism.

(below) Every Sunday night though the summer months, this barn in Fish Creek hosts "Fishstock" and has bands. It's a throwback to the sixties and seventies big time. Lots of fun.
A great concert venue!
At night the town is quiet but well lit. Third Avenue (which turns into Memorial Drive - where we live) is a typical small town main street with interesting turn-of-the-century buildings - lots of character.
If you're ever board in Door County, just grab your camera and hop in your car and head to the country to explore. Get lost - all roads will eventually bring you back to the highway (or into the lake). One of my favorite activities is a barn photo safari.