A Day Trip to Kenosha and Racine Part One

Lighthouses, Birds and Wildlife, Oh My! is back. The spring and summer hiatus was due to an awesome job change (Community Relations with the American Cancer Society), a fun, super busy summer, and a couple moves from Appleton to Franklin and finally to Oak Creek. The summer was a complete blur, and in the midst of the fast-flying summer, I do know it was a lot of fun and quite memorable. Surprisingly enough, this summer, I was able to squeeze in a day trip to a few lighthouses on Wisconsin's southern coast of Lake Michigan, also known as the cities Racine and Kenosha. Visiting these two cities may not be the most exotic of locations, but the road trip achieved my goal of having a relaxing day at the beach while seeing some lighthouses. 

Kenosha was my first stop of the day, and I started by having lunch at the Boathouse Restaurant. They are known for great food, large menu of Long Islands, and a pleasant view of the marina. I ate lunch in their semi-open-air seating, which gave me a great view of the Kenosha Lighthouse, also known as the Southport Lighthouse.

Boathouse Restaurant

Before I write about the lighthouse, I learned an interesting fact about the city of Kenosha while I was reading about the Kenosha lighthouses. The city of Kenosha was originally called Pike Creek, then Southport in the 1830s, and finally became Kenosha in 1850. It was called Pike Creek because of a stream of water that flows through the city; and it was called Southport since it was the southernmost port for Wisconsin on Lake Michigan.

The first known lighthouse was constructed in the mid to late 1830s, which was an oak tree stump covered with rocks and its light was a fire lit every night by volunteers. It only stood about 10 feet. By 1840, a 24-foot toward was built, and still privately operated by volunteers. In 1847 a government-owned light tower was built, replaced in 1858, and replaced again in 1866 by a cream brick tower that stands today.

The 1866 tower stands 55 feet tall on the north side of Kenosha’s port on Simmons Island. It gets its cream color from bricks made by Milwaukee’s Cream City Brick. As you walk around the conical tower, you will see a door that has the year stamped above it, three windows that provide interior light and a black iron lantern room that is ten-sided. Nearby the tower is the lighthouse keeper’s house in the same cream-colored brick. It was built in 1867, with a red brick addition in 1908. 

By 1906 the Kenosha (Southport) Lighthouse was deactivated due to the building of new pierhead light tower. By 1913, the lantern room was removed and replaced by weather equipment. By the 1950s there were plans to tear it down, but was saved by the City of Kenosha and the Kenosha Historical Society. Finally in the 1990s, a replica lantern room was created and placed back on top of the tower.

One more interesting fact about the Kenosha (Southport) Lighthouse is that it was another Great Lakes lighthouse that had several women as lighthouse keepers. Lorinda and Emma Merrill, a mother-daughter team, tended the light for only a year when their husband/father passed away in 1871. The third woman was Mary DeDiemer who was an assistant keeper from 1872-1906. I personally think it is interesting to read about women serving as lighthouse keepers since it is a more unique occupation for women.

Following my tour of the Kenosha (Southport) Lighthouse grounds (I was unable to tour the museum since it was closed), I walked down to the beach and over to the Kenosha North Pierhead Light. When you are standing on the Kenosha (Southport) Lighthouse and look to the southeast, you can see the red tower. Thank goodness for a beautiful summer day because I enjoyed walking on the beach and soaking in the sunshine. I was surprised by the number of people using the beach on an August Monday. From the beach, I walked out to the Pierhead Light via the concrete pier. The red tower with the black lantern room that was taken from the Kenosha (Southport) Lighthouse in 1913 stands 50 feet tall. As you stare up at the tower, you see a couple porthole windows.

From 1856 to 1906, the harbor saw several pierhead lights come and go as well as several extensions added to the pier. The 1856 light was washed away in a storm four years later. The 1867 light was damaged when a schooner ran into it in 1891. Then the one we see standing today was built in 1906 and originally was white, repainted in 1917.

After snapping a few pictures of the Pierhead Light and watching a couple sailboats float by, I walked along the beach a little bit and then headed to my car to drive north to Racine. I will save my Racine experience for my next entry, which I promise will be sooner rather than later. I did note that if I ever was interested in making a trip to a beach, but didn’t have the time or funds to go to a tropical location, I would go back to the Kenosha beach in a heartbeat. Until next time, take care and talk to you soon!

Hiking High Cliff State Park and Lake Winnebago

To usher in the month of April, I ventured off to High Cliff State Park in Sherwood, Wisconsin, which is located on the northeast tip of Lake Winnebago, to satisfy my urge to do something outside on a sunny 50 degree day. Hiking the various trails in High Cliff seemed appropriate especially since it was cool and the bugs are not out in force yet. I hiked the Red Bird Trail and a portion of the Lime Kiln Trail, approximately 5 miles. These trails take you through woods that traverse the Niagara Escarpment and provides you with panoramic views of Lake Winnebago as well as challenging steep climbs and descents. 

Panoramic view of Lake Winnebago

I also went off trail a little bit and climbed large boulders that exist along the escarpment. The Niagara Escarpment is a long limestone cliff or ridge that spans from Illinois to Wisconsin to Michigan to Ontario and to New York/Niagara Falls. Specific to Wisconsin, it can be predominately enjoyed and witnessed at High Cliff State Park and in Door County. In High Cliff State Park, you can see old lime kiln ruins and quarries.

Lime Kiln Ruins

In addition to hiking the limestone cliffs and woods, you can hike along the shore of Lake Winnebago on a stretch of the Lime Kiln Trail or walk down to the beach. While I was walking along the shoreline/beach, I saw a sailboat floating on the water and a jet ski racing around the shore. Everyone who was in High Cliff State Park or near Lake Winnebago was definitely ready for a warm spring and summer!

 Speaking of Lake Winnebago, there are three more lighthouses I need to share. Several weeks ago I wrote about my day trip with Tanner and Bailey around Lake Winnebago. I started with the Fond du Lac Lighthouse. The next stop on our journey that day was Oshkosh and the Rockwell Lighthouse, a.k.a. Bray’s Lighthouse. This lighthouse is located in a residential neighborhood that backs onto the lake and is privately owned. It looks like it is located in someone’s backyard so I took my pictures from the street. This ornate lighthouse was built in 1909 and stands 42 feet high, which marks the nearby reefs and shallow area. According to Wisconsin’s Lighthouses: A Photographic and Historical Guide, George A. Rockwell designed the lighthouse; while William Bray, a Wisconsin senator, built the lighthouse using Rockwell’s designs and his own funds.

Rockwell Lighthouse

Considering this was a private, residential lighthouse, our stop at the Rockwell Lighthouse was a quick one, just enough time for me to snap a few photographs and back on the road we went. Next stop was the Asylum Bay Lighthouse, also located on the Oshkosh shoreline of Lake Winnebago, marking Asylum Bay. This lighthouse stands on a small island known as Lighthouse Island and Picnic Point, with a wooden bridge connecting the parking lot area to the island. The cream bricked tower stands 24 feet high and has a 7-foot wooden cupola that sits on top. Its purpose was to guide the local fishermen and boats.

Asylum Bay Lighthouse

I found the journey to this lighthouse rather intriguing…a mix of peace and eeriness. As you drive down Sherman Road, you wind through open fields, brush and woods. Off in the distance you see the Winnebago Mental Health Institute and a cemetery, you approach the Asylum Bay Boat Launch, you see families fishing, and then you see the non-operational lighthouse standing tall with an old wooden bridge. I was not sure if I felt relaxed or anxious to leave the area because of the mix of feelings I had…felt like I was going to be visited by a ghost or felt relaxed and at peace. After I finished snapping my pictures, I walked back to my car, and the feeling I had was happiness because I had two cute puppy faces starring at me…see how excited Tanner looks about being on the car ride.

This stop was also a quick stop since there wasn’t a significant area to walk around and sightsee. The next, and last, stop was Neenah and Kimberly Point Park. This time I parked the car, put the leashes on the dogs, and walked with them throughout the park. While walking in the park, playing on the swing set or being dragged by two dogs who are excited to make new friends, a beautiful white lighthouse with two open-air pavilions on either side of it stands as the focal point for the park. The lantern room is showcased with a black iron fence, glass windows and a sailboat weathervane. This 39 ½-foot tall lighthouse was the vision and gift from Helen Kimberly Stuart, one of Neenah’s prominent citizen’s in the 1930s-1940s. It was built in 1945 on the land she preserved for Neenah’s park system. Today it still serves as an active navigation aid with an automatic timed beacon to boaters.

My picture taking of the Neenah Lighthouse was cut a smidge short because Tanner and Bailey were more interested in chasing squirrels or saying hi to everyone who walked by. With this stop as our last, the three of us broke for a little snack and drink. Then we piled back into the car and rode back home. Surprisingly I had two sleepy puppies on my ride back. All in all, a fun afternoon we had on a day trip around Lake Winnebago. So if you are looking for an adventurous day trip, take a cruise around the lake because there are plenty of beaches, parks and fun little stops along the way. Until next time, take care and talk to you soon! 

Happy First Day of Spring!

Happy 1st Day of Spring! What a beautiful, sunny, 70+ degree day to welcome spring for 2012. I do hope this weather is a sign of the type of spring we are going to have this year. It has been amazing! In fact, I have been seeing bright yellow bursts of daffodils and crocuses popping up in everyone's yards along with green grasses becoming a richer color of green. Dad's daffodils opened up to the neighborhood on Sunday, and his tulips are probably going to be making their colorful appearance in the coming weeks. Spring flowers - tulips, daffodils and irises - are my favorite flowers. I simply love their array of colors and shout out that spring is here.

So far these nice days leading up to today have already been filled with fun spring activities such as spring cleaning, walking, biking, learning how to golf, cheering on my favorite teams in the NCAA basketball tourney (Go Badgers and Golden Eagles!), sitting out on Dad's patio, and celebrating my brother's 30th birthday. I am also enjoying the return of the birds to the trees and skies. This morning I woke up to a little bird chirping his heart out, outside my open window. Granted he was chirping at 5:30 a.m., but it was pleasant to listen to. Over the weekend, while sitting on Dad's patio, I heard two cardinals engage in a chirping duel. One would call, and the other would answer, then back and forth, back and forth. I'm not sure who won, but it was pretty fun to listen to. Speaking of cardinals, there was a cardinal at the park where I was practicing golf, and I am confident he was trying to make me miss the ball. As I was preparing for my takeaway and back swing, he would burst out into a loud tweet and coo until I stopped what I was doing. When I would start back up, he would start back up. I did not know cardinals could be so sassy.


One other spring adventure I had recently was a quick little detour to Sheboygan. Last week, on a trip down to my dad's house, I decided to take the scenic route and make a pit stop on the shores of Lake Michigan in Sheboygan. It was a gorgeous day to walk about the lakefront, watch seagulls soar through the air, and walk out  to the Sheboygan Breakwater Lighthouse. The only piece that I wasn't completely prepared for was the 20 degree drop from I-43 to the lakeshore. I should have known better because I am used to the temperature drop in Manitowoc and Two Rivers, which is just 20+ miles north of Sheboygan.


The Sheboygan Breakwater Lighthouse that stands today on the north side of Sheboygan's marina is a 50', red, lanternless, steel tower, built in 1915. This tower is equipped with plastic lens that shines for 9 miles out, has an electric fog signal and modern weather equipment on top it. From the shoreline, I followed the rocky path and concrete pier out to the lighthouse, which is about a 0.6 mile journey round trip. Fortunately the waves were calm so I did not have to worry about getting splashed as I walked out on the concrete pier.

While reading about the Sheboygan Breakwater Lighthouse, I learned there were several lighthouses to come and go in Sheboygan. The first lighthouse built on the Sheboygan shoreline was in 1839 on Sheboygan Point, which was a 30-foot tower and was quickly threatened by erosion due to its rubble stone structure. It was replaced in 1860 with a lighthouse built on the North Point bluff. This lighthouse was a two-story, white keeper's house with a square tower and used until 1904. By 1873, a pierhead light was built to better identify the harbor area. This was a wooden pyramidal tower, which eventually burned in 1880. A new wooden structure was constructed and stood until 1906 when it was replaced by the cast iron tower. Then in 1915, this tower was moved from the pierhead location to the north breakwater, which is now the Sheboygan Breakwater Lighthouse mentioned above.


Prior to the current tower on its current location, an earlier breakwater lighthouse stood. This was a white hexagonal tower with a door on one side. It had a small gallery that circled the hexagonal lantern and large dome that covered the lantern. This earlier breakwater lighthouse served the harbor from 1899 - 1915. 


Hopefully you were able to connect the dots and see how the lighthouses of Sheboygan moved around and were replaced often. Aside from the lighthouses, the shoreline of Sheboygan is very serene with beautiful beaches, several parks, a large marina, numerous quaint shops and restaurants, and most notably the Blue Harbor Resort and Water Park that stands on the south side of the marina. It is definitely a fun little area.

Sheboygan Marina

May you enjoy these lovely spring days and fill them with fun activities...whether it is going for a walk, preparing your gardens, listening to birds in the trees, going on a little day trip adventure, tuning into a spring training baseball game, or simply sitting on the patio soaking in the sunshine. Have a great spring!! Until next time, take care and I will talk to you soon!

Anxious for Springtime!

The weather has been quite a tease this winter especially now as February is ending and the spring months are quickly approaching. The flirtation with 40 degree temps make me anxious for the warmer spring weekends - the first official day of spring is March 20, if anyone is interested. I look forward to observing birds return to Wisconsin from winter migration, lighthouse hopping the coast of Lake Michigan, smelling brats on the grill and Cracker Jack as I welcome back baseball, and try out a new hobby...golf. Surprisingly enough, my spring weekends are rather open, but I know it is only the beginning. Before I know it they will be full, and I will be looking for a free weekend. A few events on the horizon include a trip to visit my cousin's new baby girl in April, driving to the Horicon Marsh to welcome back all of the beautiful birds in mid-May, and tailgating at Miller Park. Now I need to find a weekend for lighthouse hopping the coast of Lake Michigan.


Thinking about spring lighthouse hopping, I am reminded of a day trip I took with my two dogs, Bailey and Tanner, around Lake Winnebago a couple years ago. It was a beautiful, sunny, late spring Saturday, and the dogs and I were a little stir crazy. With the whole day wide open, I loaded up the car with a cooler, their water dishes and leashes, a few snacks, and some maps. Said those two magic words, "Car Ride!", and the pups and I were on the road to our first stop, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Bailey and Tanner, especially Tanner, were in heaven as we drove down to Fond du Lac, then up to Oshkosh, then to Neenah, and finally back home. We made four stops along the 88 miles of Lake Winnebago shoreline so I could photograph the four lighthouses. Lake Winnebago is the largest interior lake in Wisconsin and has a maximum depth of 21 feet.


As I said, first stop: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and Lakeside Park in Fond du Lac. Lakeside Park is a beautiful 400 acre park complete with playgrounds, walking trails, a marina, a yacht club, Fond du Lac harbor, and the 56 feet tall Fond du Lac Lighthouse (a.k.a Lakeside Park Lighthouse). It is a white, octagonal lighthouse that is 12 feet in diameter and has a internal staircase that visitors can climb up to the gallery.

Once standing on the gallery, you do see a gorgeous panoramic view of Lake Winnebago. I, however, did not climb the gallery because I had the dogs with me. They were more focused on chasing down the countless seagulls and greeting every person that walked by. (As a note, taking pictures of lighthouses while holding the leashes of two dogs pulling in opposite directions can be quite a challenge. For whatever reason, they do not have the same objective that I do.) The Fond du Lac Lighthouse was built in 1933, which replaced a red light on a tower. It was saved and restored in 1967 and 1993, respectively.

After taking numerous pictures of the lighthouse and harbor, the dogs and I took a nice long walk through the park. Some park patrons were brave enough to pet my crazy dogs and thought it was cute the three of us were having a day together in the park. Hoping that I exhausted them on a walk, we headed back to the car for a drink of water and figured out our plan to Oshkosh. As Tanner laid down in the back seat, Bailey climbed into the front seat. Wishing she could help me navigate, she just looked at me with a look that said, "so what's the next stop, Mom?" In fact our next stop was Rockwell Lighthouse or Bray's Point Lighthouse in Oshkosh. I will save this story for my next entry.


Hope you are looking forward to spring as much as I am. Until then, take care and talk to you soon!

Dreaming of Some Place Warm

Last night, while watching a college basketball game, all snuggled on the couch under comfy blankets with a fire flickering in the fireplace, a commercial promoting to vacation in Jamaica caught my attention. Suddenly without holding back, I exclaimed out loud, “Yes, please. I’ll go to Jamaica.” Now distracted by Jamaica and traveling to an exotic location, I forgot about the basketball game and began daydreaming about going back to Jamaica. Picture this: warm, white sandy beach, gorgeous turquoise waters, lush green palm trees, hot sun tanning your skin, perfect lounge chair, and a frosty strawberry daiquiri in one hand. Sign me up! Ready to go right now!

After all this daydreaming about Jamaica and wishing I was on a plane headed to this tropical location, I reminisced about my trip to Jamaica and seeing the Negril Lighthouse. This lighthouse is located in Negril, Jamaica, which is on the westernmost tip of the island. Negril is known for its beautiful Seven Mile Beach along with its rugged cliffs and caves. While walking on Seven Mile Beach, you can see Negril Lighthouse off in the distance flashing its white light every couple seconds.

 Negril Lighthouse stands 65 feet tall on a cliff. It is a white, conical concrete structure with a silver framed lantern and gallery, built in 1894. According to some research, I learned that it is reinforced at the base by a 14-feet tank filled with water so it can withstand an earthquake.

To see the lighthouse close up rather than while sitting on the beach, I took a bus trip from the resort to the lighthouse grounds. However, when I got there the entrance was locked so I could not go onto the grounds. I was still able to snap some pictures from the road. While I was snapping away, a local islander approached me and said that for a couple of dollars he would take my camera and take some pictures for me. Feeling a slightly nervous but excited to get closer pictures, I handed over my camera, watched him disappear onto the grounds and hope he would return. After a nerve-racking five minutes, he returned with some gorgeous pictures. I was very pleased with his assistance. 

In addition to his assistance, I also was able to capture the Negril Lighthouse from the water by taking a catamaran cruise. The view from the catamaran was breath-taking because I could see all of the cliffs, caves, and curves of the point, along with the lighthouse standing tall and strong.

Viewing the Negril Lighthouse was one of my highlights from the trip to Jamaica. Other fun moments included walking to Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, lounging on the beach, floating in the turquoise waters, snorkeling several times (I saw a sea turtle while snorkeling), and observing golden pink sunsets. Oh, how I look forward to going back there someday!

Until next time, dream warm thoughts, picture your happy place of beaches and sun, take care, and talk to you soon.

Lighthouse Hop #5: Eagle Bluff Lighthouse and Peninsula State Park

I do hope that your holiday season and start of the New Year have been good to you. My family Christmas parties were just what I needed to close out the year, and my New Year has been off to a quiet start. One project that I was able to complete over my Christmas break was printing pictures, including the ones I took during my family's Door County trip. As I looked at all of the Door County photos, I realized I should finish my last lighthouse hop entry. Aside from the images of the lighthouses and the water, one of my favorite aspects of my Door County photos are the rich blue skies that provide a calming backdrop...makes me long for warm spring and summer days.

On the Saturday of my family's Door County trip, we started the day enjoying breakfast at Al Johnson's in Sister Bay. While waiting for our name to be called, the four of us observed the goats basking in the sun on the grassy roof. It is quite the sight to watch the goats and watch all of the people who come to look at them. One goat in particular enjoyed resting his head on a wood railing while he watched the cars drive by on the street below. In addition to flocking to the restaurant to see goats on the roof, I highly recommend their Swedish pancakes with lingonberries or any one of their soups. YUMMY!

Following breakfast, we drove back through Ephraim and into Fish Creek to tour Peninsula State Park and the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse. While driving from Ephraim to Fish Creek, I learned that you can access Peninsula State Park from both cities, and if you drive through the park, you can start in one city and end in the other one. After reading more about Peninsula State Park, one of Wisconsin's largest parks, I also learned that it is nearly 3,800 acres complete with forests, cliffs, wetlands, meadows, camping sites, and hiking trails. The four of us opted for a driving tour of the park in essence of time, but we all agreed we would hike or bike the park next time we would visit since there is so much to see and do in the park. As we drove through the park, we were able to stop at several lookout points to overlook the water, as well as the Strawberry, Horseshoe and Chambers Islands. I definitely enjoyed the beautiful, serene views.

Located at the northeast corner of the park, Eagle Bluff Lighthouse stands 43 feet tall, on the edge of a limestone bluff, lighting the area of the bay of Green Bay. Eagle Bluff lighthouse is a yellow-colored brick structure with a stunning red roof, green shutters, white trim, a square tour, and a decagonal lantern with a red roof. It was built in 1868, had three lighthouse keepers, and is currently a museum. As you tour the lighthouse, you walk through a family room, parlor, bedrooms, a music room, laundry rooms, and a beautiful ornamental iron spiral staircase connecting the basement to the lantern. Outside on the grounds of the lighthouse stands the outhouse and fuel storage building along with a 1,000 pound anchor from the schooner "Oak Leaf" that sank in Sturgeon Bay in 1926. Be sure to also enjoy the overlook of the bay of Green Bay at the edge of the cliff wall.

Continuing our tour of Peninsula State Park, we stopped at the Eagle Tower and Panorama. This area allows you gain perspective of the Door County islands and west coast of the peninsula. The Eagle Tour stands 75 feet high...250 feet about Green Bay. Of course, we had to climb the rickety structure...oh, what one will do for the perfect picture. (If you know me, I am not a fan of heights so this was a challenge for me.) As you reach the top, soak in the views of the islands, the village of Ephraim and the coast. Not mention, if you are daring, look over the side to see how high up you are and find your car parked down below.....eeeeeeck!

After accomplishing the climb to the top, it was time for a reward - ice cream at Not Licked Yet and a little shopping in downtown Fish Creek. Then it was time for dinner at Greenwood's Supper Club and haunted pub crawling.

This concludes my Door County Lighthouse Hopping Trip until I go back to tour the lighthouses on the islands sometime this spring/summer. Hope you enjoyed "touring" the lighthouses with me and are inspired to make your own trip to Door County. I cannot wait to return and see what other adventures I can come across.

Until next time, take care and talk to you soon!