Door County Family Vacation: Part 2- Washington & Rock Islands

One of our day trips involved an excursion to Washington Island and Rock Island, and an excursion it was!!  Both islands are located off the northernmost point of Door Peninsula, across Death's Door, or the strait between Green Bay and Lake Michigan.  There is no causeway or bridge, so the only access to both islands is by boat.  The ferry departure times were still running on spring schedule (apparently the high tourist season does not start until late June in Door), which made catching 2 different ferries on 4 trips within a matter of a few hours VERY difficult.  The weather was a little unpredictable too, with off and on rain showers and t-storms throughout the day.  Despite some confusion and missing the first ferry by literally 1 minute, the day turned out pretty well.  We added a couple of new lighthouses to our list and no one was lost at sea in Porte des Morts on the boat rides!

Loaded car ferry bound for Washington Island

Foggy view of Plum Island Lighthouse and old Coast Guard Station

After the 30 minute (7 mile) ride to Washington Island, we had to pile into one car to book it across the 5-mile island to the dock for the ferry to Rock Island State Park.  We made it just in time! 

Boarding the Karfi, the passenger-only ferry to Rock Island State Park

Most remote Wisconsin State Park, two ferries later!

Once we arrived on Rock Island, the sun started to come out!  We had a 1 mile walk through the woods to the Potawatomie Lighthouse, followed by a very nice tour from the lighthouse volunteers stationed there.  Since the lighthouse is rather remote, volunteers take turns staying at the lighthouse for the week to welcome guests and provide tours of the building.  Potawatomie is the oldest lighthouse in Door County, built in 1836.  It's hard to imagine being the light keeper in what would have been such a remote place back then.

 Interesting gateway to Rock Island

 Potawatomie Lighthouse, Rock Island State Park

View from the tower- I can see UP Michigan (and the Eastern Time Zone) from here!

Wealthy inventor Chester Thordarson owned Rock Island from 1910 until the 1960s when his heirs sold the island to Wisconsin DNR. Thordarson built this elaborate Icelandic boathouse for entertaining guests.

 

Inside the boathouse

After hiking back to the boathouse, we caught our return trip on the Karfi and rode the 10 minutes back to Washington Island in the rain.  Washington Island makes things interesting since everything has to come on the car ferry or private boat- we saw the mail cart being unloaded, a huge Coast Guard cutter on a trailer (which required the ferry to turn around to off-load), and a heating/cooling company truck with trailer going back and forth.  The Washington Island ferry does run year-round since people live out there, but the winter ice breaker ferry is by reservation only from late December through March (check out a neat YouTube video here).  Looks like a fun winter adventure!

The last stop of the day was The Danish Mill for a much needed sandwich (delicious!) before we caught the car ferry back to the mainland Door Peninsula.  An awesome adventure indeed!