Late autumn journey: Wisconsin coffee shops

December 26th, 2016

I thought it would be an interesting adventure to take a late autumn journey to one of my favorite summer vacation spots. I imagined the little villages of Door County Wisconsin would be almost deserted in late fall. I was wrong, there were throngs of visitors. Retired folks and families with young children filled the shops, parks, and restaurants. My journey north involved stops at multiple coffee shops. I traveled through Manitowoc (infamous now thanks to Making a Murderer) and to Two Rivers, the smaller town directly north of it. Two Rivers’ claim to fame? It’s the home of the ice-cream sundae, and there’s an official historic site plaque in the town square to prove it. Directly south of the square is the Red Bank Coffeehouse. According to one reviewer, the building housing the Red Bank was once a department store. Now, the Red Bank is tucked into one corner of the ground floor, sharing space with an antique mall. The coffee is excellent: strong and bold.  If you’re heading north or south on Highway 42, I’d highly recommend stopping at the Red Bank for some java. coffee-red-bank

 

After our arrival in Door County, we spent an autumn morning walking the sidewalk and docks of Fish Creek. We found ourselves in front of the Blue Horse Cafe at about eleven o’clock, and the place seemed almost deserted. We went in for a hot drink, coffee for my companion and exotic tea for me, and decided to have an early lunch after surveying the sandwiches and soups offered (many featuring curry powder, one of my favorite spices). We’re glad we did for two reasons. The quality of the food and drink was excellent AND our timing was right – after eleven forty-five, the place was mobbed. The Blue Horse Cafe is a find we’ll return to on our next trip. In the morning hours, both the Blue Horse and the Red Bank could be quiet places to write and sip excellent coffee.

To Be Continued….

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