The "Door County: From A to Z" series continues this month with two more ideas for enjoying the Peninsula: history and ice cream.
History: Door County is an area blending maritime, agricultural, Scandinavian heritage and other traditions. Best of all, you can experience history in interactive and enjoyable ways in Door County.
Check out indoor and outdoor museums, climb lighthouses and attend festivals. Good places to get started are the Door County Maritime Museum and the Door County Historical Museum-both in Sturgeon Bay. The Door County Maritime Museum showcases the area's rich maritime 
roots. Galleries include the Tug John Purves offering up a 40-minute guided tour of a restored 1960s Great Lakes Tugboat. The museum has announced a restoration of the Cana Island Lighthouse in Baileys Harbor. This is a lighthouse within walking distance of land. It sits on an 8.7-acre island. A highlight is climbing 97 stairs to the top of the beacon.
The Door County Historical Museum has educational displays about early settlers, orchards, industries and more. A wildlife diorama by a taxidermist features more than 100 native species.
On Fish Creek's Main Street, tour the Alexander Noble House, the oldest remaining residence in the village and the first (when it was completed in 1875) to be made from lathe and plaster. Other residences at that time were log homes. Learn about Alexander Noble, one of Fish Creek's founding fathers, who came to Chambers Island from Scotland. He moved in 1862 to Fish Creek, where he raised his family and held jobs including blacksmith, postmaster, farmer, town chairman and county board member.
The Gibraltar Historical Society announced that "A House in Mourning" will be the Noble House theme this year; it begins May 23.
Further north, Ephraim celebrates Door County's Scandinavian heritage with the Fyr Bal festival in June. Ephraim also has historical buildings open for tours.
In Sister Bay, the Corner of the Past and Old Anderson house Museum, located at Hwy. 57 and Fieldcrest Road, provides a journey back in time, as its name suggest. Included here is an 1875 Anderson family farmhouse outfitted with 1800s furnishings and historical photos. Also on the site, which is operated by the Sister Bay Historical Society, are authentic farm buildings: a large barn, granary machine shop, log cabins, migrant worker's cabin, summer kitchen, sawmill and blacksmith barn.
I is for ice cream (and let's not forget gelato and custard, too). Don't miss an opportunity to enjoy these frozen delicacies in Door County. In many cases, you will find that the ice cream, gelato and custard is made on the premises. Enjoy unusual flavors, fresh ingredients and creamy goodness.
Door County Ice Cream Factory & Sandwich Shoppe in Sister Bay is awesome! All the flavors are made right there on the premises and are delicious - like Death's Door Chocolate or Door County Cherry. Great food too. Tell Todd we say hi!
Also in Sister Bay, check out The Door County Creamery - their ice cream/gelato is made with goat's milk! Delicious! Tell Jesee hi! We love it! Also, great food and cheeses!
Of course Wilson's Ice Cream in Ephraim is a Door County icon! Great shop on the water, and good food too!
In Sturgeon Bay, check out Dairy View Country Store at the Door County Hilltop Dairy. The ice cream is made right here on this family-owned farm. Drive onto the rural property (also home to a corn maze in the fall) and choose from about eight flavors (30 different flavors rotate throughout the seasons). A specialty is butter pecan, which is a rich butter ice cream with salted pecans. You can enjoy the ice cream at the indoor and outdoor seating areas and buy some to go in the store, which also sells country-inspired merchandise.
Also try gelato at Double Delites in Egg Harbor. This is a great place with friendly service, welcoming interior and the double delites AKA gelato and gourmet popcorn.
Gelato is Italian ice cream, different from ice cream because it has less fat and has a more creamy texture.
The owners obtain gelato ingredients from Italy and display many flavors at a time to tantalize you. Try to choose from options like cherry explosion (a house specialty), tiramisu, nine varieties of chocolate, hazelnut, banana, raspberry, peach, mint and so many more. The gelato is served in dishes, cones and sundaes. Tell Julie we sent you!
In Fish Creek, you must try Malibu Moo's Frozen Griddle - Mary and her crew will mix you up all kinds of creative concoctions - fabulous stuff! We go here a lot too - try a Haleakala Crater :)
Well, we have to test these all on a regular basis for you!
