I was feasting on a locally caught White Fish at Pelletiers in Door county that was made half an hour back with Diesel added that raised flames at the end to boiling fish and red potato that spilled out unwanted Fish Oil collected on the surface. The flame that it raised was no less than a drama to see.He said ‘It was last of the season’. If it wasn’t me liking the Facebook page of Door county and the responses I got over comments,I wouldn’t have had ever known about where to experience this old tradition in Fish Creek and the rest of Door County.I came to know it happens at many places in Door County and the tradition dates back to 1800's.



                                                        Fish Boil And How its done



 Trust me,it was then I realized that the waiting time at the Pelletiers counter was totally worth it.Many had even arrived with reservations.The fish had a creamy buttery taste but had lots of small fish bones in it.The oldest tradition of United States Stuns me.We,the world,the people in United States - the people who live here and the people who experience it closely- must talk about it more.

I have talked about some of my American experiences here
This is another useful article on Door Article: Top Things To Do In Door County

 Door county is like the ‘Hill Station’ of Wisconsin.Small little villages,sweet people,perfect countryside that magically transforms during peak fall foliage or otherwise, situated on the coastline of Lake Michigan,3 hours from Milwaukee.Door County pulls you back into time and makes you want to stay there more.







The Fall Colors in Door County was like a dream.Deep intriguing colors - almost falling on you - soft and dense.Lovely. 

It was when the temperature of Milwaukee almost touched 0(32 F),we decided to head up north for 2 days in our rented car.We never knew then camping would be such a rage there.And it has to be - with the view of islands and roads that the Peninsula State Park takes you to and of course night theater in the middle of a state park,it makes such a good place to stay and enjoy.

The best place to stay in Door County is Fish Creek.The second best would be Ephraim. 

 We,however had to face disappointments when we booked our stay online - None of the hotels were available online at Fish Creek during the peak period of Fall Fest,and so we had to book further down(Square Rigger Lodge,$140,lake view room) at Jacksonport. Since it was peak time,the rates were higher than usual.Many of the hotels ain’t even listed online.I wonder Door county may be ‘impromptu’ for many folks.Next time may be.




  Fish Creek was an outlet of creativity.Walking in Fish creek along stretch of road with lake Michigan on its one side and small little colorful shops and stays on another it felt like the small new towns of Europe - where people put their heart and soul into their small family owned motels and hotels and eateries.That’s the beauty of being in a place devoid of malls and crowds.Crowds do however happen,because folks from as far as Chicago do come and visit the place.

Fish Creek, listed by Forbes is also one of the 15 Prettiest Towns in America

Door county was home to nomadic residents more than 12,000 years ago and explorers from countries as far as France and Britain were the early settlers.Earlier people used to visit the county by boat and by 1920,the roads were improved to the degree that automobiles could get in.

To know more click here

Door County was called the air conditioned peninsula even ages back.




The famous breakfast at White Gull Inn had a very European ambiance and the Cherry French Toast with Maple Syrup was out of the world - it was so soft and delicious with that perfect filling inside that it was something like I had never before.Cherries are famous from Door County.Here too,there was waiting.Just then I spotted a family with minion caps and as I asked them where they got it and they said ‘They got it from Sister Bay Fall Fest’ - there’s a lady who makes it! 



Watch the video on how White Gull Inn started. Its interesting to know how the German Doctor immigrated to Milwaukee and may have been on a vacation to Door County and decided to be on a resort business.

 We had planned initially that if possible we could cover the Peninsula State Park,Fish Creek in an hour and proceed to the furthest tip of the mainland.However,Peninsula is so big that even covering it by our car took us almost 3 hours when we stopped at many places where there was parking space.Walking inside the park would have had probably taken a long day or more.The drive is beautiful with ocean like lake on one side and the park on another.In between you could see islands , beaches and the collected fall colors which was magical.It was there,we saw many camping inside.

So here's how to camp in Peninsula.There are many many camping sites inside the park and are very reasonable.Starting from $9 as reservation and starting from $16 for the sites.These camping sites are not listed on Booking.com or Airbnb.com or any of the aggregate sites because it comes under State Forest.But once we went there,we wished we knew that camping happens.There are 468 sites inside the park itself.And the most perfect place to stay is here!






 Proceeding further,we took an exit towards Ephraim from the Peninsula - The next small village that comes after Fish Creek.That’s when we had our famous Wilson Icecream as we walked on the shore.





 We knew we had to go to Sister Bay just to experience the Fall Fest.So tomorrow let's take you to the fall fest and the other county parks.

As we rowed our left paddle to turn right and right paddle to turn left to maneuver our kayak in synchronicity with water current of Rivers of Milwaukee,we knew that our experience today of 4 hours,was going to be a different perspective altogether.Before we were at the active boat yard,we had no idea where the river started where it ended though we had seen it in bits and pieces when we walked on the river walk.

We took the tandem kayak partly because it was less expensive(45$ for two) than solo kayak($30 per person) and partly because kayak solo would have had been a little more exhaustive and we wanted to cover every part of the river in the time we had got.The urban water trail of Milwaukee is unique,so unique that I wished if Venice had it on the grand canal or I am not sure if it does,but Milwaukee's water trail takes you to Milwaukee Downtown,the suburbs and the rivers of Milwaukee,Menomonee and KK,covering 35 miles or 56 kms.

For previous posts on America click here




 Beth,the founder of MKC(Milwaukee Kayak Company) had been doing it for last 3 seasons out of her passion.Last weekend she had cancelled our kayak due to cold weather and bad winds(15-40 mph) but today luckily was a better day,a bit sunny,a bit windy but nothing that would cancel our kayak.She also told us that MKC closes last week of Oct and then opens in May next year.During that time she takes care of her kid at home.

 For those who want to venture solo please do.It's an easy sport especially when the river is favorable as the rivers we have in Milwaukee are.It goes slow and steady and its quite easy to handle.

 After she gave us our life jackets.she asked us if we needed dry bags to keep our cell phones,cameras etc.She told us to not proceed beyond Hoan bridge as that's where the river meets the ocean like Lake Michigan and that is for experienced kayaks. She showed us the river map,and told us the directions to go.She told us if we want to go to even more calmer river than Milwaukee river we can venture to Menomonee River.And she also told us if we go to further end of Milwaukee River,there would be a Dam and there the water level is less,so we may have to take our kayaks and walk to the other end.

 Tips For NewBies

• Wear Quick Dry Clothing
• Jeans not recommended(because you'd have to sit inside for long)
• Wear Wind Cheater/Light Jacket(it can get cold/windy)
• Wear Flip Flops,Sandals,Light Shoes
• Get Water bottle,Sunscreen,Snacks
• Get the dry pouch 
• Get anything that plays music(we missed that part!)
• And a gopro/digicam if you have(these pics are from my phone)

 How to do it

 Keep on the sides of the river(left end/right end) at all times to give space to larger boats that might come and also because the middle has more currents.Row smoothly with paddle and do not keep paddles way high up because that would throw water in when paddling.



 Row both paddles to keep straight.But the direction also depends on river current and wind,so if your kayak doesn't go straight try to paddle right more/left more for equilibrium.

Always remember paddling right would make kayak left and paddling left would make kayak right.

 So when we started kayaking,we had almost no idea on how to do it.We were basically learning by our own.Initially we did hit a boat that was standing on a dock,but as we had feared our kayak didn't topple.So anything that's stable/stationary that your kayak hits wouldn't likely topple your kayak because kayak goes slow.It would hit and automatically goes back.Then you have to paddle reverse/back and get your position.Similarly hitting a deck wouldn't topple your kayak.






 But hitting a larger boat which is coming opposite you(in motion) could be disastrous something I wouldn't want to think about.So you have to steer left or right or a complete halt at a side so that you prevent it.

Kayaking nonetheless is easy,and very much worth doing.

 You also do not have to continuously paddle.If the river has a flow,then your kayak has a flow.And if that's where you want to go,voila!Your work is done.But if you want to go faster or want to go in direction that's opposite to where the river is taking you,you'll have to paddle against and sometimes paddle hard.The another thing that Tandem Kayak eases is sometimes you can paddle,sometimes he can,sometimes you both can paddle together.






 The beauty of wading through the river is you are so much enthusiastic about what comes next,that the miles and miles are paddled and you realize when you go to bed at night that your arm and shoulder hurts like hell.We had to apply pain relief spray to get rid of that at night.Now I wouldn't say that for someone who's kayaking lets say in a small lake or a stable sea,but specially when you are doing it for 3-4 hours and the river has waves and sometimes you paddle against or for and if you are not actively into sports that does great things for your arms,you might meet the destiny we both had.Not that I am complaining but yes something you must know.




 We did venture into all rivers and we did go to further end of Hoan Bridge which was very wavy and as Beth had told to not venture into lake,we didn't. The side of Menomonee river is extremely stable,so stable that we wished it had some waves because sometimes waves do favor paddling than no waves because here your moves were the only propeller otherwise the boat would be stagnant.

 Now the beautiful part of kayaking on River is it takes you on all these perspective and you learn how to stabilize and be in the direction you want to be in.It continuously tunes your eyes to something new,either the pedestrians walking or the fall colors or the bridge or the trees or the downtown or the factories or the breweries or small little towns.I have done a bit of kayaking in a small lake before,but I found it to be boring because the view remains the same unlike the river that's constantly changing.In an overall 3.5 hours of kayaking,we didn't know how to park on dock and wander on land if we have to.So if you guys have any idea,do give us the clue.And do share your kayaking experience as I did.

Travel can be fun but it can also leave your home vulnerable to unexpected surprises that you might never have anticipated or planned ahead for. This is because people often live in their own bubbles, surrounded by myths that they swear by like ‘It can’t happen to me’ or ‘What will be will be’. Check out this comic strip to see some of these myths get busted!

 The above is an attempt to explain the logic behind household security and why investing in home security solutions is wise.

 Remember to make the necessary arrangements before traveling to ensure that your home is secure, so that you can have a carefree trip. That means Know Before You Go:

 Myth1: Keys hidden under the rug by the front door are SAFE 



 I have done this many times in the past because either because my roommate would get back from work really late and wouldn’t be available to collect the room keys before I went on a trip. I would simply tell her that the keys were sitting on the window-sill or were under the welcome mat outside the front door. That arrangement meant that I had to clarify that she had actually found the key!

 A better alternative is to either make a duplicate key, or request your landlord for separate keys for each person. The key hiding ploy might seem smart to us, but it is also quite easy for a thief to figure out. Even your paperwala or milk delivery person could accidentally stumble onto it and open the door.

 Double Check Any Openings - Including Doggy Doors 

 Recently when I travelled for 2-3 days and came back, I realized one of my doors was half open. It so happened that in spite of double-checking, we left the door half-latched and owing to the strong wind and rain, they flew open. This is apparent but do double check your doors, windows and balconies and latch them tight. If you have a window near your door, shut both of them because if the window is open, it will be make it that much easier to open the door.

 If your pet has a separate room with an opening doggy door, make sure it’s shut before you leave. Close all garage gates and any outlet you may otherwise have neglected. 

 Myth 2: Jewellery and expensive items in your home are SAFE

 In the rarest of rarest instances, should a thief try to get in, we should do all we can not to make his attempt easy. Keep your Jewelry and expensive items locked at all times in a home safe or deposit box. Keep important papers and currency locked up too. For documents, it’s best to scan and keep a copy of them on your laptop. If you keep currency at home, do stash it away in 2-3 different places.

 Keep one light ON 

 Most often a person looking for opportunities to barge in would know if the person is available or not. Keep one light ON at home even if you are traveling someplace else. This makes them wonder if someone is at home.

 Unplug all unnecessary appliances such as televisions, stereos, and personal computers. 

 Before you travel, make sure all your electric appliances are off including your refrigerators, in the unlikely case of a short-circuit.

 Myth 3 : Giving keys to your neighbors is SAFE

 Hand your keys to your nearest and dearest, like your mom and dad if they happen to be in the same city. If not, do give keys to your most trusted confidante or take them with you.

 Myth 4: Speaking about your travel plans is OK 

 Many of us have a habit of announcing our travel plans to just about everybody. That makes us the gullible victims of people who are looking to take advantage of our vacant homes. Be a little discreet about your comings and goings, don’t shout your travel plans from the rooftops. Any hint that you may be traveling to an expensive destination could convey the wrong idea that you have a lot of money at home.

How do trees get ready for brutal winter?Do they dress themselves in brightest of shades before they shed all to 'Ugly and Sparse'.Today we discuss a limbo I was in,before I came to know what exactly is 'FALL'. 

Fall is 'Autumn' between Summers and Winters.When the arrival of night becomes earlier and temperature cools down.



 My friend says that the peak fall is when Green,Yellow and Red together exists on trees.While as I have seen in the movies,I believe the perfect fall is when uniformity of single color is maintained - that's bright to the eyes and a photographers delight.It's also not than peak fall is consistent in every state of US,the date of the peak fall varies.So here's where we can check fall updates in wisconsin.

Fall is also the season of Pumpkins,Apples and Halloween and as doctors would like you to believe it - Flu Shots!

There were many stretch of roads we felt like stopping and clicking pictures,but in US highways you are not supposed to because cars run very fast.So the only one we could somehow click was in Iron County above.

For my previous posts on America: Click Here
To visit official Tourism website for information:Click here

 Manitowish Waters:Staying in a motel 

 Many of the regions which are secluded such as this had most affordable hotels unlisted on the internet.However,some still were.As soon as we came back from Northern Lights at Lake Superior,we crashed in our motel we had booked through Booking.com($89 dollar/night double room with breakfast).Since we did it very last minute,that was the most affordable we got.

So what's a motel?



Motels('motor hotel') are stays located on highways as opposed to urban places.Motels also have exterior corridors where you park directly than specific interior parking like hotels.The Great Northern motel was good for our one night stay - it had a huge room with two king size beds and a view of beautiful lake from the window at the backyard.The breakfast was very average and the staff cooperative.






Heater wasn't there in the room but blankets were sufficient.The wifi was only available at the common area. Now as soon as we got up,the lake from the backyard had a beautiful fog with the colors of fall on the shore.We went down but by the time we did,the sun had come up and fog was slowly dissipating.

 Let's take you to a quick photo essay on how we chased Fall and the colors that were remarkably different.Welcome to Wisconsin's Fall!







                                                        (winter is the name of the village)