Enjoy the quiet side of the Door County peninsula, 190' of Lake Michigan shore

About Sam and Janet Batzli (owners)

Janet and Sam live in Madison, Wisconsin. They have two adult children. Janet's family has deep ties to Door County. Back in the late 1800's Janet's great grandfather Hakes purchased land near and on North Bay and the family has owned property here ever since. The Haven is a "Wausau Home" built in 1980. We feel so fortunate to be able to spend time at The Haven and to be able to share it with visitors from around the world.

Why Sam and Janet Batzli (owners) chose Baileys Harbor

The south shore of North Bay is a very special place. Ecologically it is considered a 'boreal forest' because of its mix of conifers, deciduous trees, lichens and mosses, which are more commonly found north of Lake Superior in Canada. The lake shore provides a cooling effect in the summers that permits these species to grow well south of their common range. The Lake Michigan-side of the peninsula is typically 5-10 degrees cooler than the middle or the Green Bay-side of the peninsula. You may even need a sweatshirt on July evenings. You will quickly discover why this is called 'the quiet side' of the Door County Peninsula. The main attraction of North Bay is its natural beauty, fresh air, and peacefulness. Much of the North Bay area has been designated a protected natural area. The Nature Conservancy, the DNR, and the Door County Land Trust have worked together to preserve the natural splendor. The most recent addition is 'Walt's Woods' which adjoins The Haven property, and its trail head can be found at the top of our drive way. Visit http://www.doorcountylandtrust.org/ for more info about area natural areas.

What makes this Cottage unique

Where to begin...? There are so many fun things to do in Door County and staying at The Haven is a great way to have access without being in the middle of the crowd. As the only constant in life is change, please check ahead to see if these options are still available. We are not always able to keep these up-to-date. These are some of our family's favorite activities and destinations over the years: 1) Biking -- door county offers some of the nicest biking roads in the state. 2) Peninsula State Park -- great beaches, mountain biking, hiking (try Eagle Trail if you are strong), and golf -- only 15-minutes away. 3) Washington Island/Rock Island -- get an early start, take the ferry from North Port, consider taking bikes for the island. Good pub food at the Albatross. 4) Peninsula Players -- get there early to enjoy the sunset before showtime 5) Jumping off the pier in Sister Bay -- the water is almost always warmer over there ;-) 6) Fred & Fuzzy's by Little Sister Resort -- a lovely spot for an outdoor dinner 7) Cave Point County Park -- on a windy day the waves can act like geysers 8) Cheery picking -- everywhere when in season, or go to Koepsels on HWY 57 and buy a cherry pie 9) Nature walk at the Ridges -- walk the board walks but don't forget the mosquito repellent 10) Mini golf at Pirates Cove, a movie at the Skyway Drive-In, bowling at the Sister Bay Bowl, or craft beer at the Door County Brewing Tap House. All of these things (except maybe Washington Island) are a short drive or long bike ride from The Haven.