We live busy lives. And then the holidays come along and things get even busier.  Holiday shopping doesn't have to amp up your stress level.  Gift-giving should be thoughtful, but it doesn't have to be hard.

​Keep it simple and you can't go wrong.  Take the stress out of holiday shopping with these gift ideas for the nature lovers, hikers, birders, gardeners and nature photographers in your life. 

Happiest of holidays to all!

Wisconsin State, National, and County Park Stickers:

​Fortunately, annual stickers are now available to purchase online. They sometimes have special combo packages available during the holidays.

Wisconsin State Park Sticker
A National Park Sticker
Waukesha County Parks Sticker
Washington County Parks Sticker

Nature Center Memberships:
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Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Wehr Nature Center
Boerner Botanical Gardens
River Bend Nature Center
Riveredge Nature Center
Retzer Nature Center 
​Urban Ecology Center

Want to gift to someone not in the Milwaukee area? Check out this resource for Nature Centers Across Wisconsin

Tip: Most nature centers have great gift shops. Opt outside at a nature center for some exploration, then do a little holiday shopping in their gift shops!

Books For the Birder
Field Guide to the Birds of Wisconsin by Charles Hagner 
The Wonder of Birds: What They Tell Us About Ourselves, the World, and a Better Future - by Jim Robbins
Kingbird Highway: The Biggest Year in a Life of an Extreme Birder - by Kenn Kaufman
National Geographic Kids Guide of Birding North America 
One More Warbler by Victor Emanuel
A Season on the Wind: Inside the World of Spring Migration - by Kenn Kaufman
​National Geographic Backyard Guide to the Birds of North America by Jonathan Alderfer and Noah Strycker
The Thing with Feathers: The Surprising Lives of Birds and What They Reveal About Being Human - by Noah Strycker
The Urban Birder by David Lindo
This Is A Book for People Who Love Birds - Danielle Belleny (author) Stephanie Singleton (illustrator)

Books For the Nature Lover and Gardening for Wildlife

Zooburbia - by Tai Moses
The Urban Bestiary - by Lyanda Lynn Haupt
Mozart's Starling - by Lyanda Lynn Haupt
Rare Encounters with Ordinary Birds - by Lyanda Lynn Haupt
Welcome to Subirdia - by John M. Marzluff
Humane Gardener: Nurturing a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife - by Nancy Lawson
The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man's Love Affair with Nature - by J. Drew Lanham
Wildlife in Your Garden - edited by Karen Lanier
Attracting Birds, Butterflies, and Other Backyard Wildlife - by David Mizejewski for the National Wildlife Federation
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Writing Wild: Women Poets, Ramblers, and Mavericks: compiled by Kathryn Aalto
Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard - by William Tallamy

​Gifts for a Nature Photographer

The Smartphone Photography Guide by Pete Cope

Extra Camera Memory SD Cards (the more memory the better)

Selfie Sticks; Portable, bendable, tripods

Gift Card for prints or books at their favorite photo print shop

Arts Cameras Plus - Camera gear, photo processing, classes. Gift cards available for gear or workshops and classes

Mike Crivellos - Camera gear, photo processing
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Wildtree - Uniquely designed, handmade, camera straps and more.

​Outdoor Gear
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Sherper's A wide selection of outdoor gear, including boots, camping equipment, binoculars and more can be found at this Milwaukee area local outdoor gear shop

Stan's Fit For Your Feet Hiking Boots, Socks and Accessories

Yellow Wood - A Premier Outdoor Gear Shop

​Patagonia - An outdoor clothing and gear company that, for over 30 years, has been giving back 1% of its profits towards preservation and restoration of the natural environment.
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REI Co-op: Gear and clothing for a wide array of outdoor enthusiasts.

Bird Watching and Backyard Birding Gear:
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Wild Birds Unlimited Stores - Bird feeders of all kinds, bird food of all kinds, bird baths, books on birding, and a wealth of knowledge in feeding backyard birds. 

Bird Collective - A great online shop that offers all kinds of unique merchandise for birders, and fans of birds. Bonus: 20% of their profits are donated to projects that help to reverse the decline of bird populations.

Nocs Provisions - Compact, high quality, colorful binoculars in multiple styles.

Stein's Garden & Home - Wild bird feeders and food in several Wisconsin locations.

The Nest - Unique shop in Greendale that carries bird feeding supplies, along with unique bird enthusiast gifts and decor.

​

Get yourself a little something, too. Many of the images from The Park Next Door are available to purchase as prints, notebooks, phone cases, holiday ornaments, and more at my FineArtAmerica site.  You can get a gift for someone, or yourself, and support the website at the same time.  Check out the Art For Your Walls feature page, or visit the art site directly.  ​

December is upon us again. Darkness descends early, and the nights seem so much longer. Fortunately, the advent of holiday light displays brings a bit of brightness and cheer to cold winter nights. 

​No matter where you live, chances are there is a local, county or city park nearby that offers a holiday light display.  Some are drive-thru only, some are walking tours.  

And, if all else fails, just take an evening stroll through your neighborhood, or a drive through your local area, and enjoy the displays of family, friends and neighbors. ​

Wild Lights at The Milwaukee County Zoo

If a stroll through twinkling displays is more your style, you'll want to check out this year's animal themed holiday light show at the Milwaukee County Zoo. 

​Millions of glittering lights will illuminate the forest and pathways. Sparkling sculptures feature the shapes of a gorilla, peacock, gazelle, rhino, and zebras. Perfect photo ops abound!

The event runs from December 1 - 31, with the exception of: Dec. 5, 6, 12,13, 24, 25  Evenings: 5:30 - 9:00pm

Rates vary depending on membership status, etc., however, Parking Is Included.  Visit the ticket site for more details.

Milwaukee Domes Holiday Show: Calm & Bright

Visiting the Milwaukee Domes is always an event, but the holiday show is a perennial favorite.  Enjoy hundreds of beautiful pointsettias on display among festive twinkling trees and lights.  The display is currently open and runs through January 1, 2023. 

Hours: Wed-Friday 9am - 5pm; Sat-Sun 9am - 4pm
Tickets can be purchased at the door. Admission Fees between $5-$8 depending on age, and county of residence. Children under 2 yrs old admitted free of charge.

​Making Spirits Bright - Sheboygan

Beaver Dam Rotary Lights - Swan City Park
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Illuminate Ozaukee - Cedarburg

Winter Picnic in a Snowglobe - Racine Zoo
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Garden of Lights - Green Bay

Miller Holiday Lites Drive-thru Light Show - Miller Valley, Milwaukee
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Holiday Fantasy in Lights - Madison

Celebration of Lights - Oshkosh
​La Crosse Rotary Lights - La Crosse
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Marshfield Rotary Winter Wonderland - Marshfield
​

Life likes to remind us that we are not in control. We can try our best to be prepared, to plan ahead. But sometimes, yup, it just rains.  My first weekend trip to Door County was in early November, and accompanied by gray skies, strong winds, and lots of rain. I checked the weather forecast every day prior to my trip. The degree of wind and rain varied, but the forecast of rain did not.

The rain held off on my early morning drive up, but finally gave way when I reached the Algoma Pierhead along Lake Michigan.  I stopped to take a few photos of the lighthouse beneath stormy skies, then headed further on to Sturgeon Bay. 

I had sketched out a wish list of places I wanted to visit. A travel log that was ambitious for even the best weather, and high energy days. But with continuous rain, and a shortage of daylight, I made adjustments as I went.

​My first stop in Sturgeon Bay was Potawatomi State Park.  The park is large, 1200 acres, and the drive along the roads that wind through the park is especially scenic.

​Once past the entrance station, I took Norway Road to Shoreline Road, following it until I reached the parking lot of the nature center and park store, which is in-between the north and south campground areas. 

Across the road from the parking lot stood the entrance to the Ancient Shorelines Nature Trail. A half-mile woodland loop, it seemed like a good fit in the pouring rain.

I put on my rain gear, got out my umbrella, and ventured onto the trail.

With daylight quickly fading, I finished the drive through Potawatomi State Park and headed back towards town to my lodging for the evening. I had a reservation at a retro-style motel in Sturgeon Bay called Motel57.

​The rates were good, and, as it turned out, the room was clean, comfy, and had a bit of style.  Chilled from the walk in the rain, I checked in, dried off, and took a quick nap to warm up before heading out to find some dinner.

I was hoping to do a little tourist shopping before dinner, but I had trouble locating the shop I was trying to find in the dark and rain. So, I opted to go straight to dinner at a local favorite spot.

Door County Fire Company is a Sturgeon Bay ale house and restaurant that resides in an original working firehouse dating  back to 1907. When the fire department moved to a new facility in 2007, the original building was developed as a restaurant and event venue.

The ale house has a casual, comfortable atmosphere, and family-friendly, quick service. I enjoyed a burger, along with a non-alcoholic Kaliber by Guinness beer. Both were delicious!

Back to the motel for the night, I settled in to review my wish list, and get a good night sleep. Unfortunately, the forecast for rain remained, so I prioritized my list to locations that offered scenic drives with stop-offs for short walks and photo opportunities.

First on my list for day 2 was breakfast at Big Easy. A popular specialty breakfast spot in Egg Harbor, Big Easy is known for their fresh, warm beignets, breakfast bagels, coffee, and more.

I ordered the beignets (one made it home to my husband), and breakfast bagel sandwich, which came with the tastiest tater tots. So good! The breakfast sandwich could easily be shared.

​I lingered over breakfast while the rain continued to pour, though the forecast now suggested intermittent downpours. 

I debated a bit on my next stop. Shopping wasn't a priority on this trip, but it was a worthy option given the weather. I decided to head to Peninsula State Park, driving past some of the shopping in Fish Creek along the way.  Then I would have an idea where to stop on my way back down the highway. Despite the rain, and it being past peak season, Fish Creek seemed to be bustling with plenty of travelers and shoppers. It looked promising. But on to Peninsula State Park...

There were two main features in the park I wanted to see - Sven's Bluff, and Eagle Tower. Shortly after entering the park , along Shore Road, I made a stop at Weborg Point. One of many camp sites in the park, it offers some lovely views of Green Bay, along with a fishing pier, picnic shelter, and a few other amenities in season. I took a few photos from the point and then headed back out onto Shore Road toward Sven's Bluff.

Traveling along Shore Road, I made the turn to Skyline Road, which climbs upward to Sven's Bluff. I pulled into Sven's Bluff Overlook as the rain tapered off for a few minutes. Though the views over the lake were misty and gray, the views of Green Bay and the coastline were pretty spectacular.

​Situated atop part of a Niagara Escarpment Bluff, there are multiple hiking trails in the park that meet up with Sven's Bluff.  Whether you're driving through, biking, or hiking in Peninsula State Park, you'll want to put this stop on your list.

Leaving Sven's Bluff, I once again drove along Skyline Road until it reconnected with Shore Road. It was along Shore Road that I arrived at my last park destination - Eagle Tower. 

This 60-foot high tower on the peninsula's northeast shore, features an observation deck at the top with inspiring views of the park, the surrounding islands, the upper Michigan shoreline, and the village of Ephraim. 

If the idea of climbing the 100 steps from bottom to top leaves you breathless, there is a more accessible, and incredibly scenic option.  Take the 850-foot fully accessible boardwalk ramp from bottom to top. The angle of the ascending slope is never more than 5%, and makes it passable for wheelchairs, strollers, walkers, and hikers alike. There are level landings and benches for resting, and photo ops, along the way as well.

I was intrigued by the ramp for two reasons: I have difficult knees, and the view as you climb the ramp is like walking among the treetops. Not something you get to do everyday. 

It was still raining as I walked up the ramp, and the winds had picked up. Wind gusts of up to 50mph were expected.  Once or twice I grabbed the railing when the wind gust caught me by surprise, but it was more thrilling than dangerous. Though someone on the tower did lose a hat!  The panoramic views promised, though, were absolutely worth it!   

​The tower is open seasonally from May 1 to October 31.  However, from November 1 through April 30 it may be open, weather permitting.

​I was there on November 5. It was passable in the rain, not sure I would be brave enough to try the climb over ice or snow. But if weather permits, it's worth the climb. Whichever climb you prefer.

I left Peninsula State Park wet, windblown, and feeling good. Despite the inclement weather, I had still managed to experience these fantastic destinations, and was fully impressed by the surrounding natural beauty of the park. And I was not alone. Rain was not keeping everyone away.

​There were many folks out there enjoying the park, even in the cold, gusty rain. I guess that shouldn't surprise me, this is Wisconsin after all. 

I left Peninsula State Park and headed back south towards Fish Creek to do a little shopping. It drizzled for a while as I made my way through a few shops in town, picking up a few souvenir gifts along the way. Beach People Fish Creek was my best find.

​And just as I arrived back at my car to  head towards my final Door County destination, the sun came out. I checked the weather station on my phone. It was predicted to rain in an hour. Just in time for me to arrive at Cave Point County Park. 

In a way, I had saved the best for last. Or at least the most dramatic for last. Cave Point County Park is a must-see on just about any Door County list I read while researching for my trip. And it did not disappoint. I arrived late in the afternoon, without much daylight left, and the gift of sunshine that popped out when I was leaving Fish Creek was fading. Ominous gray clouds were moving in fast as I pulled into the parking lot. The winds had picked up, and suddenly it was raining again. Though more of a drizzle to start. It was getting much colder, too.

But I, along with a growing group of other travelers, had arrived just in time for Lake Michigan's show. The winds were picking up quickly, gusting. Maybe close to that 50mph winds predicted. Cave Point, like the other parks and shorelines in Door County, is part of the Niagara Escarpment. The cliffs and ledges at the park not just scenic, but jutting, big, sturdy, and ancient. 

I moved towards the ledges, and the sound was loud. Waves racing towards the cliffs and crags, busting up against the rock and splashing well over the top of 20-foot cliffs, spraying anyone standing nearby. Between the mist, the rain, the wind, and the spray of the waves, it was nearly impossible not to get wet. Which did not seem to bother anyone one bit. There was a lot of gleeful shouting, and plenty of laughter. And plenty of picture-taking as well. 

There is a short walking trail near this part of the park, but the excitement was on the cliffs, and it was turning dark. I stopped to use the facilities before heading out. Exiting the restroom the crowds had already gone. The park was dark, and the waves were still loud. I was tempted to head back towards the cliffs. I was exhilarated by the whole experience. But common sense won out.  I was alone. And, it was time to head home.

​But I would be back. 🍂

Autumn melancholy is setting in.  The brilliant colors on the top photo, from just two weeks ago. On the bottom, just today.  It happens so fast. I've tried hard not to miss it. The changing colors, the birdbaths full of robins and waxwings on their way further south.  I am going to miss them so.

The changing of the seasons constantly reminds us to enjoy the now the best we can. Life is fleeting. Moments are upon us, then gone.

Commit to memory the warmth of the sun on your face through the car window. The sound of the breeze rustling through the trees. The timbre of your loved ones voice saying good morning, or good night.

​Touch the flowers in the garden that have yet to fade, and know that when they do, that they will come again. But you will miss them.  

​​Adore the smell of autumn. Thank goodness it lingers long after the leaves have fallen. Like the scent of someone you miss long gone.

Yes, a little melancholy, at the prospect of letting go. But ever forward we go. Nature shows us the way. A constant reminder to keep focus, but be ready for the unexpected. The good, the bad, the in-between.

It's right there in the name. Nature. Natural. What has gone will come again. Life. Death. Rebirth.
Fall. Winter. Spring. Summer. Repeat.🍁❄️🌷☀️