Sweets, Spiders and Cherry-Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast

Vacations are surprises. The bumper sticker outside the funky cafe where we took refuge from a rainstorm.
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"You haven't seen that one, Mom? Duh ... it's all over Facebook." It was a good luck omen for the vacation on the lakes.

Bella Curella Italian Cheese and Deli. The Italian cheese factory on a tiny road to our destination. A vacation surprise.

Surprisingly good. Why am I surprised? It's in the heart of the artisan cheese farms in Wisconsin. I made my first purchases there. When we reached Madeleine Island, Kirsten and Matthew looked in the fridge I stocked and noted, "It's just like home. Olives, Parmesan and Italian meats." And on the counter for them - pizzelles.

And then we wondered what it would be like to live on that corner. And how difficult it would be writing your address on scantron forms.

And then we reached the lakes. It's interesting that I choose to vacation on a lake. Always.

And we went down that long and winding road to surprises. Sometimes we found deer. Sometimes it was a wolf.

Food could be basic fare but always delicious. A hamburger with portobello mushrooms and caramelized onions. "Why don't you make caramelized onions with our burgers?" So now, I guess I shall.

Or the Vietnamese short ribs on an Asian slaw from the Mission Grille.

Kirsten left her "vacation burger box" for crab risotto cakes. What your children order from menus is a sure sign of their growth.

Lakes everywhere. Lake Superior. And Green Bay.

Hot chocolate. 90 degrees out and we all wanted it.

Egg Harbor on Green Bay. Lazy days of lakes.

The largest mocha in the world. From the wondrous, funky Village Cafe. We brought home the mugs. (Our condo mugs held 2 ounces of coffee... we were desperate for a "real" mug.) To get the "children" to admit this was better than Caribou Coffee was another vacation amazement.

More long and winding roads. Wild turkeys everywhere. Except when I got my camera out.

Wild roses on the beach. A sweet amazement.

Hollyhocks reaching to the sky.

The honor system: a true vacation amazement. Plunk down your cash and rent a canoe.

And glide into Lake Superior. A gentle bay for a noteworthy stormy, furious lake.

It was only when we spread out our elegant picnic from Fish Creek Market in the Penninsula State Park that we noticed the huge spider webs strewn from tree to tree. Kirsten ate standing - not trusting the picnic tables. We dubbed these woods the "Spider Woods."

And for you: the best breakfast in America. Or so says the viewers of Good morning America.

Cherry-cream cheese stuffed French Toast at the White Gull Inn in Door County. Not for the faint of heart. With the sweet-tart cherries that Door County is famous for. The cherries are reminiscent of the sour cherries sold in Italy. Complementing the creamy dollops of sweet cream cheese, the dish dances and sings. As does your tongue. As will your thankful palate. Find the recipe here.

And here. I'm pretty sure you can get someone to propose to you if you serve this for brunch.
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Lazy days on two lakes. Lighthouses, flowers, beaches, good food, harbors, sunsets. I brought my work but did not work. I came home to surprises... but I did not work.

So I wonder why I vacation on lakes ... because the things is... I live two blocks from White Bear Lake. You'd think I'd want a mountain.