Lake Michigan is one of the great natural wonders that we get to experience in Wisconsin. The city of Manitowoc lies a short distance away to the east of Appleton and sits right on the shore of Lake Michigan.
This was a three day tour: one day to ride out to Manitowoc, one day spent touring the countryside south of Manitowoc, and one day returning to Appleton.
| Day | Route | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| One | Appleton to Manitowoc via County Highway K | 48 miles |
| Two | Loop south of Manitowoc | 62 miles |
| Three | Manitoc to Appleton via County Highway JJ | 51 miles |
For the route from Appleton to Manitowoc I chose to take County Highway K up and over the Niagra Escarpment.
Although the terrain around Appleton is fairly flat, the Niagra Escarpment, which lies about 15 miles to the east of Appleton, is a region of gently rolling hills. County Highway K is one of best ways to cross the escarpment, having been repaved a few years ago and offering a wide shoulder for safe riding.
Leaving the racks and luggage in the hotel in Manitowoc made it easy to enjoy a scenic loop south of town.
The route started with a cruise down Lake Shore Road, which offered great views of the lake. At Cleveland the route turned inland, headed for rolling hills and farm country. Sights along the way included the Rock River crossing, the scenic town of St. Nazianz, and a stop at the Pine River Dairy store, which offers delicious 25¢ ice cream cones.
The return route to Appleton followed County Highway JJ past Collins and Hilbert.
This route offers a few challenging hills just west of Manitowoc, and rolls past the scenic Collins Marsh. I made a point of getting to Hilbert at lunch time to enjoy some delicious farm-to-table food at the Village Hearthstone Restaurant.