Water Access
Wisconsin’s Maritime Capital Situated on the shores of Lake Michigan and with a wealth of beautiful inland lakes, the depth of maritime history in Manitowoc County is no surprise. Natural beauty is apparent throughout Manitowoc County. See Manitowoc County Beaches Map below. Water fun abounds across the Coolest Coast: Playing at the beaches, both in
Turning Back To The Water
I have always had a fascination with the local Great Lake. As a young boy my family lived on a block that morphed into the beach. Even though we were not wealthy, I felt like Lake Michigan was my birthright. In fact, a large part of who I am today is due to younger me
The Doggy Diaries
When I woke up this morning, I knew that the day ahead on the Coolest Coast was going to be great! As I laid in the lap of my owner last night, I heard them telling me about all the plans ahead of us. As we walked out the house and into town, I thought
The Bicyclist Blog
If you love cruising and exploring on two wheels, then you will love the opportunities found for biking on the Coolest Coast! The Mariners Trail is, as it states, a trail that hugs the beautiful Lake Michigan for 7 miles, forging a connection between the cities of Manitowoc and Two Rivers. A smooth paved route,
Talent on the Coolest Coast
Perhaps you’ve heard Jim Krueger’s “We Just Disagree”; maybe you’ve heard Emmy award-winning composer Garth Neustadter in concert, or even seen Beth Hoyt as “Mrs. Wexler” in the hit AMC television show “Better Call Saul”. All of these impressive achievements, and those who completed them, can be traced back to the local Coolest Coast area…all
SS Badger Carferry Experience
Discovered some previously unshared footage in the archives. Here’s a quick glimpse of the the SS Badger Carferry Experience, crossing Lake Michigan from Manitowoc to Ludington. (circa 2017?) This National Historic Landmark sails again in May 2021 🙂
Sisterly (City) Love
A unique feature of the Coolest Coast, and in particular the city of Manitowoc, is the existence of what is known as a sister city. Oxford dictionaries describe a sister city as “a city that is linked to another, usually for the purposes of cultural exchange.” The definition may appear to be straightforward and simple,
Razzle Dazzle Evergleam Aluminum Christmas Trees
Celebrating Manitowoc’s space age history with a forest of vintage Evergleam aluminum Christmas trees on display at Manitowoc Public Library and throughout Downtown Manitowoc for the holiday season. Barb Bundy-Jost shares some background about the sparkly trend that has come back in vogue thanks to dedicated collectors. From 2ft to 14ft, in silver, pink, green
Public Art on the Coolest Coast
Whether looking for it intentionally or stumbling across a piece by accident, public art is a flourishing art on the Coolest Coast. After Manitowoc’s first work of street art was awarded a Beautification Award by the state of Wisconsin, it quickly became apparent that the surroundings of the Port Cities could be viewed as canvases,
Pickleball
Pickleball The latest craze sweeping the Coolest Coast is a sport called Pickleball. Pickleball is an indoor or outdoor racket/paddle sport where two players, or four players, hit a perforated hollow polymer ball over a 36-inch-high net using solid faced paddles. The two sides hit the ball back and forth over the net until one
Music is for Everyone
Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra Manitowoc is the smallest U.S. city to have its own symphony orchestra. The Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra (MSO) has been sharing performances on the Coolest Coast since 1951. Classical music is powerful—it can soothe, energize, entertain and improve your well-being.Classical music is for everyone. MSO has partnered with Manitowoc Public School District (MPSD) to
Museums and More
The Coolest Coast has no shortage of new experiences and opportunities for any local or visitor. Whether it be boating out on the lake, enjoying an ice cream cone from one of the many ice cream shops, or simply exploring the streets of Manitowoc and Two Rivers, the possibilities are endless. But when it comes
Mother’s Day on the Coolest Coast
Mother’s Day makes us think of all the strong women in our lives. So often, we would not be the person we are today without their love, nurturing, advice, patience, and forgiveness. Those special women are a huge part of who we all are. It is interesting to remember how Mother’s Day came to be.
Monkeying Around the Coolest Coast
Skamp the Monkey returns to the Coolest Coast! Dispatches from a Monkey. There once was a Monkey who loved to roam, and embark on adventures far from home. He’s traveled this planet up and down. He’s been here and there *monkeying* around. And, now he’s home! We’re excited to follow his upcoming adventures across the
Maribel Caves Hotel Brief History
Cherney Maribel Caves Park volunteer Michael Sobush was kind of enough to provide a brief history of the Maribel Caves Hotel (National Register of Historic Places). Built in 1900, only a few sections of the original structure are intact after a 1984 fire gutted the building and a 2013 tornado brought down some walls. Situated
Maple Syrup Production
Early spring in Wisconsin on the #coolestcoast equals Maple Syrup Production time. How is it accomplished? How is the sap from maple trees turned into delicious golden goodness to top your pancakes? Join us as we visit InTheWoods Sugar Bush to learn about the maple syrup production process. This episode supported by Amy Townsend –
Manitowoc Family Aquatic Center
Dive in to summer fun with us at the Manitowoc Family Aquatic Center – celebrating its 10th anniversary. More than simply a community pool, this place has a lazy river, spouting water toys, water slides, a diving board, plenty of places to relax poolside, a sand play area, and it’s adjacent to the mini-golf course.
Manitowoc Breakwater Lighthouse Brochure
Lighthouse History View the brochure to learn about the history of the Manitowoc Breakwater Lighthouse compliments of honorary lighthouse keepers Manitowoc Sunrise Rotary Club. View Brochure
Let’s Play Games!
Retro Arcade to Virtual Reality Fun gaming opportunities exist on the Coolest Coast, from a retro arcade to virtual reality. A retro arcade is where you can enjoy playing vintage pinball machines, air hockey, racing games and stand up arcade games (Pac Man, Space Invaders, etc). A virtual reality game, or VR game, is a
Land and Water Trails
Whatever your preferred mode of exploration may be, the Coolest Coast provides options and accommodation for any adventurer or nature lover. Whether exploring the waters of the Twin Rivers Water Trail, or traversing the Ice Age Trail across the county, opportunities for finding exciting thrills, the perfect spot to stop and relax, and everything in
Lakeshore Wind Ensemble featuring vocalist Emily Kosloski
The Lakeshore Wind Ensemble is a band of talented musicians performing an entertaining repertoire on the #coolestcoast. From students to professionals, for 36 years the Lakeshore Wind Ensemble has been sharing music. You’ve got to check out the horn section! Join us for this episode, under the direction of conductor Marc Sackman, as we enjoy
How Sweet It Is, Honey!
Life is sweet on the Coolest Coast®. Today we discover the buzz about beekeeping and honey making. Thanks to hobbyists Jason & Heather Allard of Allard & Kretsch Family Honey and Dan Dueno and Steve Massey at 100 Acre Hunny for letting us glimpse their annual harvest.Informative and delicious. How sweet it is! (And no
Hmong Culture and Impact
An integral aspect of the Coolest Coast is that of the Hmong people, who make up over a third of Manitowoc County’s Asian American population. With many family histories stemming from immigration due to the Vietnam War in the 1970s, the Hmong community of the Coolest Coast has made an exceptional impact in only a
Grateful Parks
Some of the Coolest Coast’s greatest sights and adventures can be found in the local parks. Thinking of parks may bring to mind a patch of green grass, adorned with a playground, and maybe an outdoor grill or two, if you’re lucky. However, Manitowoc County’s parks are so much more than that. The parks in
Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center
This week we celebrated Farmer Appreciation Day. We ❤️ #coolestcoast Farmers. And, we ❤️ Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center … an interactive and educational destination to learn all about farming here on the Coolest Coast and across Wisconsin. Check out this Coolest Coast feature to learn more!
Extreme Sports
Adventure on the Coolest Coast Participating in any sort of action or adventure sport is exhilarating. And there is plenty to do across the Coolest Coast. From skateboarding to inline speed skating; from fat tire biking to mountain biking; from caving to kayaking; from sailing to SCUBA diving. Adventure awaits. For more information about Land
Early College Programs
The Coolest Coast has many opportunities for middle and high school students to get a head start on their college and career paths. These programs are revolutionary, and many have only been offered for a few years thus far. There are 3 very prominent early college programs within Manitowoc County: The University Of Wisconsin Green
Disc Golf
Play Disc Golf on the Coolest Coast It’s a great day to get your game on! There are several locations throughout Manitowoc County with disc golf courses installed. Better yet, there is no fee to play at the following locations: Silver Creek Park, Indian Creek Park, Lower Cato Falls Park, Picnic Hill Park and LTC
Dancing on the Coolest Coast
Benefits of Dance for Kids Dance and music education for children is proven to have many benefits. The pursuit of trying to move smoothly and gracefully requires control over one’s body and takes significant practice. Dance lessons promote mind and body awareness, helping children to gain awareness of their own bodies. Emotional Health Dance encourages
Coolest Coast is for Lovers
The Coolest Coast is for lovers of all kinds. Romantic lovers, food lovers, beach lovers, and any other sort of lover. The Coolest Coast is for Food Lovers. Here on the Coolest Coast we have many delicious restaurants, stores, and markets. One notable, and unique, food source we have here are the various community Farmer’s
Coolest Coast East – International Edition
Join us as we visit Manitowoc’s sister-city of Kamogawa, Japan for the 25th anniversary of the sister-city friendship. Located on the shore of the Pacific Ocean, Kamogawa’s beautiful coast is a natural companion to the #coolestcoast. The warm and friendly citizens of Kamogawa extended a hearty welcome to the delegation visiting from Manitowoc. Glimpse the beautiful
Coolest Coast Champion
The Coolest Coast movement is about celebrating the people, places and things that make our community such a great place to live, work and play. The Coolest Coast Champion Award is presented annually to an individual who exemplifies the spirit of the Coolest Coast and who has gone above and beyond to support their community.
Bird Watching on the Coolest Coast
The Coolest Coast is renowned for many things, one of which being its large number of bird species. The birds (and birdwatchers) come from near and far to visit. Locally, there are several bird-themed clubs, and even a statewide organization: the Wisconsin Society of Ornithology (WSO). According to Woodland Dunes, there have been over 300
Algoma Intrepid at Port of Manitowoc
Aided by two tugs, the ALGOMA INTREPID ship slipped into the Port of Manitowoc on April 28, 2022 across the river from the USS Cobia Submarine docked at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum. A number of people lined the banks of the river to watch as she sailed up the Manitowoc River to dock at the
Adventures In Ice Cream
If you are visiting the Coolest Coast, you have to experience the dairy industry of Wisconsin, and in particular, the ice cream. There aren’t too many places where folks can get up close and personal with every step of the ice cream making process, but a showcase of the Coolest Coast’s dairy industry can do