Sailing on Lake Michigan

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

Read More »
Algoma Intrepid at Port of Manitowoc

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

Read More »
Sunrise over Lake Michigan beach

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.

Read More »
Skamp the Monkey in a banana grove India

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

Read More »
Coolest Coast Champion

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. 

Read More »
Farm Wisconsin STEM Cow

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

Read More »

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

Read More »
Bike passes Ruth West mural

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,

Read More »

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,

Read More »

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

Read More »
Chocolate Ice Cream Cone

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

Read More »

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

Read More »
Bike the Coolest Coast

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,

Read More »
Maribel Caves

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

Read More »
SS Badger Carferry Experience

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 🙂

Read More »
Bee Kind

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

Read More »

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

Read More »

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

Read More »
Aquatic Center

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.

Read More »

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 –

Read More »
Scroll to Top

Suggest an Edit

Did you find something that is out of date, missing information, or not yet included? Fill out the form below and we will investigate further.

Skip to content