Do you know what a “fish boil” is? Until this past weekend my family was only vaguely aware of the name…

However that all changed when we were invited by the Door County Visitor Bureau to visit for a few days. Our very first stop was a Fish Boil at Rowley’s Bay Resort!

We found out right away that the Fish Boil at Rowely’s Bay Restaurant isn’t your typical fish fry. It is an event! And, like the name says, the fish isn’t fried… it is boiled right in front of you!

For the first half hour guests are invited to sit around a boiling cauldron while (an actor portraying) Peter Rowley tells animated stories about the land and the history of the Fish Boil. The Potawatomi have been boiling fish on the land for a very long time.

Scandinavian settlers also boiled fish and continued the traditions of the land when they arrived to Rowley’s Bay.

Fresh whitefish that was caught that very day in Lake Michigan is brought in and boiled alongside other ingredients like potatoes and onions. Boiling the fish causes the fats to turn to oil and float to the top of the caldron.

This results in a very light, lean and healthy way of cooking fish! Although - it appears some of the health benefits are negated - as most folks choose to dip their fish in melted butter or tartar sauce. Delicious!

At Rowley’s the fish, potatoes and onions are brought inside and served as a part of a buffet.

This is a wonderful way to experience a Fish Boil if you are part of a group with kids or folks who do not eat fish. Plenty of options to choose from!

The drink menu is extensive and features many exotic bright colored concoctions that scream “vacation!”

The homemade desserts were created using original recipies that were handed down to the owner from her Swedish grandmother. There are two desserts that contain fresh picked Door County cherries. They were delicious and not to be missed!

We had a chance to meet with the warm and wonderful owner Jewel Ouradnik. Her family founded the resort in the 1940’s. She was so sweet and graciously gave me a short tour.

Almost immediately you can tell this lodge was created with great love and pride. The original dining room was built using upcycled timber that is over 100 years old from a local barn.

The 7 murals were created by a local Door County artist in the 1940’s when the lodge was built. They were carefully relocated in the 1990’s when a new dining room was added on.

I loved this reading room and its tribute to all things Mid Century Mod. The flooring is original and used to be on the outside of the building!

The lodge’s central fireplace acts as a cozy hub and features a piece taken from a ship as its chimney.

It was also fun to learn that the lodge has zip lines and Segway tours on site.

The resort is located directly across from the bay which allows for some lovely views.

After our visit, Jewel was so sweet and sent our family home with these giant sweet rolls from her Swedish Bakery. They were the perfect breakfast treat the next morning!