Discover Wisconsin's Door County
On the west side of Lake Michigan, one entire county is a peninsula full of woods and sandy beaches, caves and cliffs, wineries and orchards, art galleries and boutiques, lighthouses and winding roads. This special place is Door County in Wisconsin and it is full of so many wonderful things to see and do, that you will be sure to want to spend time here. A 66-mile Scenic Byway makes a loop along the shores of the peninsula through its small towns. You can start your trip in the town of Sturgeon Bay and drive north along the waters of Green Bay and then at the tip of the peninsula, head south along Lake Michigan. There is so much to see and experience along the way!
For nature lovers, there are 5 state parks and 19 county parks with plenty of hiking trails and camping. You can play in sandy beaches or explore limestone rocky ones. Along the peninsula are traces of the Niagara Escarpment bluffs and you can explore Cave Point County Park where you can kayak the sea caves along Green Bay and even find a shipwreck. Further north is the largest state park, Peninsula State Park where you can hike or bike miles of trails. At the tip of the peninsula you can take a ferry across the waters known as Death’s Door, to Washington Island. Here you can explore unique beaches, nature areas and even shipwrecks. If you’d like to be even more remote, you can take another ferry to Rock Island State Park where no automobiles are allowed and you can camp primitively.
Towns across the western side of the peninsula like Egg Harbor, Fish Creek, Ephraim, and Sister Bay are fun places to stroll, shop and dine out. There are plenty of shops for the antique hunter. Or if you are a wine lover you can follow the Door County Wine Trail or take the Door County Trolley to enjoy 8 different wineries. There are also acres of cherry and apple orchards across the peninsula where you can pick your own or find plenty of farm stands along the way. Enjoying a traditional fish boil is a must while you visit, the White Gull Inn restaurant in Fish Creek hosts one every Friday night and it was a fantastic dinner and of course we enjoyed local cherry pie for dessert!
The peninsula has a vibrant arts scene with numerous galleries and boutiques. You can also enjoy outdoor concerts and theatre in several outdoor venues in the summer. The Northern Sky Theater Summer has performances at Peninsula State Park’s outdoor amphitheater. You can enjoy an outdoor Broadway production by the Peninsula Players Theatre, and the Midsummer’s Music Festival runs from the middle of June to the middle of July and you can enjoy professional chamber music performed across the peninsula.
This county has a unique mix of activities for outdoor enthusiasts, art and music lovers, and even those who just want to slow down and shop and enjoy good food. There really is something for the whole family!
