tivities and unforgettable experiences. I do have a perfect itinerary containing all details you need to know in order to visit this stunning place, so stop stressing.I’ve got the perfect itinerary with all the information you need for visiting this beautiful place, so no need to worry. I will give you advice of the times that best works for you and the ways that will be more convenient for you to get to your destination. Therefore, you will be able to get the most out of the time spent and see what this country got to show you.
Furtherly, I’ll emphasize on visiting the key attractions of the area, and the Best staying’s and eating options are included. My travel guide will be at your service to provide everything you need for exploring this beautiful segment of Wisconsin. It is my hope that your adventure will remain an unforgettable experience that you will treasure for all your life. A Door County journey will be an unparalleled experience – let’s make it unforgettable together.
Top Things to See and Do in Door County Wisconsin
Door County, Wisconsin, offers a plethora of activities whether one seeks to enjoy a chill beach session or would rather take a thrilling cross-country skiing trip as fish may be taking abundant, especially during the cold winter season. One of the best features is that it has a year-round appeal.
In addition to the range of thrilling events in Door County, there are some striking and beautiful places within a short drive away. Mackinac National Park, Pictured Rocks Lake Park, and Isle Roclle in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula are some of the places I am planning to visit this summer. There’ll be more discussion included later, but they are all unique, awe-inspiring places that are not too far away from Door County.
Before I will cover those activities which I love in Door County, here are some extra resources you can refer to so that you would be able to arrange your visit properly.
Beaches and Lake Views Door County Wisconsin
Door County is the ideal go-to place for when the warmer months of the year get too humid and sticky with all the beaches in this place. The favorite pastime of the people is spending time there, enjoying the different fun activities ranging from tanning in the sun to swimming, fishing and boating.
One of the fascinating water fun is to make a trip to the shores found in the Western Side of Door County in the adjacent to Green Bay water depression. Have food in, a restaurant or cook in the kitchen overlooking the lake, especially if you are the type that would want to behold the view of the Lake Michigan’s eastern shore of the Door County and it’s beyond. Enjoy the water vibes!
Cherry Picking
One of the coolest things to do in Door County is picking fresh cherries. The soil and cool spring weather on the peninsula make it the perfect place for cherry trees. Around late July or early August, the cherries change from yellow to a deep, rich red, signaling the start of cherry-picking season in Door County.
If you want to pick your own cherries, plan your trip for late summer. But don’t worry, whenever you visit, you can still buy lots of local cherry goodies all around Door County. Check out the local vineyards for a variety of cherry-flavored wines too!
Wine Tastings Door County Wisconsin
Even though Door County isn’t as famous as Sonoma Valley in California, it has some really amazing wineries. Apart from being perfect for growing cherries, Door County is also great for growing grapes. Many wineries here grow their own grapes locally, creating some incredibly beautiful vineyards on the peninsula. Cheers to Door County wines!
A favorite thing of ours when we go to Door County is to try food of restaurants and visit the wineries for tastings. Our top selection is certainly Stones Throw Winery, in the Bailey’s Harbor area. It’s definitely worth it as they have gorgeous wines there and their wine farm is beautiful.
We made some snapshots at Stones Throw Winery and also, has a contrast to them and revolves around the idea of a night time scene at a shop that sells wine and olive oil in Fish Creek. You will find these shops virtually in every place of Door County, and it is advisable that you should spend some time to wander through to see what is offered in different stores.Enjoy the wine adventure!
Hiking and Snowshoeing
True adventurer fancying something outside and not spoiled by nature? Your perfect place is Door County since it is only build for these audaciousness. Among the five Door County state parks, all of them comprise beautiful hiking trails, walking, hiking, and many other activities. The ways are also not for hiking so they transform to good places for using snowshoes and cross country skis in the winter.
Let’s look into some shots I experienced during the snowshoeing hike at Peninsula State Park a couple years ago. For me, what I remember most about the experience was the awesomeness and the joyfulness of it. Other than in the region of the state trail, this trail actually goes out through Door County. If you think that’s too easy, and you want to get a challenging one, Ice Age Trail covers the whole land of Wisconsin, identifying it as a long path of hiking. Among the plans for the next few years is to stroll on the Ice Age Trail from Tip to Tip. Surely, it’ll be more than spectacular!
Kayaking
If you’re into kayaking, Door County is the perfect spot for you! It’s got some of the best waters in the American Great Lakes region for kayaking, especially at Cave Point State Park. Don’t stress if you don’t have your own kayak—I’ve got some recommended kayaking tours for you in the “Recommended Tours and Excursions” section of this Door County Wisconsin travel guide. Enjoy the paddling adventures!
Explore the Lighthouses
If you happen to enjoy visiting lighthouses like I do, then you are in for a treat when in Door County. It has many beautiful sights for photo-taking and sometimes it even allows a tour of the beautiful lighthouses. There are many beautiful lighthouses to take pictures of and even explore. As you begin planning your Door County trip and want to include some lighthouse visits, I suggest checking the Door County Pulse website for details and the history of all the area’s lighthouses. Happy lighthouse exploring!
List of the Door County Lighthouses you can see:
- Plum Island Lighthouse
- Sherwood Point Lighthouse
- Cana Island Lighthouse
- Baileys Harbor Range Lights
- Birdcage Lighthouse
- Eagle Bluff Lighthouse
- Pilot Island Lighthouse
- Chambers Island Lighthouse
Shop at the Lovely Local Boutiques
Another fantastic activity when you’re in Door County, Wisconsin, is shopping at the charming small-town boutiques. Places like Fish Creek have a bunch of different stores in the downtown area. If you’re in Fish Creek, Founder’s Square is a top spot for shopping, with awesome shops and restaurants, plus incredible views of the water.
And, if you’re looking for more great shopping spots in Door County, consider checking out:
- Liberty Square
- Lautenbach’s Orchard Country Winery and Market
How to Get to Door County
The Door County region in Northeastern Wisconsin is like a little thumb sticking out into Lake Michigan when you look at the U.S. map. It’s a stunning area with lots of activities for tourists to enjoy.
You can experience beautiful lake views, fantastic hiking, lovely beaches, tasty cherry picking, and explore local wineries in Door County, Wisconsin. The closest major cities are Green Bay and Milwaukee.
To get to Door County, if you’re flying in, Green Bay is the largest city with an airport, just 46 miles south of Sturgeon Bay, Door County’s largest city. Milwaukee, the largest city in Wisconsin, is 145 miles north of Sturgeon Bay.
Once you’re in Door County, two main roads, highways 57 and 42, head north through the area, intersecting about 6 miles before Sturgeon Bay.
If you’re coming from Green Bay, take Highway 57 North into Door County and choose either Highway 42 along the West Coast or Highway 57 along the East Coast. These highways meet near Sister Bay in the North.
For those coming from Milwaukee, take Highway 43 North along Lake Michigan’s coast. You can then decide to head to Green Bay and take Highway 57 (the faster route) or take the more scenic Highway 42 along the coast into Door County. Plenty of ways to explore this beautiful region!
Best Time to Visit Door County
The best time to visit Door County is from May to September, with late spring to early summer being the busiest and most enjoyable period due to pleasant weather and numerous outdoor activities. May, in particular, is great for exploring outdoors with cooler temperatures and less rain. Additionally, you can enjoy fresh cherries, which are a specialty of Door County. Since a lot of people visit during this time, it’s smart to plan ahead and book your place to stay and flights early.
Where to Stay in Door County
- Westwood Shores Waterfront Resort.
- Chanticleer Guest House
- Landmark Resort, Door County
- Beach Harbor Resort
Where to Eat in Door County
Door County, Wisconsin Restaurant Recommendations
- Alexander’s of Door County
- Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant & Butik
- Harbor Fish Market & Grille
- Waterfront Restaurant
- The Fireside Restaurant