Door County
Door County is a scenic part of the state of Wisconsin on the Door Peninsula in Lake Michigan. The easternmost part of Wisconsin, the scenic beauties of this peninsula along with maritime history makes this peninsula a very popular tourist destination in Wisconsin and the Great Lakes, especially in the Summer.
Cities
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- 1 Sturgeon Bay — the county seat and largest city in Door County (pop. 9,600 in 2020) serves as a gateway to the peninsula, and has many hotels, restaurants and popular tourist attractions.
- 2 Baileys Harbor — a village of about 330 people along Lake Michigan.
- 3 Egg Harbor
— a small village of about 350 people on the bay of Green Bay. - 4 Ellison Bay — small village north of Sister Bay nearby Bluffs and Newport State Park.
- 5 Ephraim — a small village on the Bay known for its local architecture.
- 6 Fish Creek — a town borders Peninsula State Park, a main attraction of Door County, and feels much like a New England seaside resort or town.
- 7 Gills Rock — small village near the tip of the Peninsula and a gateway for passenger only ferry services to Washington Island.
- 8 Sister Bay — large village north of Sturgeon Bay with 1,000 people and contains many tourist attractions.
- 9 Washington Island — Largest island in Door County that is mainly surrounded by Michigan waters and other Door County islands.
Other destinations
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- 1 Algoma — largest city in nearby Kewaunee County (pop. 3200 in 2020) that is associated with Door County.
- 2 Jacksonport — unincorporated community along the Lake Michigan shoreline served by WIS 57 between Sturgeon Bay and Baileys Harbor.
- 3 Little Sturgeon — small unincorporated area west of Sturgeon Bay and north of County Road C.
- 4 Kangaroo Lake — Located almost in the center of the peninsula, between the two shores, close to Baileys Harbor.
- 5 Northport — unincorporated community that is located at the end of WIS 42 and at the car ferry for Washington Island.
Understand
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Considered the Cape Cod of the Midwest, Door County sits on a peninsula on Lake Michigan and is a very popular destination for vacations. The peninsula offers a unique mix of leisure, recreation, and natural beauty. The culture has a rich history of the arts, with more than 80 cultural establishments within the county, including galleries, museums, and theatres. Many offer courses to enjoy while vacationing there. For the nature lovers, Door County offers five state parks, over 300 miles of shoreline, and more than a dozen conservation areas. The ten lighthouses on the peninsula are popular attractions to history and nautical buffs.
- Door County Visitor Bureau, 1015 Green Bay Rd, Sturgeon Bay, toll-free: +1-800-52-RELAX (73529). Door County's visitor information centers offer maps, brochures and other information for tourists. The Visitor Center Lobby is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Visitor Center is staffed weekdays from 8:30AM to 5PM, and week-ends from 10AM to 4PM. Winter office hours: M-F 8:30AM to 4:30PM.
Get in
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By plane
[edit]- Green Bay-Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB IATA) in Green Bay has direct flights across the county on American Eagle, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, and United Express. The airport is a 45-minute drive from the county seat (Sturgeon Bay).
- Three general aviation airports are located in the county: Door County Cherryland Airport (SUE IATA) in Sturgeon Bay, Ephraim-Gibraltar Airport (FAA LID: 3D2) in Ephraim, and Washington Island Airport (FAA LID: 2P2) on Washington Island.
By boat
[edit]S.S Badger is a car ferry that travels from nearby Manitowoc (75-minute drive from Sturgeon Bay) to Ludington, Michigan.
By bus
[edit]While there is no direct bus service to Door County, there is bus service to the nearby city of Green Bay.
- Indian Trails stops in Green Bay, coming from Milwaukee from the south and going north to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
- Megabus stops in Green Bay, coming from Milwaukee from the south and going west to Minneapolis.
- Coach USA terminates in Green Bay, coming from Madison from the south.
- Amtrak Thruway terminates in Green Bay, coming from Milwaukee from the southeast. Connections can be made in Milwaukee to the Empire Builder and Hiawatha train routes.
By road
[edit]The two main highways into Door County are WIS 42 and WIS 57. WIS 57 is an expressway that runs from Green Bay, leading to other expressways that connect to the Fox Cities, Marinette, WI/Menominee, MI, Milwaukee, and Wausau. WIS 42 on the other hand is a generic highway that runs along the scenic Lake Michigan shoreline from Manitowoc to Sturgeon Bay. In addition, there are several county highways that run from Kewaunee County into Door County.
Get around
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Car is probably the only real practical way of getting around, but biking is great in the state parks and on Washington Island. WIS 42 connects Sturgeon Bay with the bayside villages while WIS 57 runs along Lake Michigan until ending at WIS 42 in Sister Bay; north of Sister Bay, WIS 42 ends at the car ferry docks in Northport. Door County also has several county highways (designated by letters) that provide more connections between villages, and sometimes as the main routes to other communities in Southern Door County.
See
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- 1 Cana Island Lighthouse, 8800 E Cana Island Rd, Baileys Harbor, ☏ +1 920-743 5958. May-Oct: 10AM-5PM. Lighthouse with a scenic view of Lake Michigan. 97-step stair climb required to get to the top. $12 adults, $10 youth.
- 2 Door County Maritime Museum, 120 N Madison Ave, ☏ +1 920-743-5958. Contains the Jim Kress Lighthouse Tower (the tallest building in Sturgeon Bay at 11 floors), and several exhibits related to the Maritime history of the Great Lakes along the shores of Door County. There is also a seasonal museum site up in Gills Rock at 12724 W Wisconsin Bay Rd called "Death's Door Maritime Museum".
- Edgewood Orchard Galleries, 4140 Peninsula Players Rd, Fish Creek, ☏ +1 920-868 3579, info@edgewoodorchard.com. May-Oct: 10AM-5PM. Many different types of art from over 150 artists in a barn and outdoor sculpture garden. Free.
- Peninsula Players Theatre, 4351 Peninsula Players Rd, Fish Creek, ☏ +1 920-868 3287, tickets@peninsulaplayers.com. Nightly outdoor theater shows. Oldest resident summer theater in the US.
Do
[edit]Biking
[edit]Cave Point Paddle and Pedal offer surrey bike rentals
Kayaking
[edit]- Kayak the Mink River Estuary in Rowley's Bay, which is owned by the Nature Conservancy. Gravity Trails +1 920-854-9292
- Cave Point Paddle and Pedal explores Cave Point County Park with guided eco-tours using zodiacs, kayaks and paddle boards.
Parks
[edit]Admissions for state parks are $8 for cars with Wisconsin license plates and $11 for cars with non-Wisconsin license plates.
- 1 Cave Point County Park, 5360 Schauer Rd, Sturgeon Bay. Small county park surrounded by the much bigger Whitefish Dunes State Park that features cave coves on the rocky shores of Lake Michigan near Jacksonport.
- 2 Potawatomi State Park, 4205 Bay Shore Dr, Sturgeon Bay, ☏ +19207434551. A scenic state park protecting portions of the Sturgeon Bay shoreline immediately to the northwest of Sturgeon Bay.
- 3 Peninsula State Park. The state's third largest state park. Like Door County, it's on a small peninsula jutting into Green Bay. It offers much, including numerous campgrounds, an observation tower, beaches, steep bluffs, an amphitheater, and a golf course. The observation tower has knockout park views. Bounded by WIS 42 to the southeast, the main entrance is through Fish Creek. Cars with WI license plates: $10, cars licensed elsewhere: $13.
- 4 Newport State Park, 475 County Rd NP, Ellison Bay. The only wilderness-designated park in Wisconsin, the state park features shoreline of Europe Bay and the southern shores of Europe Lake.
- 5 Rock Island State Park, 1924 Indian Point Rd, Washington. Scenic state park at the northeast part of Door County featuring a historical Icelandic Boathouse and Pottawatomie Light, Wisconsin's oldest lighthouse. The island is only accessible by passenger-only ferry from Washington Island.
- 6 Whitefish Dunes State Park, 3275 Clark Lake Rd, Sturgeon Bay. State park containing multiple sand dunes and remnants of eight successive Native American Villages near Sturgeon Bay on Lake Michigan.
Trails
[edit]- The Ice Age Trail's Door County section begins just outside of Algoma and runs to its eastern end at Potawatomi State Park in Sturgeon Bay, using the entire Ahnapee State Trail and city streets in Sturgeon Bay. This section however is disconnected from other segments of the Ice Age Trail, though the trailhead resumes to the south near Kewaunee.
Sailing
[edit]- Stiletto Sailing, 9993 Hwy 42 Ephraim, WI 54211, ☏ +1 920-854 7245.
Buy
[edit]Many of the villages have shops along their main street (often the state highway that runs through the communities). Although bypassed, Sturgeon Bay also has plenty of shops along 3rd Avenue on the east side and along Madison Avenue on the west side (Sawyer side).
Eat
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- Al Johnson's Restaurant, Sister Bay. A Swedish restaurant and a connected gift shop. Tempting are the Swedish pancakes served with lingonberries, waffles piled high with strawberries and whipped cream, Swedish meatballs and Swedish fruit soup. As an added attraction, the restaurant is housed in a building with a Scandinavian-style sod roof. Goats are on the roof from mid morning to late afternoon every day, "cutting the grass" and provide great photo opportunities. Wait times can be long.
- Door County Confectionery. Another Door County favorite. Sample some fudge, or purchase from a variety of candies. Several locations, but the original is in Ephraim.
- Shipwrecked Brewpub. Door County's only microbrewery. It also has a restaurant.
- Sonny's Italian Kitchen & Pizzeria (often shortened to "Sonny's"), 129 N Madison Ave, Sturgeon Bay. Su-Th 11AM-8:30PM, F Sa 11AM-9:30PM. Italian pizzeria serving wood-fired pizza and other Italian cuisine in a former Applebee's with views of a nearby marina and the Sturgeon Bay.
- Wilson's Diner, 9990 Water Street, Ephraim. A Door County tradition for over a century. A 1950s-style restaurant and soda fountain.
Drink
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- 1 von Stiehl Winery (von stiehl winery), 115 Navarino St, Algoma (From Green Bay: Take Hwy 54 east to Algoma. Continue straight on 54 until you reach the lake. Turn left at the stop sign (Intersection of Hwy 42 & 54) and drive about a block. Follow the Y intersection (Co S) to the right and continue on it until you reach Navarino Street. Turn right just before the bridge (on Navarino), the winery is on the left.), toll-free: +1-800-955-5208. 9AM to 5PM. Take a tour of the winery. Tours and tastings are offered May through October. The winery store is open year-round, seven days a week. Tour: $3.75.
Sleep
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- Alpine Resort, ☏ +1 920-868-3000. Scenic Route G, Egg Harbor. Open since 1921, this resort is on the shoreline and has its own golf course. Both an inn and private cottages are available.
- Bay Shore Inn, 4205 Bay Shore Dr, Sturgeon Bay, ☏ +1 920-743-4551. Waterfront resort sandwiched between the bay of Sturgeon Bay and Bay Shore Drive (County Highway B)
- Beachfront Inn at Bailey's Harbor, Hwy 57, Baileys Harbor, toll-free: +1-866-251-0750, stay@beachfrontinn.net. Offers great rooms with views on Lake Michigan. Amenities include heated indoor pool, cable, high speed wireless internet. Pet friendly.
- Bridgeport Waterfront Resort, 50 W Larch St, Sturgeon Bay, ☏ +1 920-746-9919. Resort near the West Waterfront of Sturgeon Bay in Bay View Park; suites facing north generally have spectacular views of the bay of Sturgeon Bay.
- Chanticleer Guest House, 4072 Cherry Rd., ☏ +1 920-746-0334, toll-free: +1-866-682-0384, information@chanticleerguesthouse.com.
- High Point Inn, 10386 Water Street, ☏ +1 920-854-9773, toll-free: +1-800-595-6894. High Point Inn offers 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom resort suites at discount prices. $170-290.
- Little Sweden, 8984 Highway 42, Fish Creek, ☏ +1-920-868-9950. Villas at Little Sweden offer all the comforts of home in a spectacular natural setting. One-bedroom or two-bedroom villas, decorated in subtle wood tones and with vibrant Scandinavian–designed furniture. In each you’ll find large living and dining rooms, fully appointed kitchens, fireplaces and whirlpools. Nordic Lodge, 2721 Hwy 42, Sister Bay, toll-free: +1-866-854-5432, fax: +1 920-854-5974. Nordic Lodge has 33 rooms and one deluxe suite, all non-smoking. Amenities include free wireless internet, complimentary breakfast, indoor pool/whirlpool.
- Stone Harbor Resort, 107 N 1st Ave, Sturgeon Bay, ☏ +1 920-746-0700. One of two waterfront resorts in downtown Sturgeon Bay, the resort offers views of both the east side of the city and looking west-southwest to the other side.
- Westwood Shores Waterfront Resort, 4303 Bayshore Dr, toll-free: +1-800-440-4057, fax: +1 920-746-9890. Beautiful lodging in Sturgeon Bay.
Camping
[edit]Door County offers campers a choice of 5 state parks.
- Rock Island State Park
- Newport State Park
- Potawatomi State Park
- Whitefish Bay Dunes State Park
- Ahnapee State Trail
Stay safe
[edit]Door County is generally very safe, though you should look out for wildlife (especially deer) on the rural roads. When biking, it is safer to bike away from WIS 42 and WIS 57, and onto more quieter roads away from the highways.
Go next
[edit]- The city of Green Bay has numerous sightseeing options, like the National Railway Museum and Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
- The Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan is similar to Door County, though it has a different historical background, but with several scenic sightseeing options too.
| Routes through Door County |
| Manitowoc ← Two Rivers ← | S  N |
→ END (in Northport) |
| Green Bay ← | S/W  N |
→ END (in Sister Bay) |