Top Things to Do in Door County, Wisconsin

Do

Cana Island

See the remains of the freighter M.J. Barteleme, which ran aground in 1928, and scale the 97 steps of the Cana Island Lighthouse on this small island outside Baileys Harbor.

Cave Point County Park

Within Whitefish Dunes State Park along Lake Michigan, beech forests, wetlands and shoreline studded with caves and limestone cliffs show off Door County's wilder side at Cave Point County Park.

Door County Adventure Rafting

Explore shipwrecks, lighthouses, islands, caves and more on narrated high-speed boat tours that depart from different points around the county.

Door County Maritime Museum

In Sturgeon Bay, tour the restored tugboat John Purves, step into the wheelhouse of a 1907 steamship, and learn about ship captains and shipbuilders at this maritime museum.

Door County Plein Air Festival

Each July in a Fish Creek park, master artists render paintings at the largest event of its kind in the Midwest. Bid on favorites at an auction.

Door County Trolley Tours

Guests take scenic tours by day or by night, and hear creepy tales of ghostly sunken ships and murder at stops in a cemetery and at haunted lighthouses.

Door County Wine Trail

The nine wineries promise incredible scenery and expertly crafted vintages.

FYR Ball Festival

Sunrise yoga and a day of family entertainment end with a bonfire and fireworks over Eagle Harbor, recalling the tradition of early Norwegians celebrating Midsummer's Eve (mid-June).

Galleries

Some favorites: Woodwalk Gallery, for works by 70-plus artists, in Egg Harbor; Edgewood Orchard Galleries in a fruit-barn-turned-gallery in Fish Creek; and TR Pottery, a working studio-gallery in Fish Creek.

Hands On Art Studio

In Fish Creek, would-be artists choose from projects like metalwork and fused glass.

Lautenbach's Orchard Country

Fruits grown on the 100 acres produce jams, wines and ciders. Try wine and cider flights at the outdoor picnic areas.

Midsummer's Music Festival

Professional musicians perform chamber music in a variety of venues.

Newport State Park

Northeast of Ellison Bay near the peninsula's tip, Newport appeals to outdoorsy types, with secluded camping, hiking, biking and kayaking.

Northern Sky Theater

Enjoy original musical comedies at the new indoor theater, or outdoors in the summer in an open-air amphitheater at Peninsula State Park.

Peninsula Players Theatre

Catch a Broadway production by America's oldest resident summer theater in a wooded setting along the shore. During intermission, watch the sun set over Green Bay by a bonfire.

Peninsula State Park

Miles of hiking and biking trails in the 3,776-acre park near Fish Creek include Sunset Trail, a 9.6-mile park overview.

Popelka Trenchard Glass

Many days, visitors can watch the husband-and-wife team blowing the glassworks sold here in Sturgeon Bay.

Potawatomi State Park

Ten minutes outside Sturgeon Bay, trails lead to views across Sturgeon and Green bays. Rent canoes and kayaks to paddle Green Bay.

Segway the Door Tours

Get a great overview of the area, rolling past drawbridges, shipyards and Victorian mansions in Sturgeon Bay.

Washington Island

A ferry crosses waters dubbed Death's Door from the tip of the mainland to the 35-square-mile island, where visitors enjoy beaches, museums, farms (including sweet-swelling Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm) and golfing. From Washington Island, a passengers-only ferry runs to Rock Island State Park, home to Pottawatomie Lighthouse.

Eat and Drink

Barringer's

Steaks and seafood star at this historic Fish Creek fine-dining spot, where fireplaces inside and outside warm cool nights.

Bluefront Cafe

An emphasis on healthy local foods creates an ideal stop for burgers, soups and sandwiches in Sturgeon Bay.

Door County Coffee and Tea

At the Carlsville business, the coffee roaster has a window onto the roasting process.

The Fireside Restaurant

This family-owned eatery and pub in Egg Harbor features traditional supper club favorites along with Cajun-inspired cuisine.

Grasse's Grill

The chef-owner's farming roots show in the focus on local ingredients at this breakfast and lunch spot in Sister Bay.

Harbor Fish Market and Grille

The whole family—even the dog—is welcome at this upscale lakeside restaurant with fantastic lobster bisque.

Hatch Distilling Company

The small-batch distillery in Egg Harbor crafts spirits with local organic grains and honey. Sample craft cocktails in a space overlooking the production room.

One Barrel Brewing

This Madison-based brewer opened a taproom in Egg Harbor with a massive beer garden and cozy firepits. Soak up your brew with a wood-fired pizza from Pizza Bros next door—pick from a menu of classic pies or build your own.

Pelletier's

A fish boil every hour from 5 p.m. to close gives guests at the Fish Creek restaurant lots of chances to watch the action.

Scaturo's Baking Company and Cafe

In Sturgeon Bay, visit Scaturo's for a large selection of breakfast foods, pizza and baked goods.

Sweetie Pies

Each dessert at the Fish Creek bakery is handcrafted and packed with fresh ingredients; try the apple-cherry pie.

Top Deck Restaurant and Bar

Savor lakeside dining at Gordon Lodge, 6 miles northeast of Baileys Harbor, with dishes like Pasta Paesano, with chicken, sausage, prosciutto and orecchiette pasta.

Trixie's

Locally sourced ingredients flavor Trixie's dishes, such as whitefish ceviche, fried pork wontons or a grain bowl, in a small wood building in Ephraim.

Twelve Eleven Wine Bar

Build your own charcuterie board at the peninsula's newest wine destination, in Sister Bay. The back patio opens up into a bucolic wooded prairie.

The White Gull Inn

In Fish Creek, this New England-style bed-and-breakfast holds one of the best fish boils—part dinner, part theater, all tradition.

Wickman House

If you only splurge on one upscale dinner, do it at Ellison Bay's Wickman House. Seasonal dishes like Sunchoke Farroto, Blackened Carrots with tomato jam and spicy Fishmonger Stew will linger in your memory longer than they do on your plate.

Wild Tomato Wood-Fired Pizza and Grille

Watch cooks in Fish Creek toss the crust for delicious pizzas topped with local ingredients, including Wisconsin cheese curds.

Stay

Blacksmith Inn on the Shore

Whirlpool baths, fireplaces and balconies enhance a shoreside stay in Baileys Harbor. Bikes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards encourage exploration.

Bridgeport Waterfront Resort

Seagulls and ship horns provide the soundtrack at this family-friendly resort in Sturgeon Bay.

Cedar Court Inn

Newly renovated rooms offer unbeatable proximity to downtown Fish Creek at a modest rate, or reserve one of their roomier suites or cottages for extra amenities like a fireplace or kitchen.

The Dörr

Relax in minimalist-posh guest rooms at Sister Bay in one of Door County's newer lodgings.

Eagle Harbor Inn

Relax at an indoor pool or play croquet or bocce ball on the 5-acre grounds at this 1937 Ephraim B&B.

Glidden Lodge Beach Resort

Near Whitefish Dunes State Park, condos have fireplaces and whirlpool tubs. All units face the water.

Inn at Cedar Crossing

This 1884 nine-room inn and restaurant in Sturgeon Bay serves continental breakfasts to get you started on your day.

Whistling Swan

In 1907, teams of horses pulled this lovely inn—Door County's oldest operating inn—across frozen Green Bay to Fish Creek.

For more information doorcounty.com