Door County Attractions
With
more miles of shoreline, more state parks and more lighthouses
than any other county in the United States, Door County is naturally
one of the Midwest's most popular travel destinations!
In every season,
Door County is spectacular. Located on a 75-mile peninsula and
surrounded by the waters of Green Bay on the west and Lake Michigan
on the east, Door County has more than 250 miles of picturesque
shoreline, ensuring that you always near a relaxing water view.
Ten lighthouses still guard the harbors and the more than 40 islands
of the county. In the spring enjoy the Festival of Blossoms with
the gorgeous apple and cherry blossoms and a special lighthouse
showcase; in the summer, every community comes alive with activities
including water sports of every kind, music festivals and concerts,
fish boils, renowned painters and potters and performing arts
troupes; in the fall enjoy the beautiful crimson and gold colors,
fresh-picked apples and homemade cider and fall festivals, including
Sister Bay's annual Fall Festival, a tradition since 1945, featuring
fireworks and helicopter rides; and in the winter the beauty of
white snow in a picturesque setting with holiday festivals and
events Door County is a perfect place to enjoy the holidays.
There is always
plenty to do in Door County -- water sports of every kind, hiking,
biking, and snowmobile trails, icy caves, pails of pick-your-own
cherries, challenging golf courses, world-class symphony music,
unique craft and antique stores, museums, harbors, nature preserves
and wildflowers. Adding to the mystique of Door County, there
are great restaurants and fish boils and outstanding lakeshore
and bayside accommodations, many fantastic choices for even most
discerning traveler!
Throughout the
year, from the New Year's Day "Polar Bear Swim" in Jacksonport
to Historic Ephraim's "A Village Christmas", Door County's
dozen shoreline communities celebrate their character, culture,
history and heritage with special events and entertainment. Each
community has its own unique blend of natural beauty, activities,
and hospitality to share.
Sturgeon
Bay
Settled in 1835,
Sturgeon Bay's economy originally was based on lumbering. That
changed in 1882, when the canal linking Lake Michigan to Green
Bay was opened to shipping. Today, Sturgeon Bay has a charming
downtown area that is home to unique shops, galleries, fine restaurants
and meticulously restored bed and breakfast inns. Sturgeon Bay
is home to the Door County Maritime Museum, The Miller Art Center,
and Potowatomi State Park. Fishing enthusiasts will enjoy the
waters of Sturgeon Bay. Trophy-size catches of walleye, northern
pike, lake trout and salmon are the rule, not the exception.
Jacksonport
Located just north
of Whitefish Dunes State Park and Cave Point County Park, this
quiet little community offers visitors old-fashioned hospitality
and a relaxing break from the pressures of every day life. Jacksonport
annually hosts the county's biggest and most popular festivals, Maifest. Music, ethnic foods, a wide variety of crafters, artisans
and entertaining activities make May fun and Jacksonport synonymous
for people from all over the United States.
Baileys
Harbor
In October 1848,
a cargo ship piloted by Capt. Justice Bailey found shelter from
a violent storm in a quiet cove on the eastern shore of the Door
Peninsula. The village that sprung up there the following year
was called Baileys Harbor. Surrounded by thousands of acres of
wilderness and wetlands, much of it preserved as part of the Bjorklunden,
Toft's Point and Mud Lake Wildlife Area, Baileys Harbor also offers
birding and hiking at their best at the Ridges Sanctuary, a privately-held
wildflower preserve that includes the Baileys Harbor Rangelight
and Lighthouse, and a beautiful sand beach that's open to the
public. The shore side business district includes many fine shops,
galleries and restaurants. Charter fishing boats leave daily carrying
anglers in search of a memorable catch on Lake Michigan.
Egg Harbor
Named, some say,
for a legendary 1825 egg-throwing battle between two boat crews
headed into the harbor, this picturesque village is home to the
Birch Creek Music Center, a nationally acclaimed music academy.
Evening concerts in the barn at Birch Creek are a tradition for
Door county residents and visitors alike. A leisurely stroll through
Egg Harbor's downtown district delights the eye with shops, galleries
and restaurants housed in lovingly restored historic buildings
and newer buildings that capture village's old Wisconsin charm.
The village's guest accommodations range from the romantic elegance
of French Country Suites to rustic log lodges. In Spring, Egg
Harbor glows with the colors of daffodils, tulips and other flowers.
In October, businesses and residents deck their properties with
Fall decorations for the annual Pumpkin Patch Festival, a favorite
weekend with visitors.
Fish
Creek
Settled first
by Increase Claflin in 1844 and developed as fueling station for
Lake Michigan steamers in 1853 by Asa Thorp, Fish Creek continues
to serve as one of Door County's most popular spots for setting
sail or dropping anchor while sailing up and down the bay side
of the peninsula. The beauty that drew Claflin and Thorp claims
today's visitors to Fish Creek as well. The entrance to the 3700-acre
Peninsula state park is located in the village. Within the park
visitors will find the 130 year-old Eagle Bluff Lighthouse and
Claflin Point, the site of the settler's cabin, which offers a
breathtaking view of the bay. For those who prefer a quiet get-away,
a bike ride or walk through the park is just the ticket. The park,
with its sand beaches and nature trails, is also popular with
campers.
Fish Creek is
known throughout the nation for its active artistic life. Here
you'll find Peninsula Players, the country's oldest professional
summer theater, The Peninsula Music Festival, American Folklore
Theatre, Peninsula Art School, Peninsula Arts Theater, and the
Door Community Auditorium, which plays host to dozens of well-known
artists and productions each year.
Accommodations
in Fish Creek range from luxury waterfront apartments and inns
to wooded campsites. A variety of shops, galleries and restaurants
draw visitors back year after year.
Ephraim
The village of
Ephraim is nestled along the shore of Eagle Harbor. Settled in
1853 by Norwegian Moravians who named their community for a biblical
term that means fruitful, Ephraim's present day villagers have
preserved its rich heritage and much of its history. A carriage
ride through the picturesque village passes buildings that reflect
the elegantly simple architecture painted white that is the hallmark
of the Moravian tradition. Exhibits at the Anderson Barn Museum
give visitors a glimpse into a vibrant past. Anderson Dock, where
tourists in the 1890's disembarked from Lake Michigan steamers,
now is home to the Hardy Gallery. Area artists and special events
make the Hardy a must-see on vacation itineraries. Peninsula State
Park rests on Ephraim's west shore. In June, Ephraim hosts Fyr
Bal, a traditional Scandinavian festival to welcome summer. Bonfires,
great food, music and art are all part of the fun. Ephraim's Midsummer's
Music concert offers chamber music on water. A windsurfing regatta
fills Eagle Harbor with colorful sails in July; and, when ice
is at its best, the harbor fills with ice-fishing shanties and
tip-up flags. Lodging accommodations in Ephraim range from intimate
and exclusive hideaway suites to classic cottages in the heart
of the village's historical district.
Sister
Bay
Settled by Norwegian
immigrants in 1857, present day Sister Bay was formally created
out of two communities, Big Sister Bay and Little Sister Bay,
in 1912. In the 19th Century, Sister Bay's economy was built on
the lumber shipping business. Known for its excellent shopping
and fine dining, Sister Bay provides a safe harbor and docking
facilities convenient to downtown. Sister Bay's magnificent shoreline
features a fine sand beach in the heart of downtown and a wonderfully
developed waterfront park system that plays host to weekly outdoor
concerts in summer. Sister Bay takes center stage in October when
it hosts its acclaimed Fall Festival. Parades, fireworks and a
huge arts and crafts fair are but a few of the reasons visitors
come to Sister Bay for this annual event.
Ellison
Bay, Gills Rock and Rowley's Bay
Even by Door County
standards, the communities that make up the Top-o-the-Thumb - Ellison
Bay, Gills Rock and Rowley's Bay - remain tranquil, laid-back settlements.
Visitors to Ellison
Bay on the western shore of the peninsula will find numerous potters
and other artisans as well as The Clearing, a renowned school
of the arts, literature and ecology; and Ellison Bluff County
Park which offers a breath-taking view of the water from the crest
of a 200-foot escarpment.
Gills Rock remains
true to its commercial fishing and farming heritage while offering
divers the opportunity to explore the many shipwrecks in and around
Death's Door. Visitors to the Gills Rock branch of the Door County
Maritime Museum are invited to explore artifacts of historic shipwrecks
and the area's commercial fishing heritage. Ferries and excursion
boats regularly depart from Gills Rock and nearby Northport Pier.
Rowley's Bay,
was once a prosperous logging area, with a sawmill, post office
and a small hotel on the bay shore. A popular resort restaurant
and a campground still host visitors to this area where a French
missionary priest first walked ashore in 1686. Newport State Park,
a 2400-acre wilderness area that extends north along Lake Michigan
from Rowley's Bay to past Europe Lake, is a haven for hikers,
bicyclists, skiers, snowshoers and backpack campers.
Washington
Island
Washington Island,
the largest island in Door County, was first named "Colonel
John Miller Island" after the leader of the first group of
Europeans to set foot on the island in 1815. Later settlers changed
the name to honor George Washington.
Many of those
later settlers were from Iceland, and today Washington Island
is the oldest Icelandic Community in the United Sates. The island's
Icelandic heritage lives on in many ways, including rare registered
Icelandic Horses available for trail rides at the Field Wood Farm.
The Island lies
northeast of the peninsula just beyond the straits of Death's
Door, named "Porte de Morts" by French explorers for
the treacherous currents and unpredictable wave action that claimed
war canoes and schooners alike. Modern ferries from the mainland,
with their views of spectacular bluffs and rocky shores, make
the crossing of Death's Door a pleasure for today's passengers.
Once on the Island,
many visitors take in its leisurely pace and pastoral beauty while
bicycling, others prefer to take their cars, rent mopeds or take
a guided tour of the island's attractions, museum, galleries,
full-service marinas, shops, lodging and golf courses.
From the Northeast
corner of Washington Island, it's just a ten-minute ferry ride
to Rock Island State Park, the site of Potawatomi Lighthouse,
the oldest in Wisconsin; and Thordarson great hall and
boathouse. No vehicles, including bicycles are allowed on the
island. However, visitors can hike from Viking Hall, built in
the 1920's, to the lighthouse.
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Museums and
Historical Sites
Bjorklunden
Stavkirke
Baileys
Harbor
920-839-2216
Visit a handcrafted replica of a 15th century Norwegian stavkirke
built between 1939 and 1947 on the shore of Lake Michigan. Inside,
experience wonderfully ornate carvings and exquisite hand-painted
murals. Open mid June through Labor Day, Mon.-Wed. 1:00 - 4:00
p.m.
Gills Rock Maritime Museum
12724 Hwy. 42, Gills Rock
920-854-1844
Discover the romance and hazards of commercial fishing and shipwrecks,
in this museums exhibits, ship models, marine engines, photos,
the 1917 ship Berylune, the 1930 fish tug Hope, and much more
at the Door County Maritime Museum's Gills Rick installation.
Open Memorial Day - Labor Day, daily 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Sunday
1:00 - 4:00 p.m. September to mid-October, daily noon - 4:00 p.m.,
Sunday, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Door County Maritime Museum
120 N. Madison Ave., Sturgeon Bay
920-743-5958
Pilot the Great Lakes ore carrier Elba from its restored pilothouse,
complete with compass, telegraph, map table, and "big wheel".
"Steer" the ship through Sturgeon Bay as depicted in
a wall mural depicting the bay approaching the open Michigan Street
Bridge. Watch skilled craftsmen work at constructing a small wooden
boat; explore the engine room, study old outboard motors; visit
a replica naval design shop and model ship gallery; see a classic,
26 foot., 200 hp., 1929 Chris Craft; go aboard the Sturgeon Bay,
a 114 ft. fishing trawler constructed in 1963, and more. Open
Memorial Day - Labor Day 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Labor Day - Memorial
Day 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Door County Museum
18 North 4th Ave., Sturgeon Bay
920-743-5809
Visit the museum praised as the "Best small museum in the
Midwest" by the Chicago Tribune. Exhibits focus on the county's
richly varied history, from the landing of the French explorer
Jean Nicolet in 1634, through the Icelandic and Belgian settlements
in the mid-1800s and the Great Fire of 1871 to the present. Open
daily May 1 through October 31 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Ephraim Foundation Museums
Ephraim
920-854-9688
Tour the restored 1858 Anderson Store, an old-fashioned general
mercantile establishment, a pioneer cabin, an 1869 pioneer schoolhouse
with period furnishings and the square-siloed Anderson Barn Museum.
The Foundation Museums are open 10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday
through Saturday from late June through the season. Walking tours
are at 10:30 Monday, Wednesday and Friday through Labor Day or
by arrangement.
Miller Museum of Art
107 South 4th Ave., Sturgeon Bay
Feast your eyes on the Miller Museum's extensive permanent collection
of 20th century Wisconsin artists and seven changing exhibits.
Open Monday through Thursday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 to
9:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Washington Island Farm Museum
Jackson Harbor Rd., Washington Island
920-847-2156
From horse-drawn wagon rides and special children's activities
during family fun days to exhibits of field machinery hand tools
and home-making artifacts, the Washington Island Farm Museum offers
real, hands-on experiences of early island farm life. Strolling
about the museum's 3-acre facility, visitors will find picnic
grounds and five original island buildings including a log cabin,
barn, forge and sawmill.
Eagle Bluff Lighthouse
Peninsula State Park
920-868-3258
Built in 1868, this restored lighthouse is on the National Register
of Historic Places and operated by the Door County Historical
Society.
Thomas Goodletson House
Ephraim
920-854-4989
Visitors will be charmed by this authentically restored and furnished
1857 home; one of the first houses built on the peninsula. Open
late June for the season.
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Nature Centers
and Parks
Whitefish Dunes
State Park
Cty. Hwy.
A, Jacksonport
920-823-2400
Located just south of Jacksonport, on the sand dunes of Lake Michigan,
Whitefish Dunes is one of the jewels of Wisconsin's state parks
system. The park's 863 acres of forests and dunes along the rugged
coast of Lake Michigan include a large expanse of sandy beach
and the highest dunes in the state. Its unique shoreline landscape
lures visitors to the park. Once there, hiking, biking and cross-country
ski trails create serene memories that keep vacationers coming
back for more.
Cave Point County Park
Cty. Hwy. A, Jacksonport
Adjacent to the Whitefish Dunes, Cave Point County park resounds
to the din of waves crashing against rock and moving through the
parks sandstone caves. Bring your camera and imagination o capture
its wild beauty.
Ridges Sanctuary
Baileys Harbor
920-839-2366
Hiking and birding are at their best at the Ridges Sanctuary in
Baileys Harbor. This privately-held wildflower preserve includes
the Baileys Harbor Rangelight and Lighthouse, and a beautiful
sandy beach open to the public.
Peninsula State Park
Fish Creek
920-868-3258
Located on a 3776-acre peninsula jutting into Green Bay between
Fish Creek and Ephraim, this park offers spectacular forests,
sandy beaches, and a great variety of outdoor activities year
around, including: an 18 hole championship golf course, hiking
and bicycle trails, VITA course, camping, groomed ski trails, snowmobiling, sledding, swimming, boat/bike rentals, boat ramp,
observation tower, summer theater, fishing, nature programs, the
130 year-old Bluff Lighthouse, safe harbor and over six miles
of Green Bay shoreline.
Ellison Bluff County Park
Ellison Bay
920-854-5448
Take in the breathtaking view of the Bay from the crest of Ellison
Bluff, a 200-ft. escarpment at water's edge.
Newport State Park
475 Cty. Hwy. NP, Ellison Bay
920-854-2500
Newport State Park, a 2400-acre wilderness area that extends from
Rowley's Bay beyond Europe Lake, offers eleven miles of Lake Michigan
shoreline, 30 miles of hiking trails for year-round activities,
including swimming, backpack camping, ski touring, snowshoeing
and fishing.
Potowatomi State Park
3740 Park Drive, Sturgeon Bay
920-746-2890
On the waters of Sturgeon Bay, this 1178-acre state park with
over two miles on Green Bay shoreline offers year-round outdoor
activities and amenities including: hiking and bicycle trails,
camping, groomed ski touring, snowmobiling, adjacent downhill
skiing, six miles of hiking trails, thirteen miles of ski trails,
an observation tower with a breath-taking view of Sawyer Harbor,
a boat ramp and fishing in season.
Rock Island State Park
Rock Island
Centuries away, but only a ten minute passenger ferry ride from
the Northeast corner of Washington Island lies 900-acre Rock Island,
the site of Potowatomi Lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse on Lake
Michigan, and Thordarson Hall a fantastic get-away mansion constructed
with boathouse in the 1920's. Visitors are awed by the rugged
natural beauty of the island's craggy shoreline and rock-strewn
beaches. This park offers camping facilities and ten miles of
hiking and ski trails. Though vehicles, including bicycles are
not allowed, the island's features are all connected
by hiking trails.
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Special
Things To Do
Birch Creek
Music Performance Center
3821 Cty.
Hwy. E, Egg Harbor
920-868-3763
A music academy by day, Birch Creek presents over 30 summer concerts
annually. Concerts at this renovated farmstead feature professional
symphonic, jazz and big band ensembles.
Double K-W Ostrich Farm
West Harbor Rd., Washington Island
920-847-3202
Families touring the Ostrich Farm enjoy watching, feeding and
petting the ostriches. Children particularly enjoy playing with
the sheep, potbellied pigs, pygmy goats and mini-donkey in the
farm's petting zoo area. Every year, the farm adds a new exotic
animal surprise to its collection. Open daily 10:00 a.m. - 5:00
p.m.
Fall Colors
Door County
(920) 743-4456, ext. 3
The beauty of Door County is richly displayed when the fall foliage
turns the colors of crimson, orange and gold! Call ahead for in-season
updates on fall color.
The Farm
Hwy. 57, Sturgeon Bay
920-743-6666
Become a part of rural America at The Farm. Visit farm animals
and fowl in natural surroundings. Bottle feed goat kids and lambs;
pick up a piglet; cuddle a kitten, milk a goat; watch chicks hatch;
talk to a turkey. See log buildings, farm tools and implements
and wander the woods on The Farm's nature trails. Open Memorial
Day weekend to Labor Day, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Field Wood Farm
West Harbor Rd., Washington Island
920-847-2490
See and ride living history. Take a scenic trail ride astride
one of the rare registered Icelandic horses raised at Field Wood
Farm. These small, sturdy, and gentle animals are living testaments
of Washington Island's Icelandic heritage. The wooded trails are
easy riding. Pony rides and riding lessons are also available.
Open mid-May through mid-October.
Peninsula Players
W4351 Peninsula Players Rd., Fish Creek
920-868-3287
The Peninsula Players is America's oldest professional resident
theater. It's beautiful gardens and breathtaking view of Green
Bay put mother nature at center stage for an unforgettable theater
experience. Open late June through mid-October.
Washington Island Ferry
Hwy. 42, Northport (Vehicles)
Hwy. 42 Gills Rock (Passengers Only)
920-847-2546
For unexcelled views of spectacular bluffs and rocky shores, cross
Death's Door from the Northport Pier on the Washington Island
Ferry, year around; or take a narrated summer crossing from Gills
Rock on the C.J. Richter (mid-June through mid-August) or the
Island Clipper (mid-May through mid-October).
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Points of
Interest
Eagle Bluff
Lighthouse
Peninsula
State Park, Fish Creek
910-868-3258
Visit the lighthouse keepers' quarters and climb to the top of
this 130 year-old lighthouse to view the machinery, lamp and rotating
magnifying lens that once threw life-saving light far into the
night to guide ships away from the rocky shore. This facility
has been carefully restored and furnished as it was when lighthouse
keepers and their families lived there.
Cana Island Lighthouse
Baileys Harbor
920-743-5958
Stroll over a causeway and through the island woods to this 1869 working
lighthouse that still signals ships to warn them of the reef.
Public facilities and limited parking are available. Open daily
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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Festivals
Annual Polar
Bear Swim
Lakeside
Park Beach, Jacksonport
(920) 823-2288
Each New Year's Day, the hearty brave the elements and take a
dip in Lake Michigan. Food and fun for everyone!
Annual Door County Lighthouse Walk
Door County
(920) 743-5958
A county-wide self-guided tour with several mainland lighthouses
to walk around and a few to walk in. Boat tours to and past island
lighthouses. Held annually in May; call for schedule. Tickets.
Door County Festival of Blossoms
Baileys Harbor
(920) 839-2366
In addition to the beautiful apple and cherry blossoms, festivities
feature the best of restaurant fare, lighthouse sightseeing tours
by water, horse-drawn wagon rides and arts and crafts and more.
Held annually in May; call for schedule.
Door County Festival of Blossoms
Sister Bay
(920) 654-2812
Enjoy beautiful apple and cherry blossoms and the Taste of Scandinavia
Festival, maypole raising, ethnic dancers, entertainment, bonfires
at dusk. Lots of great food. Held in May; call for schedule.
Fry Bal Festival
Ephraim
(920) 854-4989
Visitors and residents all enjoy this Scandinavian festival celebrating
the beginning of summer, held annually in mid-June. Music, dance,
crafts, food, annual fish boil, sailing regatta, and bon fires
along the beaches of Eagle Harbor following the chieftain ceremony.
Fireworks at dusk. Call for dates and schedule.
Pumpkin Patch Festival
Egg Harbor
Inspired decorations have made Egg Harbor's Pumpkin Patch Festival
a fall classic. Held Columbus Day weekend during the peaking of
the fall colors, the festival is perfect family fun with contest,
children's entertainers and scarecrow displays.
Annual Sister Bay Fall Festival
Sister Bay
(920) 854-2812
A tradition since 1945, this festival features fireworks and helicopter
rides and lots of scrumptious food and entertainment. Parade and
ping pong ball drop with great prizes. Call for date and schedule
of events.
Historic Ephraim, A Village Christmas
Ephraim
(920) 854-4989
Celebrate the holidays in a picturesque historic setting! Shops,
galleries and country inns are festively aglow for the holidays
and special activities are planned throughout Ephraim. Thanksgiving
weekend and 1st weekend in December. Call ahead for schedule.
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