My favorite Door County (WI) attractions

They have GOATS on the roof!

I was very fortunate to be able to work in Door County, WI for 3 months. For those of you that don't know, if Wisconsin is a mitten, Door County is the tip of the thumb. Many Wisconsinites go 'up north' during the summer months to escape from the city and take in the beautiful landscape.

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND

Who is the ideal guest?

Anyone who wants an escape from the city. No cell phones.

Cell Service.

"No cell phones" isn't really a choice, cell service is quite spotty. This also means, GPS can be spotty as well. I highly recommend an actual paper road map of Door County for safety precaution. Look up directions and print them out prior to visiting any location spots.

Wildlife.

Wisconsinites are already familiar with wildlife in their streets, but it is much more common in Door County. Drive carefully, especially at night.

Far out, dude.

Many of my favorite attractions are spread throughout Door County. You can drive for hours to get to some of these places. I had 3 months to visit all of these places, so plan according to your time frame.

Have fun.

This seems obvious, but you'd be surprised by how much some of us are glued to our phones. I warned my family members that there is no service, and they took that as 'no wifi'. I can assure you, your unlimited data plan will not work here. So talk to each other and have fun!

(We did eventually run out of things to talk about. LOL. So my cousin (pink) hilariously taught us how to do this "popular" hand-monocle thing(?). Blue is where we all started. As you can see, we had A LOT of free time.)

Without further ado, here is my Door County Guide List:

(this is in order of driving up north)

STURGEON BAY

This is the last 'big city' you'll drive through. I highly recommend stopping at their Pick 'N Save or Wal Mart for any last minute necessities. Once you go past this city, it'll be mostly gas stations and boutique shops. Your cell service will most likely drop beyond this point.

Attraction:

-Sturgeon Bay Bridge: this is a 165 ft bridge that connects to the peninsula. This is why you will lose cell service when you go further north.

WHITE FISH DUNES

Attractions:

-White Fish Dunes State Park: beach/state park

-admission fee and paid parking fee

-Cave Point County Park: caves/beach/trails/state park

-admission fee and paid parking fee

-Boat/kayak rentals

-Segway Tours

BAILEY'S HARBOR

*this is where I stayed for work.

Attractions:

-Bjorklunden: A small forest with some hiking trails. This is where I worked at Door Shakespeare for the summer in 2018. You will find an area with a tall tree and an outdoor stage with seating area. There’s also a rustic Swedish Church in the forest. You can also book tickets to see a Door Shakespeare production.

-GAS UP: Bailey’s 57 is a mini grocery store inside their gas station. It also has a beautiful lake view. Anclam Park is also nearby with a beautiful lakefront as well.

-SUNDAY’S FARMER’S MARKET: Bailey’s Harbor Town Office will host a Farmer’s Market. This is where I get Hmong eggrolls when I'm desperate for Hmong food.

-The Ridges Sanctuary (free): hiking boarded trails and lighthouse Trails

SISTER BAY

I highly recommend lodging here. This is sort of the crown jewel of Door County. My favorite Door County restaurants are in Sister Bay:

-AL Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant (the place with goats on the roof). I highly recommend going for breakfast and getting there EARLY. This is the THE MOST popular place.

-Wild Tomato: family owned, wood-fire pizzas. The best pizza up north. It will be slightly crowded during busy summers.

-For more restaurants in Sister Bay click here.

Attractions:

-Marina Bay & Shoreline: beaches, boat rides, boutique shops, etc.

-This town has a hot spot for cell service! So go ahead and post your photos.

Fish Creek

Attractions:

-Peninsula State Park

-Hiking/Biking/Camping/etc.

-Segway Tours

Washington Island

Washington Island is at the very tippy-top of the thumb (which means it's a LONG trip). If you want a full Door County experience, I highly recommend devoting an entire day to this island. This is a small-ish island so it really depends on how fast you get through the attractions.

Things to Keep in Mind:

-The Curviest Road: you will drive across the curviest road in the USA in order to get to Northpoint Pier. I am not exaggerating, here is a photo.

-From Northport Pier, you will take a ferry to Washington Island. I highly recommend driving a car (there will be a car/person fee to board the ferry). Get there early, lines will be LONG if you’re taking a car. Make sure you look at the ferry schedule, otherwise you will be stranded on the island. Pick up an island map at the paying kiosk.

-No Car? They have a cherry train service and mopeds for extra $.

-Food: Highly recommend bringing your own food to grill or cook at the beach. If you don't have the time, I recommend eating at Ablatross Dine-In (pit-stop burgers) and the local ice cream/candy shop Susie’s Sweets and Souvenirs.

My first, second and third time going to the island. Lol.

As you might be able to tell, it's a little windy on the ferry. Bring something to keep you warm as Door County is much more chill in the summer than most places. The ferry ride is quite steady, you shouldn't feel it rocking much. If you have extreme motion sickness, I recommend taking something prior.

Attractions:

-Lavender Forest: There are 2 locations that have the lavender forest farm. It is free and you can buy some items at their gift shop. Highly recommend going when they’re in season, so you can see the flowers in full bloom!

-Schoolhouse Beach: One of the clearest water beaches you will ever see. The rocks are incredibly smooth and fun to stack. They’re so valuable that there is a $200 fine if you steal a rock. Highly recommend getting water shoes or sandals as there is no sand. The rocks will be hard to walk on. If you’re packing food, this is a good spot to eat and unload. I have visited this beach 3 times, but have yet to swim in it. Next time for sure!

-Eagle Tower: A short hike and climb to see an overview of the island.

-Stavkirke Church: Small Scandinavian Church. You can walk inside and take a seat inside as well.

And that's my list of my favorite Door County attractions.

Many people will have their own favorites and I'm sure there were many spots that I never actually got to visit. You can check out Door County's website and see what else you can include in your next visit. Most importantly, Door County really is about reconnecting with nature, yourself and your friends/family. The most memorable events from this trip will be with the people you go with.

Special thank you to my very good friend/favorite lady boss: Melissa Wanke, who made my entire stay in Door County a dream.