Door County is such a wonderful treasure we have here in Wisconsin.
John and I have enjoyed it in all four seasons and love it no matter what the weather.
The reason I decided to post about Door County is because my adult niece texted me and had a lot of questions about what to do and see when she travels to Door County later this month.
I decided if she has questions about the area, maybe others do, too.
Door County
For those of you who don't know where Door County is, here is a map:
Door County is the skinny thumb sticking out on the northeast corner of our state. It juts out into Lake Michigan on the East side and Green Bay on the West side.
It begins in Sturgeon Bay and goes up to Gills Rock on the peninsula and then Washington Island out in Lake Michigan. The Island is only accessible by ferry or boat.https://www.facebook.com/thekoyencollection/
There are many cute, little towns on both sides of Door County. The Green Bay side is the busier of the two sides, the side on Lake Michigan is referred to as the quiet side. Here is a better map of the county.
There are so many places to stay in each town and in between. We have stayed in Egg Harbor at the Landmark, in Fish Creek, in Ephraim, and in Sister Bay. All have been wonderful for different reasons.
We have been heading up to Door County to celebrate New Year's Eve for the last five or six years.
We stay at the Landmark for this trip. We prefer the Landmark in the winter because it is a large resort with lots of amenities. The prices are very reasonable during the off season and we always go through VRBO rather than the resort itself. We found that the price was even less when we went through VRBO. The condos are really nice. Each has a fireplace, well supplied small kitchen and comfortable beds.
During our winter stay, we always celebrate New Year's Eve at the Carrington Inn which is on the grounds of the Landmark so we are able to walk. You are able to wind your way through he hallways of the buildings, thereby limiting your exposure to the winter elements. The buffet is always a good spread and the drinks are tasty, too. I like to have the cherry martini and John likes the cherry old fashioned. There is always karaoke in the bar area and a live band in the downstairs bar. The crowd is a variety of ages, but we have always felt right at home there as Seniors.
We also have taken a trolley tour on the Door County Trolley during the winter visit. If you get a chance, take a the trolley. We had a five hour tour which included stops at the Distillery, a few wineries, the English Inn for lunch, and a sleigh ride. So worth the money and such a friendly trolley driver. They offer the tours throughout the year and I am sure they are all equally interesting.
We also take our snowshoes for the winter trip. Cross country skiing is also a favorite up here.
It has been 20 below with even colder wind chills and we have enjoyed it.
Our very favorite place to go, in any season, is Cave point County Park. You can hike (snowshoe) in winter from Cave Point to Whitefish Dunes State Park. It's about a mile through beautiful wooded areas. Be aware, there are only outdoor bathrooms in the winter, but they are okay in a pinch.
During any other seasons, you can use the nature center which has clean indoor bathrooms.
This whole area is just so pretty.
If you like to cross country ski, you could go all the way to Old Baldy in the state park, but hikers and snowshoers are not allowed on the groomed trails.
We would recommend a hike to Old Baldy during any other seasons though.
It's about 3 miles round trip through some really pretty wooded areas. Once at Old Baldy, you can climb to the top. It's actually a big sand dune, a very big sand dune.
After spending time at these two areas, we like to head to Jacksonport, the nearest town and have a meal and drink at Island Fever. There are good drinks and lots of food choices. I would recommend the whitefish.
Here are a few winter photos:
These photos are from Cave Point County Park, one of our favorite spots in Door County
Above and below are the beach at Whitefish Dunes State Park
During the off season there are many businesses and restaurants that are closed, but we still find plenty to explore and enjoy.
Another place we love in the winter, as well as all seasons is Peninsula State Park between Fish Creek and Ephraim on the Green Bay side.
We like to use our snow shoes in the area of the nature center which has a nice snow shoe trail but we have also hiked without our snowshoes up to the very high bluffs.
It's also a great place to go on the bike trails in the other seasons.
If you are a camper, I am sure you would enjoy this park, too.
Here are a few photos from Peninsula State Park:
No trip to Door County is complete without a trip to the very tip of the peninsula.
It looks especially bleak and cold in the middle of winter but still very beautiful.
This is up at the ferry dock. The ferry runs a few times a day even in the winter as long as there is not too much ice.
Enough about winter, let's move on to the other seasons.
All the above places are wonderful in the other seasons, too and should be on your "to do" list.
We usually stay in Sister Bay during the warmer weather.
Sister Bay is in the middle of things and has a wide variety of shops and restaurants as well as a great marina and beach.
We like Husby's for a quick burger and beer. It even has an outside garage area for those warm summer evenings.
JJ's is another restaurant that we always have on our itinerary.
It is a Mexican restaurant but also has some tasty whitefish on the menu as well as American food Casual and fun place with cute decor and friendly staff. It is in Sister Bay.
Bar stools at JJ's
It is very important that you partake in at least one fish boil while in Door County.
You get to watch them boil up the fish and yell, "Boil over," while fire shoots up from the pot of fish, potatoes and onions. There is always cherry pie for dessert.
Just writing about a fish boil makes me hungry.
We have enjoyed fish boils at a number of different restaurants but the one at the White Gull Inn in Fish Creek is especially good.
After the fish boil head down the dead end road to Sunset Park and watch the sunset. It is always a popular spot and the sunsets are so pretty in every season.
If you are traveling with grandkids, you must stop at PC Junction. There you will enjoy your meal brought to you by a train that runs around the bar area It's a fun place but not a place you would go if you had no kids in tow.
Washington Island
There are two ways that you can get to the Island.
One is to take the passenger clipper and the other is to take the car ferry.
You can take bikes on either boat, but if you want to take your car, you have to do the ferry.
Once on the island I would suggest taking one of the train tours, either the Cherryland Train if you rode the ferry or the Viking Train if you rode on the clipper. Both trains take you on a guided tour with stops at four popular places along the way.
If you bring your car, you will be able to drive around the island and discover things on your own. You can also enjoy the island on your bike.
The island is too big to just go over and think you will walk The dock is quite far from the downtown businesses so walking is not advisable.
There are good restaurants on the island as well as the School House beach. It is one of only five beaches of its kind in the whole world. Check it out!
You can spend anywhere from half a day to a few days on the island if you choose to stay in one of the motels.
We have never stayed there overnight and have usually found that a half a day is plenty of time to explore.
We do not visit the island on each of our trips. It's one of those places that we feel once you have seen it, you don't need to see it again for a few years, but you may feel differently about it.
This is the car ferry
This is the clipper
This is the viking train
We would suggest a stop at Nelson's Hall for a bite to eat or just a drink. It is full of history! There is also the K.K. Fiske Restaurant and Granary which serves "lawyers", a fish named because its heart is located at its backside. And it's very delicious.
An historic Norwegian church on the island
These two photos are from the lavender farm on the island.
This is School House Beach with all its smooth stones.
There is so much to explore in this beautiful area.
We haven't even begun to scratch the surface here in our post, but we hope it gives you an idea of some of our favorite places, all very Senior friendly.
There are wineries with tastings and tours, there is a distillery with tasting, there are breweries, so many wonderful shops, lots of artists and hands on art that one can do, more state and county parks, so many great eateries, beaches in every little town, confectioneries full of candy, ice cream shops, mini golf courses, and regular golf courses.
So much to do, so little time.
At times, I toy with the idea of retiring up there, but then it wouldn't be one of my favorite places to visit.
In closing, be sure and check out the goats at Al Johnson's in Sister Bay.
They eat the grass on the roof!
And, as we said, this blog is for Seniors and as Seniors, we need to know where the bathrooms are.
Well, we are happy to report that there are many public bathrooms located in all the popular areas.
Please share in a comment, the things that you love about Door County.
Travel safe and have fun on the journey!
We have been heading up to Door County to celebrate New Year's Eve for the last five or six years.
We stay at the Landmark for this trip. We prefer the Landmark in the winter because it is a large resort with lots of amenities. The prices are very reasonable during the off season and we always go through VRBO rather than the resort itself. We found that the price was even less when we went through VRBO. The condos are really nice. Each has a fireplace, well supplied small kitchen and comfortable beds.
During our winter stay, we always celebrate New Year's Eve at the Carrington Inn which is on the grounds of the Landmark so we are able to walk. You are able to wind your way through he hallways of the buildings, thereby limiting your exposure to the winter elements. The buffet is always a good spread and the drinks are tasty, too. I like to have the cherry martini and John likes the cherry old fashioned. There is always karaoke in the bar area and a live band in the downstairs bar. The crowd is a variety of ages, but we have always felt right at home there as Seniors.
We also have taken a trolley tour on the Door County Trolley during the winter visit. If you get a chance, take a the trolley. We had a five hour tour which included stops at the Distillery, a few wineries, the English Inn for lunch, and a sleigh ride. So worth the money and such a friendly trolley driver. They offer the tours throughout the year and I am sure they are all equally interesting.
We also take our snowshoes for the winter trip. Cross country skiing is also a favorite up here.
It has been 20 below with even colder wind chills and we have enjoyed it.
Our very favorite place to go, in any season, is Cave point County Park. You can hike (snowshoe) in winter from Cave Point to Whitefish Dunes State Park. It's about a mile through beautiful wooded areas. Be aware, there are only outdoor bathrooms in the winter, but they are okay in a pinch.
During any other seasons, you can use the nature center which has clean indoor bathrooms.
This whole area is just so pretty.
If you like to cross country ski, you could go all the way to Old Baldy in the state park, but hikers and snowshoers are not allowed on the groomed trails.
We would recommend a hike to Old Baldy during any other seasons though.
It's about 3 miles round trip through some really pretty wooded areas. Once at Old Baldy, you can climb to the top. It's actually a big sand dune, a very big sand dune.
After spending time at these two areas, we like to head to Jacksonport, the nearest town and have a meal and drink at Island Fever. There are good drinks and lots of food choices. I would recommend the whitefish.
Here are a few winter photos:
You can see here that this was one of the warmer winter trips, though shoeing does warm one.
Just a short beautiful hike from Cave Point to Whitefish Dunes State Park.
One of the Door County Trolleys
Another place we love in the winter, as well as all seasons is Peninsula State Park between Fish Creek and Ephraim on the Green Bay side.
We like to use our snow shoes in the area of the nature center which has a nice snow shoe trail but we have also hiked without our snowshoes up to the very high bluffs.
It's also a great place to go on the bike trails in the other seasons.
If you are a camper, I am sure you would enjoy this park, too.
Here are a few photos from Peninsula State Park:
It looks especially bleak and cold in the middle of winter but still very beautiful.
Enough about winter, let's move on to the other seasons.
All the above places are wonderful in the other seasons, too and should be on your "to do" list.
We usually stay in Sister Bay during the warmer weather.
Sister Bay is in the middle of things and has a wide variety of shops and restaurants as well as a great marina and beach.
We like Husby's for a quick burger and beer. It even has an outside garage area for those warm summer evenings.
JJ's is another restaurant that we always have on our itinerary.
It is a Mexican restaurant but also has some tasty whitefish on the menu as well as American food Casual and fun place with cute decor and friendly staff. It is in Sister Bay.
It is very important that you partake in at least one fish boil while in Door County.
You get to watch them boil up the fish and yell, "Boil over," while fire shoots up from the pot of fish, potatoes and onions. There is always cherry pie for dessert.
Just writing about a fish boil makes me hungry.
We have enjoyed fish boils at a number of different restaurants but the one at the White Gull Inn in Fish Creek is especially good.
After the fish boil head down the dead end road to Sunset Park and watch the sunset. It is always a popular spot and the sunsets are so pretty in every season.
If you are traveling with grandkids, you must stop at PC Junction. There you will enjoy your meal brought to you by a train that runs around the bar area It's a fun place but not a place you would go if you had no kids in tow.
Washington Island
There are two ways that you can get to the Island.
One is to take the passenger clipper and the other is to take the car ferry.
You can take bikes on either boat, but if you want to take your car, you have to do the ferry.
Once on the island I would suggest taking one of the train tours, either the Cherryland Train if you rode the ferry or the Viking Train if you rode on the clipper. Both trains take you on a guided tour with stops at four popular places along the way.
If you bring your car, you will be able to drive around the island and discover things on your own. You can also enjoy the island on your bike.
The island is too big to just go over and think you will walk The dock is quite far from the downtown businesses so walking is not advisable.
There are good restaurants on the island as well as the School House beach. It is one of only five beaches of its kind in the whole world. Check it out!
You can spend anywhere from half a day to a few days on the island if you choose to stay in one of the motels.
We have never stayed there overnight and have usually found that a half a day is plenty of time to explore.
We do not visit the island on each of our trips. It's one of those places that we feel once you have seen it, you don't need to see it again for a few years, but you may feel differently about it.
There is so much to explore in this beautiful area.
We haven't even begun to scratch the surface here in our post, but we hope it gives you an idea of some of our favorite places, all very Senior friendly.
There are wineries with tastings and tours, there is a distillery with tasting, there are breweries, so many wonderful shops, lots of artists and hands on art that one can do, more state and county parks, so many great eateries, beaches in every little town, confectioneries full of candy, ice cream shops, mini golf courses, and regular golf courses.
So much to do, so little time.
At times, I toy with the idea of retiring up there, but then it wouldn't be one of my favorite places to visit.
In closing, be sure and check out the goats at Al Johnson's in Sister Bay.
They eat the grass on the roof!
And, as we said, this blog is for Seniors and as Seniors, we need to know where the bathrooms are.
Well, we are happy to report that there are many public bathrooms located in all the popular areas.
Please share in a comment, the things that you love about Door County.
Travel safe and have fun on the journey!
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