Plain and Fancy in Door County
By Donna Marie Pocius
Special to DoorCountyNavigator.com
Pack a Gucci suitcase or a duffle bag and travel to Door County, where accommodations and activities seem to woo people of all budgets and pleasures.
Travelers can make a reservation at a lovely in-town historic inn and spend an afternoon at a fabulous art gallery followed by a lobster entrée. Meanwhile, budget travelers can check in at a wonderful campground and enjoy the Saturday night chicken special at a local place.
No matter which style of travel you choose, Door County doesn't get too fancy. And, frankly, you just may want to add all these ideas below to your itinerary.
A lovely stay
The Whistling Swan is a lovely historic inn located in the heart of Fish Creek at 4192 Main St. Only seven rooms are available, and this is a hot spot especially on summer weekends. Included are four standard rooms, a deluxe room and two suites.
The pretty suites have French doors, which separate a sitting area from the bedroom with a queen-size bed. Large vintage windows emit abundant natural light.
Each room has its own feeling. For example, the standard rooms are charming—one we saw had an antique bed piled with decorative pillows. Each room has a private bathroom, and most of them have claw foot tubs, brass fixtures, pedestal sinks and vintage-inspired flooring.
Enjoy continental breakfast on the infamous veranda; tables are dressed with white tablecloths, and every seat offers a pretty view.
There's a wonderful restaurant here. Another place for fine dining is Harbor Fish Market and Grille, housed in an architecturally interesting 150-year old building at 8080 Hwy. 57, Baileys Harbor. In addition to the original art and intimate view of Lake Michigan, look for Harbor Fish Market's lobster boil, prime rib and more offerings.
Also appealing to luxury travelers are many of Door County's art galleries and local artists. For example, paintings by Pamela Murphy of Sister Bay start at about $1,800 and can be seen at Fine Line Designs Gallery, 10376 Hwy. 42, Ephraim, which represents local and national artists.
Affordable comfortable campground stay
Travelers on a different budget will find that Frontier Wilderness Campground, 4735 Hillside Rd., Egg Harbor, has much to offer: convenient location, varied campsites and abundant amenities and activities.
The property has more than 200 sites including more than 100 seasonal sites (reserved from May 1 to Oct. 31). Each site is big enough for a 40-foot trailer and has a combination of shady area and sun.
The campground offers a variety of activities as well as organized events. Included are an indoor pool, activity center and adult center. Outdoor attractions include a nine-hole mini golf course, playgrounds, volleyball court and more.
You can cook at your campsite, of course, or join in Frontier Wilderness's chili cook-off event.
Another idea is to head to nearby Birmingham's Bar & Restaurant, 4709 Bay Shore Drive, Sturgeon Bay. The place serves a local crowd, who come for the local whitefish, perch, Saturday roasted chicken special and hamburgers served on sliced bread. "We don't have a real fancy face on our front. People come by recommendation of a local," the owner said.
Have fun in Door County! Explore all the lodging and dining options right here, on DoorCountyNavigator.com!