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There are lots of things to do in Door
County in the Spring! Here are 20 of them!
Come hear Door County's Spring Song! Springtime is Quiet-time on the Door County Peninsula. Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere the
County has to offer, where travelers and residents are all at ease. Though the busy season is just around
the corner, this is still a nice time to soak up the County!
1.
Enjoy the quiet times,
and take in some theater at the Third Street Theater in Sturgeon Bay – we
have heard very positive things from people who have attended events here! Or check other theater happenings now!
THIRD AVENUE PLAYHOUSE
- STURGEON BAY Apr 8-11 & 15-18 • Thurs-Sun Apr 24 & 25- • Sat & Sun
Paul McComas Poetry in (E)Motion: The Many Moods of Verse
May 8 • Sat
Barbershop!
May 15 • Sat
Duct Tape • The Musical
May 22 • Sat
Kevin VanEss & Talk
of the Town NOTE: Always check with the theater for updated schedules
and ticket prices.
2.
Take a Door County
Trolley Tour! Definitely check out seeing Door County by
old-fashioned trolley from the Door
County Trolley Company! Check
their website for specific times and tours – this is a great way to see
Door County and to see some vistas you might otherwise miss! Call them now or visit their website: 920-868-1100. They offer a variety of tours, including
a creative Lighthouse tour, ghost tours and wine tours and even Progressive
Dinner Outings! Call AJ and tell him we sent you!
3.
VISIT THE DOOR
COUNTY MARITIME MUSEUM PS: You can also check out the Gills Rock Maritime
Museum at 12724
Hwy. 42,
Gills Rock – the
Northern tip of the Peninsula.
4.
Driving Tours! Get in the car and drive around the
Peninsula – go down roads you have never been down before – get
lost and explore. The interior of
the peninsula is dotted with art galleries, wineries, and other very cool
things, like barns, shacks, rolling fields of grasses and trees, cherry and
apple orchards and more. There are
so many hidden treasures in Door County, waiting for you to discover! Take your camera, the interior offers
some genuine Door County beauty and tranquility.
q
Visit Jacksonport and Baileys Harbor on the Quiet Side
(the Lake side of the peninsula). We
have reviewed some nice inns there as well. Walk along Lake Michigan, visit Whitefish Dunes State Park,
Cave Point. Drive, park and walk.
q
Drive north from Sturgeon Bay on County B, which
you can pick up in downtown Sturgeon Bay, along the water. You can pick up 3rd Avenue (mostly one way going south) north of Jefferson and head north –
this is B, and turns into Bay Shore Drive. This is a lovely ride, and you will pass some of the very
nicest B&Bs and resorts in Door County along the way! Inn the Pines, Bay Shore Inn, Westwood
Shores, and more! In addition, you will pass Stone Quarry
Park, about 4 miles north of the Inn the Pines – where you can picnic and
enjoy gorgeous Door County sunsets without a huge crowd – not too many
people know about this one! B will
eventually merge with G and you will pop out in Egg Harbor, right by Harbor View
Park and Shipwrecked! Take a left
to continue north on Hwy 42!
q
Take a tour through the center of the peninsula on
County A. This is a very nice road
that cuts north and south right through the center, from about Jacksonport all
the way to Ephraim (going south to north)!
q
And, if you are in Egg Harbor and want to head
north of Fish Creek, head East on E, then North on A (left at PC Junction and
Pen Pub) – you will come out north of Fish Creek – take a right on
Hwy 42 and continue north to Ephraim! OR head up on Cottage Road, down by the Egg Harbor dock – take
that road north, pass by some gorgeous homes on the waterfront, and pop out
near Villaggio’s restaurant in Juddville – a nice change of pace.
q
From Egg Harbor, go East on County T (towards
Valmy). Take it to Elm, and take a
right, then another quick right on Hillside, and a quick left on Lost Lake Road
(heading south – and yes, there’s a lake in there!). Nice old barns, open fields,
shacks….ahh! Get lost! Take a left on Plum Bottom Rd., and
head to Ehler and turn left (north – you’re doing a loop) – you are
now on the other side of Lost Lake . At Hillside, take a right now, then a left on Memorial Drive (north) to
EE. If you want to go to Baileys
Harbor, take a right. Egg Harbor,
take a left! This is a nice little
8 – 10 minute drive. Take
your time.
q
From Baileys Harbor, just keep driving up State Hwy
57. You will pass the Ridges
Sanctuary (8270 Hwy 57 – 920-839-2802) signs – a nature preserve of
wonderful and rare plant life – you can stroll for a long time and enjoy
this magnificent preserve, formed long ago by the effect of the Lake and years
of waves, which created the ridges. Stop and enjoy. Don’t forget
the camera. Keep heading north on Hwy 57, pass AC Tap (one of the oldest bars in the Peninsula) and you will pop
out at the hill in Sister Bay. Take a right and you are at Sister Bay Bowl (north); take a left, and
head south.
q
Also from Egg Harbor, turn down towards the water
right at Greens n Grains and head north on White Cliff road which will put you
back on Hwy 42 at Juddville (near Villagio's).
5.
DOOR COUNTY FESTIVAL OF BLOSSOMS
6.
17TH ANNUAL DOOR COUNTY LIGHTHOUSE WALK
Call
Claire at the Door County Lighthouse Inn – she is extremely knowledgeable
about Door County Lighthouses and has some special info on tours. 920-868-9088 – or stop in her
place in the heart of Egg Harbor.
The lighthouses in Door County
are magnificent to see, especially Cana Island (one of the most photographed
features of Door County) and Eagle Bluff (in Peninsula State Park). You can try to tour the lighthouses on
your own, or there are organized excursions, even by boat, to take in many of
these beautiful lighthouses that helped guide many a ship through tough and
rough waters. Take the time to
enjoy this true Door County treasure. Learn more about the Door County
Lighthouses on our site!
7.
Stay at a wonderful B&B, Inn or Resort! It’s still quiet and you can still get a
beautiful room or suite. There are
many beautiful inns in Door County, and we have reviewed quite a few on our website here.
Some
of our highly recommended ones include (please make sure to tell them you
saw them on DoorCountyNavigator.com - that helps keep the site fresh and viable!). Read our in-person
Reviews of all of these places and find exactly what you are looking for! And
please, please tell them you found them on DoorCountyNavigator.com! We’re finding great places for you!
q
In
Sturgeon Bay
§
The White Lace Inn in Sturgeon Bay: Dennis or Bonnie at 920-743-1105 (Winner
of DoorCountyNavigator.com’s User’s
Choice Award for Best B&B in Door County, 2003!)
§
Reynolds House: Jan or Stan at 920-746-9771
§
Scofield House: Carolyn or Mike at 920-743-7727
§
Inn at Cedar Crossing: 920-743-4200/Lodging
§
The Chanticleer Guest House: Darrin or Bryon: 920-746-0334
§
Black Walnut Guest House: Jeff or Mary: 920-743-8892
§
Pembrooke Inn: 920-746-9776
q
Egg
Harbor
§
Cornerstone Suites: talk to Leif: 888-495-3005,
§
Door
County Lighthouse Inn: call Claire
or Frank: 920-868-9088 (Claire’s the one who knows about the Lighthouses!)
§
The
Feathered Star: Sandy,
1-877-743-4066, 920-743-4066
q
Fish
Creek
§
The White Gull Inn: Andy or Jan at 920-868-3517
§
Thorp House: Christine at 920-868-2444
§
The
Whistling Swan: Bill: 920-868-3517
q
Ephraim
§
The Ephraim Inn: Tim at 920-854-4515
§
Eagle
Harbor Inn: call Natalie: 800-324-5427
§
Trollhaugen
Lodge: Norma: 920-854-2713
§
Village
Green Lodge: Sue & Steve:
1-888-471-8277
q
Baileys
Harbor
§
New
Yardley Inn: call Suzanne or
Dillon: 920-839-9487
§
Blacksmith Inn on the Shore: Joan or Bryon: 800-769-8619
§
Inn at Windmill Farms: Ed at 920-868-9282
Other
really nice
places to stay are: Check re-openings for Spring (where applicable)
directly with Inn.
q
Sister Bay
o
Country
House Resort: 800-424-0041 – See
Their Video!
o
Scandinavian Lodge: 920-854-7123, 888-645-6343
o
Birchwood Lodge: 866-854-7195
o
Pheasant Park: 920-854-7287 800-392-3921
o
Little Sister Resort: 920-854-4013. See
their Video!
o
Coachlite Inn: 920-854-5503
o
Nordic Lodge: 920-854-5432
o
Open Hearth Lodge: 920-854-4890
o
Inn at Little Sister Hill:800-768-6317
o
Church Hill Inn: 920-854-4885
o
Village View: 920-854-2813
q
Egg Harbor
o
The
Ashbrooke: talk with Fred: 920-868-3113
o
The Alpine
Resort :
920-868-3000
o
The
Shallows: 920-868-3458 - See
Video!
o
Egg Harbor
Lodge: 920-868-3115 See
the View!
o
Newport
Resort: 920-868-9900, 800-468-6160. Listen
to our Review!
o
Lull-Abi Inn: 920-868-3135
o
Bay Point
Inn: 800-707-6660
o
Cape Cod
Motel: 920-868-3271 OR 1-877-590-0286
q
Ephraim
o
The Edgewater Resort: 920-854-2734
o
Ephraim Shores Motel and Restaurant: 920-854-2371 See the
Video!
o
Bay Breeze Resort: 920-854-9066 (See Video!)
o
Harbor View
Resort: 920-854-2425. See the
Video!
o
High Point
Inn: 920-854-9773. See the
Video!
o
Somerset
Inn and Suites: 920-854-1819
o
Lodgings at
Pioneer Lane: 800-588-3565
o
Park’s Edge
Lakeshore Homes & Cottages: 414-481-2654 (see video)
q
Sturgeon Bay
o
Westwood
Shores in
Sturgeon Bay: 920-746-4057
o
Bridgeport in Sturgeon Bay: 920-746-9919 Watch
Video!
o
Glidden
Lodge Beach Resort in Sturgeon Bay: 920-746-3900
o
Snug
Harbor: 920-743-2337,
1-800-231-5767
o
Stone
Harbor Resort: 920-746-0700,
877-746-0700
o
Beach
Harbor Resort: 920-743-3191
q
Baileys
Harbor
o
Baileys
Harbor Yacht Club in Baileys Harbor: 920-839-2336
o
Kangaroo
Lake Resort in Baileys Harbor: 920-839-2341 – Watch
Video Now!
o
Baileys
Harbor Ridges Resort: 920-839-2127
o
Beachfront
Inn at Baileys Harbor 866-251-0750 OR 920-839-2345
q
Fish
Creek
o
Homestead
Suites in
Fish Creek: 800-686-6621 – See Video!
o
Harbor View
Guest House: Call Elizabeth at 920-868-2284. Watch the Video!
o
By-The-Bay
Motel in
Fish Creek: Mary at 920-868-3456
o
Main Street
Motel in
Fish Creek: Nedra at 920-868-2201 – Watch Their
Video!
o
The Hilltop
Inn:
Kelly: 888-868-3556
o
Apple Creek
Resort: 800-569-0059 – Watch Apple Creek
Video Now!
q
Jacksonport
o
Square
Rigger Lodge: 920-823-2404
q
Washington Island
o
Findlay’s Holiday Inn (on Washington Island): call Jim: 800-522-5469
We have reviewed many more
places too! So read the reviews first! Be sure to call first for
opening dates!
8.
Cave Point! Must see! While you're in the outdoorsy mood, head over to Cave Point, another
very much photographed site in Door County. It's over on the Quiet Side
(the Lake Michigan side), near Jacksonport and Whitefish Dunes State Park -
head south on Hwy 57 from Bailey's Harbor. This is a bluff of rock overlooking
the waters that produce wonderful sprays of splashing waters in spring and
summer as the waves crash the rocks below. It’s a beautiful vista – don’t miss it in the
springtime! It is quite a place! See Our Cave
Point Video! Also see our Cave Point Spring
Thaw video!
9.
Restaurants! Well,
you might want to dine out, and the restaurants for the most part are still on the
Winter hour schedule. So here are
some restaurants that will be open, mostly weekends, some from Thurs –
Sun, some opening in early May.
q
Alexander’s,
Fish Creek – fine dining: 920-868-3532
q
Inn at Kristofer’s , Sister Bay- fine Dining: 920-854-9419
q
The
Waterfront, Sister Bay – fine dining: 920-854-5491
q
Stone
Harbor Restaurant & Pub, in Sturgeon Bay: 920-746-9004
q
Casey’s Inn Supper Club, Egg harbor: 920-868-3038
q
Hof
Restaurant at Alpine Resort, Egg Harbor: 920-868-3000
q
Harbor Fish Market & Grille, Baileys Harbor:
920-839-9999 (See our Review)
q
Greenwood Supper Club, Fish Creek at Hwys A and F
(open F - Sun) 920-839-2451 (See our Review)
q
Inn
at Cedar Crossing, Sturgeon Bay: 920-743-4249
q
The
Cookery, Fish Creek - 920-868-2372 (re-opend last year and better than
ever!
q
Mission
Grille, Sister Bay: 920-854-9070
q
Fred & Fuzzy’s Waterfront Bar and Grill: 920-854-6699
(check opening day), see our Review!
q
Door
County Coffee & Tea – café in Carlsville: 920-743-8808
q
Coyote Roadhouse, Baileys Harbor at Kangaroo Lake:
920-839-9192 (See our Review)
q
Viking
Grill in Ellison Bay: Say hi to Dan: 920-854-2998
q
Restaurant
Sage, Sturgeon Bay: 920-743-1100 (See our Review)
q
If you are staying in a
resort with kitchen facilities and want to dine in, then pick up some food at
the wonderful Main
Street Market in Egg Harbor, or some gourmet delights at Top
Shelf Gourmet and Café in Sister Bay (Country Walk Shops), and a great
natural food shop in Egg Harbor, Greens
n Grains (and cafe too)!.
10.
Tour Door County – like
never before!
Bayshore Outdoor Store Rent
kayaks, canoes, and more. Sail,
take lessons, paddleboat or hydrobike! Very cool!!
11.
Visit some bars and talk to the locals. Another good thing about Spring is that it is
still slow enough where people
have the time to chat and relax – this is a real luxury for all.
Visit some local bars, and enjoy the conversation! Some good talking
places: (see our reviews of bars, taverns and saloons on the website); read about them, then visit!
q
The Hitching Post in Sturgeon Bay: See Hughy:
920-743-5735 (we love this place: you can’t get more local than this!)
q
Karley’s Bar on Washington Island: 920-847-2655
q
Casey's Inn in Egg Harbor, right on Hwy 42:
920-868-3038 (check hours, usually Thurs- Sun in winter/spring)
q
Coyote Roadhouse in Bailey's Harbor, right on
Kangaroo Lake, 920-839-9192 (great old roadhouse)
q
Bayside Tavern in Fish Creek, right on Hwy 42:
920-868-3441 (very local, very cool, very good burgers too!) – one of our
favorites!
q
Husby's in Sister Bay (an all-round classic and
local hang-out), 920-854-2624
q
Sister Bay Bowl, the bar section, right across from
Husby's, 920-854-2841
q
JJ.s/La Puerta in Sister Bay: 920-854-4513
q
The Blue Ox in Bailey's Harbor, on Hwy 57,
920-839-2771
q
AC Tap in Bailey's Harbor, between Sister Bay and
Baileys Harbor 920-839-2426
q
Shipwrecked in Egg Harbor, micro-brew, 920-868-3036
(check hours)
12.
Fishing! If you like fishing, well, you can fish
in Door County! Here is what you can expect for more fishing, if you want
walleye, salmon, trout and perch! Check to see about license requirements, best times, charters.
q
Middle of April: Lots of brown trout fishing going
on not far from the Stone Quarry.
NOTE: Check with some of our favorite Charter Fishing
organizations for times when they might be heading out for the season –
make your plans:
Andy’s Silver Strike
Charter Fishing
First Choice Charter
Hitman Charters
Hooked Up Sportfishing Charters
13.
Plan a Family Reunion Or Corporate Retreat! Take a real Spring-Break! You can find inns and resorts that can accommodate a large family for a
spring get-away reunion, or if you are in the corporate world, a memorable and
inspiring business retreat. There
are many resorts that can accommodate groups of just about any size and meet
all your needs: Check out Stone Harbor Resort in Sturgeon Bay, for
example. Plan your memorable event
right now! More and more folks are
doing this for a wonderful get-together or retreat away from the hustle and
bustle – come to Door County! See
our Resort and Lodging places that have meeting rooms, etc.
14.
SWIM! If you are not staying at an inn
with an indoor pool, and you missed the Polar Bear Swim in Jacksonport on
January 1st, try the YMCAs
·
YMCA
·
YMCA
– Northern Center
15.
Hike! Hiking in Door County is
special and Spring is a wonderful time to hike the county -
whether you are just taking a nice long stroll on your own, or taking in the
natural wonders and beauty of the State Parks! Walk and enjoy the warming Spring air and tranquil scenery!
State
Parks: they are beautiful year-round!
q
Whitefish Dunes State Park: 920-823-2400, 3701
Clark Lake Rd, Sturgeon Bay
q
Peninsula State Park info: 920-868-3258, in
Fish Creek
q
Newport State Park: 920-854-2500, 475 County Hwy
NP, Ellison Bay
q
Potawatomi Park: 920-743-7033, 3740 Park Drive, Sturgeon Bay
Or
try Ridges Sanctuary (see video) in Baileys Harbor: 8270 Hwy 57 – 920-839-2802
16.
Museums/Galleries! Springtime is a
great time to take in some of the
local museums and galleries. This will get you started:
o
Door
County Maritime Museum
o
Door
County Historical Museum
o
The
Miller Art Museum
o
AMO Gallery
o
40 N. 3RD AVE. FAX
920-746 8719 Custom
framing, great gallery of Door County and national artists
17.
Get Artistic! Take an art class, or do an art project on your
own! Fun for all! Check into these cool places:
□
You can take
any number of classes in art at the Peninsula Art School! From photography to ceramics to
watercolor painting! Check our
their tremendous schedule! And
tell them you found them here please!
Peninsula Art School
□
For the Do-It-Yourself
Artist in us all! Check out
Hands-On Art Studio where you can paint ceramics, glass, metal art,
t-shirts! Fun projects for any
age. Call them at 920-868-9311. Tell Cy that we sent you, please! Great place!
Hands On Art Studio
18.
Search for your
Dream Home! If you have always thought about owning your
own home, land or cottage (even a business!) in Door County, Spring is a great
time to look around and get comfortable with all that is available. And here are some of our favorite real
estate agencies to do it with!
o
Coldwell Banker Door
County Horizons
o
Coldwell Banker - The Real Estate Group
o
Century 21 Action Realty Group
o
Century 21 Action Realty Group - Cindy Koutnik
o
Washington Island Realty, Inc.
o
Wilson-Shaffer Inc. Realtors
19.
Visit a Farm Market, Gourmet or Coffee Shop! There are so many farm
markets in Door County, and neat gourmet shops for coffee, fudge and more! Try some of our favorites!
Door
County Coffee and Tea Company! Great
shop! And they roast and flavor
their own coffee so you can buy many varieties (75) whole bean, or ground. And enjoy their café too! And yes! They have a deal too in the Door Deals™ discount book!
Door County Coffee and Tea
5773
Hwy 42
Copper
Kettle Confections –
home made gourmet popcorns (caramel, cashew, more) and home made fudge! Some of the best we have ever had!
Copper Kettle Confections
24
N. 3rd Ave
Gomy’s Goodies - great homemade fudge, candies and other goodies
Gomy's Goodies
7813 Hwy 42
Gourmet Food, Wine & Spirits at Liberty Square - Wine, cheeses, lots more!
7755
Hwy 42
Double Delites - homemade gelato (Italian ice cream) - as soon as
this place opens this spring, get in there!
7818
Hwy 42 (next to Main
FARM
MARKETS/Tours AND COOL SHOPS
Dairy View Country Store – take a tour, and
learn how a real dairy farm works!
Dairy View Country Store
5169
County I
The Shops at Liberty Square
In
The Settlement Shops
20.
Luxuriate at a Spa!
Lavender Spa~Egg Harbor The Spa at Sacred Grounds
And
if you a guest at the Settlement
Courtyard Inn, then you can head to their guest-only Lavender Spa! Tell Marise we sent you!
BONUS! In
May, The
Skyway Drive-In Theatre opens for the season! You MUST make this part of your Door County vacation!
In May, you
will be able to para-sail, head out on a catamaran, paddleboat, Wazve Runner
and more!
There are many arts and craft shows,
carriage rides, art classes and more happening this Spring. Check our Calendar Of Events for more details.
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