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30 Things to do in
Door County
this Summer!
Summer is the season! In Door County, this is the busy season
- but you can still find exactly what you are looking for: lots of activities
and things to do, or peace and quiet! You can have a fun-packed summer in Door County! This trip, try some brand
new things in Door County. Whether traveling alone, with a
significant other, family or friends, there’s more to do in Door County in the
summer than any other time. Sail, go
charter fishing, kayak, go on eco-tours, golf, shop, dine outdoors, swim, look
for real estate, hike and even just relax!
1.
Go Sail Door County! That’s right – and you
don’t even have to have a boat! Call Peder at Sail Door County and you can go out on a divine cruise on the Green Bay waters on his beautiful
sailboat! Read
our Review, then call to make a reservation! 920-495-SAIL
(7245)
Off-Season, 773-404-8110! This is
the way to go!
2.
Tour Door County by
Trolley! Get a grand tour of Door County on an
old-fashioned trolley – check out Door County
Trolley for lots of fun! The
45 minute tours are informative, fun, and show you show great vistas –
bring the camera! They also have a
General Tour, Lighthouse Tour a trolley “Ghost Tour, a new Premier Wine Tour
and more! Please tell AJ that
DoorCountyNavigator.com sent you!
3.
MAKE YOUR OWN ART!
Head over to Hands-On Art Studio and create your own are
– paint ceramics, shorts, glass; make metal sculptures and lots
more! Tell Cy we say hi!
Hands On Studio
3655 Peninsula
Players Rd
Fish Creek
920-868-9311
4.
Kayak! Take a Scenic
Cruise! Learn to Sail! More! Check out the Ephraim Kayak Center,
part of the Bay Shore
Outdoor Store activities offered for a lot of summer fun!
Ephraim Kayak
Center
South Shore Pier,
Ephraim
920-854-4336.
Head
out on a Catamaran!
Stiletto Sailing Cruises
at South Shore Pier
9993 Hwy 42
Ephraim
920-854-7245
Scenic
Boat Excursions
Sail Door County
Sister Bay Marina
920-495-SAIL (7245)
Shoreline Charters
12747 Hwy. 42 - Gills Rock
Ellison Bay
920-854-2606
5.
Go Para-Sailing!
This is terrific fun and a unique
way to see Door County from the air! We did it last summer and we will do it again - this is fun! Call Wisconsin Water Wings and make a
reservation,
Wisconsin Water Wings
South Shore Pier
9993 Hwy 42
Ephraim
920-854-9000
and tell them that
DoorCountyNavigator.com sent you!
6.
Spend a Day on County I! Yes – you can spend an entire fun day right on
County I in Door County! Head
towards Carlsville – County I runs east and west. Great fun!
Stop in Door
County Coffee and Tea for some of the best coffee and light lunches
around! You can purchase whole
bean or ground in up to 75 varieties! And, you can have a nice much in the café!
Door County Coffee
& Tea
5773 Hwy 42
Carlsville
920-743-8930
800-856-6613
Stop in Pet Expressions for that pet lover
in your or that special friend. Hundreds of items from cups to towels, shirts and more with every kind
of pet you can think of – very cool shop! It is also attached to a General Store – lots of
interesting goodies! This is a
fantastic store!
Pet Expressions
9922
Water St
Ephraim
920-854-5445
Visit Door Peninsula Winery and
have your own wine tasting!
Door Peninsula Winery
5806
Hwy 42
Sturgeon Bay
920-743-7431
Head east on County I and
Go to Simon Creek Vineyard &
Winery
Simon Creek Vineyard & Winery
5896
Bochek Road
Sturgeon Bay
920-746-9307
7.
Ridges Sanctuary! (Nature sanctuary)
Hwy
57, N - 1/2 mile N. of Baileys Harbor A beautiful nature preserve formed by the
lake waters. No cars here,
just walking. A must see. Take the camera! Beautiful! See our Ridges Sanctuary
Video!
8.
Nature Walks and Tours:
what better place than in beautiful Door County?
·
The
Ridges Sanctuary: 8270 Highway 57, Baileys Harbor:
920-839-2802. Premiere spot for
nature lovers in us all. Gorgeous nature preserve, the ridges of which were
formed by the lake waters crashing against the shore. Beautiful plants and flowers. Park and walk. Check out inns or B&Bs in Baileys Harbor.
·
The
State Parks
1.
Peninsula
State Park, Fish Creek: 920-868-3258. The largest (3776 acres) of the State Parks in Door County. Golf, nature trails, bicycle, hike,
camp! Our favorite!
2.
Newport
State Park, 475 County Hwy NP, Ellison Bay: 920-854-2500. 2400-acre wilderness park. With sandy
beaches, and lots of Lake Michigan shoreline. Nice park!
3.
Potawatomi
State Park, 3740 Park Dr., Sturgeon Bay: 920-746-2890. Camping, hiking, boating, guided
hikes.
4.
Whitefish
Dunes State Park, 3701 Clark Lake Rd., Sturgeon Bay: 920-823-2400. There are original Native American
villages within this park (they are actually listed on the National Register of
Historic Places). And this park is
right near Cave Point, which is a must see! Great half-day outing!
5.
Rock Island State Park. Washington Island:
920-847-2235. This is remote! Take a boat FROM Washington Island to
Rock Island. There are about 40 or
so family-type campsites. Hike,
swim.
If you want State Park Camping information, click this Camping link!
9.
Theater
·
Peninsula
Players Theater: W4351 Peninsula Players Road, Fish Creek:
920-868-3287. The oldest resident summer theater in the U.S. This is magnificent! If you have never been to a production
here, you must go. The outdoor
theater is covered so you are protected from the elements, but the open-air
feeling is great when the sides are open! Comfortable seats too. Get to
the theater early, before sunset, get a drink at their outdoor bar, and watch
one of the most gorgeous sunsets you have seen, from one of the greatest spots
to watch in Door County. And the
productions are always fabulous. This is one super experience all around. Do it! Check
their schedule (starts around third week
in June through October)
·
American Folklore
Theatre – Fish Creek: 920-854-6117. Very nice open-air theater in Peninsula State Park. Mid-June through September. Take in a show at this musical theater
under the stars – you’ll love it. Tell them we sent you!
·
TAP: Third
Avenue Playhouse always has something good on “TAP!” Check their schedule. Indoors, staged performances.
·
Birchcreek
Music Performance, Egg Harbor: 06/24/10 to 08/14/10. Wonderful music from steel drums to
swing!
·
Door Community
Auditorium – lots happening here! Check their schedule.
·
Door
Shakespeare – more great theater right near Baileys Harbor!
10.
Music In the Parks: The towns
all publish their schedule of music in the parks. Check our Calendar of Events too for more information. Here are some of our favorites: you must go to at least one of these –
they are so relaxing and so much fun for all!
·
Sturgeon Bay - Sundays: At
the Maritime Museum, 120 N. Madison Ave.,. in
Sturgeon Bay, 6/27/10 - 8/1/10
·
EPHRAIM
– Mondays Dates of Event: 6/21/10 - 8/23/10
Evenings in Ephraim, free Monday concerts at Harborside Park, 7PM - 9PM
·
Fish Creek – Tuesdays: Dates
of Event: 6/15/10 - 8/17/10
Free concerts at Noble
Square 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM.
·
Sister Bay - Wednesdays: Dates of Event: 6/16/10 – 8/24/10
Concerts are generally held at the Beach Pavilion at 3 PM. Admission is free!
For information call 920-854-2812
·
Egg Harbor - Thursdays: Dates of Event: 5/24/10 - 9/01/10
Free concerts in Harbor View Park, 5 PM-6:30 PM. If inclement weather, concerts
will be cancelled.
11.
Horse-Back Riding – There are some beautiful trails in Door County, so take
advantage at some of these very fine horse-back riding stables. Many have ponies for kids too, like
Herb’s Horses. Door County on
horseback is quite a treat. Try
it!
Kurtz Corral
5712 Howard Lane
Sturgeon Bay
920-743-6742
1-800-444-0469
Ahnapee Ranch
6875 Tagge Rd
Sturgeon Bay
920-743-2715
Field Wood Farm Ltd.
RR 1, Box 225, West Harbor Rd
Washington Island
920-847-2490
Ride Icelandics!
12.
Mo-Peding And Biking - Literally scoot around Door County on a moped! You can rent them is a few places. It is a nice way to get around Door
County. Head into the interior a
bit on your moped to see some peaceful rolling hills and farmlands, shacks,
barns and more – and to avoid some of the auto traffic on the main roads. Here are a couple of rental places: Always be careful, please!
Bayshore
Outdoor Store
655 S Bay Shore Rd
Sister Bay
920-854-7598
Nor-Door Sport & Cyclery
4007 Hwy. 42
Fish Creek
920-868-2775
Boat House
Maple St.,
Fish Creek
920-868-3745
Edge of Park, Inc. Bike & Moped Rental
P.O. Box 188 at the Park Entrance Rd.
Fish Creek
920-868-3344
Island Clipper Bike Rentals
12731 Hwy. 42,
Gills Rock
920-854-2972
13.
Mini-Golfing - There
are several places to mini-golf – here’s what we think for each!
Egg
Harbor Fun Park
7340 Hwy 42
Egg Harbor
920-868-9417
This is a mini-golf, arcade and restaurant that opened in June 2001. And in
2010, they added a state-of-the-art go-karting course! Awesome! We mini-golfed here many times – love it!. They have a
huge arcade room which also has redemption games (save tickets to win prizes),
and a water fight set up outside, great pizzas, ice cream and more! Great place! Tell Lee and Donna we
sent you please!!
Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf
810
S Bay Shore Dr
Sister Bay
920-854-4929
This looks
spectacular from the road – huge waterfalls, a pirate’s theme with a
sunken ship in the lagoon and more! Pirate lore, some pirate facts, and fun
golfing! Great place!
Johnsons
Park
349
N. Highland
Sister Bay
920-854-4715
This is a very
nice 18 hole course, with waterfalls, and water hazards all around it! We like
it because it is more of a traditional mini-golf place than some others, and in
the same area, they have batting cages and go-karts as well! Lots of fun on
this stop!
Red
Putter Mini-Golf
10404
Water St
Ephraim
920-854-5114
14.
Charter Fishing – Try these charter companies for starters. See our Activities section for more.
Andy’s Silver Strike
Charter Fishing
At the Baileys Harbor Municipal Marina
Baileys
Harbor
920-854-6069
Hitman Charters
At
the Leathem Smith Lodge & Marina
Sturgeon Bay
920-609-7788
920-609-3940
Hooked Up Sportfishing Charters
6512
County C
Sturgeon Bay
Angler Refuge Fishing Charter
520 E. Vine Court
920-746-9442
920-495-9442
Captain Paul's Charter Fishing
921 Cottage Rd.
Gills Rock
920-854-4614, Charter
Dawidiuk's Fishing Team
848 South 16th Ct.
Sturgeon Bay
920-746-9916, Charter
Eagle Harbor Charters
P.O. Box 187
Ephraim
920-854-4667
Elite Fishing Charters,
LLC
Quarter Deck Marina
Sturgeon Bay
320-679-5995
218-390-4522
Fox 1 Charters
435 N. Geneva Ave
Sturgeon Bay
920-743-3092
Gary's Guide Service
711 Hickory
Sturgeon Bay
920-743-1100
J-E Fishing Enterprises
1229 Georgia St
Charter Fishing
Guide Service
Sturgeon Bay
920-743-7877
Lynn A Charter Fishing
6831 Edgewood Ct.
Sturgeon Bay
920-743-6731
May's Guide Service
920-856-6743
920-559-0069 cell
Pharm-A-Sea Sport Fishing Charters
4105 Sand Bay
Point Rd.
Sturgeon Bay
920-493-7733
Reel Action Sport Fishing Charters
1802 Morning View
Road
Brussels
920-825-1105
Stone Wing Charters
P.O. Box 37
Ellison Bay
920-854-4718
Wacky Walleye Guide
Service
3798 Sand Bay Point Rd
Sturgeon Bay
1-888-879-5548
15.
Rent A Boat!
From pontoon boats or kayaks to
sail boats, rent them all in Door County
Ephraim Kayak Center
South Shore Pier
Ephraim920-854-4336
Lifebreeze Bareboat
Charters
Sturgeon Bay, WI
(Bareboat/Sailboat Charters for Door County)
800-307-0487
630-554-9175
On the Beach in Peninsula State Park
10170 Shore Rd
Fish Creek
920-854-9220
Snug Harbor Inn, Cottages & Boat Rentals
1627 Memorial Dr
Sturgeon Bay
920-743-2337
1-800-231-5767
16.
Washington Island - Go There! Stay There! Ferry Boat – Go for the day, or stay! Fun, 20-minute ferry boat ride that you can take from
Gills Rock (passengers only, with bikes ok) or from Northport with your car. The ferry boat ride is great fun – you cruise by the
islands, Death’s Door, shipwrecks and more. You owe it to yourself to do it! Or stay a night or two on Washington Island!
17.
Fine Dining: (also
visit our Dining Guide at www.DoorCountyDinining.com)
□
Whistling Swan Restaurant – opened in 2003! Call for
reservations!
920-868-3442 – Located in the Whistling Swan B&B in Fish Creek at 4192
Main St, Fish Creek! Elegant and
comfortable at the same time!
□
Alexander's - now in Fish Creek- wonderful food, great décor!
□
T.
Ashwell’s: in Ellison Bay (it’s where the old Griffin Inn used to be). Great place, wonderful food!
□
Mission
Grille, in Sister Bay. In an
old church, wonderful food, fabulous wine list!
□
The
Waterfront – fabulous dinners, great wine list! Tell JJ or Kris we sent you! This chef is talented!
□
Harbor
Fish Market & Grille – wonderful, with outdoor waterfront
dining! Tell Carl we sent you!
□
White Gull Inn – on
non-fish boil nights, enjoy candlelight dinners!
18.
Swimming – swim
in or swim out! Go to the YMCAs
(Fish Creek and Sturgeon Bay) for indoor swimming
YMCA
1900
Michigan Street
Sturgeon Bay
920-743-4949 OR
1-800-287-4949
YMCA
– Northern Center
3866
Gibraltar Rd
Fish Creek
920-868-3660
or try some of the beaches (NOTE: beach conditions
with the Door County Visitor Bureau) at
·
Fish
Creek – right in downtown Fish Creek at the park
·
Egg
Harbor – around back on Hwy G past Shipwrecked and Harbor Park –
follow the signs
·
Murphy
Park in Egg Harbor
·
Ephraim
Beach in Ephraim (see our September
Sundown video filmed at Ephraim Beach!)
·
Whitefish Dunes State Park in Sturgeon Bay (beautiful)
19.
Door County Fair! August 4th – 8th
The Fairgrounds are very nicely kept, and this is a
fun event especially for kids — there are lots of barns and sheds to see
all kinds of interesting things, crafts, animals, and of course rides on the
midway! Worth the trip for an old-fashioned county fair! Lots
of fun for all! http://www.doorcounty.org/fair/
20.
Perseid Meteor Showers – August
12th!
This is a once a year phenomenon
as the Earth passes through the Perseid meteor belt. You will have to check
local listings here for any events. This is supposed to be spectacular! Those who have seen them have been awe-struck! 50 meteors in
an hour — how can you miss them?! We think the northeast end of the
peninsula (near the Northport Ferry dock, or Newport State Park, are the places
to get the best view. Check out the local Resorter
Reporter newspaper for up to the minute news if you are here at this time. It is a phenomenon and a true
astronomical event!
21.
Aurora Beaurealis – if you can
ever catch this “phenomenal” show in Door County, it is awe-inspiring. If you
have never seen this magnificent show put on by nature, absolutely free, you
have missed something. On a clear
night, look to the northern skies and you will see huge curtains of light
flashing and flowing across the skies, gently, easily, colorfully. It is a site to behold. In big cities, they are drowned out by
light and pollution. In Door
County, we have witnessed some superior shows. Lie back on the grass, lie on the hood of your car, open the
sunroof on your car and sit back and enjoy.
22.
Take a Carriage Ride! See Ephraim at night on a
romantic carriage ride for 10, 20 or 30 minutes (it’s about $15/$30/$45 dollars
respectively – check with John for price). John Mayberry runs a wonderful carriage, and as you
clip-clop through historic Ephraim under the moonlight, well, ahhh – it’s
just one of the nicest things to do! So. . .do it! Check out John’s
site at Mayberry’s Carriages and
Sleigh! And tell him that we
sent you on the carriage ride of your life!
23.
Ellison Bluff Park – This is a very cool park that’s
really not like a park. You drive
into the area just on the south end of Ellison Bay (follow the signs for Ellison Bluffs),
park the car, and hike up a walkway to a bluff that over looks the waters of
Green Bay. Panoramic views –
a nice little trip and a memorable view. Take the camera for sure! Watch our Ellison
Bluff video!
24.
Town Festivals: Lots of
them! See our Calendar for
full details, but here are a few you might want to take in:
·
4th of July: Some
of the fireworks are on the 3rd (Egg Harbor) and some on the 4th of July. Egg Harbor’s is very
nice, as is Baileys Harbor and Gills Rock. Catch the parade in Egg Harbor or Baileys Harbor (on the 4th)
– it’s great fun! Sturgeon
Bay’s, Washington Island’s, Gills Rock and Baileys Harbor are on the 4th. See our July Calendar of events.
25.
Wine Tour! Tell them sent you! This is
great fun and here are some of our favorite wineries to tour!
Lautenbach’s
Orchard Country for a tour, and wine-tasting too in Fish Creek
Door Peninsula Winery
5806
Hwy 42
Sturgeon Bay
920-743-7431
Simon Creek Vineyard & Winery
5896
Bochek Road
Sturgeon Bay
920-746-9307
26.
Door County – from the air! Feeling
adventurous? Tour Door County by
air! Yes you can take an air tour from Orion Flight Service Inc. in Sturgeon
Bay 920-743-6952, or Grizzly Scenic Air Tours 9667 Maple Grove Rd at
Ephraim-Gibraltar Airport Ephraim 920-493-2729 920-493-7315. If you are feeling less adventurous,
you can watch our Door County
Lighthouses from the air videos!
27.
Historical Walking Tours and Lighthouse Tours! This is a great way to learn
more about the towns! Check with
the towns to see if and when they have these scheduled. Sometimes, there are self-guided tours. For Lighthouse Tours, call Claire at
Door County Lighthouse Inn - she knows everything and has tour info. 920-868-9088
28.
Bring the Kids (of all ages!)
THE Farm, near Sturgeon Bay is
an awesome place for kids of all ages! Milk the goats, feed the goats, see horses, cows, kittens, antique farm
implements and lots, lots more. This is a fun place – highly recommended! Please tell them that
DoorCountyNavigator.com sent you!
The Farm
4285 Hwy 57
(4 Miles North of Sturgeon Bay)
920-743-6666
Also check out this unique
find: This is a wonderful place for kids too, with mini-buildings to play in,
all kinds of animals and a whole lot more. Read our Review.
Plum Loco Animal Farm
4431
Plum Bottom Road
Egg Harbor
920-743-1617
29. Golf Door
County!! There are 11
courses in Door County for you to choose
from, and some of them are just
spectacular! Try some of our
favorites:
Alpine Golf Course (36 holes) – awesome
panoramas!
P.O. Box 200,
Hwy. G, Egg Harbor
Egg Harbor, on County G
920-868-3232
Peninsula State Park
Golf Course
(18 holes)
Hwy. 42, Fish Creek
Fish Creek, at north entrance to
Peninsula State Park
920-854-5791
30. Go Gallery Hopping!
Door County is full of fabulous artists and wonderful
galleries displaying art in every medium you can think of: glass, oil,
watercolor, ceramic, metal and more! So check out our Gallery
pages!
Bonuses!
1) Listen to music at Gibraltar Grill in
Fish Creek - check out the details in our review, and visit their website for
schedules! And please tell them we
sent you! We love this place and
they have a wonderful outdoor bar, patio and that's where the music is!
Gibraltar Grill
3993 Main Street (Hwy 42)
Fish Creek
(920) 868-4745
2) Take a wonderful scenic cruise tour
with Shoreline
Scenic Cruises out of Sister Bay!
3) Rent
Waverunners(tm), paddle boats, sail boats at South
Shore Pier in Ephraim - great fun!
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