Summer is the season of magic on the Door County Wisconsin Peninsula, from sparkling, shimmering coast to coast (see our Coastal Tour video!).  See a sunrise on the quiet, lake side, and a glorious sunset on the bay side!  Both over water!  Where else, but Door County!  This is a place unlike another other in the Midwest!  Come to Door County over and over again – you will keep discovering new treasures every time you do!

If shopping is your thing, then get ready!  All the shops are stocked with spectacular items from all over the world – all awaiting your arrival!  If dining out is a favorite, you will find every variety of dining from casual burgers to fine dining to fish boils - all the restaurants waiting to entice you with their specialties!  We’re touring through the County and all of the inns, B&Bs, resorts and cottages have been spruced-up and readied for the big summer season!  Some of the finest resorts, inns and Bed & Breakfasts in the Midwest are right here waiting for your arrival!  Check out our B&B Tours!

And this is a great time to look for your dream home or property in Door County Wisconsin!  We have worked with some of the best real estate agencies in the County!  Check our Real Estate Homepage, read our reviews, and click-through to their websites!  Look at the Century 21 Door Properties Slide Show on our Real Estate Homepage too!

Be sure to read our reviews of everything so you can “Navigate Your Way to the Best!”  We keep adding new reviews, so check back often!

• Biking (yes – there are several places to rent them)
• Swimming (on the beaches or in the pools).
• Take a cool nature tour with Door County Living Classrooms – Read our Review!
• Golfing (some beautiful courses like Idlewild, Alpine, Peninsula State Park and others).  Read our Reviews!
• Horse-back riding
• Some great tours.  Like Door County Trolley, winery tours, Dairy View Country Store – see a farm!
• Go to The Farm.  
• Sailing – check out Sail Door County!   Cruises.  SCUBA diving sunken ships. Check our Bay Shore Outdoor Store for kayaking, para-sailing, sailing boat rentals and more! Festivals.   Drive around the peninsula down roads you have never been!
• Fishing Charters!  Try Andy’s Silver Strike, The Salmon Depot in Baileys Harbor for a great fishing adventure.  Or try Hitman Charters too!
• Paddle boating in Eagle Harbor in Ephraim!
• Nature walks.  Super theater. The Performing Arts.   Shopping.  Mo-peding.  B&Bing. Resorting. Music in the parks. Fine dining. Mini-golfing. Carriage rides.  Romance! Wow! 
• Art – make your own art at Hands-On Art Studio!  Read our Review – we love this place!

 

SOME HINTS

If you want the benefits of summer without some of the crowds, you can vacation up until about the third week in June.  So, if you have to wait for the kids to be out of school, then you’ll probably meet up with some of the summer crowds; if you’re planning a getaway for two, take advantage of an early trip, and also come back later when the theaters are in full production as are the other fine arts performances.  Also, you can plan to come from Sundays to Thursdays (miss some crowds).

Plan ahead – make reservations as early as you can to assure you get the room and the place you want.  There are lots of places to stay in Door County, but if you read one of our reviews and want that particular place, and then call as soon as you can!  And don’t forget to mention you found them on www.DoorCountyNavigator.com!  We cannot tell you how much that helps us keep this site alive!

Still, you will find certain weekends, like the Lighthouse Walk and Memorial Day pretty full, but still not like summer.  Some of the theater offerings do not start until about the third week in June also, like Peninsula Players, Birchcreek Music and others.  So always check their websites first if you are making plans that might include some of these activities.   And check our Calendar of Events for details.

July and August get very busy, so make your plans and reservations as far ahead as you can so that you can guarantee that you will get your first-choice accommodations. 

Plan your Dining and Shopping Now!

And do read ahead – check out our restaurant reviews to find which to definitely work in your schedule, and which you might want to skip.  Most restaurants in Door County are reviewed so you can pick the best before you even go!  Find exactly what you are looking for – we did the legwork, you find the best!

So once you decide on a town and a place to stay, check out the town activities, shops and restaurants.

Restaurant tip: once you read a review on this site you like, and are set to work this restaurant into your itinerary, when you get to Door County, call the restaurant, and see if they take reservations; some do; some don’t.  If they do not, then ask them what is the best time to come when it is least crowded – some, for example, open at 5:30, and getting there right then is ideal.  You can avoid the waits, and have more time to have fun!  If they do not take reservations, ask if they have a waiting list that they can put you on right while you are on the phone, then head out the door and go there.  Also check out our dining guide at www.DoorCountyDining.com where you will find sample menus posted for many of Door County’s best restaurants!

Driving Tip: Pick up a real Door County map (full details) and look at all the interior peninsula roads.  You can “navigate” your way from place to place on the interior roads and enjoy a double benefit: you avoid some of the traffic, and you see the wonderful interior of the peninsula where you see rolling hills, farms, barns, shacks and more.  This is fun and a must!

September and October are glorious!  Don’t forget your fall getaway, while the weather is still nice, the crowds a little lighter, and the peninsula still in full swing.

Sunsets are spectacular and a must to see.  In fact, get up early and see the sunrise on the Lake side, and the sunset on the Bay side!  Check out our “Treasures Discovered: Gems in Door County” section for a sunset tip.  And check out our Multi Media Vacation Station for more interesting videos, tours and information!

It’s all here, all summer long in Door County.  Plan more than one trip!