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. 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.

Para-Sailing
Wisconsin Water Wings
9993 Hwy. 42
Ephraim
920-839-9494

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

The Salmon Depot Charter Fishing
Cruises too
Sturgeon Bay Marine Center Marina
920-839-2272

3. Take an Eco-Tour! Door County Living Classrooms does an outstanding job of showing you’re the natural beauty of Door County – you will have fun and learn on their tours!  First class!
Check them out and tell  Jaime that we sent you!

Door County Living Classrooms
5880 Cedar Creek Place
Sturgeon Bay
920-493-3000

4. 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. 

FUN! See how a dairy farm works and get great ice cream at

Dairy View Country Store
5169 County I
Sturgeon Bay
920-743-9779

• 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
     

5. 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 Lighthouse Tour a trolley “Ghost Tour, a Dinner/Theater Tour Wine Tour and more!  Please tell AJ that DoorCountyNavigator.com sent you!

6. 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!

7. Nature Walks and Tours: what better place than in beautiful Door County?

• Door County Living Classrooms offers unique nature and eco- tours of wetlands, forests, scenic overlooks and more.  And you can take a tour by kayak too!  This is wonderful and a must-do!  Read our Review!
• 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
• 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!
• 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!
• Potawatomi State Park, 3740 Park Dr., Sturgeon Bay: 920-746-2890.   Camping, hiking, boating, guided hikes.
• 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!
• 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!

8. 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.
• TAP: Third Avenue Playhouse always has something good on “TAP!”  Check their schedule.  Indoors, staged performances.
• Birchcreek Music Performance, Egg Harbor: 06/24/04 to 08/14/04.  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!

9. 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: Dates of Event: 6/29/08 – 7/27/08
  Sundays at 7 PM. Music by the bay at the Maritime Museum next to the downtown bridge. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy the free entertainment. 920-743-5958.
• EPHRAIM – Mondays Dates of Event: 8/4, 8/11, 8/18/08
  Evenings in Ephraim, free Monday concerts at Harborside Park, 5 PM.
• Fish Creek – Tuesdays:  Dates of Event: 6/17/08 - 8/12/08
  Free concerts at Noble Square 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM. 920-868-2316 or www.fishcreek.info.
• Sister Bay - Wednesdays: Dates of Event: 6/11/08 – 8/13/008
  Concerts are held at the Beach Pavilion at 3 PM. Admission is free! In the event of rain, concerts will be moved indoors to the Village Hall. For information call 920-854-2812 or www.sisterbaytourism.com.
• Egg Harbor - Thursdays:  Dates of Event: 6/19/08 - 8/21/08
  Free concerts in Harbor View Park, 5 PM-6:30 PM. If inclement weather, concerts will be cancelled. Merchants and restaurants will be open until 9 PM on Thursday nights. Experience some of the best sunset views in Door County. 920-868-3717 or visit www.eggharbordoorcounty.com.

10. 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!

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!

Kurtz Corral
County I
Egg Harbor
920-743-6742

11. 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

DC Bikes Campstore
Potawatomi State Park
3750 Park Dr
Sturgeon Bay
920-746-8663

DC Bicycle Works
20 N 3rd Av
Sturgeon Bay
920-743-4434

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

12. 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. 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
This is the oldest mini-golf up here! It is charming because it is so old, and they have kept it up very well. It hole has a sign with a theme, and there is something traditional about every hole: the church with the draw bridge you have to putt through, the wolf that you have to put beneath, a swinging log that swings across the hole as you put, multi-level greens, lots of stone and rock obstacles on some holes, etc. You can even win a free game if you get a hole in one on a couple of holes – check it out!

13. 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

The Salmon Depot Charter Fishing
Sturgeon Bay Marine Center Marina
920-839-2272

Angler Refuge Fishing Charter
520 E. Vine Court
920-746-9442
920-495-9442 

Bousley's Sport Fishing Charters
150 W Larch Ave
Sturgeon Bay
920-746-4560
920-495-4560 (cell)

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

14. 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

Nicolet Beach Rentals
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

15. Washington Island Ferry Boat – this is a 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!

16. 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!
• Alexanders  - 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!  
• Sage in Sturgeon Bay: we have reviewed this establishment and liked it a lot.  Right on 3rd Avenue in downtown Sturgeon Bay.
• Inn at Kristofers, 734 N Bay Shore Rd. in Sister Bay: 920-854-9419.  See if you can get a table near the window about an hour before sunset, then you will still be dining as the sun goes down over the waters right across the road.  Great food, great view!  Fine dining, so this is a pricier place than most.  Call for menu selections etc.
• 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!

17. 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)

18. Door County Fair!  August 6th  – 10th

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!

19. 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!

20. 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.

21. 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).  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!

22. 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! 

23. Town Festivals: Lots of them!  See our Calendar for full details, but here are a few you might want to take in:

Festival of Blossoms: celebration of Spring!  Throughout the county throughout May (1st  – 31st)!  Check our Calendar for individual town festivals

Fyr Bal: in Ephraim, June 13th  – 15th  

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 Islands’s, Gills Rock and Baileys Harbor are on the 4th.  See our July Calendar of events.

24. Wine Tour!    Tell them sent you!

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

25. 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.

26. Historical Walking 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.

27. Bring the Kids (of all ages!) to THE Farm! 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

28. 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:

Idlewild Golf (18 holes)
4146 Golf Valley Rd
Sturgeon Bay
920-743-3334

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

29. 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!

30. 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