25 Things to Do in Door County this Summer!
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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 one of his beautiful sailboats! Read our Review, then call to make a reservation! 920-495-SAIL (7245)
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! This is a fabulous spot to create art in metal, glass, ceramics and more. Watch all of our videos in the Trusted Review to see
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.
Lakeshore Adventures
8113 Hwy 57
Baileys Harbor, WI
920-493-3474
Door County Kayak Tours
8442 South Highway 42
Fish Creek, WI
920-868-1400
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 - Scenic Cruises & Boat Rides
Sister Bay Marina
Sister Bay, WI
920-854-4707
Fish Creek Scenic Boat Tours
Next to Fish Creek Marina, near Clark Park
Fish Creek
920-421-4442
Rent Pontoon Boats, Waverunners™, Sea Doos™ & More
South Shore Pier, Inc.
9993 Water St.
Ephraim
920-854-4324
Sister Bay Boat Rental
Sister Bay Marina
Sister Bay, WI 54234
www.sisterbayboatrental.com
920-421-3330
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
Buy the best candles and accessories money can buy at:
Door County Candle Company
5789 Highway 42
Carlsville, WI 54235
www.candleworksdc.com
877-263-5975
Then head east on County I and
Go to Simon Creek Vineyard & Winery – fabulous!
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 in our Door County Video Gallery under Nature & Historic Sites.
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
- 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!
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)
- Northern Sky Theater – 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. 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 - Wednesdays: "Harmony by the Bay", 7PM, June 15 – August 24th
- MONDAY EVENINGS IN EPHRAIM Evenings in Ephraim, free Monday concerts at Harborside Park, 6PM - 8PM, June 20 – Aug 29th
- Fish Creek – Tuesdays, 2:30- 4:30PM, June 14 – August 16th
- Sister Bay – Wednesdays (and select Saturdays) 6-9PM, June 22nd –August 24th
- Egg Harbor – Thursdays, 5PM, June 16 –f August 12th
- Peg Egan Sunset Concert Series, 7PM Sunday nights, June 19 – August 21st in Egg Harbor. Details.
11. Horse-Back Riding AND Camel 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!
Camel Rides:
Stoneboat Farm Camelids
9511 Townline Road
Sister Bay
920-421-0082
12. Biking Bike your way around Door County! Always be careful – bike Peninsula State Park on state of the art bikes from
Nor-Door Sport & Cyclery
4007 Hwy. 42
Fish Creek
920-868-2775
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 the folks 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! Mention DoorCountyNavigator.com!
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
Hooked Up Sportfishing Charters
6512 County C
Sturgeon Bay
920-495-5586
First Choice Charter
Baileys Harbor Town Marina
Baileys Harbor, WI
920-839-1409
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
Nicolet Beach Rentals
On the Beach in Peninsula State Park
10170 Shore Rd
Fish Creek
920-854-9220
Sister Bay Boat Rental
Sister Bay Marina
Sister Bay, WI 54234
www.sisterbayboatrental.com
920-421-3330
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) fine but Door County casual!
□ 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!
□ Galileo’s Italian Steakhouse in Egg Harbor – love it!
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 3rd – 7th
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. The “northern lights” are a spectacular show!
22. Take a Carriage Ride! See Ephraim at night on a romantic carriage ride for 10, 20 or 30 minutes (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 on our Parks page!
24. Town Festivals: Lots of them! See our Calendar for full details!
25. Wine Tour! Tell them sent you! This is great fun and here are some of our favorite wineries to tour!
Door Peninsula Winery
5806 Hwy 42
Sturgeon Bay
920-743-7431
Simon Creek Vineyard & Winery
5896 Bochek Road
Sturgeon Bay
920-746-9307
BONUS THINGS TO DO!
26. Zip Line: Gravity Trails up in Baileys Harbor area has some great adventures waiting for you! Read our Review! Also, zip lining available at Egg Harbor Fun Park in Egg Harbor! Also at Lakeshore Adventures
27. Historical Walking Tours and Lighthouse Tours! This is a great way to learn more about the towns! Check 27. 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
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
Maxwelton Braes Golf Course
7670 State Hwy 57
Baileys Harbor, WI 54202
920-421-4653
920-421-GOLF
The Orchards Golf Course
8125 Heritage Lake Road
Egg Harbor, WI
920- 920-868-2483
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!
Always check with establishments ahead of time to make sure of schedule, cancellations etc. And remember, wherever you go, please tell them that DoorCountyNavigator.com sent you! That helps us keep this site going (in our 17th year)!