Wisconsin
Door County
Wisconsin's peninsula. 300 miles of shoreline, no national chains.
14
Homes on the peninsula
5
Villages covered
2 hrs
From Milwaukee
4.94★
Avg. guest rating
Door County juts into Lake Michigan like a thumb, 11 lighthouses, 19 towns, and more cherries per acre than anywhere else in the country. Two hours from Milwaukee, it feels like a different world.
Areas we cover
Sister Bay
Most popular village, marina, restaurants
Sturgeon Bay
South end, lakefront manor homes
Ellison Bay
Tip of the peninsula, quiet coves
Brussels
Bayside, incredible sunsets
Baileys Harbor
East side, lakeside access
Things to do
Fish Boil
A Door County tradition. Whitefish, potatoes, and a dramatic kerosene flare-up. The Old Post Office in Ephraim does it right.
Peninsula State Park
3,776 acres of trails, bluffs, and bay views. Hike, bike, or kayak the shoreline.
Washington Island Ferry
30-minute crossing to a quieter island with a lavender farm, Schoolhouse Beach, and Rock Island State Park.
Cave Point County Park
Limestone cliffs carved by Lake Michigan. Kayakers explore the sea caves. Hikers take the bluff trail.
Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant
Famous for the goats on the grass roof. Worth the wait for Swedish pancakes and the Stabbur Beer Garden.
Door County Maritime Museum
Sturgeon Bay. The history of shipping on the Great Lakes, told well.
Where to eat
Restaurants
Thyme (Sister Bay)
Old Post Office Restaurant (Ephraim)
Chives
Boathouse on the Bay (Sister Bay)
Donny's Glidden Lodge (Jacksonport)
Kitty O'Reilly's (Sturgeon Bay)
Coffee
Blue Horse Beach Cafe (Fish Creek)
Happy Coffee (Sister Bay)
Fika Bakery & Coffeehouse
Kid-friendly
Wilson's Restaurant & Ice Cream (Ephraim)
Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant (Sister Bay)
Wild Tomato Pizza
Best for
When to visit
Cherry Blossom Season (May–June)
The orchards bloom pink and white. Pick cherries at one of 50 orchards, buy cherry wine and cherry pie at every farm stand.
Summer on the Bay (July–August)
Peak season. Kayaking, sailing, fish boils, beach days at Whitefish Dunes, and ferry rides to Washington Island. Every restaurant open, every dock busy.
Fall Color Season (September–October)
Cooler crowds, peak foliage, apple harvest. The coastal byway turns gold. Wineries pour their best.
Frozen Tundra Season (November–March)
Ice formations on the bay, snowshoe trails, fireside dining, and quiet. Some guests say this is their favorite.
Where you'll be
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