Discovering Door County, Wisconsin

  • Friday, November 14, 2014
  • Ann Yungmeyer

As wintertime and frigid temperatures begin to set in, particularly in the Midwest, I am glad to have snuck in a trip to the Great Lakes region while the fall colors were prime and the weather pleasant. Not surprisingly, my mention of a visit to Door County, Wis., has drawn some perplexed looks from Southerners – as in, where is that?  First, I explain that it is a unique vacation spot on a 70-mile long peninsula that juts between Lake Michigan and the Bay of Green Bay.  And, as I also mention that Door County has been called the “Cape Cod of the Midwest, ” curious travelers want to know more.

As a vacation destination, Door County offers scenery, charm, outdoor recreation, and a lively arts and culinary community.

The peninsula is dotted with quaint waterfront towns steeped in the maritime history of their 19th century Nordic settlers. Fast food and chain hotels are strikingly absent, and high-rise and hip it is not. Yet, Door County, which takes its name from early French explorers who called the treacherous waters along the north shore La Porte des Morts, or Death’s Door, continues to draw visitors who enjoy simple pleasures in a place unchanged by time.

Getting the lay of the land

A ride on Door County Trolley is a good way to begin your visit and see some highlights with animated narration and stops at scenic overlooks. Themed trolley rides for winery, culinary, lighthouse and ghost tours are also available. For a more adventurous outing, UpNorth Helicopters offers tours that hover over turquoise coastal waters, farmland, lighthouses and other distinctive landmarks.

You’ll need a car to explore Door County’s many harbor towns and villages. Each has its own character, and some have enchanting names with local lore including Bailey’s Harbor on the Lake Michigan side and Egg Harbor, Fish Creek, Ephraim and Sister’s Bay on Green Bay. Sturgeon Bay is a charming small city located in the southern part of the peninsula. A variety of family-owned inns, restaurants and boutiques can be found in each community.

Cultural heritage and the arts are a big attraction, and Door is home to a host of working artists and custom jewelers whose works are found in studios and galleries in nearly every village. Nautical enthusiasts can visit the maritime museum and several of the area’s 11 historic lighthouses. Door’s theatre arts feature renowned companies performing both on stage and in outdoor venues, including Peninsula Players Theatre, America’s oldest professional resident summer theatre that will celebrate its 80th season in 2015.

Outdoor Pursuits

Along with quiet country roads, Door boasts five state parks and miles of designated trails that beckon walkers, hikers and cyclists. The scenic Sunset Trail at Peninsula State Park offers a beautiful 10-mile loop that is ideal for biking. Rent a bike at Edge of Park Rentals and ride the sign-posted gravel path along scenic shoreline and through forested hills. Among endless choices for hiking, Potawatomi State Park, named for a Native American tribe that inhabited the peninsula, offers several short loop trails; a favorite being the easy 4-mile Tower Trail that connects with part of the national scenic Ice Age Trail before ending at an observation tower. One can climb the 75-foot tower situated on top of a 150-foot bluff for spectacular treetop views across the bay. 

Door County’s geology, as part of the rocky Niagara Escarpment, along with its positioning between two bodies of water accounts for microclimates that support a variety of rare plants and bird species. Naturalist guided walks at the Ridges Sanctuary, a nature preserve and designated Audubon Important Bird Area, offer an introduction to the area’s ecosystem.

Clear water and scenic shoreline make Door County a premier destination for kayaking, paddle boarding and other water sports. Kayak tours are offered to see caves, bluffs and shallow water shipwrecks.

Many activities on the peninsula are seasonal from May to October, and some businesses close during winter.  But for those seeking cold weather fun, Door heats up with winter activities including snowshoeing, candlelight cross-country skiing, ice fishing, polar bear plunges (with water temperatures around 32 degrees) and bonfire celebrations.

Cherries, Cheese and Wine

Door County’s culinary focus is on a variety of locally sourced foods – from orchard fruits to fresh caught perch, whitefish and walleye.  The area is famous for growing Montmorency cherries, and visitors will find abundant opportunities to sample award-winning tart cherry pie, cherry muffins, pastries and jams, as well as cherry flavored coffee and cherry wine. Also apple country, Door County orchards feature pick-your-own and offer cider and apple wine tastings.  Traditional wines are also produced on the peninsula, as well as blended wines with every fruit imaginable including pear, plum, raspberry, cranberry and ligonberry.

Wisconsin is, after all, the “Dairy State” so cheese lovers will delight in tasting artisan cheeses and sampling a local specialty, cheese curds, found on many restaurant menus.  Wisconsin Cheese Masters and Schoolhouse Artisan Cheese, both in Egg Harbor, offer informative tastings and feature large selections of handmade Wisconsin cheese, representing over 30 artisan producers from the state.

Traditional Fare and Favorite Stops

·      Authentic Fish Boil at the Old Post Office in Ephraim, a 100-year old tradition of the early Scandinavian settlers in which fresh caught whitefish is kettle boiled over a raging open flame

·      Home-brewed draft root beer at Wilson’s Ice Cream Parlor, a landmark in Ephraim since 1906

·      Handcrafted Island Orchard Brut Apple Cider and whitefish chowder at The Cookery in Fish Creek

·      Premium fresh roast Arabica coffee at Door County Coffee and Tea Company, where you can view the roasting at  “Coffee College” and have a hearty breakfast

·      New England style seafood appetizers, fresh caught local fish and exquisite waterfront dining at the historic Harbor Fish Market and Grill in Bailey’s Harbor

·      Wine tasting at Harbor Ridge Winery in Egg Harbor for the award-winning “Give me one good Riesling” and “Call me a Cab”

·      Honey crisp apples (pick your own if you wish) and killer chocolate-covered cherries at Orchard Country Winery and Market in Fish Creek

- If you go

Green Bay is the closest airport. Rent a car and drive one hour north to Door County.

For lodging options – from vintage Door County hotels and inns to historic B&Bs, waterfront resorts, cabins and rental homes – visit www.doorcounty.com.

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Ann Yungmeyer is a freelance writer.  Contact her at annyungmeyer.wordpress.com.

 

 

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