The Best Places To Visit On Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula
Wisconsin's Door Peninsula turns gold in the fall, and the maritime culture suggests a lifestyle filled with waterfront walks and frequent fishing or boating trips. Sister Bay incorporates goats into its Swedish heritage, and Baileys Harbor shines a light on older maritime traditions. See an old-fashioned tugboat in Sturgeon Bay and take the boardwalk route in Ephraim. Or get your salmon and wine fix satiated in Algoma. Washington Island, an offshore island, is a giant playground of natural scenery with a characterful twist. The following seven places highlight the best of the Door Peninsula.
Sister Bay
Toward the top of the Door Peninsula, Sister Bay is not only a body of water but also a little town on the shores of Green Bay. Here, visitors can graze on the Stabbur fish fry or traditional meatballs at Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant, while goats graze on the grass-covered roof above.
Overlooking the marina and being the accommodation closest to the waterfront, The Yacht Club at Sister Bay presents an upscale condo resort with fully furnished units. Bring the whole family with units up to four bedrooms, and sail out on the water for a fun afternoon with Northern Door County Boat Rentals. There are plenty of other accommodations that offer different advantages, too, like the Coachlite Inn & Suites of Sister Bay, a short detour off South Bay Shore Drive, boasting a two-person whirlpool and walk-in shower in their Private Pond Suite. A ways out of the central strip of Sister Bay and a diversion off South Bay Shore Drive, Pebble Beach is a great place to throw the ball for the dog and watch the boats out on the water, especially at sunrise or sunset when the colors can really pop on the rocky coastline.
Ephraim
Sister Bay's neighbor, Ephraim, has a waterfront on Green Bay's Eagle Harbor that is marked by its longtime establishments. Good Eggs has been making omelettes wrapped in tortillas for 25 years in their small stand, fueling Ephraim's population in the morning. But the top-rated Eagle Harbor Inn has been around for much longer, run by a local family for 89 years. Spanning five acres, this accommodation has a sauna, a whirlpool, Adirondack chairs, grills, and more to ensure an experience full of rejuvenating downtime. Indulge in their Afternoon Treats at 3:00 PM every day and book The Residence, a house with four bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths, for bigger group trips or if visiting as a family. Their suites allow for extended stays as well.
The other places to check out in Ephraim are of a more natural tone, such as the Ephraim Nature Preserve at Anderson Pond, which features at least a mile of trails, some on boardwalks, through the fields and wetland forest of Door County's hemlocks, white cedars, and hardwoods, open year-round.
Egg Harbor
Take the Door County Trolley on their Winter Wine Tour, only running on Saturdays throughout the winter season, and be picked up at your Egg Harbor hotel, perhaps from the Newport Resort with their oversized soaker bathtubs, walk-in showers, and retro arcade. Or maybe stay at the Bay Point Inn, which is a little closer to the White Cliff Road waterfront. Walk down to the Egg Harbor Marina to watch the boats on the horizon and order the seafood dishes at the nautical-themed Shipwrecked Brew Pub. Sit outside when the weather serves up sunshine, with a view of Egg Harbor. Make the most of Alpine Resort on the south side of Egg Harbor with the Alpine Legacy Nine golf course, family-friendly sports club, and yoga classes, which are free for registered Alpine guests. Egg Harbor also has a vibrant arts scene, with a few galleries spread around town, like Plum Bottom Gallery adjacent to Harbor View Park, which sells festive wood-carved ornaments.
Baileys Harbor
On the eastern shoreline of Door Peninsula's midsection, Baileys Harbor is a lesser-known destination that stands out for its quieter atmosphere. US Highway 57 is the main road here, lined with the town's businesses. Keep cozy and warm at Lake Fire Winery, while sipping award-winning cider or wine, or enjoy a night of fine dining at Chives Door County. If the cold doesn't deter you, swim at Anclam Park on the bay of Baileys Harbor, or set out on the jetty. Baileys Harbor has a couple of lighthouses, too, that uphold its maritime culture.
On the north side of town, the Ridges Sanctuary's Range Lights, upper and lower, have kept watch since 1869 and are still used for their original purpose to this day. For a pleasant walk, start from the lower Range Light on Ridges Road and follow it all the way to the end of Ridges Road, which will leave you with another lighthouse to greet: the Old Baileys Harbor Bird Cage Lighthouse across the water that has rested on one of the islands here since around 1851. See it better by taking a kayaking tour.
Sturgeon Bay
Heading south from the previous location, Sturgeon Bay is the biggest locale on the Door Peninsula, with a population of 9,806 residents, according to CensusReporter.org. Its trifecta of bridges, one of which is the Michigan Street Bridge, connects one side of Sturgeon Bay to the other. There is plenty to do here, in what was once an epicenter of national and global shipbuilding. On the south part of town, the Door County Maritime Museum educates visitors on the Great Lakes' maritime history with tours of their beloved tugboat, John Purves, and the 118-foot-tall Jim Kress Maritime Lighthouse Tower, with interactive exhibits on every level.
On the north part of town, take pleasure in the fine art and free admission of the Miller Art Museum. Many art galleries can be found on these streets, including Plum Bottom Gallery, which has another location here. And perhaps the best parts of Sturgeon Bay are the accommodations, like the Bridgeport Waterfront Resort with its communal parlor room and heated indoor pool. Head up to Waterfront Mary's, as part of the Beach Harbor Resort, to take advantage of their daily specials and live music on certain nights, right on Sturgeon Bay.
Algoma
At the southern end of the Door Peninsula in the Kewaunee County (the only town on the list not in the Door County), the artistic fishing town of Algoma sits on the Ahnapee River, flowing into Lake Michigan. Walk along Crescent Beach Boardwalk for views of the water while the wind whips against your face, or go to Christmas Tree Point for a vantage point for seeing the 1893 crimson-colored Algoma Pierhead Lighthouse. Von Stiehl has one of their three-in-one wineries, distilleries, and cideries here, and they participate in a First Friday series, where access can be gained to their alcohol for only $10 per person on a tour. This is right next door to the rentable River's Edge Condos, a special accommodation on the riverfront with fully furnished two-and-three-bedroom units, supplied with the benefits of a coffee bar, an in-unit washer and dryer, and mattress toppers. Just a minute or two away are several local fishing charter businesses, taking amateur or experienced fishers out to catch some Lake Michigan salmon and trout.
Washington Island
While not located on the peninsula, this destination is an offshore island that is part of the Door County. Accessible by car ferry, Washington Island is surrounded by the waters of Green Bay and Lake Michigan. The crowd here fluctuates with the seasons, rising to as many as 1,600 residents during peak times, according to Washington Island's Chamber of Commerce. Its west coast is home to two resorts flanking West Harbor, and Flath's Cottages flaunt 300 feet of private shoreline. On the eastern side of the island, the Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge protects endangered species, specifically nesting birds and rare plants, within its four islands in Wisconsin and two in Michigan.
To the north, the Coffey Swamp State Natural Area supports a wide variety of outdoor activities, like hiking, fishing, and cross-country skiing when the snow falls, through the white cedar trees. In the center of Washington Island, the Clock Forest is a peculiar sight where clocks hang from tree branches in a local couple's backyard. All are set to 5:00, inspired by a Jimmy Buffett song and the saying, "It's five o'clock somewhere." And the island even has its own airport for smaller aircraft a few miles away, right next to the Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm & Shop, perfect for a weekend away spent breathing in the fresh lavender at the oil distillery run by French retirees, although the bulk of their events are held in the summertime.
What Makes Door Peninsula Worth Visiting
These seven Door Peninsula places are connected to the water of the Great Lakes, but each has its own angle. See the three old bridges in Sturgeon Bay that have bridged its people together for over a century. Take a walking jaunt around Baileys Harbor and identify the lighthouses from 1851 and 1869. Indulge in Swedish cuisine in a quirky restaurant with hooved animals on the roof in Sister Bay. Make Washington Island a wonderful winter family ski trip at the Coffey Swamp State Natural Area.
