Every summer we take a trip to Door County. It’s a great place that is close enough (under 3 hours from Milwaukee) to getaway and enjoy a few days with your significant other, family or friends. Whenever we leave, we can’t wait to come back. It never disappoints.

Every year we eat lunch at Kitty O’Reillys Irish Pub in Sturgeon Bay on the way north to Door County. They offer quite a bit from salads to sandwiches — three years in a row I’ve ordered the fire cracker shrimp salad and it’s always as good as I remember. They are known for their bloody mary’s and they are a meal in themselves. Stocked with cheese, beef and veggies…they are perfection! The pub also features an outdoor dining patio, which is great spot on a sunny afternoon.
Our first winery stop was in Sturgeon Bay at Door 44 Winery. It is a beautiful, brand new facility settled on 6 acres. They offer winery tours and wine tastings. Enjoy a glass of wine in an adirondack chair while gazing over the sprawling vineyards. We really enjoyed the outdoor seating area, it was definitely worth the stop.
Our next winery stop was Harbor Ridge Winery. This is one of our favorites and every year we make sure to stop when we are headed north. The names of the wines are catchy and always have us smiling …from Call Me a Cab to Gimme One Good Riesling — this winery stop is a must. They also have hysterical signs and decor, we spotted quite a few that had us cracking up. On select days they even have outdoor music, which was perfectly paired with the wine we sampled and cheese we bought next door. They also offer a selection of craft beers and non-alcoholic if you prefer to go that route.

There are 8 wineries in Door County, check them all out below (hours vary by season):

Peninsula Park in Fish Creek, WI is a 3700+ acre park along the shoreline of Door County, and part of the Wisconsin State Park System. Open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily — it has so much to offer, truly the perfect day for any outdoor enthusiast. You can hike the endless trails, swim at Nicolet Beach, camp at one of their campground sites or golf at their historical 18 hole course.

We spent hours hiking the park. There are different trails offered, no matter your level of comfort or expertise you can find a trail that fits your needs. We started on asphalt and quickly found a “difficult” trail. It was a little more rocky, with tree trunks and elevation changes, but led to an opening taking us to a breathtaking beach. The beach had a few fisherman and kayakers, such a treasure to find.

The Eagle Tower is reopen and the views are unimaginable. You can choose to walk the 850 FT elevated wooden boardwalk to winds through the woods on its way to the top. This is a great option for strollers or wheelchairs, the walk only takes a few minutes and is so calming and serene. When you reach the top of the lookout tower you are officially standing 230 FT above Green Bay and the views are incredible.

Peninsula is a great place to camp. They offer five campgrounds with a total of 468 family sites and 3 group campsites for tents. When we were hiking the trails we came across a few sites. The sites we saw were large and perfect for campfires and all the family activities. This is one of the most popular camping parks in Wisconsin, reserve your spot early to get in.

In addition, the park offers Peninsula Golf Course, Eagle Bluff Lighthouse, Northern Sky Theatre and a Nature Center. It is a fantastic park to explore during the weekend or camp for an extended visit, we could spend days enjoying nature at Peninsula Park.

Restaurant/Brewery recommendations in Door County:

We always stay in Sister Bay at Birchwood Lodge. It’s a great location, plus you can walk to quite a few restaurants, outdoor dining options, and the beach. The rooms are very nice and have plenty of room. Our room had an outdoor seating area with a few chairs, we drank our coffee outside in the morning and enjoyed the peace and quiet. They also have an indoor and outdoor pool for guests. While we were there this year we also stopped and toured the new Dorr Hotel. It was amazing. Booked for the season, but we are definitely looking into it next year. The outdoor area is so fun — including a bar, fire pit and ping pong.

Both Friday and Saturday we found ourselves gravitating towards Husby’s in Sister Bay to the outdoor patio for appetizers and live music. They also offer a full menu inside or on the upstairs patio if you prefer outdoor seating. We had so much fun on Friday we had to go back on Saturday. They also have tv’s outside usually showing the live sports games, which our husband’s always appreciate.
The most popular breakfast spot is at Al Johnson’s in Sister Bay. It’s a Swedish Restaurant well known for their food, gift shop, and the goats that are grazing on the roof. We didn’t see any goats out when we were there this year, but we did stop at Stabbur — their brand new beer garden. We had a blueberry Moscow mule topped with swedish fish. Such a fun twist to a refreshing drink. They also had live music and served food. They have bar seating, high top tables & chairs and tables with umbrellas in the grass area. It’s a great place to visit with friends or family.

We hope this guide helps on your next trip to Door County! Enjoy exploring this hidden gem, friends.

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