Top 16 Things To Do in Door County, Wisconsin
Door County is nicknamed "the Cape Cod of the Midwest," and after a week there I can see why. The coastal towns felt incredibly New England-coded (Gilmore Girls fans, you'll feel right at home), with quaint historic buildings, lighthouses, harbors, and cornstalks and pumpkins on the street lamps to usher in the autumn season. It's a long peninsula with miles of shoreline, oodles of natural beauty across five state parks, orchards, a thriving arts scene, and lots and lots of cheese.
This guide covers the best things to do in Door County, from limestone cliffs and lighthouses to farm-to-table dinners and fried cheese curds. I'll tell you what I loved, what I skipped, and what I'd do differently next time.
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My Experience in Door County
I spent a week in Door County in late September 2026 on a girls' getaway with my best friend. We flew into Milwaukee (flights were cheaper), picked up a rental car and drove a little over two hours to Sturgeon Bay. The week was full of mostly slow mornings with coffee shop stops, outdoorsy adventures, great dining, and many, many farm stands.
Late September was a great time to go. The summer crowds had thinned, the weather was stunning, with bluebird skies and highs in the upper 60s, and nothing on our wish list was closed for the season. I found everything charming, was in awe of how nice the state park facilities were, and left ready to plan another trip.
Top Things To Do in Door County
1) Visit Door County's Small Towns
Door County isn't one place so much as a string of small harbor towns, each with its own personality.
Sturgeon Bay – The gateway to the peninsula and the largest town, with the biggest harbor. It's more industrial than the towns farther north (watch for barges and drawbridges).
Egg Harbor – A small harbor village on the Green Bay side, good for wine tasting and galleries, and the home of the free Eggy Bike rentals (more on that below).
Fish Creek – Home to Peninsula State Park, with a walkable main street of shops, galleries and restaurants.
Ephraim (pronounced EE-frum) – A quiet, historic village on the Green Bay shore with a walkable waterfront and some of the best dining on the peninsula.
Sister Bay – The largest village in the north, and famous for the goats on the grass-covered roof at Al Johnson's.
Ellison Bay – Easy access to Newport State Park and a good base if you want quieter hiking.
Baileys Harbor – On the Lake Michigan side, close to Whitefish Dunes, Cave Point and Cana Island Lighthouse.
Each town had its own feel, but all of them looked like a Hallmark movie set in the best possible way.
2) Get Outdoors
Door County has five Wisconsin State Parks and 21 County Parks, so there's no shortage of ways to get outside year-round. Summer is for swimming, hiking, camping and kayaking, and winter means snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and ice fishing. We visited all five state parks during our week-long trip.
Peninsula State Park – The biggest park in the county, and you could spend a whole day here. Hike the easy but scenic Sunset Trail, and climb Eagle Tower, a 60-foot observation tower with views over Green Bay. It's accessible to all visitors thanks to a gently sloping 850-foot ramp. We also stopped at Eagle Bluff Light Station, and I'd save your last stop for sunset at Sven's Bluff Overlook.
Whitefish Dunes State Park – Massive forested sand dunes, a long sandy beach and miles of trails. We hiked a 3-mile loop (the Red, Yellow and Green trails) to the top of Old Baldy, the tallest dune in Wisconsin, in under two hours. Right next door, Cave Point County Park has limestone cliffs and sea caves. See my guide to Whitefish Dunes State Park for more.
Rock Island State Park – The most remote park, reached by two ferries but absolutely worth the effort. Rock Island is a car-free island with a historic lighthouse and a boathouse that looks like it belongs on the Mediterranean. It’s exactly what I hope for in a state park – a healthy mix of stunning scenery and local history. See my guide to Rock Island State Park for more.
Potawatomi State Park – Just outside Sturgeon Bay, with the 75-foot observation tower on the National Register of Historic Places, the eastern terminus of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail and a golden-hour view from the Old Ski Hill Overlook. See my guide to Potawatomi State Park for more.
Newport State Park – An International Dark Sky Park, making it the best place in the county for night sky viewing. Our 3:30 a.m. wake-up call to catch a glimpse of the Milky Way was totally worth it. Our trip fell during a full moon, so we checked the sunrise and moonset times to find our best chance for the darkest skies during our stay. For the best view of stars, try planning your visit during a new moon. Pro tip: Visit in the daytime to get your bearings and make it easier to navigate in the dark (and don’t forget your red-light headlamp).
Tip: Most Door County state parks require a Wisconsin State Parks vehicle admission pass. As of October 2026, Wisconsin-plate daily passes are $13, and out-of-state daily passes are $16 (annual stickers are $28 for residents and $50 for non-residents). Rock Island and Cave Point County Park don't require a pass.
3) Eat All the Cherries (or Apples)
Door County is famous for its cherry orchards. Cherry trees blossom in spring, and the cherry harvest runs from mid-July into early August. Apple picking picks up where cherries leave off, running from late summer through early fall. Since we visited in late September, the pick-your-own options and fresh produce were all apples, but every orchard still had plenty of processed cherry products: juice, pies, jams, salsas and chocolate-covered dried cherries. These are the farms we visited:
Seaquist Orchards – North of Sister Bay, with a more rustic farm store. Their cherry pie was our favorite of the trip, and the spiced cherry jam made the trip home with me.
Lautenbach's Orchard & Winery – One of the most iconic orchards in the region, with a giant red barn south of Fish Creek, a farm store, a winery tasting room, a patio and a food truck. It's more commercial, but we were still glad we stopped.
Fellner Orchards – A small, apples-only family farm closer to Sturgeon Bay. Quaint and cute, with a small farm stand and pick-your-own apples.
Weinke's Market – A small farm stand located south of Sturgeon Bay. I snagged a pair of their oatmeal cherry cookies for the flight home.
4) Visit Door County Lighthouses
Historic lighthouses are some of the best photo ops on the peninsula, and many are open for tours.
Pottawatomie Lighthouse – Built in 1836 on Rock Island, it's Wisconsin's oldest lighthouse. It's a 1.5-mile hike each way from the ferry dock, and volunteers lead tours of the living quarters and the lantern room from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during ferry season. It was restored with furnishings from around 1910, and the original wood floors are to die for.
Cana Island Lighthouse – One of the most photographed spots in Door County, near Baileys Harbor. Access to the island requires a $12 per person fee. We didn't feel like paying it, so we admired the lighthouse from the area before the fee zone, which was still a great view and a good option if you're on a budget. I've heard the spiral staircase up to the gallery deck is the highlight of any Cana Island visit, so it's on the list for next time.
Eagle Bluff Light Station – Inside Peninsula State Park. It wasn't open for tours when we arrived after 4 p.m., so we explored the grounds and bluff from the outside. The views were still worth the stop, but check tour hours if you want to go inside.
Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Pierhead Front Lighthouse – A classic harbor beacon at the canal entrance. Follow the directional signage along the Coast Guard property and make your way out on the pier for a closer view.
Sherwood Point Lighthouse – Near Sturgeon Bay on the Green Bay side. This cutie little lighthouse is only open to the public during the annual Lighthouse Passport Days and is best admired from afar the rest of the year. Please respect the Coast Guard's no trespassing signage.
5) Enjoy Farm-to-Table Dining
The local food scene in Door County is dominated by farm-to-table dining. It's all about locally owned restaurants here, and you won't find any chain or fast food restaurants on the northern stretch of the peninsula. These were our favorites:
Osteria Tre Tassi (Ellison Bay) – Incredible Italian cuisine in an old farmhouse with a beautiful patio surrounded by lush gardens. The menu changes regularly and there's an extensive list of daily specials, so don't get too attached to the online menu. I tried a dish with their 24-hour ragu, made with fresh tomatoes from their garden.
La Sirena (Ephraim) – Traditional Mexican cuisine from Michelin-starred and James Beard Award finalist chef Carlos Salgado. We were lucky to be in town for a special chef collaboration dinner hosted by La Sirena, so we skipped their dining room, but if that dinner is any indication of their day-to-day offerings, it is INCREDIBLE.
Cultured – Between Baileys Harbor and Sister Bay, with James Beard semifinalist sourdough bagels and seasonal specials made with locally grown produce. Their bagels are good enough to make you toss your macro goals to the curb.
Inland Pizza (Baileys Harbor) – Known for sourdough pizza. We loved the kale Caesar salad, the soppressata pizza and the non-alcoholic refreshers. The patio was a great spot to enjoy the weather and the vibes of such a cute town.
Door County Creamery (Sister Bay) – An adorable spot in the heart of Sister Bay serving up incredible sandwiches. My friend and I traded halves, splitting the Turkey Brie and the B.L.T. No regrets.
Door County also has two classic dining traditions: the fish boil and Wisconsin supper clubs. A fish boil is where whitefish and potatoes are cooked in a kettle over an open fire with a dramatic flare-up at the end. We tried a supper club (the English Inn in Fish Creek, which is kitschy, decidedly a tourist attraction, and probably a one-and-done for me) but skipped the fish boil. Neither is likely to land on a James Beard Award short list, but you're here for the atmosphere, not the tasting menu.
6) Check Out a Local Farmers Market
Each town in Door County hosts its own weekly farmers market in the summer months. We opted for the Sturgeon Bay farmers market on a Saturday morning in September. It's the largest market in the county and had a wide range of vendors, including plenty of local produce. My favorite vendor was probably DoCo Dough Co for their name alone.
7) Take the Ferry to Washington Island
Washington Island is reached by ferry from Northport, at the northern tip of the peninsula, about a 30-minute ride. It carries vehicles, bikes and passengers. We turned it into a full day (and it was one of the favorite days of our trip) by combining it with Rock Island State Park. Here are a few places to check out while you’re there:
Stavkirke – A Norwegian-style stave church in the woods, which is the last thing you’d expect on a Wisconsin island and exactly why you should go.
Schoolhouse Beach – A beach covered in smooth white limestone rocks instead of sand. Look, don't take.
Lavender farms – Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm is open in season, so check before you go if you're visiting outside summer.
As of September 2026, the round-trip cost for two people and a vehicle for both ferries was $92. Pro tip: arrive early (30 minutes for outbound ferries and up to an hour for the return) and plan to take a ferry that leaves before the last one of the day, so you have a backup. Ferry schedules to Washington Island and Rock Island are reduced in fall, so it takes a little extra planning, and the Rock Island ferry only runs from Memorial Day weekend through the second Monday in October. For the full details, see my guide to Rock Island State Park.
8) Look for Goats on the Roof at Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant
Yes, the goats are real. Al Johnson's in Sister Bay is famous for the live goats grazing on its sod roof. We noticed the goats were less visible throughout the week, possibly because of the shoulder season, so check the goat cam before heading out if you're planning your trip around them. Pair it with a coffee stop at Happy Coffee or Door County Creamery in Sister Bay.
9) Hang Out at the Beach
Door County has roughly 300 miles of shoreline, with plenty of sandy beaches to choose from. Whitefish Dunes has a wide, long stretch of sand that many people consider among the best in Wisconsin, plus a designated dog beach where we watched some very happy pups splashing in the clear water. On Rock Island, we had a picnic lunch on a sandy beach with dunes, clear water and forested cliffs, and we had it almost entirely to ourselves. Sister Bay Beach is a nice, easy stop for a stroll along the waterfront. We didn't pack our swimsuits, so I can't speak to the water temperature in early fall, but I'm sure these spots get much busier in summer.
10) Check Out the Art Galleries
Door County has a thriving year-round arts scene, and you'll find galleries all over the peninsula featuring local artists. We popped into a few throughout our visit, and these were our favorites:
Plum Bottom Gallery (Fish Creek)
Turtle Ridge Gallery (Ellison Bay)
Juddville Contemporary Clay Studio Gallery (Fish Creek)
We didn't have time to make it to Hands On Art Studio, but it would be a perfect activity if you want to try your own hand at art on a rainy day.
Turtle Ridge Gallery
11) Go for a Bike Ride
Egg Harbor's Eggy Bike program is a free bike rental program for use within the village. We rode to Horseshoe Bay Farms to explore the grounds, Stickwork art installation and stunning gardens full of beautiful dahlias. We picked up our bikes from the rack adjacent to Harbor View Park. The ride was approximately 7 miles round trip and fairly flat, making it an easy ride for most fitness levels.
12) Sign Your Name on Anderson Dock
In Ephraim, Anderson Dock is a historic pier where visitors are invited to sign their names. The tradition dates back to the 1880s when sailors docked their boats and painted their names and the year to log their arrival and safe passage. It's free and easy, and a great spot for a photo of the harbor. Plan ahead by bringing your own paint and brushes and follow the guidelines on their posted signage.
13) Visit the Belgian Heritage Center
The southern part of Door County has one of the largest concentrations of Belgian-American settlers in the country, and the Belgian Heritage Center tells their story. Volunteers staff the visitor center and are a wealth of knowledge about the settlement and local history. We learned about the Belgian settlement, why they landed in Wisconsin, and the Peshtigo Fire that played a massive role in transforming the peninsula into the agricultural center that it is today.
14) Pick Up Some Famous Wisconsin Cheese
You can't visit Wisconsin without trying some cheese, and Door County has a number of places to pick it up. Renard's Cheese in Sturgeon Bay is probably the most famous for their cheese curds and has a range of kinds and flavors to choose from (visit early, they sell out!). We also stopped at Wisconsin Cheese Masters where we tried cheese varieties from across the state, and we tried fried cheese curds at AC Tap, where they did not disappoint.
15) Get Out on Lake Michigan
Some of the most stunning views of Door County are from the water. There are a few options for getting out:
Kayak tours – We went with Cave Point Paddle and Pedal, a roughly two-hour tour that meets at a shop in Jacksonport. Fair warning: we got soaked. Lake Michigan had 2- to 3-foot swells, so pack a spare change of clothes, and I wouldn't recommend it for first-time paddlers unless the lake is calm. On a future trip I'd choose Door County Adventure Center, which launches right from the beach at Whitefish Dunes and includes a shipwreck on its tour.
Ferry – The Washington Island and Rock Island ferries double as scenic rides across the water.
Boat tours – Sightseeing and sunset cruises depart from several harbors. We didn't take one but saw several on Green Bay at sunset throughout our trip.
16) Take a Scenic Drive
Sometimes the best way to see Door County is from the driver's seat and there are plenty of scenic drives across the peninsula. The Door County Coastal Byway links Highway 42, which hugs the Green Bay side through the villages, with Highway 57, which follows the quieter Lake Michigan side. Make a loop and you'll pass orchards, farm stands and water views along the way. This drive has been voted one of the best scenic drives in the country by USA Today!
Plan Your Trip To Door County
Need help mapping this out into an itinerary? Check out my 3-day Door County itinerary to get started.
How To Get to Door County
Most visitors drive. Sturgeon Bay, the gateway to the peninsula, is about 2.5 hours from Milwaukee and roughly 4 hours from Chicago. The closest major airport is Green Bay (GRB), about an hour from Sturgeon Bay. We flew into Milwaukee, picked up a rental car and found the drive easy. We stopped for lunch at Whispering Orchards & Cafe on the way up, the perfect way to start the trip. You'll absolutely want a car, since the towns, parks and orchards are spread out. [Book a Rental Car]
Where To Stay in Door County
Door County is dominated by classic Americana-style roadside motels and independently owned inns. Once you make your way north of Sturgeon Bay, you'll be hard-pressed to find a property that's going to help you earn Marriott Bonvoy points, but that's easily part of the charm of this destination. We stayed at the Ellison Inn, a remodeled roadside inn that has modern updates but retains all of its midcentury modern charm.
→ Check out my guide to the best places to stay in Door County for my top picks for romance, families and budget-friendly accommodations.
The Best Time To Visit Door County
Spring – Cherry blossoms (usually mid-to-late May), lower prices and fewer crowds, though some seasonal businesses don't open until Memorial Day weekend.
Summer – Peak season with everything open, warm water for swimming, theater, fish boils and cherry picking in mid-July through early August.
Fall – Apple orchards, cozy dinners and fall color, which usually starts in late September and peaks in early-to-mid October. Late September is my personal pick.
Winter – Cozy getaways with snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, ice fishing and holiday lights.
→ Check out my guide to the best time to visit Door County for a more in-depth, season-by-season look.
Best Things to Do in Door County FAQs
What is there to do in Door County?
Small coastal towns, five state parks, lighthouses, orchards, farm-to-table dining, art galleries, ferry rides to Washington Island and Rock Island, kayaking and plenty of cheese curds.
How many days do you need in Door County?
I'd suggest 3 to 4 days for a first visit, and add a day if you want to include Washington Island and Rock Island. We spent a week and visited all five state parks, and we still left things on our list.
Are there things to do in Door County on a rainy day?
Yes. Try the art galleries, Hands On Art Studio, the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay, cheese shops and long, cozy dinners.
Do you need a car in Door County?
Yes. The peninsula is long and spread out, and public transportation is very limited. Sister Bay has a free shuttle bus, but we didn't use it, so I can't speak to the routes or schedule.
Is Door County worth visiting?
Yes, especially if you like small coastal towns, scenic drives, state parks, local food and a strong arts scene. Everything we came across lived up to or exceeded my expectations.
Final Thoughts on the Best Things to Do in Door County
Door County is the kind of place where a lighthouse in the morning, a long lunch on a patio and a sunset overlook feel like a perfectly normal Tuesday. This trip was a girls' getaway, and I'm already planning the next one so I can take my husband back. We're thinking a late summer visit, when the crowds start to thin but the lake is still warm enough to scuba dive and explore the shipwrecks below the surface. If you're planning your own trip, start with my 3-day itinerary and save this post for later.
Want more tips, personalized recommendations and access to perks such as complimentary upgrades and spa credits? I would love to help you book your Door County trip!
Hi, I’m Jess
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Planning a trip to Door County? These are the top 16 things to do