Insider Tip Featured Door County Trip Ideas
- Experience Serenity in Egg Harbor
Located in the center of
the Door County peninsula, Egg Harbor is a charming and vibrant village for
known for fun, service,
accommodations,
dining,
galleries, and great
shopping (over 100 unique and diverse boutiques and shops). A leisurely
stroll downtown delights the eye with lovingly restored historic buildings and
in newer buildings that capture the village's old Wisconsin charm. Shopaholics
will find nirvana at the
Liberty Shops and the two levels of shopping at the
Main Street Shops.
Egg Harbor starts off the year with an offbeat
New Year's Day Parade you won't want to miss! If you’re looking for outdoor
winter recreation and snowmobiling, these Egg Harbor resorts, cottages and
retreats are either on the snowmobile trails or have direct access:
A Cottage Retreat,
Gray Gull Cottage,
Honeydew Log Lodge,
Landmark Resort,
Landing Resort or the
Newport Resort.
And if that’s not enough to do, winter is the perfect time to spa the day
away in Egg Harbor at the
Lucia Luxury Day Spa (open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays during winter).
And only 2500 miles northeast of Napa Valley (and a hop, skip and a jump east of
Egg Harbor at the intersections of Cty. A & Cty. E) is the
Stone’s Throw Winery, a whole other wine country that’s peaceful and
unspoiled.
So don’t miss out on your chance to behold the wonder of Egg Harbor!
- See Jacksonport's Gems!
Situated along the Lake Michigan shoreline, the quaint community of
Jacksonport offers a variety of fun and exciting activities. Experience our
sandy beaches and rocky shoreline cliffs. Hike on peaceful trails and
bike on quiet back roads, or enjoy our celebrations and festivals that add a
bit of pizzazz to the otherwise laid back and relaxing atmosphere that is
Jacksonport – on the ‘quiet side’.
You can stay in a
motel,
log cabin or
waterfront lodging, and then go horseback riding at
Kurtz Corral, Door County's premier riding stable. They have horses for all
ages and abilities. Thousands of people come to ride each year on wooded trails
winding throughout this 500-acre property. More experienced riders can take the
ride to Simon Creek
Winery. Even if you don't ride there, you’ll still want to visit to sample
Simon Creek’s wares, take the free winery tour and enjoy their daily wine
tastings.
Attend the tongue-in-cheek
Thanksgiving Day parade on November 22, or, if you can’t get to Jacksonport
until New Year’s, don’t miss the Jacksonport
Polar Bear Club swim, held at 12 noon each New Year's Day in Lakeside
Park. Come watch hundreds of "polar bears" start off the new year with an icy
dip in Lake Michigan. And if you're feeling adventurous, feel free to join in
the fun!
Spend the rest of your time
hiking and biking the trails and seeing the magnificent Lake Michigan views
at two of
Jacksonport’s most popular parks:
Whitefish Dunes State Park and
Cave Point County Park. Finally, stop in at the Jacksonport
Craft Cottage to participate in the
Door County Christmas Treasure Hunt.
- Spend the Day in Sister Bay
Door County was recently selected as the Best Wisconsin Romantic Getaway
Destination in 2007, and for good reason. As the cool autumn breezes usher in
fall, it’s the perfect time for a romantic getaway in Door County.
This month's itinerary takes us to Sister Bay. There’s nothing better for a
romantic getaway than reserving a spot in the quaint
lodging options available in the village of Sister Bay. Get settled after
your drive and spend your first evening down by the beach in the heart of
downtown as the sun
sets. Walk hand-in-hand to a great wining and dining experience to any of
the Sister Bay fine dining experiences, including
The Waterfront,
The Mission Grille and the
Inn at Kristofer's. You’ll love them so much, you may have to stay three
nights just to try them all! Retire early for the evening and warm yourself by
the fireplace in your room as you snuggle in for the night. There’s so much to
do in Sister Bay, you will want an early start to your perfect crisp fall day in
Door County.
What to do first? A brisk walk around the village or, if you brought your
bicycles, bike through Sister Bay, down by the beach and if you are up for it,
hit the
backroads bike trails.
Hiking and biking are unparalleled in all of Door County. Follow immediately
with a hearty breakfast at
Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant. It’s not just about the fabulous and
authentic Swedish food (order the Swedish pancakes with Lingonberries). It’s
about the Scandinavian uniformed wait staff, the gift shop and, most notably,
the goats grazing on the grass sod roof!
Spend the rest of your day
shopping,
antiquing (Wisconsin Trails Magazine voted Chelsea Antiques the
Best WI Antique Shop), and visiting
Sister Bay’s fine jewelry shops (what’s a romantic getaway without a new
bauble for your honey!). Plus, you can join the great
Christmas Treasure Hunt in many of the Sister Bay shops and stores.
On your way from
lunch (yes, we recommend you try and eat your way through Sister Bay), stop
at the
Sister Bay Historical Society Museum and walk off your most recent meal.
Just make sure your last evening involves one more sunset, the ideal way to
complete the perfect Door County fall romantic getaway!
- Exploring Ephraim
There’s nothing quite like fall in Door County. From the cooler weather to the
fantastic fall colors to the abundant relaxation, Door County is the perfect
place for a girls’ weekend, or to just let the family spend quality time
together.
You can set the tone for your perfect Door County Fall getaway by choosing the
perfect cottage, B&B, hotel or condo in quaint
Ephraim. Start the day early and smell the cool of autumn and spend the
morning golfing at
Peninsula State Park. Follow up your round with a perfect
lunch in the village, a gallery walking tour around Ephraim in the
afternoon, and then finish up the day with a
Carriage Ride down to the beach to watch the sunset.
According to the readers of Midwest Living Magazine, Door County is the best
place to find a unique gift in the Midwest. Door County and Ephraim are home to
an extraordinarily diverse retail community. Antiques, art, home décor, apparel,
lighthouse treasures and gifts galore grace the communities of the Peninsula and
Ephraim. Stop in to each of
Ephraim's Fine Art stores, or commit to an afternoon of Ephraim's
unparalleled
Galleries; it doesn't get any better than this. You won't go home empty
handed!
Top off your sweet shopping experience by
stopping for sweets and ice cream from
Wilson's. That will put you right down by the beach just in time to
watch perfect fall sunsets. Ahhh, the perfect fall day in Door County comes
to a close.
- A Day of Fun in
Fish Creek
Embark on a
kayaking adventure at 7:45 am from
Hands On Art Studio, or
rent a kayak at
Peninsula State Park, then marvel at the nearly 7 miles of park shoreline
that wraps around forests, meadows and islands. By noon, you are ready for lunch
in Fish Creek at any of their
fine eateries. After lunch, it’s back to Hands On Art Studio where you can
make a
wood, ceramic, metal or other project to take home. Want to see more?
Watch Explore The Door host Jon Jarosh make a popcorn bowl and a metal
sculpture at Hands On Art Studio in
episode 5 of the video podcast series.
The afternoon is reserved for time at one of Fish Creek's beaches where you can
watch the sunset over beautiful Green Bay waters. After a full day of kayaking
and beaching it, plan a great evening meal with the family. We suggest going to
an
authentic Door County fish boil at Pelletier’s or the White Gull Inn, or
choose from other
great places to dine in the area.
Enews-Tip Itineraries for 2008
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