Things to do in Door County, Wisconsin – Complete weekend guide

Door County is located on the Northeastern peninsula that juts out from Wisconsin. To the rest of the country, this place is relatively unheard of, and in my opinion, is Wisconsin’s best kept secret! It consists of little towns that either sit on Lake Michigan or Green Bay, and it seems like you’re taking a step back in time the moment you make it to the peninsula.

We spent two and a half days in early September exploring all the fun things to do in Door County. See our favorite stops, city by city, on this complete guide to Door County!

Egg Harbor

Sample wine at Harbor Ridge Winery

For a relaxing afternoon, head over to Harbor Ridge Winery to either sample wine, browse their shop, and enjoy a glass on their gorgeous patio with live music! I ordered the Pino Noir and loved it.

Eat Wisconsin Artisan cheese at Wisconsin Cheese Masters

Right next door to Harbor Ridge Winery is Wisconsin Cheese Masters, which is a cheese store that sells artisan cheese from Wisconsin. Sample some cheese, buy some to take home,or eat some with your wine from next door like we did!

Try a craft cocktail at Hatch Distilling Co

One of the only distilleries in Door County is Hatch Distilling Co. Try a cocktail mixed with their spirits made on-site either in their tasting room or outside on the patio. I’m a huge gin lover and tried a drink made with cilantro, and it was so yummy! Keep in mind that Hatch closes at 8 pm.

Have a beer by the fire at One Barrel Brewing Company

One Barrel Brewing Company is right down the road from Hatch Distilling and is open later, which makes it the perfect spot for a night cap by the fire. The famous Door County Wild Tomato pizza restaurant even offers counter service inside the brewery if you want some food while you’re there. And if the weather is nice head outside to enjoy the fire pits!

Fish Creek

Do the cherry pit spit at Lautenbach’s Orchard Country Winery

Door County is known for its fresh cherries, so take part in the fun by visiting Lautenbach’s Orchard Country Winery and seeing how far you can spit a cherry pit! So fun! Also, take part in the FREE wine tasting of up to 6 wines and take a stroll around their shop. We ended up ordering a glass of the Old Barn Red and enjoyed it outside – yum!

Ephraim

Eat a breakfast burrito at Good Eggs

Good Eggs is such a unique spot. It only serves breakfast burritos, but be ready for a line and a wait. You choose a base, and basically build your own burrito to your liking. Find a spot outside on a surfboard table and enjoy! And if you want to skip the line, order online ahead of time!

Take an epic photo at The Hardy Gallery

Alright, I’ll admit that we only visited this gallery to get some cool photos for this blog post, but we had so much fun doing it! If photos aren’t your thing, you can also take part in the artsy wall by buying some paint and writing your name on the wall to commemorate your Door County experience.

Treat yourself to Wilson’s Ice Cream

Wilson’s Ice Cream has to be the most iconic place in all of Door County. It opened in 1906 and has been there ever since! They serve unique flavors, like apple pie, blueberry crumble, and cookie monster, and they don’t skimp on the scoops! Get ready for a GIANT amount of ice cream 🙂

Try a rosé flight at Pearl Wine Cottage

Pearl Wine Cottage is one one of the cutest places places in all of Door County! We were waiting for a table at Trixie’s (next spot on this list) and headed over to Pearl Wine Cottage for a few drinks while we waited. The wines here are incredible – especially the rosé flight! And the wait staff is so friendly. Definitely a must-visit!

Grab dinner at Trixie’s

Trixie’s doesn’t take reservations, so we waited for a table at Pearl Wine Cottage (mentioned above). And I’m so glad we waited! Trixie’s serves great wine, drinks, and a menu that changes with seasonal ingredients. We had the farro salad with lemon ricotta, the spaghetti, and the lamb chop. So so yummy!

Sister Bay

Start the day with craft coffee at Discourse

Discourse Coffee describes itself as a liquid workshop, and it’s so right! You’ll find the most unique, craft coffee here, like The Flora latte which is made with local honey, black lava salt, lavender and rose, and candied orange powder. Not a quick stop, but quality takes time, so the wait is worth it!

Sample goat cheese at Door County Creamery

Door County is also known for its goats that make the most amazing goat cheese. Sample different flavors of goat cheese spreads at Door County Creamery and take some home with you. I LOVE the fresh herb flavor. This is also a great spot to stop and grab lunch or gelato.

Shop for American-made goods at Stars and Stripes Collective

Stars and Stripes Collective is dedicated to sourcing and selling all American-made goods…even retro brands that used to be made in America but are no longer. Make sure to head upstairs to the men’s collection. I loved the aesthetic!

Browse fair-trade items at Kind Goods

Cole and I picked up these leather passport covers from Kind Goods. Aren’t they so cool?! All items here are fair trade, and they sell the cutest travel-themed clothes and jewelry. My kind of spot!

Get a mid-day caffeine boost at Analog Coffee

You can never have enough coffee, so head to Analog Coffee for a caffeine boost and treat yourself to their fresh made pastries or ice cream! And don’t forget to take a photo in front of the awesome wallpaper.

Buy a corsica loaf at Door County Bakery

Door County Bakery is located off the main drag of Sister Bay, but it’s still busy with people! We made a special stop to get their famous corsica loaf which is a special recipe with French bread and olive oil. Either stop for this or some of their other bakery items!

See the goats on the roof at Al Johnson’s

We didn’t eat at Al Johsnon’s Swedish Restaurant, but we did make sure to walk by to see the goats on the grass-covered roof! This is so unique – make sure to at least drive by!

Enjoy the views of Green Bay

Sister Bay is one of the best places to sit and watch the boats come in and out of the harbor, or listen to music by the outdoor bandshell. Walk around the docks and take in the beautiful clear blue water!

Ellison Bay

Go on a kayak adventure with Door County Kayak Tours

The highlight of our time in Door County was our kayak tour with Door County Kayak Tours! We took at 4 hour tour starting near Ellison Bay near Garret Bay which is on the Green Bay side of the Door County Peninsula which makes it much more calm than the Lake Michigan side where they also offer tours. Both our guides said this is their favorite tour – and I agree! We kayaked around the bay, saw 400 year old Native American pictographs, hiked to Door Bluff, saw a shipwreck, and learned all about the history of the area! Definitely recommend!!

Hike to Door Bluff at Door Bluff County Park

Hiking to Door Bluff was part of our kayak tour with Door County Kayak Tours, but you could also do this on your own by driving to Door Bluff County Park and hiking from there. Keep in mind that if you do it on your own, you won’t get the snacks brought by our tour guides! 🙂 Door Bluff has amazing views and the hike is quick and easy.

Try smoked fish at Charlie’s Smokehouse

Smoked fish is a Northern specialty, so make sure to try some! Charlie’s Smokehouse has been around for more than 84 years and has some of the best. I would recommend the Atlantic salmon because it doesn’t have any bones and is their most popular. Walk to the nearby docks to enjoy by the water!

Drink local ciders at Island Orchard Cider

Drink some French Normandy style dry cider at Island Orchard Cider. They have 40 acres of apple trees on Washington Island and transport them back to the mainland by boat each season. I would recommend trying a flight so you can try their unique flavors like nitro, oak barrel, hops, and lavender!

Have a farm to table dinner at Wickman House

 

Wickman House offers such an incredible dining experience. One of the best rated restaurants in the area, its food is farm to table and the cocktails are unique to the restaurant. The cheese curds at Wickman House are the best I’ve EVER had, but everything was wonderful! Make sure to make a reservation here (you can even do it online!) because it fills up fast. And take a little self-guided tour of the grounds to see where they grow some of the food!

Sturgeon Bay

Take an easy hike at Cave Point County Park

Want good views without a lot of work? Drive to Cave Point County Park and walk along the shore of Lake Michigan. You’ll see caves, limestone bluffs, and crazy waves that make you feel like you’re looking at an ocean! We had so much fun exploring the area. For the best lighting, go in the morning. We went in the evening which had less people but less light for photos.

Bailey’s Harbor

Enjoy the beer garden at Door County Brewing Co.

Door County Brewing Co. has such a great taproom experience. They serve beer from Door County Brewing Co AND Hacienda Beer Co., have snacks from the kitchen, food truck food, live music on the weekends, and a great outdoor beer garden. We brought a deck of cards and enjoyed our time outside with our friends!

What a weekend! Hope you enjoyed this guide of things to do in Door County and that you get to visit soon. Let me know if you have any questions!

For other fun Wisconsin Road trips, see my guides to Nelson Wisconsin here and Wisconsin Dells here!