Door County Tips

Door County Tips

Door County is a great place to take a fall vacation with its beautiful rustic scenery, outstanding natural areas, shops, art galleries, markets, great restaurants, fish boils, and much more—something for everyone.

Here are some tips to plan your fall vacation…this list scratches the surface; I’ll add more items as I think of them:

  • The first two weeks of October are the best for autumn colors; usually, the second week is the better week. The third week can be very good, too, but things are starting to wind down.
  • The weather can go either way: you can have very warm, summer-like days or very cold, windy days with maybe rain; be prepared. I would bring good walking and hiking shoes.
  • Weekends can be hectic; weekdays are relatively quiet.
  • The big Fall Fest is October 14-16…very busy, especially around the Sister Bay area.
  • South Door County has some interesting things, but the best DC experience is north of Sturgeon Bay.
  • The East Side is known as the quiet side, up Hwy 57. The West Side (up Hwy 42) is dotted with small towns: Egg Harbor, Fish Creek, Sister Bay, etc.… with many shops and restaurants. We usually lodge on the East Side, a personal preference.
  • Visit Cave Point County Park to see dramatic cliffs with the crashing waves of Lake Michigan. Whitefish Dunes State Park is nearby, a beautiful natural beach area with good hiking and scenic views.
  • Newport State Park—I love this place. There is some really great hiking if you are up to it. The natural wild beach at Europe Bay (the end of Europe Bay Road) is a great place to take a relaxing walk along the Michigan shoreline—it’s just beautiful.
  • The Ridges Sanctuary in Baileys Harbor. The trails are an easy hike to see some protected wilderness, an enchanting boreal forest. They have a new nature center now. website
  • Baileys Harbor Ridges Park — A nice place to take a break and see the range light.
  • Take 42 to the Northport ferry dock — it’s a nice ride to get there.
  • Take County Rd Q from Ephraim to Baileys Harbor — a nice scenic ride.
  • Visit the Cana Island Lighthouse
  • Ride through Peninsula State Park and visit the lighthouse.
  • Some good markets for local goods, fruits, jams, wine, food, etc.
  • For golfing, Maxwelton Braes is simply beautiful in the fall.
    • Maxwelton’s Website
    • We have never stayed there, but it seems like a nice place.
    • Two good restaurants:  Pasta Vino for Italian fare and the Sindpiper for a good breakfast.
  • Fish Boils—there are many choices. The White Gull Inn offers a lovely, more upscale one and is a great breakfast place as well…it can be very busy!
    Check this out: Five Door County Fish Boils Perfect for Fall in Wisconsin
  • A few other restaurants to consider: