Door County: Portal for Summer Outdoor Wisconsin Fun in Nature

Less than a five-hour drive north of the Chicago Loop juts a peninsula known as Door County, Wisconsin—an outdoor recreation heaven. It is filled with spectacular coastal walks, bicycle paths, awe-inspiring kayaking and even aerial perspectives from either a zipline cutting through boreal forests or a viewing platform overlooking Green Bay and the surrounding Peninsula State Park and quaint community of Ephraim. Door County is actually a patchwork of communities, each with a different vibe and base for outdoor adventure. This is the place to see the Milky Way and possibly even be treated to the aurora borealis.

Out on the Water

Arguably, Door County is best experienced on the water. Peninsula Kayak Company, based out of Sturgeon Bay, leads guided kayak tours that take paddlers inside a cave only visible and accessible from the water in Cave Point County Park. This roughly two-hour paddle along the rocky coastline on the Lake Michigan side of the peninsula through translucent, brilliant blue-green waters brings us to the coveted destination: a cave formed from more than 1,000 years of water and wind erosion. Ideally, book this tour for the morning slot to catch the cave in the best light.

On the sunset cruise offered by Sister Bay Scenic Boat Tours, it’s not unusual for young passengers to assist the captain in steering the boat. Photos by John D. Ivanko Photography.

Sister Bay Scenic Boat Tours gift visitors with another route onto the waters. Passengers could easily spend the entire cruise on the open-air upper deck birdwatching and capturing photos of the famous Eagle Bluff lighthouse, one of Door County’s 11 historic navigational lights. A cruise with a family-friendly vibe, kids get their turns captaining the boat in the enclosed lower deck with the help of the boat’s captain. Because there is usually room on the boat, wait for the calmest waters or best sunset lighting before booking.

Hike, Bike and Stargaze

A day too breezy to be out on the water adds up to the perfect time to head to The Ridges Sanctuary, in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin’s oldest nonprofit nature preserve, where visitors can charge their electric car as they hike. Try to catch a naturalist-guided hike for an intimate experience and interpretation of the natural beauty including insight into this biologically diverse ecosystem and an understanding of the water-cloaked swales. “At Ridge’s Sanctuary, you’ll experience a boreal forest with a diverse tree species,” explains Katie Krouse, tour guide and assistant director at the sanctuary. The unique Hidden Brook Boardwalk enables an immersive nature experience for those using wheelchairs, walkers and strollers.

Visitors can rent electric-assist bicycles from Nor-DorSport and Cyclery, and head into Peninsula State Park to tour the 10-mile Sunset Trail meandering along the coastline. For those E-bike curious, this is the perfect place to test them out, as store staff is ready to assist as needed. Bike trails traverse the entire park and can keep travelers pedaling—or gliding for hours. For the more adventurous, Lakeshore Adventures offers a zipline experience over the tree canopy with spectacular views of the nearby natural areas and harbor, ending with a 600-foot, side-by-side race line grand finale.

Birdwatching and photography are popular in The Ridges Sanctuary. Photos by John D. Ivanko Photography.

On a clear night, visitors can drive to Newport State Park, at the northern tip of Door County, to witness what a night sky might look like if not masked by light pollution from urban areas. This Dark Sky Park, one of only 48 in the U.S. and the first in Wisconsin, offers an unobstructed view of the eastern horizon. Visitors can also stop at nearby Liberty Grove Town Park and observe the stars from their deck on the beach.

Serving Up Outdoor Dining

Experience the seasonal flavors amidst a summer breeze and dine al fresco at many of the restaurants, often with spectacular waterfront views. In true local style, The Old Post Office Restaurant, in Ephraim, offers a traditional Door County fish boil, starting with their nightly reenactments of the 19th-century way to feed hungry sailors and their families over an open fire. A fish boil ranks a bit healthier on the dining scale with fish and potatoes boiled versus friend, so diners can justify the local cherry pie dessert, savored al fresco overlooking the setting sun over Eagle Harbor. The restaurant sits in the historic Edgewater Resort. Since 1900, this resort has been offering waterfront accommodations with a full kitchen and a dining room.

Door County is historically known for its Swedish and Norwegian settlers, so there’s no surprise to find lingonberries, herring and beet salad on the menu at Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant & Butik, in Sister Bay. Known for their restaurant with the goats grazing on the sod roof, this establishment offers both indoor dining and takeout, as well as outside tables at their Stabbur Beer Garden to take in the sights.

Head to the eastern side of the peninsula to experience the rising sun outside Rowleys Bay Resort, in Ellison. While there, pick up pastries from Grandma’s Swedish Bakery, located inside the hotel, specializing in recipes from owner Jewel Ouradnik’s own grandma, including her legendary half-pound pecan and cinnamon rolls, Danish puff and cardamom coffee cake.

“We’re at the end of the road, so people either are looking for us or are lost,” says Ouradnik with a smile.

A peaceful view of Green Bay at sunset. Photos by John D. Ivanko Photography.

“It’s all about hospitality here in Door County, where we welcome you back year after year just like you are family—because you are!”

Lisa Kivirist and John D. Ivanko are the authors of Farmstead Chef, Homemade for Sale, ECOpreneuring, and Soil Sisters. They run the completely solar-powered Inn Serendipity Farm, in Wisconsin.