EXPLORE DOOR COUNTY

Written By Joe Arendt

Door County is a scenic Midwest gem about 5 hours north of Chicago, offering the perfect escape for foodies, outdoor enthusiasts, and relaxation seekers alike. The region boasts 300 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, beautiful state parks, dozens of beaches, and thousands of acres of wilderness. Beyond the great outdoors, you will find charming waterfront towns, amazing restaurants, craft breweries, iconic fish boils and more to explore. Check out our favorite places to eat, drink, stay and play around Door County below and let us know your favorite local spots here.

EAT

  • Door County Creamery (Sister Bay), charming shop featuring delicious goat milk gelato, a huge selection of cheeses, tasty sandwiches and more

  • CHOP (Sister Bay), a casual steakhouse next to the Dorr Hotel with great outdoor seating overlooking the nearby lake

  • Roots Inn & Kitchen (Sister Bay), great lunch spot connected to the Roots Inn offering vegan comfort food with tons of flavor

  • Pearl Wine Cottage (Ephraim), a small, casual wine bar housed inside a renovated century-old cottage that also serves light snacks

  • The Fashionable (Ephraim), new restaurant from the team behind the recently closed Trixie's Food and Wine and Wickman House

  • White Gull Inn (Fish Creek), whether staying at the Inn or not, check our their famous Door Country cherry stuffed French toast and traditional fish boils

  • Shiny Moon Cafe (Fish Creek), breakfast and lunch cafe from the owners of Door County Brewing with full service coffee bar, beer and wine

  • Not Licked Yet Frozen Custard (Sister Bay), local favorite serving custard, sundaes and sandwiches with nice outdoor patio and playground

  • Wild Tomato (Sister Bay & Fish Creek), tasty and creative wood-fired pizzas with two locations in Door County

  • Chives Door County (Baileys Harbor), an upscale yet casual farm to table restaurant utilizing fresh, seasonal and local ingredients

  • The Fireside Restaurant (Egg Harbor), warm, wood-clad eatery serving an array of Cajun seafood and meat plates alongside wine and cocktails

  • Al Johnson’s (Sister Bay), a legendary 60-year-old restaurant with goats on it’s sod-covered roof offering traditional Swedish fare and a large beer garden

DRINK

Coffee

  • Ephraim Coffee Lab (Ephraim), home base for single-origin roastery Isely Coffee Roasters, check their Instagram to make sure they are open before going

  • Skip Stone Coffee Roasters (Sister Bay), local coffee roaster offering pastries, breakfast and lunch options

Spirits

  • Hatch Distilling Co. (Egg Harbor), local craft distillery that makes bourbon, brandy, vodka, gin and more and has a great tasting room with signature cocktails

Beer & Cider

  • Door County Brewing Co. (Baileys Harbor), popular local brewery with great taproom offering tasty barbecue, live music and ample outdoor space

  • One Barrel Brewing (Egg Harbor), Door County taproom from the popular Madison brewery with expansive beer garden, pizza and more

  • Island Orchard Cider (Ellison Bay), unique taproom where you can try their delicious, dry Normandy-style ciders

STAY

Hotels & Resorts

  • The Dorr Hotel (Sister Bay), modern Scandinavian-inspired hotel with stylish rooms, great amenities and amazing location

  • Water Street Inn (Ephraim), a newly restored historical landmark with 26 beautifully renovated rooms all with spectacular water views

Bed & Breakfast

  • White Gull Inn (Fish Creek), the historic inn known for it’s award-winning breakfast and fish broils

  • Thorp House Inn (Fish Creek), adults only B&B with six rooms and six cottages sits on private wooded hill with harbor views

  • Hillside Waterfront Hotel (Ephraim), an upscale boutique B&B with five luxury suites and two private cottages overlooking the waterfront

PLAY

  • Peninsula State Park (Fish Creek), beautiful 3,776-acre state park where you can hike, bike, boat, fish, golf and swim throughout the spring, summer and fall

  • Door County Cherries (multiple towns), pick your own cherries or visit one of the many cherry orchards and enjoy the famous door county cherries

  • Washington Island (Washington Island), accessible only by ferry, you can explore the island’s one-of-a-kind shopping, eating, and outdoor activities

Joe Arendt
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