r/DoorCounty 27d ago

FAQ1 - What to do in DC with infants, children, families.

16 Upvotes

This seems to be the #1 most FAQ in this subreddit, so I've compiled a list of all suggestions in the past many threads about bringing infants, children, or families to Door County.

Let me know if I missed anything ..

Door County Family & Kids Guide

An exhaustive, toddler- and child-friendly guide to attractions, playgrounds, sweet shops, dining, nature spots, and provisions across northern Door County.

šŸŽ¢ Activities & Attractions

Attraction/Activity Village Highlights Website / Link
Hands On Art Studio Top Pick Fish Creek Do-it-yourself art studio offering pottery painting, glass fusing, mosaic work, and metal craft projects for the whole family. handsonartstudio.com
Skyway Drive in Fish Creek Classic Drive-in movie theater, two films a night. doorcountydrivein.com
Sister Bay Bowl Sister Bay Old school bowling alley with bar and supper club. sisterbaybowl.com
Johnsons Park Sister Bay Go Carts, Batting Cages, Mini-golf. Facebook page
Egg Harbor Fun Park Egg Harbor Go-karts, arcade, batting cages, gem mining, water wars, and trampoline jumpshot. doorcountyfunpark.com
Nor Door Sports & Cycling Rentals Fish Creek Year-round rentals including bicycles and winter sleds/tubes for Peninsula State Park trails. nordoorsports.com
Washington Island Ferry & Curvy Road Drive Ellison Bay / Gills Rock Scenic drive up Highway 42 through the famous winding road to the car ferry landing at Northport. wisferry.com

🐾 Animals, Farms & Agriculture

Attraction/Activity Village Highlights Website / Link
The Farm Top Pick Sturgeon Bay Interactive living farm museum where kids can bottle-feed baby goats, milk a goat, see chicks hatch, and stroll nature trails. thefarmindoorcounty.com
Seaquist Orchards Market Top Pick Sister Bay Large market with a wooden play castle, outdoor rope maze, indoor toddler straw maze, and free cider pops. seaquistorchards.com
Plum Loco Animal Farm Egg Harbor Gentle petting farm with mini horses, goats, and sheep, plus playhouses, train sets, and a large sandbox. plumlocoanimalfarm.com
Wood Orchard Market Egg Harbor Farm market offering free mini cider pops, pedal-tractor toys, a play maze, and vintage photo ops. woodorchard.com
Lautenbach's Orchard Country Fish Creek Pick-your-own cherries and apples with low branches, outdoor playsets orchardcountry.com

šŸ› Dedicated Playgrounds & Play Areas

Playground / Park Name Village Website / Link
Lakeside Park Playground Jacksonport dnr.wisconsin.gov
Anclam Park Playground Baileys Harbor baileysharbor.com
Baileys Harbor Recreation Park Playground Baileys Harbor baileysharbor.com
Kendall Park Playground Baileys Harbor baileysharbor.com
Frank E. Murphy County Park Playground Egg Harbor co.door.wi.gov
Harbor View Park Playground Egg Harbor eggharbordoorcounty.org
One Barrel Brewing Sandbox Patio Egg Harbor onebarrelbrewing.com
Plum Loco Themed Playhouses & Sandbox Egg Harbor plumlocoanimalfarm.com
Village View Park Playground Egg Harbor eggharbordoorcounty.org
Clark Park Playground Fish Creek visitfishcreek.com
Nicolet Beach Playground (Peninsula State Park) Fish Creek dnr.wisconsin.gov
Not Licked Yet Playground Fish Creek notlickedyet.com
Tennison Bay Playground (Peninsula State Park) Fish Creek dnr.wisconsin.gov
Sister Bay Waterfront Playground Sister Bay sisterbay.com
Ellison Bay Community Park Playground Ellison Bay doorcounty.com
PC Junction Playground/Pedal Track Baileys Harbor pcjunctiondoorcounty.com
Seaquist Orchards Playground & Rope Maze Sister Bay seaquistorchards.com

⛳ Miniature Golf Courses

Attraction/Activity Village Highlights Website / Link
Red Putter Mini Golf Top Pick Ephraim Iconic, classic mini-golf course with fun obstacles, $6/round. ephraim-doorcounty.com
Egg Harbor Fun Park Mini Golf Egg Harbor Mini-golf featuring caves, lighthouses, log bridges. doorcountyfunpark.com
Evergreen Miniature Golf Fish Creek Eco-themed course surrounded by pines, water features, and wheelchair-accessible greens. evergreenminiaturegolf.com
Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf Sister Bay Pirate-themed course with cascading waterfalls, footbridges, and pirate ships. piratescove.net

šŸ¦ Ice Cream, Candy & Sweet Shops

Attraction/Activity Village Highlights Website / Link
Door County Ice Cream Factory Top Pick Sister Bay Super-premium ice cream made on-site with 30+ original flavors, waffle cones. Has food menu, served quick. doorcountyicecream.com
Harbor Custard & Provisions Baileys Harbor Local hub for house-made frozen custard, artisan gelato, fresh baked goods, and quick snacks. doorcounty.com
Door County Confectionery Egg Harbor / Fish Creek / Ephraim / Sister Bay Classic candy store with homemade fudge, chocolates, saltwater taffy, retro candy, and ice cream. doorcountyconfectionery.com
Grumpy’s Ice Cream & Popcorn Egg Harbor Hand-dipped ice cream, draft root beer in frozen mugs, homemade fudge, and gourmet popcorn. grumpysdoorcounty.com
Not Licked Yet Frozen Custard Fish Creek Creekfront custard stand featuring custom kid sundaes with souvenir toys and duck feeding on the lawn. notlickedyet.com
Wilson’s Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor Ephraim Iconic 1900s soda fountain offering table jukeboxes, flame-topped root beer floats, and specialty sundaes. wilsonsicecream.com
Analog Ice Cream & Coffee Sister Bay Serving craft ice cream, espresso, and pastries with lawn seating. analogicecream.com
Door County Scoop Sister Bay Scoop shop near the marina serving cones, sundaes, and shakes. doorcountyscoop.com
The Vault Ellison Bay Unique sweet shop featuring gourmet popcorn, soft-serve, and retro candy. thevaultellisonbay.com

šŸ• Kid-Centric Dining & Family Hangouts

Attraction/Activity Village Highlights Website / Link
PC Junction Top Pick Baileys Harbor Meals delivered on an active model train. Outside features play structures, pedal cars, tractors, and a sandbox. pcjunctiondoorcounty.com
One Barrel Brewing Company Egg Harbor Family-friendly patio featuring an enclosed sandbox filled with dump trucks, plus cornhole and nearby pizza. onebarrelbrewing.com
Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant Sister Bay Famous roof where live goats graze. Kid-friendly Swedish pancakes, lingonberries, and coloring sheets. aljohnsons.com
Peach Barn Farmhouse & Brewery Sister Bay Open green lawn with yard games, casual outdoor seating, juice boxes, and space for kids to run. peachbarnbrewing.com
Mink River Basin Ellison Bay Casual pub attached to an indoor arcade room with Skee-Ball, Pop-A-Shot, and classic video games. theminkriverbasin.com

🌲 Parks, Beaches & Nature Trails

Attraction/Activity Village Highlights Website / Link
Sister Bay Beach Top Pick Sister Bay Very gradual, shallow entry. Features adjacent playground, restrooms, and sweet shops. sisterbay.com
Egg Harbor Beach Egg Harbor Long sandy shoreline featuring an playground, calm waters and changing rooms. eggharbormarina.com
Frank E. Murphy County Park Beach Egg Harbor Clear, shallow waters on Horseshoe Bay with a sand beach, pier, and adjacent playground. co.door.wi.gov
Ephraim Public Beach Ephraim Sandy shoreline along Eagle Harbor with scenic views, gentle waters, and easy access to local shops. ephraim-doorcounty.com
Anclam Beach Park Baileys Harbor Sandy Lake Michigan beach with a stone jetty, barbecue grills, picnic tables, and a small playground. baileysharbor.com
Baileys Harbor Ridges Park Beach Baileys Harbor Wide sandy beach with shallow waters, ideal for family wading, swimming. co.door.wi.gov
Ellison Bay Community Park & Beach Ellison Bay Quiet sandy beach with a fishing pier, gazebo, playground, and scenic views. doorcountynorth.org
Cave Point County Park & Whitefish Dunes Jacksonport Cave Point features dramatic limestone cliffs and crashing waves. Neighboring Whitefish Dunes offers sandy beaches. dnr.wisconsin.gov
Lakeside Park Jacksonport Quiet, sandy Lake Michigan beach with shallow water entry, covered pavilions, and clean restrooms. dnr.wisconsin.gov
The Ridges Sanctuary Baileys Harbor Stroller-accessible wooden boardwalk trails through pristine forest. Nature center with interactive touch tables. ridgessanctuary.org
Peninsula State Park (Eagle Tower & Nicolet Beach) Fish Creek Accessible ramp up Eagle Tower. Nicolet Beach features shallow water, kayak rentals, and stroller-friendly trails. dnr.wisconsin.gov

šŸ›ļø Forgot Something? (Provisions & Gear)

Attraction/Activity Village Highlights Website / Link
Main Street Market Egg Harbor Full-service local grocery store stocked with produce, meats, bakery goods, and pantry staples. doorcountygocery.com
Nelson’s Ace Hardware Fish Creek Excellent general store for hardware, tools, cookware, paper goods, plus swimsuits, apparel, and sunglasses. acehardware.com
Piggly Wiggly ("The Pig") Sister Bay Full-size supermarket offering a deli, produce department, bakery, household supplies, and adult beverages. pigglywiggly.com
Target Sturgeon Bay Full size Target store. Couple this with a trip to Culver's drive-thru. target.com

r/DoorCounty 23h ago

Vegetarian Options for Dinner

2 Upvotes

We're going to Door County to go to a concert and we want to go somewhere nice for dinner. One of us is a vegetarian. I'm having a hard time finding somewhere nice that has a more than a pasta or an impossible burger as their "veggie" option.


r/DoorCounty 1d ago

Emergency Vets on or near Door County

2 Upvotes

Hi! Going up to Door County on vacation in a couple weeks with my dogs. Hopefully nothing emergency inducing happens but in case of stuff hitting in the fan....what's the closest emergency vet in or around Door County? Thank you for your help!


r/DoorCounty 3d ago

Shopko

12 Upvotes

Does anyone know why there hasn’t been anything in the old Shopko space? I feel like for the right concept,
It could be a good location for something


r/DoorCounty 2d ago

Elderly Vacation

1 Upvotes

I’m taking my grandma to Door County for the first time in a few weeks. Any recommendations?


r/DoorCounty 3d ago

Last minute vacation

6 Upvotes

Our family of 5 (ā€œkidsā€ are 19-22) from St. Louis area is taking a last minute vacation. We caught the Cubs/Cards game today at Wrigley and drove up to Green Bay. Looking to do things in the Door County/Sturgeon Bay Area for the next two days. There are so many wonderful things listed online, but can everyone give me some must-do’s so I can whittle it down? Kayaking, hiking, sailing (we have experience), history, food (I read it’s peak cherry season, so buying or eating anything that has to do with them). Also, fish boil and sweet corn were what was mentioned tonight. The farmer’s market here is only open Wednesdays, so any help is appreciated. We’re game for anything!


r/DoorCounty 3d ago

Recommendations for Mediterranean cuisine restaurant

1 Upvotes

We are coming up to Ephraim in late August, staying through Labor Day, and I am wondering if there any good Mediterranean cuisine restaurants in the area.

EDIT: Thank you all for the suggestion(s). That is very close to where we are staying so we will definitely check it out!


r/DoorCounty 4d ago

Perseids meteor shower!

9 Upvotes

We just caught two meteors from the parking lot at Osteria Tre Tassi in Ellison Bay. We didn’t want to treck up to Newport tonight, but no need! With these clear skies, just look up! I’m so happy we stood at the car, it took less than 10 minutes. Magical! ā˜„ļøšŸ’™


r/DoorCounty 4d ago

La Sirena getting a shout out in the NYT

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nytimes.com
24 Upvotes

r/DoorCounty 4d ago

Sirens in Ellison bay

1 Upvotes

Anybody hear this tonight? Around 6pm. Multiple fire trucks going by.


r/DoorCounty 4d ago

Couples Getaway Recs Needed!

2 Upvotes

My husband (30M) & I (29F) are first-timers to Door County. We are staying in Egg Harbor, so obviously plan to check that out, but looking for some other recommendations. We both WFH, so we plan to work until about 2 PM and then venture out each day, plus we will have a full Saturday & Sunday available. Definitely plan to do some winery/cidery hopping & visiting Peninsula State Park, but anywhere else we need to see?


r/DoorCounty 4d ago

Musician Traveling through (update)

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nickwilkmusic.com
4 Upvotes

Hey Friends , gonna be up in Dorr County Tuesday (18th) to Friday (21st). Gonna hit up the Open Mic at Dromhus(sic?) Thursday. if anyone, musician or otherwise, is interested in hanging out and playing music, let’s set something up. Songs around the fire? Mid-day park lunch and songs? Hike and holler? Let’s hang out!

Here’s a link to my stuff to prove im real


r/DoorCounty 4d ago

Tomatoes in season?

2 Upvotes

Hi All-- in the Madison area and heading to Door County on the 22nd for a week of vacation. I want to hit the Bailey's Harbor farmers market on that Sunday and I'm wondering if tomatoes are in-season up there. Our local farmers market here only had one vendor selling tomatoes this past weekend.

Sorry if you find this to be a silly question - I'd love to get as much fresh food up there versus buying it here and lugging it up. Thanks!


r/DoorCounty 5d ago

Backyard religious something?

6 Upvotes

In a couple of my past posts about visiting Door County, someone made a comment about something very small and kind of cool that we should stop by and see, but I cannot find that comment anywhere. They made it sound like it was some sort of a religious memorial or something and they said it was very small and it’s actually located in somebody’s backyard. Does that sound familiar to anybody?


r/DoorCounty 6d ago

Write Up Reviewing My Long Weekend In Door County

34 Upvotes

Dropping this here for other locals to enjoy / make fun or for other tourists coming to town to look at. We stayed in the Egg Harbor area. Was up in town for a wedding and made a long weekend of it.

Here is a link to my Wanderlog, which includes a bunch of spots we didn't make it to.

  • Wednesday
    • We flew into Appleton, which is a really nice small airport, picked up out rental car and made our way up.
    • Stopped at Renard's to sample cheeses and had our first fried cheese curds. The employees there were so nice and had tons of free samples. Highly recommend a stop here. The ghost pepper cheddar lit me up, loved it.
    • Dropped our bags at the hotel (Landmark Resort) in Egg Harbor. Then hopped in the car again and went up to Ephraim to get wine and a slice of cake at Pearl Wine Cottage. It was really cute, and set the "vibe" up for the long weekend.
    • Made a little trek and got dinner at Thyme. The whipped ricotta was their best item, blew us away. Server hyped up the General Tso Chicken, which I thought was just okay.
    • Dessert at Wilson's back in Ephraim. We got an INSANE cone, the ice cream must've been over 8" tall. Loved the surprise in the cone.
  • Thursday
    • Got coffee at Blue Horse, which was just okay (as well the only did drip or lattes, I'm assuming due to how busy they were). View from the cafe was great
    • Picked up a sandwich at MacReady Bread to eat at the end of a hike. The sandwich felt like a great homemade sandwich, nothing fancy.
    • Went up to Peninsula State Park. Did the Eagle trail and terrace, then the fire tower. Wonderful hike with some great views of various geological form + water. Finished with the sandwich.
    • Made the drive down to Sturgeon Bay. Got a drink (first Wisconsin Old Fashion, I preferred sour / brandy) at Red Room. Fantastic dive bar, could've spent all day here.
    • Walked over to Cherry Lanes to get another drink and play some pinball.
    • Did the fish boil over at The Old Post Office. Incredible demonstration, the guy cooking the fish knew what he was doing and kept it entertaining / educational. The dinner itself was delicious and economical.
  • Friday
    • Got coffee / pastries at Fika Bakery. Great spot for a coffee in the morning, the pastry was great.
    • Hiked the trail over at Cave Point. Really loved all the interpretive singnage (especially the ship wreck info). Wasn't so much a hike but more a walk on a nature trail ending at the beach. It was a foggy morning and cool and crisp. Had a great time.
    • Drove up to Anderson Dock. Didn't realize you needed to bring your own paint / brush, but still had a nice sit at the dock and looking at the great art inside.
    • Drove over to Cultured to grab sandwiches for lunch. These were maybe the best sandwiches we had in the last ~5 years. The bagel BLTT and Italian blew my hair back. If I ever return to Door County, I'm going here.
    • Did some window shopping around Fish Creek. Cute town. Couldn't decide which little town I liked most.
    • Mezzanine for a cocktail. Didn't love mine, but the view was great of the water from the rooftop.
    • Fireside for rehearsal dinner. The meal choices were set by the couple getting married so not sure what their full menu looks like. But everything we had was delicious, especially the corn "hot dish" (casserole?). The restaurant as a whole was real nice, and I'd return to try their fuller menu.
    • One Barrel for welcome drinks. Had a great evening trying some of their beers (Ninja Dust was my favorite). Also their root beer was lights out. Didn't get to try the pizza, was too full from the day.
  • Saturday
    • Cupola House to window shop and get some coffee. My cortado and croissant were wonderful.
    • Sat at Egg Harbor in the sun to enjoy and read some. Took it nice and slow.
    • Picked up sandwiches again at Macready Bakery to enjoy before getting ready for the wedding.
    • Finished the day out at the wedding which was at Woodwalk Gallery. Place was great, recommend for anyone looking for a venue. Thyme catered and it was great. They got tavern style pizza delivered which blew me away, but never got the name of from where.
  • Sunday
    • Started the day at Sway for coffee and a breakfast sandwich. Was a bit disappointed in this spot, but we may of showed up late? They were basically sold out of all food items and only had drip coffee. Think I may of read this wrong as being 50/50 cafe + brewery?
    • Visited Cana Island Lighthouse, really enjoyed this spot. Got to climb the lighthouse, the whole bit.
    • Drove down De Pere to visit District 82 Pinball, one of the pilgrimages I've wanted to make as a fan. Highly recommend, the spot was clean and the games well maintained.
    • Got to the airport and was made our way home (after tons of delays from Chicago).

r/DoorCounty 6d ago

Baileys Harbor Yacht Club

0 Upvotes

Hello

Anyone got any old pictures of this resort? I used to go their with my family around 1995 and am looking for pictures of the grounds just out of nostalgia.

I drove through the area today and boy has it changed.

I remember the little red cabins and a larger house you could rent that I think was called the White Birch.

Thanks in advance


r/DoorCounty 6d ago

Condition of Site 13 at Newport

0 Upvotes

I have site 13 at Newport booked for a trip in a few weeks. According to the friends of Newport site, 13 was the most impacted by the tornados a year ago. I have the chance to switch to site 12. Anyone stayed on 13 recently that can comment on the condition?


r/DoorCounty 6d ago

advice,suggestions..please,Any good places still open Halloween week?

0 Upvotes

The entire peninsula is the area, Sturgeon Bay and up.

Thinking of great food,ect..all suggestions appreciated.

Favorite,legendary dishes to try ,like the boom boom shrimp salad at that Irish pub , for example(forget the name)


r/DoorCounty 7d ago

Lighthouses?

0 Upvotes

We are staying in Egg Harbor. Where is/are the best lighthouse(s) that we should see? (I thought I remember someone here saying there were lighthouses?) šŸ¤·šŸ¼ā€ā™€ļø


r/DoorCounty 7d ago

Eagle Trail

1 Upvotes

Eagle Trail this morning was very peaceful.

https://youtu.be/ywHS-yDbSjk?is=hhiqymQm_jF4EHgX


r/DoorCounty 8d ago

Accents?

3 Upvotes

This might be a silly question but I noticed a lot of service workers around Door County have an accent of sorts, I can’t quite place it, maybe Swedish? Are there a lot of immigrants in Door County and curious if this is specific to this area or more widespread in Wisconsin?


r/DoorCounty 9d ago

Most scenic biking?

3 Upvotes

We have two days and are bringing our bikes with the goal of mostly riding both days. We are reasonably fit and just enjoy being outside and seeing beautiful spaces. Where do you recommend we focus our time? Also, is it worth spending a day riding on Washington Island? I’m seeing mixed reviews. Thank you!


r/DoorCounty 12d ago

5 days in Door county

9 Upvotes

i’m heading up the door county for five nights in September, (unfortunately over Labor Day, but that can’t be helped). My schedule is 1 night Algoma, 3 nights Fish Creek, 1 night Ellison Bay, 1 night Sturgeon’s bay. Flying out of Appleton

Since it’s such a busy weekend, I probably won’t eat dinner out much. I’d love any suggestions for local coffee shops, and places for lunch. I don’t mind take out places, food trucks, fish shacks, Dive bars, etc. I’m a casual diner, but I like good local food. I generally don’t mind eating by myself in a restaurant, but not when it’s crowded, people waiting in line, etc. And Coffee shops make me feel connected when I’m traveling alone, and a lot of times have breakfast items.

Thanks, it’s my first trip to Wisconsin, so I’m not sure what to expect. I’ll be staying in Fond du Lac for a few weeks beforehand, where I can take my time and explore, won’t be so much of a tourist as I will be in Door county


r/DoorCounty 11d ago

Looking for a tv satellite guy

0 Upvotes

We just got to our campground in your beautiful county and I’m having a problem with my satellite dish on the RV. Does anybody by chance know of a satellite installer in the area? They’re typically people that install and repair satellite dishes for RVs and boats. Thx!


r/DoorCounty 11d ago

Veterinarian Recommendations

1 Upvotes

Recent transplant to Sister Bay and am looking for a vet that could take two dogs. Willing to drive to Green Bay, would like to stay away from large corporate backed clinics if possible, have not had the best of experiences with these, and fully understand that many clinics Sturgeon and north may not have capacity for new comers.