by Jean Grant – Door County is the thumb of Wisconsin’s “mitten” and a popular Midwest vacation spot, a half-day’s drive from Chicago and Minneapolis. Door County hotels and campgrounds welcome bicyclists, hikers, boaters, kayakers, and food connoisseurs alike to gather on the 70-mile long peninsula, known for its lighthouses, scenic vistas, quiet ambiance and family adventures by land and by water.

Green fields abound inland while quaint bays, harbors, villages and wooded natural parks dot the coastline. It’s an ideal destination for a family vacation getaway, be it a weekend or week-long visit.

I was pleasantly greeted by late summer tranquility in a county that’s home to 30,000 year-round residents. The atmosphere was relaxing; The epitome of Midwest meets small coastal town. At 2 million visitors annually, tourism is Door County’s primary industry, and I could see why.

The culture is a blend of Scandinavian, French and Native American (predominantly the Potawatomi). Fishermen, loggers, and early explorers settled in this once remote, windswept region with the earliest settlements dating back 2,000 years.

Now, the county is home to agriculture, shipbuilding, small-town commerce and recreational parks. Whether by foot, pedal or paddle there is something for everyone in the family in Door County.

Things To Do In Door County, Wisconsin

• Kayak to limestone caves along Lake Michigan
• View shipwrecks and lighthouses by a speed boat tour
• Climb to the top of a 150-year-old lighthouse
• Hike through state parks
• Partake in Midwest cuisine
• Enjoy an entertaining open-fire fish boil
• Tour Door County Coffee Roasters

Best Door County Hotels & Campgrounds

The Door County offers a range of family-friendly accommodations, including hotels, B&Bs, cottages, and campgrounds (some seasonal, a few year-round). 

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Fish Creek

The tiny community of Fish Creek is a little-known gem of Door County just north of Sturgeon Bay bordering Door County’s most impressive green space, Peninsula State Park.

Less than 15 minutes’ walk from Fish Creek Harbor, the Homestead Suites features indoor and outdoor pools, 2 hot tubs, free WiFi, a fitness center and a games room, as well as a delicious daily continental breakfast, making it one of our favorite Door County hotels.

Another family favorite Door County hotel, located directly across the street from the Peninsula State Park entrance, Peninsula Park-View Resort features complimentary bicycle rental, ping pong in the resort’s communal lounge room, and fireside relaxation at the quaint outdoor patio. Complimentary organic coffee and kringle are served every morning in the hotel lobby.

Fish Creek Campground offers 80 wooded and level sites located just one mile from the entrance to Peninsula State Park in Fish Creek, making it a great centrally-located Door County campground.

Sister Bay

North of Peninsula State Park, is Sister Bay, another tiny village that sits within Door County and boasts one of the most popular beaches in Door County, Sister Bay Beach.

One of our most favorite family-friendly Door County hotels offers a seasonal outdoor pool, children’s playground and sun terrace. The Inn at Little Sister Hill is located in Sister Bay, nestled within a secluded twenty-acre cedar forest bordering 400 feet of picturesque Green Bay shoreline.

Aqualand Campground is a family run campground located in Sister Bay, the heart of Door County, with 150 sites on 67 acres of beautiful land, offering beautiful wooded paths, trout ponds (No license required!), a playground, water, electric, fire ring, & picnic table, free hot showers, volleyball, basketball, and even a loaning library.

Egg Harbor

A 12-minute drive from Fish Creek and a 25-minute drive north of iconic Sturgeon Bay, Egg Harbor is as off-the-beaten-path as you’ll find in Door County, Wisconsin. I stayed at the The Landmark Resort in Egg Harbor in a room with complete kitchen, living area and a second floor loft, ideal for families. Pools, manicured wooded grounds and views of Green Bay made for a serene base camp for exploring. I recommend bringing food for meals, though the restaurant serves lunch and dinner.

The Landing Resort is another very affordable, family-friendly Door County hotel offering a tranquil location in a woodsy setting, just a short walk to Egg Harbor’s beach, stores, and restaurants.

Rustic Timbers Campground is located on 160 acres in the heart of Door County, Wisconsin, offering a family friendly campground with 140 large wooded campsites, beautiful, clean, updated bathrooms and showers, 120 seasonal sites, 6 quaint rustic cabins and 9 gorgeous deluxe cabins.

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Baileys Harbor

Baileys Harbor is the best kept secret in Door County, attracting those seeking a different “Door County” experience. The only town on the lakeside of the peninsula, Baileys Harbor offers fishing, water sports, boat tours, swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding and more.

The Beachfront Inn is one of Baileys Harbor’s top-rated Door County hotels offering an outdoor pool, free WiFi access, an HDMI flat-screen TV, refrigerator, and coffee maker, as well as a beautiful garden, barbecue facilities and  nightly campfires on the beach.

Baileys Grove Campground in Door County, Wisconsin offers 95 sites complete with water, electric, fire ring, and picnic table, and many sites have mature shade trees, full hook-up, and pull-throughs.

Paddling and Cruising Door County

In tandem kayaks, we paddled 1.5 miles round trip on Lake Michigan to Cave Point near Whitefish Dunes State Park guided by Lakeshore Adventures. Although the choppy open water tested our endurance, placid clear emerald waters guarding stacked, rectangular limestone caves rewarded the work. This paddle is quite suitable for skilled older elementary children.

Even more agile and adventurous? Try stand-up paddle boarding. Seeking a calmer option? Paddle inland at Kangaroo Lake or Clark Lake.

In the afternoon we cruised along the shores of Lake Michigan in a zippy speed boat. We observed scattered old shipwrecks and three of the county’s 11 lighthouses: Cana Island, Baileys Harbor Ranges and aptly named Old Baileys Harbor Birdcage.

The boat owner who also served as our guide was entertaining and like all my Door County hosts, hospitable and knowledgeable. The 8-person speed boat is a thrilling experience for all ages.

Cana Island Lighthouse is also accessible by land…if you don’t mind either a tractor ride on the 300-foot natural causeway leading to the island or rolling up your cuffs and wading across in 8-inch-deep water. Both ways are enjoyable. Due to the fluctuations in lake level that occur every few decades, the causeway can be either dry or submerged.

This idyllic lighthouse was built in 1869 and has weathered many storms. A gorgeous 97-step cast-iron spiral staircase brings visitors through a hatch to a third order Fresnel lens. Atop a brilliant white tower, we took in 360-degree views of the peninsula and Lake Michigan. An extensive museum and small beaches complete this must-see excursion for lighthouse lovers.

Small Treks Upon Land In Door County

Bring your hiking boots or sneakers, for Door County has five state parks, a dozen nature preserves, miles of biking routes and hundreds of hiking trails. The moderate but kid-friendly two-mile round trip Eagle Trail at Peninsula State Park weaves through old white cedars and brings hikers to the bottom of 150-foot rocky bluffs. Here the Niagara escarpment shows its full glory in the form of dolomite rock cliffs.

The trail continues along Green Bay where saplings from two decades ago found root and now reside in lake water, robust and resilient to weather extremes. It was fascinating to imagine the bay iced over, several feet thick, in winter. Small caves in the dolomite are sure to please young and old.

I rounded out my hike in this gem of a park with a trip to Eagle Bluff Lighthouse. The park is home to signature bike trails, including the 10-mile Sunset Bike Tail that meanders through marsh, trees and cliffs. It’s also one of the only parks to offer year-round campsites.

Looking to go for a dip either bay or lake side? The county has over 50 swimming beaches, Whitefish Dunes being one of the more popular ones.

Wisconsin’s only wilderness park, Newport State Park offers quiet alternatives with miles of hiking and biking trails through hardwood forests, meadows and wetlands on the northern tip of the peninsula. Rainy day or traveling during the shoulder seasons of fall and spring? Door County has many galleries, museums and art venues.

Family-Friendly Door County Restaurants

At Wilson’s Restaurant, a century-old mom and pop landmark, I was introduced to the deliciousness that is fried cheese curds. Where have they been all my life? Oh yes, in Wisconsin, the state that is the top cheese producer at 2.8 million pounds per year.

Needless to say, I brought some home. I also made sure to try cherries in every form: ice cream, pie, juice, bread pudding. Door County is among the top tart cherry-producing regions in the country.

What do you get when you combine salt, onions, potatoes and whitefish steaks in a big kettle and cook over an open fire? A fish boil at Rowley’s Bay Resort, which hosts buffets combined with a humorous performance by one of the village’s oldest residents. Even if you don’t like fish, it’s worth bringing the entire family for the experience, homey ambiance and generation-passed-down recipes.

There was no shortage of sunsets as a late summer pink-orange sun dipped down into Green Bay at Fred and Fuzzy’s outdoor eatery in Sister Bay, known for the on-the-water dinning and tasty casual cuisine. Before departing, I dropped into Door County Coffee, a family-operated, artisan coffee roaster. I snagged a brief “coffee college” crash course about coffee’s journey from fruit to cup, with a sneak-peek into their working facility, followed by a scrumptious baked egg breakfast.

Their menu is sure to please even picky eaters. I brought home Death’s Door dark roast and Elite Espresso and have been enjoying them ever since. My trip wouldn’t have been complete without visiting Al Johnson’s goats grazing on a grass-covered roof, a hallmark of Door County and a must-see for kids.

Why is it Called Door County?

Alas, Door County didn’t acquire its name for being a door manufacturer. Founded in 1851, the county is named after Porte Des Morts (Death’s Door), the dangerous water passage between Lake Michigan and Green Bay, attributed to the region by early French explorers based on Native American stories and their own misfortunes. Over 200 shipwrecks in the lake and bay can attest to that fact.

Door County is a perfect family escape from the daily grind – relaxation, family-owned venues, wind and waves, lake and bay adventures and easy hikes through old woodland.

Note: Door County Visitor Bureau provided complimentary airfare, accommodations, activities, and dining for the purposes of this article.

Jean Grant is a scientist, author, and mom to two active, nature-loving sons. She currently resides in Massachusetts. She writes where her heart takes her…from castles to craters to crags of all kinds. Her website can be found at jeanmgrant.com.