Door County Weekend Itinerary
I have been going to Door County since I was a kid. We spent our days salmon fishing, picking cherries, and visiting little pottery shops scattered throughout the countryside.
Today, the area is a special place for our whole family. From countless beach trips to Akinda’s wedding. Every time we are up in Door County we discover something new.
The peninsula of Wisconsin is flanked by Lake Michigan and Green Bay. The natural beauty made up of rugged cliffs, soft white sand beaches, and vast water views is spectacular.
Dotted with darling little towns, Door County is known as the Nantucket of the Midwest. The area is rich with artists and farmers which makes for some great shopping and eating, and with so many great hiking options, it’s the perfect little getaway.
GOLDEN GUIDES ITINERARY
DAY ONE: Friday
From our starting point in Stillwater, MN we have a 5-hour drive. With so much to see, we created an itinerary that hits the best of the best.
1. Renard’s Artisan Cheese, Sturgeon Bay
We are almost there, but we must stop for the best cheese curds and pub cheese. With 100 varieties of cheese to choose from, there is truly something for everyone. Renards has been in business for 3 generations and the milk they use to make their cheese comes from small, local farms. We weren’t able to leave without splitting their irresistible grilled cheese.
2. Cave Point County Park, Sturgeon Bay
We always want to get to the water first, and this park is a great starting point. We hike along the jagged cliffs overlooking Lake Michigan. We find a wave-worn ledge with spectacular views of the aqua water to eat our pub cheese listening to the waves crash into the caves below us.
3. Chives Food Truck, Baileys Harbor
We enjoy a lovely lunch outside of fried cheese curds with parmesan and herbs, and a pizza from the Harbor Pizza Truck, with local cheeses, lemon, and truffle. Yes, cheese curds twice in one day is normal for us.
4. Nathan Nichols & Company, Baileys Harbor
A carefully curated collection of home decor that we don’t see anywhere else. This is our all-time favorite store and we take our time walking through.
5. Baileys Harbor Ridges County Park, Baileys Harbor
In this little-known park, we follow a boardwalk for an easy 1.6-mile walk. Passing wildflowers and rare fauna we reach the beach and walk the sandy shoreline.
6. Wickman House, Ellison Bay
Hands down the best restaurant we have ever been to. Make reservations well in advance. Their menu changes daily and features seasonal ingredients from local farms and gardens. We have kale caesar salads with sarvecchio (a local parmesan with a nutty flavor), a trout special with miso wild rice, and pesto cavatelli with pistachios, shishito peppers, and a soft egg. Bliss.
7. Airbnb Cabin at Shady Grove, Egg Harbor
We have stayed in this cabin several times! It’s the perfect blend of campy cabin vibes and modern updates. Plus, the location makes for a great home base. We build a fire in the huge stone fireplace, listen to records and play board games. Such a cozy night.
DAY TWO: Saturday
8. Bearded Heart, Baileys Harbor
This bright little coffee shop serves up solid coffee drinks and breakfast sandwiches. We grab some to go and head towards the top of the peninsula.
9. Ferry to Washington Island, Northport
The Ferry runs every hour from 8-5 in the summer. We get our car situated onboard and find a good viewing spot to eat our breakfast.
10. Schoolhouse Beach, Washington Island
Off the ferry, we naturally head right to the water to Schoolhouse Beach. There are only 5 beaches like this in the world. There is no sand, just powdery soft white stones. We go for a swim in the cool, crystal-clear water.
11. Stavkirke Church, Washington Island
Hand built to resemble a Norwegian Borgund chapel from 1100 A.D. The church reflects the heritage of the area and the medieval architectural details are a sight to behold.
12. Albatross Drive-In, Washington Island
We love this spot for veggie burgers. And no visit to the island would be complete without it. We sit outside to eat before heading back to the ferry.
13. Ferry back to Northport on the mainland.
14. Island Orchard Cider, Ellison Bay
This hard cider company uses fruit from Washington Island to make their award-winning ciders. I love their refreshing Apple Cherry Cider and we pick up a few bottles to bring home.
15. Door County Creamery, Sister Bay
A must-stop for their handmade goat milk soaps. They also have a nice selection of local cheese, silky goat milk gelato, and fresh gourmet sandwiches.
16. Sweetie Pies, Fish Creek
A family business since 1995, they hand roll every pie and only use natural ingredients. We pick up a berry pie, made with cherries from the farm down the road.
17. Sister Golden, Fish Creek
This shop smells so good. A cedar blend that reminds me of camping. This mother-daughter-owned shop supports local artists and is full of textures and layers of natural decor. We always find treasures here.
18. Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek
We drive through the park to Eagle Panorama for epic views of the bluffs and water. There are great hiking trails, but today we have places to go.
19. Wisconsin Cheese Masters Shop, Egg Harbor
Out in the country, this unassuming shop features award-winning cheese from around the state. We do a cheese tasting and make a few selections for gifts and ourselves. I’m super excited about Smoked Ba Ba Blue. Made from ewe’s milk, its earthy, smoky flavor will be great with honey. There was live music at the Harbor Ridge Winery next door. We stopped in to pick up a bottle of Door County Cherry Wine.
20. Hatch Distilling Company, Egg Harbor
Using their hand-crafted spirits, they offer a creative cocktail menu and beautifully packaged spirits for purchase. We always pick up a bottle of Limoncello. Made with organic meyer lemons and Door County honey, it’s simply the best.
21. Door County Brewing Company, Baileys Harbor
We swing by to pick up a growler of my husband’s favorite beer. Today, we got lucky and caught live music. It’s a great spot to enjoy a beer and a soft pretzel. They have indoor and outdoor seating that’s ready for a party. In the chillier months, they even have firepits.
22. Koepsel’s Farm Market, Baileys Harbor
This farm market is loaded with homemade jams, pickled everything, and cheese. They have been in business since 1958 and their jams make great gifts.
23. Trixie’s, Ephraim
This small, charming restaurant had us in awe. We loved it before we even tried the food. The pink ambiance is fresh and delicate. The talented chefs change the menu seasonally and source from local farms. They are the Wickman House’s sister restaurant, so we even saw some familiar faces. We share a beet salad with almonds, castelvetrano olives and feta, polenta-crusted mushrooms, and cacio e pepe with pink peppercorns, montamore, and lemon.
24. Twelve Eleven, Sister Bay
Offering a nice selection of wines, live music, and a comfy spot to hang out around a fire, it’s the perfect way to end our day.
25. Airbnb Cabin at Shady Grove, Egg Harbor
Back at our cabin we make a fire in the firepit outside and sip our apple cider.
DAY THREE: Sunday
26. Chives, Baileys Harbor
This small, earthy, French-style restaurant is open for brunch on Saturday and Sunday.
We sit outside on the deck and start with a homemade eclair with vanilla bean pastry cream. A classic French omelet and eggs benedict complete our meal and we set off for our last destination.
27. Whitefish Dunes State Park, Sturgeon Bay
We saved the best for last. On our way home we visit our favorite beach. This hidden gem is an easy hike to a mile-long beach backed by white sand dunes. The soft sand squeaks under our feet and we can’t resist a dip in Lake Michigan. We dry off in the sun before heading home.
