Best Things to do in Door County

Prepare to gather round the outside fire pit as Lake Michigan whitefish, red potatoes, salt and water are boiled in a huge pot over the open flame. To signal that the fish is done, the Master Boiler will light the top on fire with a huge flourish, shooting flames into the starry night sky. Once inside, the boiled fish is served with savory side dishes and Door County’s famous cherry pie as the sweet finish.

Pro tip: Be sure to book your seat ahead of time, as these are known to sell out quickly.

A family-run business operated since 1955, this orchard produces cherries, grapes, raspberries and pears, as well as juices and wines. The onsite winery opened in 1985 and specializes in everything from dry to sweet.

Wine lovers should be sure to visit Door 44 Winery, named for the famed 44 degree north latitude that circles the globe and is home to numerous world-class wine regions like France’s Bordeaux and Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Door 44 embraces cool-climate grapes and produces hard-to-find natural ice wine. The lawyers turned winemakers were also instrumental in getting Wisconsin’s second designated wine region, the Wisconsin Ledge AVA, approved.

Adventurous drinkers should sample the Door County moonshine here which are made with cherries from the area.

Make time for the celebrated cider at Ellison Bay’s Island Orchard Cider; the ingredients are mostly grown on nearby Washington Island, which can be accessed by ferry.

A local fav that offers seasonal and year-round crafts and hard ciders.

Lake side craft beer at it’s finest. They focus here is on Belgian beer and they brew everything on site. There’s also a cool live music space where bands play on the weekends.

Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant and Butik in Sister Bay boasts a Swedish chef along with its famous grass roof that goats graze upon. Al’s is one of the only places in the U.S. that offers an authentic Swedish Christmas feast, known as julbord. Guests should prepare to try all the herring, Swedish meatballs and special holiday ham, and to end the meal with a Swedish drinking song and chilled shot of aquavit, the traditional Nordic spirit. Pro tip: Check out the eatery’s goat cam for a dose of Door County from home.

Experience fika, the Swedish afternoon coffee and treats break, at the aptly named Fika in Fish Creek. Designed to make time for friends and family, this Swedish tradition reminds us to slow down and nurture our relationships.

For a dose of Norway, check out the village of Ephraim, which was settled by Moravians. It’s located just across Eagle Harbor from Peninsula State Park. As of the 2010 census there were 288 people living here, so be ready for small town America.

Peninsula State Park, the third largest in all of Wisconsin, is a can’t-miss stop. Hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, camping, picnicking and more can be done in the park, with rentals available at Nicolet Beach.

The Ridges Sanctuary, which was the state’s first land trust, is another preservation-focused area with gorgeous natural wonders spread through its 1,600 acres; don’t miss the Hidden Boardwalk hike with a naturalist all year long.