wmandmj

We will take our first trip to Door County in Sept. We (4 near 60) adults that have never been there before. We will stay in Ephriam. Please suggest places to go, sites to see, good restaurants, anything fun to make the trip pleasant. We will be there 3 full days.

kacollier

Ephraim would probably not be my first choice to stay -- not very central; Egg Harbor, Fish Creek and Sister Bay are best. The distances in Door County are not long, just traffic because everyone must travel the same road. With that in mind, here are some trip ideas:

Restaurants: Trio in Egg Harbor is my favorite (gourmet/regular Italian) but you need a reservation, Inn at Kristofers in Sister Bay is the place for a top shelf dinner, English Inn at Fish Creek has steaks and other continental fare, Al Johnsons in Sister Bay for breakfast (and goat viewing), JJ's La Puerta (mexican) or Mission Grill - both Sister Bay and casual dining. The famous "fish boil" (not my choice) is held at the beautiful White Gull Inn and requires reservations.

American Folklore Theatre is a wonderful evening option -- normally an outdoor music theatre with original plays it might be moving indoors during your trip. Still delightful and wholesome.

Go to Peninsula State Park for the views of the Lake, climb the tower or if you have an interest you can bike the park (rentals - single bikes and built for 2 are across from the park). Shopping and galleries run throughout each community. Or you can take a ferry across to Washington Island. The water portion of the trip is fine but I don't think the Island itself is that interesting. Try to see the area by boat if possible -- many people have said it rivals top East Coast shorelines. Just driving the island (both the bay side and lake side) to the various communities and light houses is interesting too.

Check out www.doorcounty.com for further ideas and to get a lay of the land. Enjoy your trip!

priscillatravel40

We have been going to Door County for over thirty years. We are presently building a home there and travel back and forth from Chicago in a day. I do strongly suggest staying in Ephraim, in fact if you can, stay at the Village Green Lodge, an adults-only, non-smoking, no-children, two story motel converted into a country charming bed and breakfast. Fabulous buffet breakfasts come with the meal and you are only a block from the beach. See reports on Trip Advisor for this inn. Voted #1 B&B in Wisconsin on Trip Advisor this year. Sept. is too early for fall color but perfect as a shoulder season--less crowds everywhere which makes your trip a lot more enjoyable. Ephraim is a dry town so it is not as heavily trafficked as other towns. It is the most picturesque of all the towns in Door County as evidenced by your drive in on 42, just look down the hill at what is called the "Cape Cod of the Midwest." If you like shopping, visit downtown Fish Creek, and the Top of of the Hill Shops at the northern end of Fish Creek, and of course lots of shopping is just everywhere you look in every town and between every town. If you like art be sure to visit the not-to-be-missed Edgewood Orchard Gallery just south of Fish Creek, an historic barn converted into a gorgeous art gallery with featured Wisconsin painters, ceramists, and sculptures or the Fine Line Art Gallery north of Ephraim or Peninsula Art School, a beautiful building with art exhibits in the octagon shape gallery by many of the local artists and students. Visit Maxwell's House in Egg Harbor and Blue Dolphin in Ephraim (my favorite) for contemporary gifts and furnishings. Sister Bay Traders is a huge furniture gallery at the top of the hill in Sister Bay full of decorating ideas. Clothes shopping is everywhere-- I like On Deck, the main store is in Fish Creek and the basement outlet is next door and Fred, for women, across the street. Touristy shops with sweatshirts and t-shirts are very nice in Door County--you do not find a preponderence of them.
If you like parks, Newport State Park up north, Peninsula State Park in Fish Creek, huge--you can spend a day here on the trails--there is a golf course, too, or Whitefish Dunes State Park-you can walk along the beach here or Cave Point Park to the south. You can also walk along the beach in Bailey's Harbor, on the quieter side of the peninsula. You can rent bikes at various sports supply shops in Fish Creek for a ride through the county or any of the parks. Don't spend much time in Sturgeon Bay, unless you like the "city" feel. It is literally the gateway to the peninsula but the views there are spectacular of the water and the ships.
Our weekly restaurant haunts are:
Sister Bay Bowl for prime rib, ribs, broasted chicken and perch/walleye fry specials on the weekends, Northern Grill at the top of the hill in Sister Bay for the same, both of these are blue jean places, old standbys and very good food. We like Mission Grille near the top of the hill in Sister Bay, nice candelight atmosphere at night and winner of Wine Spectator awards, for a wonderful wine selections and more upscale food. Waterfront in northern Sister Bay is very high end $$$$ but the water view is exceptional. Our favorite of all is a drive to the northern tip to Gill's Rock to the Shoreline Restaurant--go at dinner time and watch the sunset as you eat a whitefish or any other dinner. Wear jeans if you like. Fabulous whitefish chowder. Most all restaurants have chowder but there's is one of the best. White Gull Inn in Fish Creek for fish boils and Al Johnson's in Sister Bay for specialty breakfast of pancakes with lingonberries--see goats grazing on sod covered roof and adjacent Scandinavian food/clothing butik, and Wilson's Ice Cream with landmark red and white awning in Ephraim, are three traditional tourist spots. We tend to stay away because of crowds but for a first time visit you could visit and enjoy. We much prefer the Old Post Office fish boil in Ephraim (you must have a reservation for a seating) and the boil master at this one is fun to watch if you want to watch the short history of fish boils show beforehand. Sunset cruise with dinner and music out of Gill's Rock, rent a paddle boat in Ephraim, etc. Some people love to take the ferry to Washington Island for a day. The ride is great, the island though, does not offer the variety that the mainland does, but there are several interesting points of interest, one of them being Seivers Fiber Art School and Gallery.

In Door County be sure to stop at some farmstands, get some great cheese including smoked cheese and cheese curds at Renard's Cheese Factory south of Door County or at a grocery--Piggly Wiggly in Sister Bay, or Main Street Market in Egg Harbor (good wine selection at this one) and some homemade jam/jelly/preserves at Bea's Homemade in Gill's Rock (Ellison Bay mailing address.)

The Ridges Sanctuary nature preserve and a walk to the Cana Island Lighthouse (if possible)in Bailey's Harbor, and a drive along the Rustic Trail designated road on this side give you a flavor of the wilder, cooler, evergreen-laden side of Door County. At night, visit one of the plays at Peninsula Players, or American Folklore Theater, at the ampitheater in the park south of Fish Creek, or at the Auditorium Theater--we have seen Bob Newhart, Beausoleil, Neville Brothers, etc.,here, located adjacent to the school at the top of the hill in Fish Creek. From morning til night you can find so much to do and at a wonderful time of year. And if you like wine don't forget a trip to the local vineyards--Simon's Creek is our favorite but Stone's Throw is very nice, too, as our some of the others.
We don't do fancy much, the previous post gives you

mdwest

Wow! I love going to Door County and I must say I'm printing off Pricilla's posting so that we can try a few new places that we've missed. I agree that Ephraim is lovely and a great choice. To my mind it is more charming and it is a bit more serene than some of the other towns.

Last year we stumbled upon a wonderful restaurant outside of Fish Creek called Alexanders. I think that they recently relocated from the Hotel DuNord. I agree totally with the Sister Bay Bowl but we often go for lunch to avoid the large evening crowds. As an alternative spot for a fish boil I would suggest the Square Rigger Lodge in Jacksonport. Many find it to be the best in Door County and the view of the lake is a bonus. Reservations are needed.

The Blue Dolpin is one of my favorite places to shop as well but be sure not to miss their second shop out in the back gardens.

Door County is wonderful for exploring and finding hidden treasures. Enjoy!

mdwest

My thanks to Priscilla for directing us to the Edgewood Orchard Gallery. It is spectacular and my new favorite spot in Door County.

Bill_I

Thanks Priscilla. Information that alot of us can use. Let me also add my recomendation for the Bay Bowl in Sister Bay. When we visit the in-laws in Green Bay, we will drive up to Door County for the day & end up at the Bay Bowl for supper. I really like the broasted chicken. The wife really likes the lake perch. Sometimes we will make the drive from Green Bay & back just to go to the Bay Bowl for supper.

bk123

Just got back from a few days in Door County and was glad to have Priscilla's ideas before we went! I think Ephraim is a fine place to say -- seemed quite centrally located to me, in between Fish Creek and Sister Bay. Be sure to get a cone at Wilson's!

There are many good restaurant suggestions on this thread already...I'd add Village Cafe in Egg Harbor for breakfast. The fish boil at the White Gull Inn in Fish Creek is fun (and you do need reservations), but they also have wonderful breakfasts and, I think, other meals in a beautiful setting.

Fish Creek shopping is fun, and there are some good shops in Egg Harbor, too (Main Street Shops, Door County Nature Works, Jane's for great women's clothing, etc.)

Enjoy Door County!

travel_buoy

This response is too late for the original inquiry but I had to throw my two cents in.

Saveur in Bailey's Harbor: incredible restaurant, very few in the county even know about it because it opened in April. If there are two of you, call and ask for table 102 or the other window table if 102 is taken. Good chefs (an extended family operation, ask the hostess) + global supply chain equals the best restaurant on the penninsula. The carmenere will blow your socks off. (May close in late October or November for the season, call!)

Shoreline in Northport: incredible value as all of us blue hairs at 5:08PM when Cathy finally opened the door will tell you. Whitefish (and more) and a decent wine list with that view. Incredible vegetables and mango salsa for being at the end of beyond. Inventive chef with a decent wine list.

Fuzzy's in Sister Bay: when Jimmy Buffett visits Door County, he's at Fuzzy's for the view, the ambiance, the whitefish pate and the salsa. SPLIT one cherry margarita just to say you tried it. Closed weekdays and early in the fall.

Chocolates: the Serenity Sisters or Little Sisters or whatever they are called that sell out of a counter in a knick knack shop under the Whistling Swan in Fish Creek. The Belgians make the best chocolates in Europe and their descendants in Brussels whip them up and deliver to Fish Creek and probably other places. DIVINE! Wisconsin size portions and prices, I cut the caramels ($1.00) in fourths.

Fish boils: never a second time, kerosene is not a spice.

HappyCheesehead

Great suggestions - thanks to all posters who contributed. It has been a while since I have been to DC and since we need to go to Kaukauna this Saturday anyway, I might just drive a little further and check out some of these suggestions!