I've just finished reading a trip report that made a middling visit into Door County..with no real research or destination...And it made the thought occur: that the Peninsula's geography may need a little preamble for anyone who has never visited (or is considering it).

Sturgeon Bay is the acknowledged starting point (tho the county's actual boundary is many miles south). And it has it's interests or pleasures...depending on your tastes. For the 'real' DC experience, however,you need to be willing to drive a minimum of 20-25 minutes north...and beyond. There are two roads - Hwy. 42 (which roughly follows the Green Bay (water) side and Hwy. 57 (which follows the Lake Michigan side). It's not unusual (tho not an absolute constant) that the Lake Michigan air temp will be 10 degrees (or more) below the inland or Green Bay side. Between Sturgeon Bay and Egg Harbor (or Jacksonport), you will encounter almost no lodging options (Valmy, south of J'port offers a modest motel). Not until you reach either J'port or Egg Harbor will you really feel like you are 'in' Door County - and if you think you're a little more 'in' DC than you'd like to be,, and are dismayed at the level of shoppes and commercialization...just get a map and head off the main roads (on bike or car) and you'll be rewarded.