WI--Door Co., Kohler or both?
 

DH and I have four nights alone after dropping DS off at camp in the Lake Geneva area of WI. We're flying into Chicago, driving to camp, then heading north. We can stay at Kohler for all four nights, (though very pricey), or head to Door County for two nights (still pretty pricey, but not quite as bad!), then Kohler for the last two nights (DH really wants to play golf at Kohler!). Other than golf, what is there to do in/around Kohler? As much as we'd love to visit Door Co., it seems like a lot of driving for a little bit of time! We're guessing about 4 hours from Lake Geneva area to Door County and then around 2 1/2 hours from Dooor Co. back to Kohler...does that sound about right? We've never been anywhere in WI before, and it all souunds glorious, but we only have those four nights until we pick DS up from camp. Please help!

I'm not a great fan of lols of driving, so that will influence my answer.

Not that you asked, but if you haven't sone this before, I'd suggest spending a couple of days in Lake geneva, and then a couple of days in Madison.

Kohler has some very nice shops, and in the Kohler Design Center you'll see kitchens and baths done by many different designers. The Kohler Art Museum (whiuch is actually in Sheboygan) is worth a look.

Thanks, abram! We'll be staying in Lake Geneva for a couple nights when we return to pick up our son at the end of his camp, so that's why we're looking elsewhere for these four nights. Madison sounds great, but we'd like to be closer to "bigger" water, coming from a midwestern state that is severely lacking in H2O!

I love Door County and we try to get there at least once a year. We always stop in Kohler on the way up and on the way back. I like to go through the Shops at Woodlake, have lunch at Cucina's (one of our favorite restaurants) and then sometimes tour the Kohler Design Center. If you were to stay one night you could golf and hit the spa. You'll still have plenty of time to see Door County as well. Our schedule usually only allows us to stay in Door County 3 nights and we find that to be sufficient.
I love the quiet sandy beaches on the lake side (refered to as "the quiet side") but I also enjoy the galleries and shopping on the bay side of the peninsula. The parks are beautiful and great for hiking, biking or picnics. I would suggest that you not stay in Sturgeon Bay but continue north up the peninsula to Egg Harbor, Fish Creek, Ephraim, Sister Bay or Baileys Harbor to get a true sense of the place. There is also a ferry that takes people from Gills Rock across to Washington Island at the tip of the thumb. You might want to check out this site for more information about music, plays, art classes, golf, etc.
http://www.doorcounty.com/
............ Oh, yes! Don't forget to try a fish boil!

mdwest---thanks! The two nights in Kohler are a must for DH (two rounds of golf!), so would two nights in Door be enough? Or should we try Door another time and stay in Kohler for the four nights...I'm just worried about not having enough to do in Kohler for that long because I don't play golf! Aslo, how are my drive time estimates (about 4 hours from Lake Geneva to Sister Bay in Door and about 2 1/2 from Door to Kohler)?

Thanks again! :-)

Your drive times sound about right but then we tend to meander so it is hard for me to say with great certainty. I personally would have trouble filling that much time in Kohler but there are some nice beaches just to the east in Sheboygan. Personally, I'd still head to Door County for the 2 nights but then I'm biased. There is a beach there with a chair just waiting for me and a good book. Nothing like being next to Lake Michigan early in the morning with the sounds of the gulls and the waves.

I assume you'll be at the American Club in Kohler, it is a wonderful place but I agree with mdwest that 4 nights would be a lot. I would stay at each for two nights and figure out which two depending on when drop off and pick up are for your DH. Plan for the "longest" of the days for the two of you in door county, since you'll be together "sans" the golf. You won't have trouble filling your time at the American Club if you take advantage of the spa, the relaxing atmosphere and the Kohler design center. There are other options too, possibly a trip over to Sheybogan, it's an easy drive..

mdwest,

You've got my curiosity piqued....where do you stay on "the quiet side"? That chair by the beach sounds perfect;-)

And fun2travel, I appreciate the honest vote!

gtrgrl, we stay in Jacksonport at the Square Rigger Lodge. It's a small, family run motel that has cottages on the grounds. Very basic, nothing fancy but it's clean with a sand beach. It has a restaurant for breakfast and a great fish boil in the evenings. There is a tiny grocery store next door for the basics. We've been going there for years and years because it was the closest thing we could get to a cottage without reserving a year in advance. However, if you are used to places like the American Club, it doesn't come close.

gtrgrl, After the American Club you may be looking for something a but more posh. There is a place between Sturgeon Bay and Jacksonport that looks quite a bit more upscale and still is right on the water. We haven't stayed there but it looks wonderful. It is called the Glidden Lodge. http://www.gliddenlodge.com/

It is a farther drive, however to the great towns on the other side of the peninsula for all that great shopping.
I guess it just depends on what you're after.

Once again, thanks! We're not really used to places like the American Club...this is a rarity in our life! As we've never been to WI before, we're unsure of the best use of our time. It sounds like Door Co. has so much to offer....can we really appreciate it in only a day and a half? Our first day, after dropping our son off at camp, will be spent driving, so we won't arrive until 6pm or so. Then one full day in Door, spend the night and then we'd need leave before lunch to head to Kohler for afternoon golf. I'd love to tack another day (or two!) onto this, but we need to return to pick our son up, so it's not possible. We used to live in MI, many years ago and I remember driving and driving and driving to reach our summer destinations...I guess that's what I'm afraid of with summer time traffic...although we are doing this all during the week, so we won't have the weekend crowds to deal with. I'd like to keep the driving to a minimum, but it sounds as though all four nights (3 days) will be too much for Kohler.

another thing to do in Kohler, since you don't golf, is hike the trails along the Sheboygan river, by Black Wolf Run golf course. Lovely all year round. you also get a free pass to the sports complex if you stay @ any of the Kohler inns (there's another one called Woodlake inn, less pricey, on the small lake and closer to the sports complex; the Jacuzzi suite is 'sweet' but pricey, if available) and the pools are great in the sports center, w/ outdoor jacuzzi and swimming in the lake. also a short walk to Sheboygan falls (town ) is worth it.

I asked this as a different thread, but then thought I should ask here, too! Sorry for any confusion :-/

We have a few options for our brief two night stay in Door County....the Yacht Club in Sister Bay, the Egg Harbor Lodge and the Landmark, also in Egg Harbor (although that seems to be receiving the most negative reviews on another travel site). Any comments and/or suggestions would be appreciated!

Another option has come up...the Blacksmith Inn in Bailey's Harbor. Has anyone stayed at any of these Door County properties and would like to share their opinions? Thanks!

Hi again, gtrgrl.
I haven't stayed in any of them but I have heard negative things about Landmark and positive things about the Blacksmith Inn. However, Baileys Harbor (Blacksmith Inn) isn't as centrally located and I know that your time is limited. I checked the site for the Yacht Club at Sister Bay and because they get good review on tripadvisor it looks like someplace I might want to stay in the future........so if you do stay there I'd love a report back. Thanks.

mdwest,

Once again, thanks for your timre and input! I couldn't find any info on tripadvisor for the Yacht Club at Sister Bay...what did they say and how did you find it?

Hmmm.... I sure thought I posted a reply a couple of hours ago but I don't see it so I'll try again....
Try this site for the Yacht Club:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...Wisconsin.html

mdwest, Got it! Once again, thanks! No wonder I couldn't find it....I was only looking in the regular hotel/condo listings and they don't show up there. These comments echo what I'm concerned with...the view. Although they're all "waterfront", it's in front of a marina, so more boats to view then water is a concern, as well as the way the units face (esp. the one bedrooms). Hopefully, there's a Fodorite out there that has stayed there and will help us out!

ttt