Photograph by Kevin J. Miyazaki

There are a great variety of year ’round restaurants located all over the Peninsula and on Washington Island that serve delicious winter fare. You can watch or take the Annual Jacksonport Polar Bear Plunge on New Year’s Day. There are lots of lodging facilities with heated pools and spas for those who decide to become a polar bear!

Barbara Morrow has just written about 13 Reasons to Love Door County in Winter, her recent feature in Midwest Living Magazine. Throughout the winter, Ski Door County will post the latest weekly cross-country ski trail and snow reports.

Door County top lodging hospitality providers have some great winter packages and special deals…

• Applecreek Resort, located on top of the hill at the north end of Fish Creek has a great special. When you book a package there, you receive a collection of 10% discount dining certificates good at the English Inn and at the Top of the Hill Cafe. They add 10% discount shopping certificates redeemable at: Paul David Jewelry & Gifts, Hideside Boutique, Lavender Spa, Renard’s Cheese, Azure Men’s Apparel and O’Meara’s Irish House, as well as a $5 gift card from Fish Creek Oilerie & Spice and discounts on Mayberry’s Carriages, and Door County Trolley Tours. There are may other different packages on their Website.

• Glidden Lodge Beach Resort’s Winter Specials are numerous to say the least. Spend your weekend on the shores of Lake Michigan just north of Sturgeon Bay. With packages ranging from Winter Wonderland Trolley to Family Affair to Tranquil Spa Retreat, there is something for everyone.

• Settlement Courtyard Inn just outside of Fish Creek offers both a great place to stay, but also the onsite Lavender Spa for your relaxation. For a relaxing winter escape, enjoy the spacious and luxurious Coach House.  Winter rate for 2 people $229 and $259  for 4 people. To take advantage of the spa, check out the winter couples spa package $676 which includes 2 nights and Refresher Couples Massage or Create your own package by telling them what you want – available through March 31, 2012

• Bay Shore Inn minutes north of Sturgeon Bay has great specials for the off-season. Check out their Quiet Time Special which gets you a free night when you stay two nights. If that’s not enough, check out the Winter Wonderland Trolley Tour Package available through March 31, 2012 that includes a Friday and Saturday night stay in one of their beautiful one-bedroom water view suites and includes a free $25 Door County Visitor Bureau Gift Certificate. The Trolley will pick you up Saturday morning at Bay Shore Inn at 9:45 am for a tour of two award winning wineries, followed by a cozy sleigh ride and topped off with a fireside lunch at the White Gull Inn. Weekend packages for a couple start at $318+tax, packages for 2 couples sharing a two bedroom suite start at $468+tax. This trolley tour is only offered on Saturdays. The indoor pool, hot tub and fitness room are open year round, so call today to make your reservation!

• Lodgings at Pioneer Lane is offering a great special for the off season. Midweek nights start at $109 and Friday – Saturday starts at $139. Lodgings at Pioneer Lane is a small country inn, nestled in the heart of Ephraim, a most picturesque vacation destination. The inn is just steps from shops and dining.

38th Annual Townline Art Fair

Egg Harbor Pumpkin Patch Festival
Fun-filled weekend! Free admission. Live music, carnival rides, inflatable bouncer, arts & crafts vendors, face painting, pumpkin and scarecrow displays, roaming magician, storyteller, silent auction and more…
Click for Pumpkin Patch details and a free poster!

Sister Bay Fall Festival

WI Fall Foliage Guides:

Wisconsin Fall Color Reports – The official site with periodic updates on key locations throughout the state, suggested driving tours for fall foliage day trips and weekend getaways, related Wisconsin fall events and activities, links to local apple and pumpkin picking farms.

The Foliage Network – Regular fall foliage reports updated twice weekly for the entire Midwest including Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio.

WI Fall Foliage Hotline: 800.432.8747

Schoolhouse Beach

Schoolhouse Beach is a popular haven for hot afternoons on Washington Island. The cool water is the perfect escape from the summer heat. A raft anchored off shore is an easy sunbathing spot popular with visitors and locals alike. The smooth limestone pebbles that line this beautiful beach are only located on four other beaches in the world and are protected so please don’t take any.

If you’re not headed to Washington Island, you can spend the daylight hours at the numerous beaches around the county. Every town has a public beach so make sure you check them out.

Sister Bay Beach is fun for everyone. With a shallow swim area for the little ones and a dock for the older kids to jump off, you can relax. Come on Wednesdays to listen to concerts in the park all summer long. The beach is located in the heart of the town so you can walk to get lunch, shop, or run errands while your family enjoys the beach. The park offers a nice sized playground to occupy even the littlest kids.

Ellison Bay’s Women’s Club Beach is a popular destination for the pristine view of downtown and the Ellison Bluff which provides amazing sunset views. A park is just footsteps away and a massive grassy area perfect for picnics. Sand Bay County Park on the Lake Michigan side offers a serene and secluded side. Shallow warm waters give way to views of commercial fishing vessels crossing the harbor. Europe Bay Beach lies on the edge of Newport State Park and has white sandy beaches.

Ephraim Public Beach is located on the south end of town just footsteps from many hotels, shopping and restaurants. You could spend the whole day and not get in your car. South Shore Pier rents out various types of watercraft for you.

Peninsula State Park has multiple beaches to suit anyone’s needs. Nicolet Bay Beach offers kayak rentals and is a popular spot for boaters. The wide shallow bay is perfect for rafting with fellow boaters in order to and hop from boat to boat. There are a couple more beaches in the Park offering seclusion and more natural beach experience.

Fish Creek Public Beach is in the heart of Fish Creek’s downtown district. The Marina and moorings provide a great day for boaters and the warm shallow waters are perfect for children of all ages.

Egg Harbor Public Beach seems off the beaten path but is really just a two-minute drive from downtown. It overlooks the brand new marina, as well as a beautiful shoreline. Murphy Park on Cty. Rd. G south of Egg Harbor is an excellent spot to spend the afternoon and watch the sunset.

Junction Center's Beach Yoga at Egg Harbor Beach on Mondays from 10 - 11:30 am

Sturgeon Bay has many beaches to choose from. Whitefish Dunes on the Lake Michigan side is a massive white sandy beach perfect for big family gatherings. Be careful with small children as currents can be strong and hazardous. The beach lies within Whitefish Dunes State Park and is adjacent to Cave Point County Park. The three-acre Otumba Park on the west side of Sturgeon Bay has a sandy beach, playground and picnic shelter building to provide a great spot for large get-togethers. Sunset Park on the east side has forty-one acres for your family’s use. It offers tennis courts, basketball court, launching ramps and transient slips and much more. This beach is ideal for taking full advantage of our wonderful weather.

Baileys Harbor Ridges Beach is favorite for families because of its shallow warm waters. Out of the wind and on the quiet side, this beach is great for small children as well as pets as one of the only pet-friendly beaches around. Please keep your dog leashed and practice responsible pet ownership to full enjoy your beach experience.

No matter where you choose to stay, there is a beach for you and your family to enjoy. With 19 county and 5 state parks throughout the peninsula, there is no shortage of public water access.

Eagle Harbor... the quiet season in Door County

While it may be summer in Door County, there’s still lots to do for both vacationers seeking solitude and for local entrepreneurs like the designers and publishers of Door County Lodging. We are rolling out a completely new guide to Door County’s top hospitality providers, one that includes all sorts of additional user-friendly features. You have discovered our work-in-progress. You are more than welcome to watch the construction but, our complete Door County Lodging listings remain at the original Website (linked above) for now.

With over 300 miles of shoreline, the beauty is endless!

With over 300 miles of shoreline, the Door Peninsula provides easy access to the water from every town. Favorite spots for local kayak enthusiasts include Pebble Beach, Garret Bay in Gills Rock and the passage from Washington Island to Rock Island.

On Rock Island, there are Native American carvings in the limestone. They are hard to get to by foot but a kayak provides an easy way to access this remote area. The passage between Washington Island and Rock Island is a difficult paddle. Be aware that this is a shipping lane and can possibly be busy with boat traffic.

Don’t own a kayak? There are numerous sporting goods shops that have them available for rent and most provide guided tours.

Reconnect with family or friends!

Any hardcore kayakers out there? Two of our locals made the trek from Door County across the lake and up to Fayette, MI. Dale Krolick and Chuck Scully made the crossing a couple years ago. The trip took six days but it can be done in four. Just goes to show, there are limitless options when adventuring in Door County.

For those looking for a little less of an adventure, Pebble Beach, Schoolhouse Beach, or Garret Bay provide a beautiful paddle without the risk of much traffic. For beginners, I would recommend Pebble Beach or Schoolhouse Beach. These protected coves offer a great place to learn how to paddle and some windy days have nice waves. Garret Bay has a shipwreck right at the launch site. If you paddle south along the shore you can see the limestone cliffs from an angle that is unsurpassed. The clear water and flat rocks provide a great place to swim and have a picnic.

Door County has many kayaking events scheduled each summer. Paddlefest at Nicolet Bay in Peninsula State Park takes place  in June every year. Washington Island Canoe and Kayak Race, an expedition and symposium also begins in June and includes a “Death’s Door Passage” from Northport to Jackson Harbor. Bayshore Outdoor Store rents kayaks and provides a complete listing of kayak related events.

Door County Lodging isn’t the only one excited about kayaking. The Chicage Tribune recently posted an article about a first hand kayaking experience on the water: Door County by kayak.

Sarah Sawyer

She runs the Egg Harbor Lodge. She’s out and about. And she’s blogging! Sarah Sawyer is a busy bee and because she goes out and gets it, then delivers, we have to award our 1st Red Hen Award of Merit to Egg Harbor citizen journalist Sarah Sawyer…

People talk about the death of newspapers, always as if we are losing something. The Daoist way is to look at the half-full and the half-empty sides of reality. Yes, our local Door County newspapers have been corporatized and are now drying up. But, the legions of citizen journalists like Sarah are on the rise… and like the mighty Lilliputians, we shall pass through this transitional phase – and be much stronger and more diverse as a result.

I first discovered Sarah’s blog a few days ago when she wrote an article on Door County’s Dive Bars.  By the time I got to make mention of it, she has already written two newer stories, including her most recent article on John Henry’s in Egg Harbor that is now the lead story on our Door County Chefs Magazine.

We encourage you to follow her in just the manner she describes in titling of her own news blog:  Discover Door County with Sarah Sawyer as your Guide.