Can anyone tell me about visiting Door County?

[Mom2Em]

DH, DD, Mom and I are considering an early Oct trip....I would love any info or recommendations!
Thanks!

 

[clh2]

Sister Bay has a fall fest one weekend in early October. We haven't been to that in about 2 years due to a change in my DD's school calendar.

Generally, the colors are beautiful at that time of year. If you are into hiking around, the Peninsula State Park is up there.

We would never go up there without visiting Hands On Art - which is a "pottery painting and other arts & crafts" studio. My DD loves this place.

The last time we were up there, one of the "outdoor theater" groups had started doing a play indoors which was fabulous, titled "The Bachelors". They were doing the plays near or at the city hall in Ephraim. I would definitely recommend trying to find out if a group is doing a play.

We always try to get to Al Johnson's - the restaurant with the goats on the roof.

My parents live in Sister Bay, so the only housing I am familiar with is their house. Sorry - I can't offer help with lodging.

It has been my limited experience that most shops are still open at this time of year, although if they are "closing for the season, there might be some good "customer appreciation sales" going on. Unfortunately for me - since my parents moved up there, they don't like to go out much when the "tourists" are in town, which limits our excursions. So, we really don't go up there much, because I don't want to drive 4.5 hours to go sit in their house.

Hope this helps!

 

[Jeafl]

October is a perfect time to go to Door County. We've stayed at the White Gull Inn in Fish Creek and it is WONDERFUL. It's a historic old Inn and restaurant, and not that expensive. It's also pretty centrally located. We've also stayed in Sturgeon Bay at a more modern resort (can't remember the name right now). It was also nice, but further away from everything.

Check out this website for more info on White Gull Inn.

www.whitegull.com

 

[Dan Murphy]

No real recommendations, Jan, as we have not gone for a number of years. But we used to go every other year and it was always nice. We went in the fall, a peak time. A great place to go for a quiet time.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I am currently researching Door County also. We are going this summer with my parents. Here are some links to websites I have found. I have never been there so I can't help with details! Have a great trip!

www.doorcountyconnections.com
www.doorcountyvacations.com
www.doorcountynavigator.com

 

[KarenC]

My mom has a home in Door County. We go up there as much as we can--October is a wonderful time to visit. Egg Harbor has a pumpkin festival--I think it's Columbus Day weekend. The town gets very crowded, but most of the businesses make displays out of pumpkins, it's very cute. Most places are still open in October.

Some of our favorite things to do include:

Renting a pontoon boat at Snug Harbor
Bike riding in Penninsula State Park (there is bike rental across the street from the park entrance, they have tag alongs)
Buying fudge at the Door County Confectionary
Going to the beach at Whitefish Dunes State Park (lake side) or Murphy Park (bay side). It will be too cold to swim in October, but it's still nice to be by the water.
Fish boil at the White Gull Inn
Hot chocolate at the Cookery. (You know that line in the Polar Express about hot chocolate as rich as melted chocolate bars--that's how the hot chocolate at the Cookery tastes to me.)
Breakfast at Al Johnsons (Swedish fare--you have to get the pancakes!), the Square Rigger (in Jacksonport) and the Village Cafe (in Egg Harbor).
Browsing at the Tannenbaum Christmas shop in Sister Bay
Horseback trail rides at Kurtz Corral in Carlsville. (You might be able to find a hay ride at a Fall festival, depending on the weekend).

We always stay at my mom's. Before the house was built we stayed at the Landmark. It's condos so you'd have a little kitchen (but eating is the best part of DC). The Best Western Maritime Inn isn't in the most picturesque location (it is across from Wal Mart) but it has a nice little indoor pool.

Enjoy your trip! If you have any questions, I'll be glad to help.

 

[Mom2Em]

Thanks for all of your help!!! We were looking for a place in Ephraim, I think...

 

[KarenC]

Ephraim is so beautiful. It's just around the bend from Peninsula State park and overlooks Eagle Harbor. There's a little hill with a number of white frame buildings. It looks like a picture postcard and should be beautiful in October with the leaves changing.

I'm not sure it's open in October, but if it is be sure to stop at Wilsons for burgers and ice cream. I've never stayed there but the Edgewater Resort is supposed to be nice.

 

[kessieann]

It is a gorgeous area. Definitely book as soon as you find a place because it fills up fast with everyone wanting to see the fall colors. I never miss going to Al Johnson's. DD loves the goats and I love the food. They have the best perch and I just love their cherry bread pudding.

We always camp at Penninsula State Park so I am no help in finding lodging. If the park is open in Oct. they do have a huge tower if you are into climbing and the view is just breathtaking.

 

[wilderness01]

Enjoy, enjoy. Door county is just lovely!

 

[Mom2Em]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
We are looking for a nice quiet time... where we can move at our own pace... Our last vacations have been to WDW and although we LOVE it there, quiet time is not happening...

 

[KarenC]

Originally posted by Mom2Em
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
We are looking for a nice quiet time... where we can move at our own pace... Our last vacations have been to WDW and although we LOVE it there, quiet time is not happening...

If you're specifically looking for quiet time, here's some food for thought...

The towns on the "bay side" between Egg Harbor and Sister Bay are the most heavily visited. Traffic on Hwy 42 can get quite backed up. And October, with nice weather and colorful leaves, is still a busy time in DC. The towns on the lake side--Jacksonport, Bailey's Harbor aren't quite as busy. Also towns further north, like Ellison Bay are quiet too. (Again, haven't stayed there but the Grand View Hotel in Ellison Bay is aptly named.) You could even stay on Washington Island which you need to reach by ferry!

Don't get me wrong, being in DC when its busy compares in no way to being in WDW when its slow...its a much more relaxing vacation no matter where or when you go. But if you're looking for a crowd free vacation, you might want to consider some of the quieter options.

The Door County Chamber of Commerce puts out a pretty good brochure with good lists of places to eat and stay and things to do. Their website is www.doorcounty.com and there's a link there to order the guidebook.

 

[stamper]

We were just there in Aug!!! Beautiful!!

We stayed in Sister Bay at the Open Hearth Inn....very nice, reasonably priced, wonderful staff! Nice and quiet. Good sized room, clean and had fridge. Coffee and wonderful doughnuts in AM. Pool and hot tub. Nice shops and restaurants in town.

We found the shops in Fish Creek to be the best...not that shopping else where wasn't good....but we found most of what we wanted in Fish Creek.

Peninsula State Park is wonderful.....we did some hiking and biking there. Be sure to climb the tower!

Be sure to visit Cave Point County Park (just north of White Fish Dunes St. Pk.)....it is really neat how caves have been formed along the shoreline.

We also went out to Cana Island Lighthouse....a bit hard to find, but nice.

If you like coffee....visit Door County Coffee( I think it was in Carlsville). They roast it there....yummy! I ordered some for Christmas gifts and myself....having some now in fact! Also came home with dried cherries and made scones with them and white choco. chips for Christmas morning!


It was one of the most relaxing vacations we have had! Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Can anyone tell me if there are a lot of leeches in the lake? My dad told my Mom that there probably were and that makes me !

Thanks!

 

[KarenC]

Originally posted by Jenn Lynn
Can anyone tell me if there are a lot of leeches in the lake? My dad told my Mom that there probably were and that makes me !

Thanks!

We've never had a problem with leeches in Lake Michigan.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Thank You KarenC!

 

[Mom2Em]

It sounds so neat!! We were looking at staying at High Point Inn in Ephraim...