r/DoorCounty 1d ago

FAQ1 - What to do in DC with infants, children, families.

10 Upvotes

This seems to be the #1 most FAQ in this subreddit, so I've compiled a list of all suggestions in the past many threads about bringing infants, children, or families to Door County.

Let me know if I missed anything ..

Door County Family & Kids Guide

An exhaustive, toddler- and child-friendly guide to attractions, playgrounds, sweet shops, dining, nature spots, and provisions across northern Door County.

🎢 Activities & Attractions

Attraction/Activity Village Highlights Website / Link
Hands On Art Studio Top Pick Fish Creek Do-it-yourself art studio offering pottery painting, glass fusing, mosaic work, and metal craft projects for the whole family. handsonartstudio.com
Skyway Drive in Fish Creek Classic Drive-in movie theater, two films a night. doorcountydrivein.com
Sister Bay Bowl Sister Bay Old school bowling alley with bar and supper club. sisterbaybowl.com
Johnsons Park Sister Bay Go Carts, Batting Cages, Mini-golf. Facebook page
Egg Harbor Fun Park Egg Harbor Go-karts, arcade, batting cages, gem mining, water wars, and trampoline jumpshot. doorcountyfunpark.com
Nor Door Sports & Cycling Rentals Fish Creek Year-round rentals including bicycles and winter sleds/tubes for Peninsula State Park trails. nordoorsports.com
Washington Island Ferry & Curvy Road Drive Ellison Bay / Gills Rock Scenic drive up Highway 42 through the famous winding road to the car ferry landing at Northport. wisferry.com

🐾 Animals, Farms & Agriculture

Attraction/Activity Village Highlights Website / Link
The Farm Top Pick Sturgeon Bay Interactive living farm museum where kids can bottle-feed baby goats, milk a goat, see chicks hatch, and stroll nature trails. thefarmindoorcounty.com
Seaquist Orchards Market Top Pick Sister Bay Large market with a wooden play castle, outdoor rope maze, indoor toddler straw maze, and free cider pops. seaquistorchards.com
Plum Loco Animal Farm Egg Harbor Gentle petting farm with mini horses, goats, and sheep, plus playhouses, train sets, and a large sandbox. plumlocoanimalfarm.com
Wood Orchard Market Egg Harbor Farm market offering free mini cider pops, pedal-tractor toys, a play maze, and vintage photo ops. woodorchard.com
Lautenbach's Orchard Country Fish Creek Pick-your-own cherries and apples with low branches, outdoor playsets orchardcountry.com

🛝 Dedicated Playgrounds & Play Areas

Playground / Park Name Village Website / Link
Lakeside Park Playground Jacksonport dnr.wisconsin.gov
Anclam Park Playground Baileys Harbor baileysharbor.com
Baileys Harbor Recreation Park Playground Baileys Harbor baileysharbor.com
Kendall Park Playground Baileys Harbor baileysharbor.com
Frank E. Murphy County Park Playground Egg Harbor co.door.wi.gov
Harbor View Park Playground Egg Harbor eggharbordoorcounty.org
One Barrel Brewing Sandbox Patio Egg Harbor onebarrelbrewing.com
Plum Loco Themed Playhouses & Sandbox Egg Harbor plumlocoanimalfarm.com
Village View Park Playground Egg Harbor eggharbordoorcounty.org
Clark Park Playground Fish Creek visitfishcreek.com
Nicolet Beach Playground (Peninsula State Park) Fish Creek dnr.wisconsin.gov
Not Licked Yet Playground Fish Creek notlickedyet.com
Tennison Bay Playground (Peninsula State Park) Fish Creek dnr.wisconsin.gov
Sister Bay Waterfront Playground Sister Bay sisterbay.com
Ellison Bay Community Park Playground Ellison Bay doorcounty.com
PC Junction Playground/Pedal Track Baileys Harbor pcjunctiondoorcounty.com
Seaquist Orchards Playground & Rope Maze Sister Bay seaquistorchards.com

⛳ Miniature Golf Courses

Attraction/Activity Village Highlights Website / Link
Red Putter Mini Golf Top Pick Ephraim Iconic, classic mini-golf course with fun obstacles, $6/round. ephraim-doorcounty.com
Egg Harbor Fun Park Mini Golf Egg Harbor Mini-golf featuring caves, lighthouses, log bridges. doorcountyfunpark.com
Evergreen Miniature Golf Fish Creek Eco-themed course surrounded by pines, water features, and wheelchair-accessible greens. evergreenminiaturegolf.com
Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf Sister Bay Pirate-themed course with cascading waterfalls, footbridges, and pirate ships. piratescove.net

🍦 Ice Cream, Candy & Sweet Shops

Attraction/Activity Village Highlights Website / Link
Door County Ice Cream Factory Top Pick Sister Bay Super-premium ice cream made on-site with 30+ original flavors, waffle cones. Has food menu, served quick. doorcountyicecream.com
Harbor Custard & Provisions Baileys Harbor Local hub for house-made frozen custard, artisan gelato, fresh baked goods, and quick snacks. doorcounty.com
Door County Confectionery Egg Harbor / Fish Creek / Ephraim / Sister Bay Classic candy store with homemade fudge, chocolates, saltwater taffy, retro candy, and ice cream. doorcountyconfectionery.com
Grumpy’s Ice Cream & Popcorn Egg Harbor Hand-dipped ice cream, draft root beer in frozen mugs, homemade fudge, and gourmet popcorn. grumpysdoorcounty.com
Not Licked Yet Frozen Custard Fish Creek Creekfront custard stand featuring custom kid sundaes with souvenir toys and duck feeding on the lawn. notlickedyet.com
Wilson’s Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor Ephraim Iconic 1900s soda fountain offering table jukeboxes, flame-topped root beer floats, and specialty sundaes. wilsonsicecream.com
Analog Ice Cream & Coffee Sister Bay Serving craft ice cream, espresso, and pastries with lawn seating. analogicecream.com
Door County Scoop Sister Bay Scoop shop near the marina serving cones, sundaes, and shakes. doorcountyscoop.com
The Vault Ellison Bay Unique sweet shop featuring gourmet popcorn, soft-serve, and retro candy. thevaultellisonbay.com

🍕 Kid-Centric Dining & Family Hangouts

Attraction/Activity Village Highlights Website / Link
PC Junction Top Pick Baileys Harbor Meals delivered on an active model train. Outside features play structures, pedal cars, tractors, and a sandbox. pcjunctiondoorcounty.com
One Barrel Brewing Company Egg Harbor Family-friendly patio featuring an enclosed sandbox filled with dump trucks, plus cornhole and nearby pizza. onebarrelbrewing.com
Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant Sister Bay Famous roof where live goats graze. Kid-friendly Swedish pancakes, lingonberries, and coloring sheets. aljohnsons.com
Peach Barn Farmhouse & Brewery Sister Bay Open green lawn with yard games, casual outdoor seating, juice boxes, and space for kids to run. peachbarnbrewing.com
Mink River Basin Ellison Bay Casual pub attached to an indoor arcade room with Skee-Ball, Pop-A-Shot, and classic video games. theminkriverbasin.com

🌲 Parks, Beaches & Nature Trails

Attraction/Activity Village Highlights Website / Link
Sister Bay Beach Top Pick Sister Bay Very gradual, shallow entry. Features adjacent playground, restrooms, and sweet shops. sisterbay.com
Egg Harbor Beach Egg Harbor Long sandy shoreline featuring an playground, calm waters and changing rooms. eggharbormarina.com
Frank E. Murphy County Park Beach Egg Harbor Clear, shallow waters on Horseshoe Bay with a sand beach, pier, and adjacent playground. co.door.wi.gov
Ephraim Public Beach Ephraim Sandy shoreline along Eagle Harbor with scenic views, gentle waters, and easy access to local shops. ephraim-doorcounty.com
Anclam Beach Park Baileys Harbor Sandy Lake Michigan beach with a stone jetty, barbecue grills, picnic tables, and a small playground. baileysharbor.com
Baileys Harbor Ridges Park Beach Baileys Harbor Wide sandy beach with shallow waters, ideal for family wading, swimming. co.door.wi.gov
Ellison Bay Community Park & Beach Ellison Bay Quiet sandy beach with a fishing pier, gazebo, playground, and scenic views. doorcountynorth.org
Cave Point County Park & Whitefish Dunes Jacksonport Cave Point features dramatic limestone cliffs and crashing waves. Neighboring Whitefish Dunes offers sandy beaches. dnr.wisconsin.gov
Lakeside Park Jacksonport Quiet, sandy Lake Michigan beach with shallow water entry, covered pavilions, and clean restrooms. dnr.wisconsin.gov
The Ridges Sanctuary Baileys Harbor Stroller-accessible wooden boardwalk trails through pristine forest. Nature center with interactive touch tables. ridgessanctuary.org
Peninsula State Park (Eagle Tower & Nicolet Beach) Fish Creek Accessible ramp up Eagle Tower. Nicolet Beach features shallow water, kayak rentals, and stroller-friendly trails. dnr.wisconsin.gov

🛍️ Forgot Something? (Provisions & Gear)

Attraction/Activity Village Highlights Website / Link
Main Street Market Egg Harbor Full-service local grocery store stocked with produce, meats, bakery goods, and pantry staples. doorcountygocery.com
Nelson’s Ace Hardware Fish Creek Excellent general store for hardware, tools, cookware, paper goods, plus swimsuits, apparel, and sunglasses. acehardware.com
Piggly Wiggly ("The Pig") Sister Bay Full-size supermarket offering a deli, produce department, bakery, household supplies, and adult beverages. pigglywiggly.com
Target Sturgeon Bay Full size Target store. Couple this with a trip to Culver's drive-thru. target.com

r/DoorCounty 18h ago

Alpine Golf Course

1 Upvotes

Can anyone in the know let me know whats going on with Alpine golf course? I thought it was permanently closed but while looking up which courses we want to play on our annual golf trip alpine came up and according to their website they have 9 holes open?


r/DoorCounty 1d ago

Live Musician traveling through in august

2 Upvotes

Hey Friends,

I'm heading up North mid-august, it's a bit of an unexpected trip. I'll be in the area August 18-20 and would love to find some work while I'm up there.

A little about me, I am an acoustic guitar playing singer songwriter specializing in brewery, pub, and restaurant performances playing sing-a-long songs, keeping a vibe going, and having a good time.

I've been playing throughout the midwest for the past 20 years playing a blend of alt-rock and folk music.

If you've got any events, openings, or need for entertainment in that time period, I'd love to work with you.

Thanks!


r/DoorCounty 1d ago

Silent lightning storm over Sturgeon Bay?

13 Upvotes

Did anyone else see the storm that just passed over Sturgeon Bay that was producing lightning flashes inside the cloud every second or so for about 20 minutes?

I shot about 15 minutes of video as it was slowly passing by. It was right above the cut, which was less than a mile away from us and was making no sound whatsoever. We could hear the leaves rustling on the trees right in front of us. It was absolutely silent. I've never seen anything like it.


r/DoorCounty 1d ago

Fish Boils

0 Upvotes

Which one do you guys recommend? Thanks


r/DoorCounty 1d ago

Question on the Piggly Wiggly in Sister Bay

1 Upvotes

We live in SE Wisconsin and were at a party over the weekend and someone told us the Pig had closed in Sister Bay, but it's certainly open. Can you think of any reason as to why they thought it had closed down. Were they mistaking it for another Piggly Wiggly store that closed in the area?

We come up to Ephraim roughly once a year, so if any other significant stores have closed in the past 12 months, I'd be interested to hear about them.


r/DoorCounty 1d ago

Door County with an infant

0 Upvotes

I have been going to DC every summer for the last 30 years but this will be the first time with a little one in September. He'll be 3 months when we go and we're staying in Sister Bay. We'll be bringing a travel bassinet, a carrier, and a bassinet stroller so we can still try to get out around the peninsula and have places for him to nap. We're planning on keeping this trip low-key activity wise and have our favorite hotel for relaxing outside while he naps. Has anyone in this sub brought up their under 1 year olds before and do you have any kid friendly recommendations of things to do while we're up in september? Many thanks.


r/DoorCounty 2d ago

Visiting next month with 18 month old

0 Upvotes

First time in Door County, staying in Fish Creek. Looking for recommendations for things to do that my 18 month old might enjoy as well as places to eat that will be kid friendly


r/DoorCounty 1d ago

What to do/see around Milwaukee?

Thumbnail
0 Upvotes

r/DoorCounty 3d ago

World cup watch

2 Upvotes

Where is the best place to watch


r/DoorCounty 4d ago

Which Air Quality Monitor?

Thumbnail
0 Upvotes

r/DoorCounty 6d ago

AQI In Fish Creek today - 558

Post image
17 Upvotes

Thanks to the wildfires in Canada and Minnesota.


r/DoorCounty 5d ago

What to do for a ruined weekend due to the smoke?

1 Upvotes

Heading up to Sister Bay on Saturday because by the time we learned of the AQI and smoke it was too late to cancel... We don't know what to do when we will be there until Tuesday besides go out to eat. We are not big drinkers and it looks like other stuff won't fill the weekend. We wanted to go to the beach and hike. We won't even see much from our balcony now. So bummed ... Has anyone ever been able to get out of a VRBO last minute without trip insurance?


r/DoorCounty 6d ago

Help!! Visiting Door County first time in August

4 Upvotes

Hey everyone! Planning a birthday trip to Sturgeon Bay/Door County Aug 1-4 and getting nervous after seeing the AQI get worse day by day.

Trying to decide whether to keep the trip or not, will really appreciate any honest, on-the-ground perspective.

Thank you!!!


r/DoorCounty 5d ago

Fish Fry

0 Upvotes

Looking for the best fish fry Door County has to offer. Staying in egg harbor but willing to travel!


r/DoorCounty 5d ago

Has anyone had the vegan cheese at Wild Tomato and/or Pizza Bros?

0 Upvotes

I’ve never had pizza with dairy free cheese so I’m wondering how it is.


r/DoorCounty 6d ago

Indoor activities?

2 Upvotes

Hello,

My partner and I are going to door county this weekend. However, I am concerned about the smoke from the wildfires affecting our mostly outdoor itinerary.

Is there any indoor activities in door county? I would like to keep some handy in case we’re stuck inside.

Thank u!!


r/DoorCounty 6d ago

Kayaking Cave Point without a guide? Also, how is the air quality right now?

2 Upvotes

Considering renting kayaks ourselves and exploring cave point at our leisure / our own pace. Is this not a good idea? Neither I or my girlfriend have tons of kayaking experience, but we're young and fit/athletic and have experience kayaking.

I was originally just going to ask about that, but I'm seeing air quality is an issue right now. How bad is it, actually? I was going to get a campsite at Peninsula State Park this weekend. Maybe I delay the trip if it's looking this bad out.


r/DoorCounty 7d ago

Smoke model shows a cloud over northern Door. How noticeable is it?

9 Upvotes

I’m curious as our family was planning to come up and one of our kids has asthma.


r/DoorCounty 7d ago

Door county forecast

0 Upvotes

Hello. My wife and I are planning a trip to door county this weekend to sister bay, and the forecast says it will be rainy. I’m seeing in other posts that the forecast isn’t always accurate. How true is this?


r/DoorCounty 7d ago

Good stops between MSP and Door Co.?

8 Upvotes

Hi, we are setting out to Door County tomorrow for the first time in several years! Now that we don’t have a baby pooping himself every 30 miles, we have the luxury to plan our stops! Any recommendations? Kids are older (8, 11) and we all love to eat. Thinking of taking a route through Eau Claire/Steven’s Point/Appleton. Thank you for any tips!


r/DoorCounty 8d ago

ISO Working Film Cameras

1 Upvotes

Please delete if not allowed. I am in door county for the summer and was wondering if anyone had old film cameras lying around that I could purchase. Some antique stores here have a few but rarely in good condition and normally cost more than I want.

I have a few so I generally know what I doing.

Dm me if you have something pls!


r/DoorCounty 9d ago

Cultured

8 Upvotes

Hi all. In town for the week and am aiming to grab a carryout breakfast from Cultured (for my wife's birthday) this Thursday. With the James Beard acclaim, I was curious if there's a line before open and what technique/protocol would be suggested? It seems the pre-order is more for bulk bagels and breads, not any breakfast sandwiches etc.

Thanks for any insight!


r/DoorCounty 9d ago

How to find a date in door county ?

0 Upvotes

Man it seems like impossible here Tinder just doesn't work or any other apps


r/DoorCounty 11d ago

Barney at Open Door Bird Sanctuary

Post image
50 Upvotes

Say hello to Barney the Barn Owl.