r/DoorCounty • u/STLrep • 1h ago
r/DoorCounty • u/duncantuna • 1d ago
FAQ1 - What to do in DC with infants, children, families.
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 • u/StationTraditional54 • 1d ago
Alpine Golf Course
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 • u/nickwilkmusic • 1d ago
Live Musician traveling through in august
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 • u/rarebluemonkey • 2d ago
Silent lightning storm over Sturgeon Bay?
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 • u/techvet83 • 2d ago
Question on the Piggly Wiggly in Sister Bay
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 • u/SonOfGallifrey • 2d ago
Door County with an infant
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 • u/KS1992902 • 2d ago
Visiting next month with 18 month old
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 • u/Worldly-Thought-8252 • 6d ago
What to do for a ruined weekend due to the smoke?
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 • u/DiscombobulatedArt72 • 6d ago
AQI In Fish Creek today - 558
Thanks to the wildfires in Canada and Minnesota.
r/DoorCounty • u/Open-Mind3700 • 6d ago
Help!! Visiting Door County first time in August
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 • u/star0131 • 6d ago
Fish Fry
Looking for the best fish fry Door County has to offer. Staying in egg harbor but willing to travel!
r/DoorCounty • u/Past-Jellyfish1599 • 6d ago
Has anyone had the vegan cheese at Wild Tomato and/or Pizza Bros?
I’ve never had pizza with dairy free cheese so I’m wondering how it is.
r/DoorCounty • u/alemacsgamez • 6d ago
Indoor activities?
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 • u/gooooooooooop_ • 7d ago
Kayaking Cave Point without a guide? Also, how is the air quality right now?
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 • u/ridgetopview • 8d ago
Smoke model shows a cloud over northern Door. How noticeable is it?
I’m curious as our family was planning to come up and one of our kids has asthma.
r/DoorCounty • u/MoodFit6793 • 7d ago
Door county forecast
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 • u/A_Fish_Called_Panda • 8d ago
Good stops between MSP and Door Co.?
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 • u/glue_guns_n_glitter • 8d ago
ISO Working Film Cameras
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 • u/Sufficient_Noise9497 • 9d ago
Cultured
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 • u/uncompr • 10d ago
How to find a date in door county ?
Man it seems like impossible here Tinder just doesn't work or any other apps