STAFF FAVORITES

Our Favorite Places to Eat

• Chives, Baileys Harbor - Good atmosphere, comfortable indoor dining, sit and eat at the bar if you are alone or with one other person. They do a great Sunday brunch!

• Chives Food Truck, Baileys Harbor - It’s quick, casual, and good - the burgers, pizza and spicy chicken sandwiches are favorites. Nice outdoor seating. Great cocktails. They’ll have a breakfast truck joining the fleet -Summer 2023!

• Big Easy Cafe, Egg Harbor - Delicious New Orleans’ style breakfast. We always get beignets, but the bagel sandwiches are also great. Easy online ordering!

• Wickman House, Ellison Bay - James Beard Nominee! Creative, Seasonal food. They grow much of their own produce. Reservations are usually required, but you can occasionally sneak in at the bar or one of their outside tables.

• Trixie’s, Ephraim - Great for a glass of wine and shared small plates with friends. Sit inside or outside, both have a relaxing yet fun atmosphere. The staff is very knowledgeable, let them know what you like and don’t like, and they’ll come up with a glass of wine that is just right for you. This is also a great place to go as a solo diner. Grab a seat at the bar. 

• Lost Tuk Tuk, Ephraim - If you’re craving Asian flavors, this is the place! All their food fits into either the curry, rice or noodle category and they run some great specials. Mostly open for lunch only, but they do have some “noodle nights” during the week. Get the pineapple lemonade!

• Blue Horse, Fish Creek - Good for breakfast and lunch and great coffee drinks. You can order online and just run in to pick up your order. They are nearby and open year-round. You can’t go wrong with any of their breakfast sandwiches!

• Shiny Moon Café, Fish Creek - Their menu is limited (but tasty), usually a few breakfast and lunch selections and some bakery items, the coffee is good, and the atmosphere is relaxed. Live Music on Saturday mornings!

• Fat Belly, Sister Bay - Sushi, Ramen, Poke. Order online for easy pickup. Healthy (mostly) and great flavors.

Our Favorite Hikes and Walks

• Any of the Door County Land Trust properties. A few favorites are Three Springs Preserve, and the Kangaroo Lake Trails, they tend to be less busy and are dog friendly.

• Peninsula State Park – In winter, park in lot 5 and ski from there. In summer, the Sunset Bike Route is beautiful; for a more challenging hike, park at Eagle Panorama and take the Eagle Trail; or take a loop through Minnehaha, Lone Pine, and Sentinel trails.

• Whitefish Dunes State Park has great hiking paths with a lot of variety, and Cave Point County Park is just next door. There are many trails there too, and it is a “must-see” on a super windy day, just watch your step- and bring a camera!

• Toft’s Point offers lovely hiking trails – also a beautiful spot to catch the sunrise.

• Ellison Bluff County Park or the Door Bluff Headlands - two favorite spots to hike with great water views, and they are dog friendly.

• Cana Island is fun to explore, depending upon water levels it can be difficult to access, you might need waterproof, or water-friendly footwear, but it’s a great historic and unique location where you can actually walk out to an island!

Our Favorite Spots to Catch the Setting (or Rising) Sun

• Peninsula State Park’s Sunset Bike Route goes close to the water, looping around Tennison Bay in Peninsula State Park, it’s great spot to take in the sunset, or climb the Tower and take in the view perched atop the trees, you can see forever!

• Sister Bay’s waterfront. Grab a cocktail at Stabbur or Husby’s and stroll the marina, find a spot along the waterfront and watch as the sun sets behind the bluffs and islands.

• Sunset Park in Fish Creek. Park in town and stroll past the big trees with their tall canopy, pass the old historic shops, buildings, and churches as you head west through town to the park. It’s just west of the White Gull Inn. It’s a popular and easily accessible location, but there always seems to be enough space for everyone to enjoy the view.

• You can’t beat the historic tradition of starting the evening with a Wilson’s ice cream cone in Ephraim and then catching the sunset across the street over Eagle Harbor.

• The Gordon Lodge on North Bay amazingly offers a wonderful view of the sunrise, moonrise, and a spectacular sunset view to boot.

• Anclam Beach in Baileys Harbor is great spot to watch the sunrise, it’s also a great location to catch the moonrise too!

Our Favorite Spots to Swim and Paddle

• Kangaroo Lake is wonderful for paddle boarding, kayaking, and swimming—smooth, clear, and remarkably shallow with a sand bottom.

• Pebble Beach, just South of Sister Bay, is a nice peaceful swimming spot, mostly used by locals. Be sure to bring water shoes to safely traverse the rocks!

• If it’s not too windy and the sun is shining, take a paddleboard out on Nicolet Bay inside Peninsula State Park. You can rent paddleboards and kayaks here. You’ll need a State Park pass if you are parking to hike the trails or enjoy the beaches at any of our State Parks - single-day passes are available at the Park entrance!

Some of Our Favorite Things to Do and See

• A game of putt-putt at The Red Putter in Ephraim is always a blast. It’s a great place to have fun and get a little too competitive with family and friends.

• One of the free concerts the various towns have weekly, find the schedule HERE!

• Fish Creek Market for groceries and a delicious made-to-order sandwich. 

• Lautenbach’s Orchard Country Winery and Market is a great place for cherries all year round. They offer fresh baked cherry pies - often still warm when you get them, or purchase by the slice. Seasonally they have hand-picked peaches, apples, pears, berries, squashes, and gourds. If you need a quick gift, pick up an array of door county-made packaged food or drink items to take back as presents. If they’re closed, the Market Street Market in Egg Harbor is the place to go.

• Right here in Fish Creek, we have two theaters. I always try to get to Peninsula Players Theater and Northern Sky Theater at least once every summer. Also, the Door Community Auditorium has some well-known musical performers throughout the summer and fall.

• For yarn, if you like to knit, weave, or crochet, Knit Whit’s Yarn and Crafts in Baileys Harbor offers a good selection. However, if you are heading to Washington Island via the ferry, make sure to visit Siever's.

• Visit the goats and cows at Waseda Farms and grab some groceries. They have locally grown produce and meats available year round.