Door County Favorites

This Labor Day Weekend was spent up north in Door County, Wisconsin. It’s becoming a tradition that we go up there for the holiday weekend and its something I’ve begun to look forward to each year. Below are some of my favorite things to do in the area – if you want to learn even more about this gorgeous peninsula, also be sure to check out last year’s post – with my top Three Reasons to Visit Door County.

Visit the Ridges Sanctuary

Ted and I discovered this hidden gem last year – just off of Lake Michigan, it’s a nature conservatory in the middle of Bailey’s Harbor. It’s home to some of Wisconsin’s most distinctive topography, “a series of 30 ridges and swales formed by the movement of Lake Michigan over the past 1100 years.” The area is filled with wildflowers, towering pines, and even its own historic lighthouse. I love walking around and enjoying the quiet scenery! They’ve opened up a new Nature Center that we didn’t get to visit this year- but its on the list for next Labor Day weekend.

Visit The Docks at Fish Creek or Ephraim

Every year I leave Door County wanting to buy a boat. Each of the small coastal towns have a series of piers with all types of boats docked for the season. We’ve rented small kayaks to explore the bay area but I think it would be fun to rent a boat next year, maybe even a sailboat. Though I think that requires actual skills! For now I’ve satisfied myself by wandering the docks and peeking inside people’s boats to see how things look! My favorite docks are in the towns of Fish Creek and Ephraim – they have the best scenery.

Buy Farm Fresh Goods

The countryside surrounding the towns of Door County is dotted with small farms. When we visit in September they are ready to sell their summer harvest to hungry tourists. The area is known for its cherries so I make sure to pick up a few packs of dried cherries to use for yogurts and cereals. Fresh apples are best from this area too. We bought a large bundle that I’m going to use for baking! I also purchased one of my favorite flavors: maple syrup. Being so far north the area’s climate is well suited to produce this sweet fall syrup. This year I also bought some lavender earl grey tea, and a small wreath for this winter. My mama bought me this small Polish made hand painted dish – which I adore and will use for my jewelry!

Spend Time With Loved Ones

Historically Ted and I have visited Door County with Ted’s parents. We sleep in their camper and love cooking meals in Dutch ovens while sitting around the fire together. This year we also invited my parents and with both sets of parents we had so much fun ! The highlight of the trip was a group bike ride through Peninsula State Park. It has a 10 mile bike loop through woods and right along the water. Mid way through you can take a break and visit a historic light house or go swimming in the park’s public beach.