Events & Things to Do in Fall in Door County WI

Day One
Have another muffin, you will need some extra energy for exploring Peninsula State Park! Stop at the Fish Creek Market for picnic makings then hike the park, it is stunning any time of year but the crunch of fall leaves underfoot and the brilliant foliage overhead are exhilarating. Take a tour of Eagle Bluff Lighthouse. Our favorite picnic spot in the park is Weborg Point. Visit Edgewood Orchard Gallery, just south of Fish Creek. The setting is just as breathtaking as the art. No visit to Door County is complete without a legendary Fish Boil dinner at the The White Gull Inn.
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Day Two
Horseback riding on a crisp fall morning is as good as it gets. Kurtz Corral matches rider experience with horses and provides beautiful trails through meadows and woods. Warm up after your ride with lunch at Door County Coffee, the aroma of coffee roasting makes it hard to inhale deeply enough. Wander across the street after lunch for wine tasting at Door Peninsula Winery. Onward to some of our favorite galleries; Woodwalk, Plum Bottom Pottery, and Juddville Clay, all within a few minutes’ drive. Top off the day with an impressive waterfront dining experience at Burton’s On the Bay.

Day Three
A little exploring is in order, so it’s time to drive north to Sister Bay. Sister Bay is the big city in Northern Door County with 800 people! Peruse shops and galleries in town and check out the goats on the sod roof of Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant. Lunch is at Door County Creamery featuring their oh so yummy goat cheeses and gelato. Hiking Newport State Park will provide another opportunity for breathing in that crisp fall air. Chop is a must for all steak lovers, located in the heart of Sister Bay.

Day Four
Spend the morning hiking Whitefish Dunes State Park and taking in the brilliant colors of the leaves against the blue water. Cave Point County Park, just down the road, is a spectacular place to watch the big waves of fall crash against the limestone shelf of the Niagara Escarpment. Krowas Orchard Farm Market is hard to find but their freshly pressed apple cider is sure to please with sweet apples, lovely plums, pumpkins, and gourds galore. Hands On Art Studio offers an opportunity to create your own art with their supplies and expertise and be amazed at the results! Just plain fun. Thyme is a short drive from the inn with scrumptious veggie-forward offerings and a wine bar!

Day Five
A day to explore Washington Island is barely enough and biking the island makes it even more of a challenge to fit it all in, but in the fall with the cooler temperatures, it is the best. The must-do stops are the Norwegian stavkirke, the Jacobsen Museum at Little Lake, the Art & Nature Center, Schoolhouse Beach, Jackson Harbor, Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm and lawyer for lunch at KK Fiske & Granary; all done in whatever order you can manage and still get on the last ferry back to the mainland. Once back on the mainland, celebrate your day at Husby’s, the local watering hole in Sister Bay, with margaritas and fish tacos.

Day Six
Last chance to select those apples and pumpkins to take home. Koepsel’s, Seaquist’s, and Wood Markets are all brimming with temptations. En route between markets make sure you stop at Fine Line Designs and the Hardy Gallery. Lunch is take out from Sway Brewing in Baileys Harbor. Grab a picnic table at the town marina. One last hike at Bayshore Blufflands Preserve before a classic supper club dinner at the Glidden Lodge overlooking Lake Michigan, a bit of a drive but worth the view!

Day Seven
We’ll bid you farewell, knowing you will return. Stop in Sturgeon Bay for one last Door County experience. The shops on Third Avenue are plentiful and you must visit Popelka Trenchard Glass. Grab a bench along the canal and enjoy take out from the Bluefront Cafe.