(Clockwise from left) Eagle Bluff Lighthouse; Village of Ephraim; fence at
Newport State Park; sunrise over Death’s Door Strait
Fish Creek
Located on Door’s western shore, Fish Creek is known throughout the nation for its active
artistic life. “Because of the natural beauty that you find here, we’ve been a huge magnet for artists,” Jarosh notes. There are more than 100 galleries and art museums in Door County,
many of which are in Fish Creek. Art enthusiasts will enjoy a day browsing the
different galleries or even taking an art class of their own. The Peninsula Art
School and Guenzel Gallery offers one- to five-day workshops in ceramics,
sculpture, jewelry and metalwork, painting, drawing, photography, and
printmaking.
Performing arts are also big in Fish Creek. Top theaters include the Peninsula
Players, America’s oldest professional residential summer theater, set right on the shoreline
with breathtaking views of Green Bay; American Folklore Theatre, an outdoor
amphitheater featuring original plays and musicals performed by local actors
and musicians; and the Door Community Auditorium, which plays host to dozens of
nationally known artists and productions each year. Additionally, the Peninsula
Music Festival draws musicians from America’s finest orchestras to perform ten concerts in Fish Creek over three weeks every
August.
While in Fish Creek, be sure to visit the White Gull Inn for an authentic Door
County fish boil dinner, a method of cooking that is unique to northern
Wisconsin.
Sister Bay
Settled in the 1850s by Norwegian and Swedish immigrants, Sister Bay is proud of
its Scandinavian heritage. Quality shops, restaurants, and bakeries abound in
the town center, featuring Scandinavian fare, unique gifts, and collectibles.
One of the most famous Door County restaurants is in Sister Bay, and that’s Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant. The menu features authentic Swedish cuisine—dishes such as Swedish meatballs, roast beef hash, limpa bread, and lingonberry
pancakes, along with Lake Michigan-caught whitefish and fresh produce from area
farms.
Washington Island
Just north of the western tip of the Door Peninsula is Washington Island, the
County’s largest island and a very remote, back-to-nature kind of destination. The only
way to get to the island is by car ferry from the mainland. The quickest trip
is via the ferry from Northport, and that takes about 30 minutes. You also can
take narrated boat excursions from Gills Rock, about 90 minutes each way.
Take in the island’s pastoral views by biking, hiking, or riding mopeds around the island (bikes
and mopeds can be rented from local tour operators). Check out the island’s many gift shops and art galleries. Catch some rays at East Side Park Beach or
the Sand Dunes Public Beach. For a great view of neighboring islands and
Escanaba, Michigan, climb the 184-step tower at Mountain Park.
Once on Washington Island, you may want to take the 10-minute ferry trip over
to Rock Island, home of Rock Island State Park. Cars and bicycles are not
allowed on Rock Island, but it is easy to get around on foot. Be sure to tour
the Potawatomi Lighthouse, an all-stone structure and the only lighthouse in
Door County that you can climb to the top, and the Thordarson Boat House, an
elaborate 1900s boathouse made entirely from local stone. Backpacking, hiking,
diving, swimming, and kayaking are also popular. Of course, you may just be
content to relax in your beach chair, admiring the brilliant white cliffs,
cobblestone beaches, and turquoise waters.
