Stay Cozy Exploring Door County, Wisconsin in the Winter
Icy bluffs, snow-capped trees, crackling ice on the bay, and giant, glittering icicles are all part of the imagery that comes to mind when you think of Door County, Wisconsin in the winter. While this truly can be a winter wonderland perfect for outdoor adventures, that’s not everyone’s cup of tea. But even if you are someone who would rather escape the cold than embrace it, Door County still has so much to offer during the colder months of the year.
A Little Bit About Door County, Wisconsin
If you have landed on this page then, chances are, you already know about Door County. However, I think it’s fun to share that I had absolutely no idea that this place existed before an email landed in my inbox inviting me on a press trip to come and explore. If I’m being completely honest, this Canadian girl couldn’t even point to Wisconsin on a map before this trip. But I’m so glad I said ‘yes’ to the opportunity because I genuinely loved every minute of my 3-day Door County winter adventure.
Door County has a rich history of local Indigenous tribes, French Explorers, and British claim. Early settlers were lumberjacks, fishermen, and fruit farmers and by the time WWII came along the area had four prominent shipyards that produced 1 ship every 5 days at the height of the war.
In 1969, National Geographic penned an article about the county, describing it as “a kingdom so delicious” and ever since tourism has been a huge part of the economy. From fish boils to beach days, ice fishing to beer tasting, museums, lighthouses, and so much more Door County Wisconsin has become a year-round travel destination for those in search of nature, delicious food, and friendly locals.
Door County in the Winter
Typically, Door County is a summer destination. The county, which has 30,000 year-round residents, expands to up to 150,000 people during the high season. Door County really comes to life from May to October as visitors and those with holiday homes flock to the waterfront area to enjoy the beaches, snack on cherries, and dine at farm-to-table restaurants.
Many businesses operate only during the summer season, choosing to take a break and relax during the winter after the busy summer months. However, that doesn’t mean Door County shuts down. After all, there are year-round residents who love to enjoy and explore the county just as much as tourists do.
Winter brings a completely different atmosphere to the county. The Hallmark-style villages are covered in snow and glow in the white fairy lights. The shoreline freezes, allowing for ice fishing, and trips to beaches turn into snowshoe or winter hiking adventures.
Despite being off-season, plenty of businesses including shops and restaurants still operate. Better yet, in the winter months, there is no 2-hour wait to get a table. While reservations are smart for bigger groups (and for special events like a fish boil), most of the time you can just walk up and be seated.
Personally, as someone who prefers to travel in shoulder or off-season to avoid the crowds, I really liked visiting Door County in the winter. Aside from not being as busy, it felt a little more authentic and local.
What to do in Door County in the Winter
Door County is a winter wonderland destination with ice fishing, hiking, and all kinds of other outdoor adventures available during the colder months. However, a warmer-than-average winter meant that there was no snow during our stay, so several of the planned winter activities had to be cancelled and rearranged. Personally, since I had literally just returned from 5 weeks in hot and humid South America and was struggling to adjust to winter again, I wasn’t too mad about it.
With that in mind, since I only write about what I experience, this Door County guide will be more focused on indoor winter activities that I was able to partake in during my stay. I call it the ‘stay cozy’ version of Door County in the winter. Which is perfect for foodies, girls’ trips, romantic getaways, or even just a mini break for those who don’t necessarily love winter but want a change of scenery.
Sound like you? Here’s what I suggest.
Grab a Flight at Door County Breweries
Door County has tons of different breweries and cideries and I was lucky enough to check out a few during my visit.
Peach Barn Brewing: A relaxed place with indoor and outdoor seating and a range of board games. I loved the variety of drink options at Peach Barn Brewing which included not just beers and sours but also seltzers and even a hard smoothie. My favourite was the peach sour.
One Barrel Brewing Co.: I was immediately drawn to One Barrel Brewing Co thanks to the penguin logo. After my recent travels to Antarctica and the Galapagos, it seemed like a fitting place for me. Very laid-back taproom with a pizza place attached. A variety of beers and ciders. My favourite was the rosé cider which is made with local Wisconsin berries.
Bridge Up Brewing Company: Walking into this brewery felt like walking into the cool kids’ basement hangout. The walls were covered in cool memorabilia with a massive fish made out of beer caps hanging from the ceiling. There was a Ms Pacman Game which I got to play in a cozy corner nook with comfortable couches. Overall, Bridge Up Brewing is just a really fun vibe. My favourite beer: Knee Highs.
Visit the Open Door Bird Sanctuary
As an animal lover, this was a major highlight for me. Open Door Bird Sanctuary provides a forever home to 20 birds who have been rehabilitated but, for various reasons, are unfit to be released in the wild. The sanctuary is 34 acres and provides a home for the birds along with educational opportunities for the general public. It’s open year-round for private tours ($60 for 2 hours and 2-4 people) and has general public days which you find on their calendar and social media pages. Birds here include a snowy owl named Oslo, a merlin falcon named PJ, Fisher the bald eagle, Mesa the golden eagle, and my personal favourite, Radar the barred owl.
Get Crafty at Hands On Art Studio
I grew up loving arts and crafts so when I found out that I was getting to do a hands-on art experience during my visit, I got very excited very quickly. Hands On Art Studio is a creative playground that prioritizes having fun and embracing your inner child. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to play with no focus on experience or skill level. The studio is actually made up of several buildings where you can try your hand at different mediums from mosaics (which is what I did), to ceramics, painting, jewellery making, and even fused glass. The atmosphere is incredibly warm and welcoming. Honestly, I could have spent the entire day here.
Learn at the Door County Maritime Museum
I’ll be the first to admit I’m not a big museum person but I genuinely liked this one. It’s small and interactive which immediately made it more interesting to me. The museum is spread out through the lighthouse tower with a few additional rooms on the main level. Since it was winter, we also got to chat with (and even help!) a group of locals building a boat to be auctioned off in the spring. You can learn more about the Door County Maritime Museum and its two other sister museums here.
Shopping in Door County
If you are a shopper, then Door County is full of cute little boutiques and galleries for you to check out. During my visit, I had the opportunity to meet several artists and shop owners with a variety of fun products. Some of my favourites were:
Polpenka Trenchard Glass Fine Art Gallery & Studio: Run by a dynamic husband and wife team (plus their adorable dog, Teddy), each who has their own specialities. We were lucky enough to get a private glass-blowing demonstration during our visit. You can book one as well or, if you are feeling creative, you can book a class. Learn more here.
Plum Bottom Gallery: There are actually four locations across Door County but we visited the newest spot in Sturgeon Bay. The gallery is beautiful with tall ceilings and lots of lights which immediately draw your eye to the colourful artwork on the walls and tables. My visit included colour-changing light pieces, local photography printed on aluminium, and a friendly-looking glass-blown octopus. The gallery represents some 200 artists from across the nation and works with them on a commission basis. Check them out here.
Sip and Spot
These are two separate locations run by the same woman, Jennie. Spot is a woman’s clothing and home gift shop filled with fun finds. Sip is actually a restaurant/shop that Jennie co-owns with her brother. The space is bright and fun with a homeware shop upstairs and restaurant downstairs. Worth popping in for a drink/bite to eat and to do some shopping. Oh, and use the toilets. They are some of the most instagrammable bathrooms I have ever seen. Learn more about Sip and more about Spot.
Where to Eat & Drink: My Top Picks for Door County Restaurants
All I knew about Wisconsin before I came was that they had lots of cheese. Which is true, and please eat lots of it. But they also have cherries and plenty of fresh fish. Plus, so many of their restaurants are true farm-to-table businesses which I love to see. I ate a lot during my 3-day visit to Door County in the winter and these are my stand-out recommendations.
Door County Coffee
I loved everything about Door County Coffee which is funny because…I don’t drink coffee. This homey café/shop had a varied menu with delicious breakfast options, sweets and treats, and of course a cozy drink menu. We learned that the coffee here is speciality grade 1 arabica- which only accounts for 2% of the coffee in the entire world!
While I enjoyed learning about this family-run coffee business I personally ordered the most magical hot chocolate. It was absolute perfection and a couple of us decided that it must be the secret recipe that took the elf in The Santa Clause movie 1200 years to get just right.
Come here for breakfast, a warm-up drink, or to stock up on some delicious coffee supplies to take home with you. Don’t worry, when you run out you can order more online from amazon!
Renard’s Cheese
Fun fact: Did you know that you have to license to make cheese in Wisconsin? And to be an actual cheese master, you need to do about 14 years of schooling AND continue to provide samples throughout your career to keep the title. Thankfully, I’m glad I’m just a cheese taster and my favourite place for Wisconsin cheesy goodness was Renard’s Cheese.
This family-run business spans 4 generations and prioritizes supporting local and being sustainable. They offer 60 types of artisan hand-crafted cheese, many of which are award winners. Pop into this shop to try some samples and grab lunch from the Melt Bistro. The menu features a number of options featuring their delicious cheese from mac-n-cheese to their special melts. A must-have is the deep-fried cheese curds. As a Canadian I’ve had plenty of cheese curds in my life (on and off of poutine) but deep fried cheese curds was a new one for me and I am definitely a fan.
Experience a Door County Fish Boil
Ok, let’s be honest. A fish boil doesn’t exactly sound appetizing but it was a very fun experience that I highly recommend. Fish boils are common across Door County but only a few places offer them in the winter, one of which is White Gull Inn.
A fish boil is a local tradition. As we watched our chef stoke the fire under a bubbling pot of white fish he told us how in the past, the lumberjacks used to have fish boils. It was easier to cook everything in one pot and since logging was primarily done in the winter, the big fire was a warm welcome on a cold evening. Fish boils then became customary dinners for celebratory events and still occur today.
So, what is it? Well, its local white fish boiled in a pot. Ours was already de-boned so we were served fish filets and potatoes and instructed to ‘drown it in butter’. Sides included homemade bread and coleslaw with a homemade cherry pie for dessert. Fun fact: the cherry pie was so good I bought one and brought it home (over 3 flights) to Canada!
Visit a Wisconsin Supper Club
Another first for me that I got to experience on this Door County in the winter tour was a supper club dinner. I was told by a fellow traveller that it is a typical ‘Wisconsin’ experience. Dim lighting, homemade cooking, and an absolute must-have: A Wisconsin Old Fashioned (sweet, with cherries). They are made with brandy instead of whiskey here and I enjoyed it a lot more than Old Fashionds that I have previously had.
Supper club dinners typically include a few staples on the menu: a fish fry, steaks, and potatoes. We had our supper club at Sister Bay Bowl and Supper Club and went with the fish fry (they have been voted as having the best perch every year) with broasted potatoes. And, of course, an Old Fashioned and cherry pie! Insider tip: to avoid the crowds (even in the winter) don’t come on a Friday!
If you have an Airbnb with space to cook or are travelling by car and able to take things home I also highly recommend a stop in at Wisconsin Cheese Masters to pick up a variety of cheeses and Henriksen’s Fish House. Get the fish cakes- trust me.
Where to Stay: Bed & Breakfast in Door County
Door County is actually pretty big with several small towns. My top piece of advice is to stay somewhere in one of these towns with easy access to restaurants and grocery stores especially if you plan on drinking. Car share services like Uber are not readily available so you will need a vehicle to get around. I stayed in Sturgeon Bay which had plenty in the area but was also not too far from other villages and towns for exploring.
Another huge draw to Door County is that so many of the properties are bed and breakfast type accommodation, rather than hotels. I loved the homey charm that this offers. Especially since Door County hospitality is top-notch!
I stayed at and recommend the White Lace Inn. The property is made up of four Victorian buildings. There are 18 rooms total of varying sizes, many of which have fireplaces and whirlpool tubs in the rooms. The grounds are equally charming and as the owner, Dennis, led me through he told me about all the flowers and plants that bloom in the spring and summer seasons. It’s so pretty that they even host small weddings here.
A definite highlight is the breakfast. Dennis said they rotate between egg bakes and fruit-filled French toast and that many of their guests like to re-create the recipes at home. Having had the French toast, I understand why and will give it a try myself.
I stayed in the Washburn House, a cute yellow building with a screen porch and four rooms. My room was Room D, the Country Cottage. The beautiful four-poster bed was carved maple and I made use of both the gas fireplace as well as the whirlpool bath. Both features made for the perfect way to wind down after a busy day exploring Door County in the winter. Book your stay here.
If the White Lace Inn isn’t available, friends stayed at and loved:
Final Tips for Visiting Door County in the Winter
I fell in love with Door County, Wisconsin pretty quickly. Especially considering it was somewhere I had never heard of before. While we had some last-minute changes to our Door County in the winter itinerary thanks to the wonky weather, I still loved getting the chance to experience the cozy side of the county and would absolutely recommend going in the off-season.
As mentioned earlier, not everything is open during the winter months so you will have to do a bit of research. The businesses listed in this Door County guide are open year-round but you will notice the villages are quieter and many businesses do close for the season.
You will also need to rent a car to get around. Cars can be rented at the Green Bay Airport, only a 40-minute drive from Sturgeon Bay. Even if you are travelling in winter, I still recommend reserving a vehicle in advance.
One more thing to note is that most businesses here are multi-generational family-run enterprises. What I loved the most was how excited everyone was of what they did. From the fishermen to the coffee roasters, the innkeepers and the cheese makers, Door County businesses take a lot of pride in what they do and every single one spoke to me about the importance of supporting local within the community and making their business sustainable. From a tourist perspective, these are all things I love to hear and help support and I encourage you to do the same.
Thank you to Geiger PR and Destination Door County for hosting me during my stay.
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