Door County

Door County is a 75-mile-long and 10-mile wide peninsula packed with fun and exciting attractions among beautiful scenery. You’ll enjoy their fruit orchards, antique shops, quaint art galleries, and picturesque little fishing villages that line the coast. Today’s trip will take us across Minnesota and Wisconsin, taking our usual breaks and an included lunch along the way. By late afternoon we’ll arrive at our destination in Door County for a three-night stay in Sturgeon Bay. (L)

This morning, our local guide will meet us at our hotel to direct our driver to pass by picturesque fruit orchards, small family farms, and fishing villages. Upon reaching the “tip” of the peninsula at Northport, our coach drives aboard a ferry to cruise across “Death’s Door Strait” to Washington Island while hearing about the history behind the name, “Door County.” We’ll explore the unique and interesting features of island life while having fun on Schoolhouse Beach—a unique stone-covered beach and peaceful site. Take a walk in a fragrant lavender field, learn of some early history in a Stavkirke Church, and enjoy a delicious, included noon lunch. Before we leave Washington Island, we’ll take a walk across the street from our lunch spot to Mann’s Mercantile, the one-stop shopping stop on the Island. This family owned business has a wide array of products including Apparel, Souvenirs, Homemade Cream & Butter Fudge, and just about a little bit of everything for everyone. Returning to the mainland by ferry, we travel a short distance to Door Peninsula Winery where they feature wine tasting and have a gift shop with a wide selection of wine accessories, gifts, and gourmet foods. By late afternoon, we travel a short distance to the heart of Door County, entering a driveway that meanders into a wood-covered retreat. Log Den is a log cabin-style restaurant that was lovingly handcrafted by the Lautenbach family. You’ll enjoy an included buffet-style evening meal in this cozy atmosphere. (B) (L) (D)

Rise and Shine! Our day starts early to explore as much as possible in this one-of-a-kind destination! Our local guide will share interesting highlights of Door County Peninsula. The first stop is Cave Point Door County Park where the winds and waves from Lake Michigan have worn away limestone cliffs to create underwater caves. While we’re in this area, we take in a Piano Concert by Dan Meunier in a unique venue …a one-room schoolhouse! Our next stop is at the Bjorklund Stave Chapel. This cute little gem is patterned after the Stave Chapel in Lillehammer, Norway, and is filled with beautiful fresco paintings and wood carvings. Lunch is included at Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant & Butik. This authentic family-owned restaurant is where you can find goats grazing on the sod roof. What a sight to see! This afternoon you’ll enjoy a tour of the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse, which is perched on a bluff that is 76 feet above Green Bay’s glistening waters. The Eagle Bluff’s Lighthouse lamp brought solace to many sailors suffering through a storm gale or the dark of night. Today, thanks to restoration efforts, the lighthouse continues to fulfill its tradition and purpose. The knowledgeable tour guides share the personal stories of the keepers who manned the lighthouse from 1868-1926. By late afternoon, you’ll have some free time in Founder’s Square, Door County’s most unique collection of stores and eateries. Nestled under the bluff in Fish Creek and only steps away from the waters of Green Bay, these cozy shops are perfectly situated along paths for you to discover galleries, gift shops, candy, music, ice cream, and much more…the choices are endless! Our evening meal is in a quaint neighborhood at Pelletier’s Restaurant and Fish Boil, where you’ll experience a true Door County tradition. The onions, potatoes, and whitefish are boiled in a big black kettle over an open fire. At just the right time, kerosene is thrown on the fire and it’s a BOIL OVER! The fire is out! A pole is put through the handle of the pot and brought into the restaurant where we eat! It is a short ride back to our hotel in Sturgeon Bay where you can settle down for a good night’s rest after a fun and adventurous time in Door County! (B) (L) (D)

After experiencing a fun-filled vacation to Door County, we’ll pack up our pleasant memories and say farewell. But before we leave the area, we’ll stop at Renard’s Cheese Shop for some cheese sampling and a little more shopping! We will travel through the rural countryside of Wisconsin with the usual meal stops en route. We will arrive back in Kerkhoven by early evening. (B) (L)