Skip the crowded Chicagoland pumpkin patches and road trip to Door County, Wisconsin, where autumn comes alive in full, cozy color. This peninsula is home to five state parks bursting with brilliant foliage, apple orchards offering fresh cider and donuts, and families can explore lighthouses and shipwrecks or climb the Eagle Tower for sweeping views.
With 300 miles of shoreline, charming small communities, and a rich maritime heritage, Door County is the perfect place to trade city crowds for crisp air, colorful leaves and memory-making adventures your crew won’t forget.
Explore Door County nature
Enjoy the full array of burnt oranges, burgundies and mustard yellows at the five state parks in Door County. Peninsula State Park is popular for its lookout tower over Green Bay. Potawatomi State Park is peaceful for hiking and picnicking. Test your luck fossil hunting at Whitefish Dunes State Park.
Make core memories picking apples, sipping cider and playing outside in the crisp air. Visit Lautenbach’s Orchard in Fish Creek for their pick-your-own produce, apple cider donuts and award-winning wines made on-site. Find your way through the Red Barn Corn Maze, purchase pumpkins at the patch and take a hayride.
Door County is also known for lighthouses and shipwrecks, as the waterways were infamously treacherous. Explore sea caves and sunken ships on a fast-paced, thrilling ride with Door County Adventure Rafting. These quick-turning boats that blast rock music go out through September.
Door County eats
Kids can dig around an outdoor sandbox with shovels and dump trucks or play bags, Connect Four or Nintendo, then dive into Roman-style pie at Pizza Bros in One Barrel Brewing Co. Fun plus food plus local brews for the parents equals a great equation for families.
Wisconsin is all about their cheese and Renards Cheese is the must-visit artisanal shop in Door County. Stop by this family-owned dairy destination for samples of cheese curds, block cheeses, olive oils and balsamic vinegars. You can also scoop up ice cream, fudge, and other local goodies.
Start your day at eclectic 5 & J Coffee House, which features plentiful outdoor seating. Brunch at Get Real Café, where food is so fresh and healthy that you’ll feel good no matter what you choose. (P.S. don’t leave without some of their rustic sourdough bread.) Are you even in Wisconsin if you don’t eat at a supper club? Check that box with Nightingale Supper Club, where their whitefish with lemon dill butter is superb.
Door County attractions for the whole family
Swing for Red Putter mini golf, cuddle up in the back of your SUV for a movie at Skyway Drive-In Theatre or sink your teeth into a burger delivered via train at PC Junction. Retro nostalgia is alive and well in Door County and your kids will love the new-to-them experiences!
Animal lovers will swoon over The Farm, a living museum of rural America, where you can watch baby chicks hatch and milk a goat. The most adorable activity might be bottle feeding the baby goats, piglets and lambs.
The Sturgeon Bay Farmers Market runs from 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays from late May to mid-October at Nebraska Street and 3rd Avenue in Downtown Sturgeon Bay. The area is always bustling with vendors selling fresh, local produce, flowers, crafts, meat and bakery items. I purchased an adorable gnome hand towel holder for my husband and an Amish fry pie with lemon blueberry filling for my son.
Rest easy in Door County
Stone Harbor Resort is perched on the marina for fabulous views of the Michigan Street Bridge and boats on the water. Suites with kitchens, living rooms, multiple bedrooms and bathrooms make it easy for families to feel at home. Swim no matter the weather at their indoor or outdoor pools and warm up in the hot tub and sauna. The on-site restaurant features an outdoor tiki bar that often jams with live music, but never too late for those that need to catch their zzz’s.
If a resort isn’t your style, step into a charming waterfront stay along the banks of the Ahnapee River, just steps from Von Stiehl Winery and Crescent Beach. This inviting Airbnb rental makes it easy to explore — browse nearby shops, stroll the connected Ahnapee Trail right from the back patio or enjoy a peaceful walk along the lakeshore. Inside, you’ll find three private bedrooms, each with its own attached bathroom, plus a fully equipped kitchen, wet bar and dining area for easy entertaining. The cozy living room comes complete with cable and Smart TV streaming, air conditioning and plenty of space to relax. An in-unit washer and dryer add convenience, making this getaway as comfortable as it is scenic.
