Photos courtesy at noted

When you think of vacation possibilities, your mind may immediately turn to America’s coasts. After all, what’s more quintessentially summer than sand and surf?

But don’t overlook destinations located near the country’s thousands of landlocked waterways, which provide equal opportunities to soak up some rays, bask in water adventures, and create a lifetime of memories.

A noteworthy midwestern place that fits such a description to a T is Door County, Wisconsin. When you discover all there is to do and see at this charming peninsula dividing Lake Michigan and Green Bay, you may never want to leave.

By the numbers

Although you may have never previously heard of this quirkily named place (more on that next), it is an endlessly fascinating locale. Here are some fun facts and figures that bear this out:

• It’s a 70-mile-long stretch of land occupying nearly 500 square miles total, including around 300 miles of shoreline, and it has nineteen communities to explore, from Southern Door County to Washington Island in the north.
• The population is approximately 30,000 people, but it gets over eighty times more tourists: 2.5 million per year.
• Something you’ll quickly notice that’s lacking is chain restaurants. Outside the area’s lone city, Sturgeon Bay, there aren’t any among its hundred-plus dining establishments, so Door County cuisine is as fresh as it gets.
• Speaking of food, the region is known for its cherries. At its peak in the mid 1900s, Door County produced 10 percent of the world’s cherry output—fifty million pounds per year. Today, that number is between about eight and fifteen million.
• The forty-fifth parallel north runs through this part of Wisconsin, allowing you to stand exactly halfway in the middle of our hemisphere. Be sure to get a photo of one of the two markers that denote this point.

History and culture

For such an enticing place, the region’s name has surprisingly ominous origins. Where Lake Michigan and Green Bay meet at the top of the peninsula, the waters tend to be rough and the winds tricky, a well-known fact that goes back centuries—hence why French explorers named the passage Porte Des Morts, or Death’s Door. So Door County was a logical name choice when it was founded in 1851.

Naturally, interest in maritime history is high here. Be sure to check out the Wisconsin Maritime Trail, which has trail markers detailing the hundreds of vessels that have sunk in these waters over the centuries. And consider visiting either of the county’s museums: the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay to learn all about the area’s nautical history and the Death’s Door Maritime Museum, farther north in Gills Rock, to find out more about its fishing traditions.

For more artistic types, there are also plenty of creative endeavors to suit your fancy, from galleries to theatrical performances. One popular choice is Peninsula Players Theatre, the country’s oldest residential summer theater. It sits on the western shore of Green Bay in Fish Creek, offering Broadwayquality productions each year in the heart of nature. For another option, nearby Northern Sky Theater produces both outdoor summertime plays at Peninsula State Photo by Dan Eggert Park and indoor ones during fall.

Fun at, in and under the water

Being surrounded by so much water guarantees that you’ll have plenty to do in Door County, especially this season—it is known as the Cape Cod of the Midwest for a reason, after all. Whether you’re interested in swimming, participating in water sports, or just plain relaxing, it has you covered with fifty-three swimming beaches available to the public. Schoolhouse Beach on Washington Island may be the most remarkable of the bunch because of its sheer seclusion and millions of smooth limestone rocks that cover its shores. But don’t discount the mainland options a little farther south, such as Sister Bay’s tranquil Sand Bay Beach or the mile-long sandy oasis that is Whitefish Dunes Beach, which is tucked away in its titular state park. Door County also has seven lakes, the largest inland one being 1,000-acre Kangaroo Lake, so there are ample opportunities for fun, from fishing to being enthralled by the lapping waters.

In addition, Door County is a must-visit area for people who are enamored of lighthouses. With eleven in all (four open for tours), it has one of the most concentrated collections of these structures per capita in the country. The oldest of the group, Pottawatomie Lighthouse, provides views from atop Rock Island at the very northern tip of the county—its original structure even predated the state of Wisconsin by a dozen years. Meanwhile, the popular Cana Island Lighthouse rises over the coast on Door Peninsula, providing breathtaking views of Lake Michigan. To help celebrate this heritage, the maritime museum holds Lighthouse Passport Days, when visitors can go on special tours.

Perhaps the most memorable water-based activity to be had, though, is exploring some of Lake Michigan’s aforementioned shipwrecks, dozens of which can be viewed via a clear-bottom kayak tour or boat tour. As if that awe-inspiring option wasn’t enough, experienced snorkelers and scuba divers can also opt to swim down and see some of the wreckages firsthand.

Getting out in nature

Beyond its many beach opportunities, Door County offers so much to do in the great outdoors itself. With five state parks and twenty county ones making up over 23,000 total acres of public and preserved land, it’s a nature lover’s paradise. A good example of this is picturesque Cave Point County Park, located on the eastern shore near Jacksonport. It boasts a myriad of trails to hike, majestic limestone cliffs above to gaze at, and dozens of caverns below to traverse by kayak. Biking is big for both locals and tourists as well, so be sure to download the free bicycling map from the county website so you can see all the sights on a two-wheeler.

Cherry picking is a must on any itinerary, of course, especially during peak season in mid-to-late summer. Seaquist Orchards in particular is famous for its tart varieties and bounty of cherry products; it also produces apples in fall. Fancy some grapes instead? You’ll find not only acres of vineyards in the county but also several wineries—there’s even a wine trail you can follow. But for perhaps the truest taste of Door County culinary culture, take in the centuries-old tradition of fish boils: kerosene-fueled, flamefilled spectacles where a dish of whitefish, potatoes, and onions is prepared over a roaring bonfire.

To surround yourself with a different sort of crop, hop a ferry to Washington Island to see its thousands of mesmerizing lavender plants, which are also in season during midsummer. While there, be sure to stop by Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm & Shop, where you’ll be inundated with options for bringing the purple plant home with you. And for arguably the most complete back-to-nature experience, consider visiting the Farm, a sixty-year-old “living museum of rural America” located in Sturgeon Bay. Here you can lose yourself in agricultural life while visiting numerous farm animals, including oddities like a punklooking Polish crested rooster and earless and fainting goats.

Door County, Wisconsin, is an ideal midwestern summer vacation destination, providing memoryfilled experiences for all. Whether you enjoy history, biking, hiking, water escapades, or lounging on the beach, you’ll find that the door to adventure is always open when you travel here.

For more info, visit doorcounty.com