The Peninsula
Door County, Wisconsin
By Nicole Thom-Arens
Published in 2024
The cold wind blew off Lake Michigan as we crossed the short causeway leading to the Cana Island lighthouse. By the end of November, the lighthouse was closed, but the water was low and it hadn’t yet snowed, so we braved the icy wind and got close enough to sneak a peek at the iconic lighthouse. The lighthouse was built in 1869 and is a reminder of Door County’s maritime history.
I was in my early-20s when I first visited the peninsula—Tim and I were newly married and visiting his mom in central Wisconsin. We walked along the beaches, sampled cherries—Door County has nearly 2,000 acres of cherry orchards and harvests between 8 and 15 million pounds of cherries each year—and stopped at little shops while making the drive along the coast. Door County is so charming with its cherry and apple orchards, beautiful coastline, historic lighthouses, and picturesque views of sailboats and bustling main streets that it hard not to fall in love with the place.
In late November 2024, we experienced Door County in the offseason. Even with the bare trees and empty marinas, this place is still utterly charming. We stayed in the DöRR Hotel in Sister Bay, which celebrates Scandinavian design with ample natural light and its use of wood and natural fibers. Our room had a small balcony with a view of Green Bay (the body of water). The shallows weren’t yet frozen, so the waves were still beautifully crashing to shore, and the sunsets were spectacular. The lobby, with its woodburning fireplace and high ceiling was the perfect pre-supper hangout. Guests could choose wine or beer from the bar and the corner bookshelf was stocked with various boardgames—we chose Cribbage while others played Scrabble and Jenga.
In late November 2024, we experienced Door County in the offseason. Even with the bare trees and empty marinas, this place is still utterly charming. We stayed in the DöRR Hotel in Sister Bay, which celebrates Scandinavian design with ample natural light and its use of wood and natural fibers. Our room had a small balcony with a view of Green Bay (the body of water). The shallows weren’t yet frozen, so the waves were still beautifully crashing to shore, and the sunsets were spectacular. The lobby, with its woodburning fireplace and high ceiling was the perfect pre-supper hangout. Guests could choose wine or beer from the bar and the corner bookshelf was stocked with various boardgames—we chose Cribbage while others played Scrabble and Jenga.
On our way from Green Bay (the city) to Sister Bay, we stopped just outside Sturgeon Bay at Renard’s Cheese, one of three Door County cheese shops. My Christmas cheese board was stocked with Wisconsin cheese this year—a jalapeno and cranberry jack, a block of muenster, and a wedge of gouda. Tim picked up a bag of sea salt caramels, none of which made it back to North Dakota. Before continuing up the east side of the peninsula, we stopped in downtown Sturgeon Bay for a bit of shopping and lunch at Get Real Café, which is owned by Door County native Veronica Ripp. The café specializes in providing healthy, local food with vegetarian and organic options.
When we travel, it seems we try to have a really nice (often expensive) meal one of the nights. Our elevated dining experience in Door County was at Chop, a classic steakhouse right next to our hotel. Once seated, guests are greeted with a basket of warm popovers, an unexpected treat (popovers are not nearly as popular as they should be). The Friday specials included sushi, so Liam and I shared a shrimp tempura roll, which was the best I’ve ever had. Liam got steak, Tim got the lake perch, and I got the seafood pasta. Each dish was good, but it was the carrot cake for dessert that stole the show. Tim claimed it almost as good as his grandma’s, which is high praise.
After a brief stop at the local Christmas market, where we purchased art from local makers, we spent Saturday driving around the peninsula and stopping at various shops and roadside markets and stocking up on Door County cherries, apples, and Wisconsin maple syrup. One of the markets sold Door County cherry pie packaged by the slice—genius and delicious! Our last stop of the day was Island Orchard Cider. We stopped there in 2015, and were happy to see the store has expanded. Guest can now build a mini charcutier board and have a little snack while sampling cider or enjoying a pint. We came home with a bottle of Pear Cider and their Brute Apple Cider.
During the early offseason, sans massive crowds of people and long waits, Door County is a great place to relax into slow days void of any definite plans (except a dinner reservation) and enjoy the quiet and charm all around.