Travel: Darling Door County

Darling Door County: A peninsula of food & tradition

Nicknamed the “Thumb of Wisconsin,” Door County is a peninsula between Green Bay and Lake Michigan that is home to some of the sweetest little towns in America. If you’re a foodie and lover of the great outdoors, the county’s scenic accommodations and abundance of restaurants, cheeseries, orchards and shops make for a perfect getaway.

Getting there

The most direct way to get to Door County is to fly to Appleton, Wisconsin, rent a car to drive the hour or so to Sturgeon Bay, the seat of Door County. A car gives you the flexibility to travel between all the towns and villages within the county: Sister Bay, Ellison Bay and Egg Harbor.

If you prefer to drive, it takes 14 hours to get to Door County. En route, squeeze in some sightseeing with stops in Sudbury, Ontario and Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Beautiful & affordable accommodations

There are various privately-owned inns, motels and small resorts scattered across the county, but if you’re looking for something spacious, well suited for a family with some of the best views of Lake Michigan, book a stay at Glidden Lodge Beach Resort. The waterfront property is located in scenic Sturgeon Bay, the biggest town in the county. Pairing modern amenities with nature, the resort is surrounded by trees and is nestled away from the town centre, making it truly feel like a remote getaway.

Visitors have the choice between one, two- and three-bed units. With rates starting at $175 USD a night in the low season, it is good value. Hearing the waves as you fall asleep makes you feel like you’re by the ocean. In the morning, wake up to the stunning view of Lake Michigan.

Cheese & sweets in Sturgeon Bay

In Sturgeon Bay, drop by Renard’s

Cheese shop and deli. They produce some of the most-loved cheese in the state of Wisconsin. Renard’s offers over 150 types of cheese, but their assortment of aged cheddars — ranging from one- to 15-year-old — are especially popular. If you feel peckish order something from their deli menu. All items are made fresh. I recommend Renard’s Signature Grilled Cheese, a perfectly pressed sandwich of spinach, bacon, provolone and pesto, with a side of coleslaw. Fun fact – did you know that, unlike here in Canada, cheese curds are yellow in Wisconsin? . . . Make sure to grab a bag to go.

Looking for something sweet after all that savoury and salty cheese? Pick up some old-fashioned delicacies at Door County Candy. Located in the heart of Sturgeon Bay, this precious shop makes you feel like you’ve fallen asleep and

ABOVE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:

The “graduating class” of Savory Spoon Cooking School. Glidden Lodge Beach Resort on Sturgeon Bay. Goats grazing on the roof of Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant and Bar. Door County Candy, in Sturgeon Bay.

woken up in Candyland. A Sturgeon Bay staple for over 20 years, Door County Candy is truly a family affair. Expect to be greeted by owner Terry Ullman, or one of his kids, behind the counter whipping up their latest flavour of fudge or cooking up a batch of the shop’s famous kettle corn. With rows and rows of homemade chocolates, taffy, flavoured popcorn, ice cream and more, the shop is such a gem.

Scandinavian brunch in Sister Bay

For a fun brunch experience, travel 45 minutes northeast of Sturgeon Bay to beautiful Sister Bay. Here you’ll find the famous Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant and Bar. It has been a Door County staple for almost 70 years, and for very good reason.

The restaurant’s menu reflects the region’s significant Scandinavian population and features items such as Swedish meatballs and pancakes, pickled herring, Pyttipanna and much more. I recommend the Swedish Pancake Special; a serving of pancakes with a side of lingonberry jam, two eggs and your choice of meat (I choose the meatballs). To drink, order a glass of lingonberry juice–a staple Swedish beverage made from lingonberries, a fruit that grows exclusively in the boreal forest and Arctic tundra across the Northern Hemisphere.

In addition to the great food, Al Johnson’s is known for goats on their specially designed green roof. Yes, real life goats. The goats are out daily from spring through fall, so look up and give them a wave on your way out . . . It really doesn’t get any more unique than that.

Savour tart cherries in Fish Creek

Growing 8- to 15-million pounds of tart cherries annually, Door County is the fourth largest producer in America. You can’t visit the area without getting a taste of this delicious super fruit.

The boil over during a fish boil at Rowleys Bay

Restaurant. RIGHT: The cherry pit spitting pit at

Lautenbach’s Orchard Country Winery & Market

cherry products and get a good sense of just how dynamic the fruit is. You will find cherry wines, cherry salsa and, my favourite, thirst-quenching, antioxidant-rich tart cherry juice.

Lautenbach’s also offers cherry picking and guided orchard tours for visitors who want to get up close and personal with these awesome fruits. After the tour, head out back to the “Cherry Pit Spit” — a game to see who can spit their cherry pit the furthest. Can you beat the state record of 48 feet?

Socialize over food in Ellison Bay

Take a cooking lesson at the Savory Spoon Cooking School in Ellison Bay. It is a great bonding experience for families. Run by chef Janice Thomas, the cooking school offers classes in a variety of cooking styles and for different skill levels. Thomas’ sweet and enthusiastic personality will have you feeling like a pro as she guides you through making a delicious meal with locally sourced, high-quality ingredients. In just a couple hours, our group produced a delicious lunch of cherry and pistachio crusted salmon, arugula salad, a blue cheese flan, and a cherry and plum tatin for dessert.

Wrap up your Door County adventure with an exciting fish boil. A culinary tradition in coastal Wisconsin, fish boils date back to the early days of Scandinavian settlement in the region. They were an efficient way to feed a large crowd while bring the community together to socialize. The meal consists of white fish, potatoes, onions and salt all thrown into a boiling pot of water on an outdoor fire. The event is led by a “boil master” who takes their job seriously.

There are various spots across the region that offer a fish boil, but Ellison Bay’s Rowleys Bay Restaurant is one of the most popular. The family-owned resort/restaurant hosts fish boils four days a week from spring to fall. The boil takes place on the property’s spacious front lawn where, after grabbing a drink at the bar, diners gather around while a storyteller recounts the history of the region The boil master knows exactly when to add all the ingredients to the pot, activating the exciting “boil over” – when the water and oil in the pot spills over into the fire and creates a huge flame. Rowleys’ fish boil also includes a full-scale buffet.

Make darling Door County part of your next getaway, you won’t be disappointed. It’s an absolute gem, and perhaps Wisconsin’s best kept secret! n