Thomas Huhti - Moon Wisconsin’s Door County

Sherwood Point Lighthouse

Door Countys most popular draw is the magnificent scenery along its nearly 300 miles of Great Lakes coastline, and the big three beautiful state parksPotawatomi, Peninsula, and Newport. Bike, hike, boat, or fish, and visit the countrys largest concentration of lighthouses. Several of the Doors villages are delightfully quaint. Find a historic hotel, a plush B&B, or a rustic cabin, and for sustenance, organic locally grown beef or, for traditionalists, a fish boil. For the more intrepid, off the northern tip of the county is time-locked Washington Island, and beyond that, another jewel in Rock Island State Park, the most superb camping spot in Wisconsin.

These waters truly made the state, welcoming legions of immigrants and floating timber for paper mills of the Fox Cities, dominated by Lake Winnebago. To the west are picturesque resort lands as well as the wild and wonderful Wolf River. The heart and soul of the region is the football mecca Green Bay and Lambeau Field, home of the Packers football team.

This gateway region welcomes many travelers coming from Chicago. Milwaukee has a fabulous art museum, Miller Beer, Harley-Davidson, and one of the best summer festivals in the country, Summerfest. Extraordinary museums and parks await in Kenosha and Racine, the latter also home to architecture by Badger State native Frank Lloyd Wright.

The droves of travelers begin arriving in early-mid-May to see the blossoms; then from Memorial Day to Labor Day there are so many visitors here that the bedrock likely sinks an inch or two. Another friendly invasion takes place at the end of September through the middle of Octoberleaf peepers love the Door. Remember that prices rise dramatically during these peak seasons. A nice time to visit is in September, just after Labor Day. The weather is beautiful, there are few other visitors, and prices as well as insect numbers are lower. Some find winter lovely and enjoy skiing or snowshoeing in the empty parks; others find it too cold and annoying that half the countys businesses have closed for the season. The least desirable season is March, when a visit is ill advised. Its cold, windy, cloudy, and muddy.

You can buy almost anything you need in Door County, even in the village outposts. This does not include technology; the availability of tech supplies is severely limited. Dont get caught without mosquito repellent in the warmer months.

Heels, ties, and skirts are fine for a few places in Door County, but youll stand out in all but the most chichi restaurants, so feel free to dress casual. Sweatshirts are perfectly fine in supper clubs. Dress appropriately for the weather at all timesthat includes wearing a hat. Do not come in winter without a good pair of gloves or mittens. Arctic-grade mittens are something youll be grateful for on a sleigh ride or while you wait for a tow truck. A good pair of boots is also a necessity in winter; some people carry a heavy-duty pair in the car at all times in case of emergency.

Given the states somewhat iffy weather, its paramount to prepare your car for any possibility by winterizing your vehicle. Carry an emergency kit with booster cables, sand, or gravel (in a pinch, try sandpaper strips), flares, candles, matches, a shovel and scraper, a flashlight and extra batteries, blankets (space blankets are excellent), extra heavy clothing, high-calorie nonperishable food, and anything else you might need if you have to spend the night in a snow bank. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is.