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Door County, Wisconsin

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Explore Door County Communities

One of the best ways to get to know Door County is to explore the vibrant towns, villages, and communities that comprise it. Some people choose a single community and stay for their entire trip, and others travel between communities to get a fuller sense of place.

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Baileys Harbor

A near-perfect confluence of art and nature, Baileys Harbor is home to thousands of acres of beautiful, protected lands. Here, you’ll also find plenty of space for hiking, biking, motorcycling, and paddling as well as a fair share of independent restaurants, a brewery, a coffee shop, waterfront lodging, and three historic lighthouses.

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Carlsville

Carlsville may be famous for its origins as a hub for early settlers named “Karl,” but these days it’s better known for offering an outsized number of artisan goods and shops. Find local coffee, wine, spirits, sweet treats, and fish boils in addition to farm and animal experiences as well as biking and motorcycling or driving.

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Egg Harbor

Egg Harbor is considered one of the busier and more bustling communities on the peninsula, if dining, shopping, nightlife, and social life are your aim. Here you will also find a marina, boating, a glittering waterfront, numerous golf courses, hiking and biking, and tons of festivals and events throughout the year.

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Ellison Bay

This tiny town is a fascinating combination of art, history, oddity, and maritime allure. Between The Clearing Folk School, artist studios and galleries, and indie shops, there’s no shortage of unusual experiences to be had here. Outdoorspeople will enjoy exquisite lake views, dramatic bluffs and cliffs, boating and paddling opportunities, and access to the extraordinary Newport State Park.

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Ephraim

Ephraim is known as Door County’s quiet, historic town nestled on the shores of Green Bay. The idyllic setting offers the famously graffitied Anderson Dock, access to the county’s largest state park, and tons of water sports and activities in addition to a slate of restaurants, fish boils, and old-timey treats.

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Fish Creek

In many ways, Fish Creek is the hub of Door County. A good portion of the region’s top restaurants, shops, and outdoor attractions are in or near this quaint-yet-bustling town. Come here if you seek social and family life, arts and culture, historic sites, world-class dining, and shoreline sunsets.

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Gills Rock

Gills Rock is the last stop at the tip of the peninsula before the highway heads back down south or you (and your car) continue north to the Washington Island Ferry port. Stop here for the coastal feel, quaint maritime scenery, the famously curvy road, views of Death’s Door, the maritime museum, and access remote Newport State Park.

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Jacksonport

Located on the “quiet” side of the peninsula, Jacksonport is a small town with unexpectedly big attractions, from the wildly popular Cave Point County Park and adjacent Whitefish Dunes State Park to an eclectic mix of restaurants and shops. Jacksonport is a must-stop destination.

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Juddville

Juddville is small and residential enough that you’ll have to head to a nearby town to find lodging, but its rusticness and natural landscapes more than make up for its lack of commercial services. Come here for the beautiful countryside, the Write On center, and lots of backroads perfect for driving, biking, or motorcycling.

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Rowleys Bay

Sitting just across its namesake bay from Newport State Park, Rowleys Bay is an out-of-the-way town tucked away on the northeast side of the peninsula. Its signature offering is the Mink River and Mink River Estuary, a beautiful and ecologically diverse wildlife area perfect for a quiet paddle, hike, or fishing.

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Sister Bay

Sister Bay has gained a reputation for being the food, dining, and beverage hub of the county. Options include supper clubs, pubs and taverns, waterfront dining, seafood, bakeries, pizza, craft beer, breakfast spots, and way, way more. Visitors also flock here for the beaches, where sunbathing, swimming, paddling, boating, and other water sports are all on the menu.

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Southern Door County

Brussels Brussels is quintessential small-town Southern Door County, complete with a quieter feel, rustic farms and countryside, and signs of residents’ Belgian heritage around every corner. Outdoor enthusiasts looking for the trail less-blazed can enjoy hiking, biking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and ATVing. Forestville For those in search of a quieter experience, head to Forestville in Southern Door. From fishing, ATVing, and golf to motorcycling and biking, there’s plenty of space down here to explore the great outdoors. While cruising around the wide open backroads, keep an eye out for roadside Belgian chapels where you can stop and take in their quiet majesty and reflect on early settlers’ spiritual dedication.

Sturgeon Bay

Maritime and nautical themes reign supreme here, with iconic stops like the Pierhead Light, two additional lighthouses, a maritime museum, waterfront parks, a shipbuilding yard, the famous steel bridge, and plenty of fishing and paddling opportunities. Hundreds of shops, restaurants, and the arts and theater scene are also here.

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Washington Island

Start with the 30-minute ferry ride across Death’s Door strait and drive your car or rent a bike or UTV to explore the island. You’ll find a few lodgings, restaurants, and food stops, but mostly you’ll find wide-open spaces perfect for biking, hiking, driving, and exploring. Don’t miss the smooth-stone Schoolhouse Beach, the lavender farm, or the rolling fields of green. If you have a whole day, hop a second ferry and explore incredible Rock Island State Park.

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Brussels Clay Banks Forestville Gardner Little Sturgeon Sevastopol

Other Ways to Discover Door County

With 19 communities spanning 300 miles of shoreline and peninsula, Door County can seem like a huge place with an infinite number of activities and experiences. If you’re looking for more ways to dig in to the Door County experience, use these helpful tools to get acquainted.