Need a quick getaway from Chicago? Especially one that’s COVID safe and friendly? Door County, Wisconsin is a quick drive from the city and the perfect getaway in the winter! Here’s my winter guide to Door County with everything you need to know for planning your next adventure in Door County.
I’m a very proud Wisconsinite, through and through – so I always love the opportunity to spotlight places that feel a little like home. I’ve been fortunate to spend some time in the summer in Door County, but I had never explored the area in the winter. While (of course) we picked a weekend that happened to be -6 degrees (!!!), it was still beautiful to explore, and I discovered a few new places along the way. Here’s my winter guide to Door County (that’s also COVID friendly!) and all the best things to see and do. Thanks to Destination Door County for organizing our stay and pulling together an amazing itinerary too!
Winter Guide to Door County
Best Places to Eat in Door County:
We take eating very seriously in Wisconsin, and Door County is home to so many amazing restaurants, a lot of which have opened in the last few years, making the area a foodie destination. We had so many amazing meals while we were in Door County, but if you’re headed there for a weekend, here’s a few of my favorites in my winter guide to Door County. There’s definitely less tourists in the winter, so you don’t usually need to make a reservation – but during the high tourist months, you should definitely reserve a few weeks in advance!
Wild Tomato: Known for their pizza, Wild Tomato has become a staple in Door County since they opened their first location in Sister Bay many years ago. They’ve now expanded to a few locations around Door County (and now offer frozen pizzas too!) and it’s always a place I make sure to visit whenever I go to the area. Try their homemade pizza (and they have a monthly donation creation where $1 of each pizza sold goes to a local charity), insanely delicious cheese curds, and truly anything with their ranch dressing. We begged for the recipe which they justifiably wouldn’t share, but we’ll be back soon for pizza and lots of ranch soon.
Trixies: One of my favorite restaurants in Door County is Trixies, located in Ephraim, close to Sister Bay. The menu features thoughtfully sourced ingredients, natural wines mostly from female founded wineries, and everything is made from scratch. If you’re able to make a reservation for the summer, it’s the perfect date night spot (I personally love sitting at the bar during non-COVID times!) to split a bottle of wine and a few dishes like their seasonal salads, catch of the day, and classics like the burger or chicken sandwich. During the winter, they were doing carry out, so we enjoyed our meal back at our B&B. They’re closed for the season from mid-February through April, but open the rest of the year!
Wickman House: Another incredible restaurant in Door County is Wickman house, which also owns Trixies as well. Located in Ellison Bay, Wickman house is known for their craft cocktails (by far the BEST in Door County) and elevated American and Asian inspired dishes. It’s another great date night spot, and the gardens and grounds are beautiful to explore, no matter the season.
Barringers Door County: I had never been to Barringers on my previous trips to Door County, so I was excited to give it a try on our winter getaway, Located in Fish Creek, Barringers brings a mix of Wisconsin supper club vibes, with an elevated steakhouse menu. From a delicious fish fry, to steak and King crab, there’s something for everyone on the menu, and tasty cocktails too. We stopped here on our last night, and I ordered a half order of the King crab which was so ridiculously good. They’re also known for their homestyle fried Chicken, truffle burger, and of course, generous portions of steak and potatoes. Definitely make sure to add Barringers to your list as a perfect place for lunch or dinner!
The Fireside: One of the most unique restaurant concepts we went to, The Fireside is a Wisconsin supper club with some Cajun inspiration. They’re known for having their “Big Easy” inspired bunch and lunch, as well as their delicious New Orleans inspired dishes for dinner. We had the Lobster and Andouille Hush Puppies, Shrimp and Grits (a personal favorite!) and a steak, all of which were insanely delicious. Order a Sazerac to round out your dinner for a true New Orlean’s inspired meal!
Al Johnson’s: One of the most iconic restaurants in Door County is Al Johnson’s located in Sister Bay. You may recognize it as being the restaurant with goats on the roof in the summer, but to me, it’s the home of the most delicious Swedish pancakes (with lingonberry jam, of course).
Sister Bay Bowl: Don’t get me wrong, usually a bowling alley wouldn’t make it on my list of places to eat, but Sister Bay Bowl is the exception! They have your typical delicious bar food, but they also have one of the best Friday fish fry’s in the area – and if you’re in Door County (or really anywhere in Wisconsin), you have to make room on your itinerary for a traditional Wisconsin fish fry. There’s definitely more places than just Sister Bay bowl for your fish fry, but personally it’s my favorite.
Best Places to Drink in Door County:
No winter guide to Door County would be complete without talking about Wisconsin’s other favorite activity (second to eating)….drinking 🙂 Luckily, there’s lots of amazing places to drink in Door County regardless of the season – from distilleries, breweries, coffee shops and more. Whatever your poison is, Door County has you covered.
For Beer:
Door County Brewing: The spot for local beers, Door County brewing opened in 2012, and has been making tons of unique beers, many of which rotate seasonally. It’s a great place to stop for the afternoon and play some board games while trying a flight of seasonal beers, or as a spot to grab a cup of coffee if beer isn’t your thing. They also have some really cute merch, and you can take your favorite beers to go in cans or a growler too! In the summer, they also have bands on their stage, as well as a spacious outdoor space where you can frequently find local food trucks.
One Barrel Brewing: While One Barrel wasn’t founded in Door County, it’s still near and dear to my heart since the first location opened right down the street from my childhood home in Madison, Wisconsin. It’s another spacious tap room with some nice outdoor space during warmer days. Wild Tomato also has a counter service space in the Egg Harbor location, so you can enjoy beer and a fresh made pizza!
For Spirits and Cider:
Hatch Distilling: New to Door County, Hatch opened their doors in Egg Harbor a few years ago, and it’s quickly becoming a favorite spot for libations. They distill their own whiskey, gin, tequila, limoncello and more – and they also have a nice list of to-go cocktails during COIVD too. We tried the tasting menu and got to sample a little bit of every spirit they made, and we really loved the single barrel whiskey, and their tequila. Many of their spirits are honey based, and use organic, local farms for whiskey grains and their brand apples. It was a great stop (so much so we went twice!) and brought back some honey, tequila and whiskey that we’ve been enjoying at home.
Island Orchard Cider: If you’re a cider fan, make sure to add Island Orchard to your list! This Door County original makes crisp, dry ciders with Door County apples, and rotate in seasonal flavors (like Lavender) often. Stop in for a tasting, and make sure to bring some bottles back home!
For Coffee:
Skip Stone Coffee: When you’re ready for a winter warm up, Skip Stone Coffee Roasters is the perfect place to grab a latte and something sweet for breakfast in Sister Bay. They roast their own delicious coffee, and they made the best latte I had while in Door County. Try a homemade breakfast sandwich, grab a big cup of coffee, and enjoy a morning by the fire to warm up. It was one of our favorite spots on the trip, and the coffee shop is too cute not to Instagram on your way out.
Where To Stay:
While usually we stay in Air BnB’s, we wanted to try something a little different during our stay to share a different option for my winter guide to Door County. We wanted to stay somewhere that had limited capacity, our own area, but also felt super homey and comfortable. We ended up staying a few nights at Thorp House Inn and Cottages, and had the most wonderful stay. The couple who owns the bed and breakfast bought it a few years ago, and has been keeping the history of the building and cottages on the property preserved, while ensuring that they have everything you need for a comfortable stay.
We loved getting to know the owners, and their story of how they ended up deciding to buy the property. They had lived in California previously, but had roots in Door County, and had originally stayed at Thorp House after they were married many years ago on their honeymoon. After coming back to visit a few years ago, they asked if the property was for sale, promptly purchased it, and then moved to Door County to live there full time, becoming the innkeepers and revitalizing the historic home. Talk about a Lifetime movie plot in real life! They were both so sweet, and some of the highlights of our stay was chatting with them over breakfast (masks up of course :)), and getting tips on the best things to do while we were in town. They took every precaution to ensure our stay was COIVD safe, and we really enjoyed getting away for a few days!
We stayed in the Everil room, which was super cozy and beautifully decorated. Since it was pretty chilly that weekend, we spent most of our night by the fire, watching movies and enjoying our stay at Thorp House. We’re already looking back for some times in the summer where we can go back and stay with them again!
What to Do in Door County During the Winter:
Even though it was crazy cold when we visited, it was still beautiful to see all the snow lined trees and scenes of Door County while we were there. Door County is filled with beautiful parks, hiking trails, pretty vistas, and historic places to visit, so even in the winter there’s lots to do! See a few of my favorite places that made the list for my winter guide to Door County that are worth bundling up for.
Visit Peninsula State Park: Peninsula state park is home to some beautiful panoramic views of Lake Michigan and tons of picturesque scenes around the park. In the winter, you can drive around the many roads to see the pretty views from your car (which is perfect on a super chilly day!), or if you’re feeling more adventurous, you can cross-country ski or snowshoe on many of the trails around the park. It was beautiful to visit the park right after we had been snowed in, and the trees looked like they were covered in powdered sugar. No matter the weather, Peninsula state park is a must-stop on your trip to Door County!
Explore the Lakefront Views: There’s so much lakefront to see in Door County, and we had fun walking around Sister Bay and Ephraim to see the sunset over the lake on a cold, winter day. Even though it was freezing, the view of the snow over the frozen lake was gorgeous, and made for some nice photos too!
Take a walk in Bjorklunden: Bjorklunden is near and dear to my heart because it’s owned by the college I graduated from, Lawrence University. I have so many fond memories of spending the weekends there, going to seminars or retreats, and getting to explore the beautiful grounds with friends. I even photographed my college friend’s wedding there many year ago, so it holds a special place in my heart. It was so fun to go back in the winter, and revisit the campus, as well as the iconic chapel pictured above. Walk around some of the trails, or visit the lakefront to get some more beautiful views of Lake Michigan covered in snow.
Visit Anderson Dock: You can’t leave Door County without a visit to Anderson Dock, in Ephraim. It’s a rare example of when graffiti is an accepted part of a building (and part of it’s charm!) and boaters and tourists have signed the building for years. It’s a fun place to add your name to this iconic building, and take in the views of the lake. There’s also the Anderson Historic District within walking distance that has galleries, an ice house, and more – so you can make it a longer trip to explore the neighborhood while you’re there.
I could add more and more things to my winter guide to Door County, but the above are a few of my absolute favorites. And if you have any questions if you’re planning a trip too, please let me know! I’m always happy to help with any advice beyond my posts too! And if you’re a Door County regular, I’d love your favorite places to add to my winter guide to Door County too!
A big thanks to Destination Door County for organizing the trip and helping me pull my winter Door County guide together! For more recommendations on Door County, make sure to check them out!
If you’re looking for more things to do during other seasons, check out my weekend guide to Door County here!
