3 Day Door County, Wisconsin Winter Getaway

Door County, Wisconsin is magical in any season, but it is truly spectacular in the winter. If you’re looking for the perfect family-friendly winter weekend getaway, I highly recommend spending a few days in this quaint peninsula in Eastern Wisconsin.

3 Days of Wintery Family-Friendly Things to Do in Door County

Settled by Swedish immigrants in the mid-1800s, Door County is reminiscent of the picturesque Scandinavian countryside, and is also the oldest county in Wisconsin. It’s a peninsula which means it’s surrounded by water on three sides – the Green Bay on the west and Lake Michigan on the east. Door County features over 300 miles of beautiful, rugged shoreline, 11 lighthouses, and is home to five Wisconsin state parks

This article contains affiliate links. We earn from qualifying purchases.

Can’t read now? Pin for later!

Experience Door County “Fri-lufts-liv”

People flock to Door County to play in the water, fish, and enjoy the outdoors in all weather. In the 1850’s Norwegian playwright and poet, Henrik Ibsen, popularized the term “friluftsliv.” I can’t begin to pronounce it, but I can tell you that it means to feel refreshed, energized, and at peace while immersing yourself in nature.

Picture limestone cliffs blanketed by fresh snow, rocky shorelines covered with the most gorgeous all-natural ice sculptures, glimmering ice balls lapping at the shore, and crunching footprints on snow-covered paths. All these winter scenes and more await you in Door County. It is truly a winter wonderland just waiting to be explored.

Door County Winter Things to Do (Weekend Itinerary)

Now that you are inspired to get to Door County in the winter, here’s a three-day family-friendly itinerary to get your family outside to experience their own “friluftsliv.” Remember, there’s no such thing as bad weather – only inappropriate clothing. So, pack warm layers, hats, mittens, scarves, and snowsuits and get outside in Door County during the peaceful, quiet winter season.

Day 1 in Door County- Door County Maritime Museum & Lighthouse Preservation Society

To really appreciate Door County, take some time to learn about its unique history with a visit to the Door County Maritime Museum. This interactive museum will provide entertainment for all the family while you learn how Door Count was settled, its fascinating shipwreck history, its role in American shipbuilding, and more. Door County Maritime Museum is made up of three different museums and is located in Sturgeon Bay and provides a stunning view of the area from the top of the Maritime Lighthouse Tower.

Door County Maritime Museum & Lighthouse Preservation Society is located at 120 N Madison Avenue in Sturgeon Bay.

Sonny’s Italian Kitchen & Pizzeria

For lunch pop across the street from the museum to Sonny’s Italian Kitchen & Pizzeria. Relax on this waterfront restaurant and enjoy Chicago-style pizza, pasta, and delicious desserts.

Sonny’s Italian Kitchen & Pizzeria is located at 129 N Madison Avenue in Sturgeon Bay.

Door County Kayak Guide E-Bike Tour

After lunch, take a short 20-minute drive to Door County Kayak Tours in Jacksonport for a guided e-bike tour. The fat snow tires and electric-powered bikes provide an easy pedal out to Cave Point in Whitefish Dunes State Park. You will love the icicle displays created entirely by nature and being outside in the fresh air!

Make sure to pack hand and toe warmers, sunglasses, and wear lots of layers! This ride can get a little bit chilly.

Door County Kayak Tours is located at 329 Highway 57 in Jacksonport.

Dinner at Historic White Gull Inn

Freshen up at your hotel after the bike ride and then head to dinner at the historic White Gull Inn in Fish Creek. The White Gull Inn has been serving visitors since 1896 and is a must-visit destination during your Door County weekend getaway. If you’re there on a night they do a fish boil, I definitely recommend that you try it!

The White Gull Inn is located at 4225 Main Street, in Fish Creek.

Day 2 – Ice Fishing with JJs Guide Service

Spend the day (7 am – 4 pm) on the frozen lake in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! JJs Guide Service will drive you out on the lake in a Polaris Ranger Crew and provide everything you need for a successful ice fishing experience: bait, tackle, rods, a heated 8’x12’ icehouse, hot lunch too, and helpful guides to make sure your day is fun and a success!

After catching your limit, have your fish processed by a professional fish cleaner for $2.50 a fish! They’ll clean each fish, package them, even store them until your trip is over and ship them if you’d like.

The feeling when you drive out onto the frozen green bay is like no other. Highly recommend giving ice fishing a shot!

Email JJs Guide Service or give them a call to reserve, 920.493.2953.

Dinner & Bowling at Sister Bay Bowl & Supper Club

Experience a Wisconsin Supper Club with dinner and bowling in Sister Bay. Broiled chicken, prime rib, pork chops, and steak are all supper club classics – and you won’t be disappointed with any choice at the family owned Sister Bay Bowl & Supper Club.

After dinner, pop in at the attached six lane bowling alley and bowl a game! You’ll get to sneak in a math lesson too! At this quaint old-fashioned bowling alley, you add your own scores! Who said you can’t learn on vacation?

You’ll find Sister Bay Bowl & Supper Club at 10640 N Bay Shore Drive in Sister Bay.

Start planning your next trip today with Kayak.

Start Day 3 at Door County Coffee & Tea

Grab coffee and breakfast at Door County Coffee & Tea. I recommend the Ultimate Breakfast Burrito and the Hashbrown Potato Bake. While you’re there, take a stroll through their gift shop and grab a few Door County souvenirs to take home!

Door County Coffee & Tea is at 5773 Highway 42 in Sturgeon Bay.

Open Door Bird Sanctuary

Open Door Bird Sanctuary is 34-acre home to unreleasable birds of prey and also features hiking trails through three different types of habitats. This is a 100% volunteer-driven organization that gives previously injured birds homes after they’ve been rehabilitated.

They are open seasonally, but private tours are an option year-round! If you’d like to get a close-up look at the amazing birds of prey that call this sanctuary home, you’ll really enjoy this stop in Door County.

Open Door Bird Sanctuary is at 4114 CTH-I outside Sturgeon Bay.

Lunch at the Melt Bistro – Renards Artisan Cheese

Treat yourself to lunch at the Melt Bistro and enjoy fried cheese curds, fresh cheese curds, and all sorts of other artisan cheeses made by one of only 75 master cheesemakers in the entire US! This family-owned and operated business started in 1961 and is now on its third generation of Wisconsin cheesemakers!

I recommend the fried cheese curds and the Curd Panzanella Salad topped with homemade Cherry Chicken Salad!

Melt Bistro Renard’s Artisan Cheese is at 2189 County Road DK, Sturgeon Bay.

Explore The Ridges Sanctuary and the Cook-Albert Fuller Nature Center

Wisconsin’s oldest non-profit nature preserve is a stunning 1,600 acre park named for “its distinctive topography…formed by the movement of Lake Michigan over the past 1100 years.”

Full of trails, a lighthouse, historic buildings, learning opportunities, the accessible Hidden Brook Boardwalk hiking path, and beautiful views of Lake Michigan, The Ridges Sanctuary is a fun place to spend a morning or afternoon.

The Ridges Sanctuary is at 8166 State Hwy 57, Baileys Harbor.

Family-Friendly Accommodations in Door County

If you’re looking for family-friendly hotels in Door County, we recommend The Landing Resort, tucked into a beautiful wooded area in Egg Harbor. This hotel features many different-sized suites that can accommodate from two to eight people, indoor and outdoor pools, hiking trails, and a stocked game cupboard. Each suite has a fully equipped kitchenette or kitchen so you can make your own food if you’d like!

You’ll find The Landing Resort at 7741 State Highway 42, Egg Harbor.

More Things to Do in Door County, Wisconsin

About the Guest Author – Michelle Marine is the founder of SimplifyLiveLove.com, a lifestyle resource for eco-conscious families who want to simplify their lives through real food, eco-friendly living, and modern homesteading.