There are many reasons why people love Door County: it’s beautiful, it has a lot of history and culture, and it’s full of fun activities. If you’re planning a trip to the peninsula this summer or fall, here are ten must-do activities that will make your time in Door County unforgettable.
1.) Visit Peninsula State Park
Peninsula State Park is a great place to go hiking, biking, and camping. The park has a variety of trails that are mostly flat—perfect for families with little ones or elderly people. You can also go swimming at the beach or rent bikes at the visitor center if you’re feeling adventurous!
2.) Explore Cana Island Lighthouse
Cana Island Lighthouse is a great place to go for a hike. The lighthouse itself is not open to the public, but you can hike around it and take pictures of the beautiful scenery. It’s also one of 11 lighthouses in Door County, and is a common spot for tourists and travel bloggers to share information about and take photos. It’s one of Door County’s truly historic landmarks, being built in 1869.
3.) Kayak to Cave Point
Cave Point is debatably the most photographed Door County point of interest. So many people choose to go visit Cave Point and see the breathtaking scenery of the bright blue waters, caverns and rock formations, and take in Lake Michigan’s amazing beauty. However, one of the best ways to experience Cave Point is by kayak. There are many kayak rental and tour local businesses that allow you to see this amazing place by water as opposed to from above. You can actually go into some of the caverns on kayak as well!
4.) Stargaze at Newport State Park
Newport State Park, a 1,959-acre park featuring bluffs, dunes and beaches on the outer shore of Door County, is perfect for hikers. However, one if its true claims to fame is its qualification as a certified dark sky park. In the entirety of the United States, there are only 60 of these parks, making Newport State park one of the absolute best places in the entire United States to see the stars. When visiting, depending on the time of year, you can actually see the Northern Lights from Newport State Park as well!
5.) Travel by Boat to Rock Island State Park
This is one of Door County’s best kept secrets. If you either have a boat, have access to a boat, or have rented a boat, go visit Rock Island State Park. Rock Island is a small island just northeast of Washington Island, another popular Door County staple. Rock Island’s beach offers seclusion and privacy unlike anything else in Door County, as well as some of the most pristine blue waters you’ll ever see in your lifetime. Plan to bring a wagon and a cooler, as you need to hike from the boat landing to get out to the beach, it’s about a 10 minute walk. But once you get there, you’ll be blown away by the scenery and never want to leave.
And that’s just the beginning! There are so many things to do in Door County, and we hope you find your favorite activity on this list. If not, keep exploring and make sure to stop by the visitor center when you visit – they have a great staff with lots of information about what’s going on in the area.
As you plan your next trip to Door County, we hope you’ll think of us. Come check out our property and see if we might be a fit to host you on your next excursion to northern Door!
