Door County

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

For golf I recommend Pirate's Cove in Sister Bay. You can get through 18 in no time, even when crowded.

Yeah but no carts.  Have to carry your club.

[mu_hilltopper]

Really, must have been recently because we were up there two years ago and it was still dry

Ephraim voted in 2016, enacted in 2017 to drop the dry designation.

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/04/05/voters-in-ephraim-vote-to-allow-beer-wine-sales/84954306/

FruitStandJim - We go to Door County about 3x per year now.  It's probably where we'll retire when our kids abandon us.

Labor Day weekend will be pretty busy, the last hurrah of summer, somewhere in the top 5 busiest weekends.   That's not to say you should abandon that weekend .. it just means restaurants will be packed.   The roads being busy isn't that big a deal .. maybe it takes you 4 minutes more to get through Fish Creek.  Not a high price to pay.

That being said .. if you went up a week earlier, it'd be nicer.

We've stayed all over the county, but have gravitated to staying within walking distance of a downtown, like Sister Bay or Fish Creek.    When you go to Door, you do tend to do a decent amount of driving.  It's super nice to be able to abandon the car at night, walk into town for dinner or ice cream, or just sit near the marina or beach.

Lots of good advice in this thread .. I'd second the motion on going to Northern Sky Theater for an outdoor performance -- although on Labor Day weekend, I think I'd buy tickets in advance.

I'd also vote against Washington Island on your first trip to DC.  Wash Island is nice, but .. after a couple hours you're done, and it's a lot of effort.  There's 50 things to do in DC before you go there.  Once you've hit 50, go to Wash Island.

(That being said, if you like a good hike, take the ferry to Washington, then the next ferry to Rock Island.  No cars on the island, incredible boathouse, cool hike to the lighthouse/tour.)
Also .. if you are feeling nostalgic .. go to the outdoor movie theater and take in a movie or stay late for two.

[kevindiabetes]

The Bayside Tavern in Fish Creek is always fun, and for outdoor drinking hit Fred and Fuzzy's just south of Sister Bay for some good sunset views at an outdoor bar.  The beer garden at Al Johnson's is great too.

The beer garden at Al Johnson's is a great stop to hang out with a bloody or beer outside. They have cornhole out front if you're passing time waiting for a table inside the restaurant, as well. Hitting up the Skyway drive-in theater is a fun retro activity for an evening. Also recommend renting kayak/canoe at Nicolet Beach in Peninsula State to get a different view of the shoreline. 

[Dr. Blackheart]

The beer garden at Al Johnson's is great too.

So are the goats on the roof

[🏀]

For golf I recommend Pirate's Cove in Sister Bay. You can get through 18 in no time, even when crowded.

What does the course tip out at?

[Sir Lawrence]

I will second what 'topper said in his reply:  a lot of good advice in this thread. 

Ephraim never had many restaurants, so the "dry" designation was never that big of a deal, unless you wanted a beer while the kids/spouse was having a cone at Wilson's.

Sunsets at Fred & Fuzzy's are superb.   Really a cool place. 

Keep in mind that the lake side can (and usually is) 10 or 15 degrees cooler than the bay-side.  It can be 78 in Sister Bay and 62 in Baileys Harbor.

Someone mentioned the Nightengale Supper Club in Sturgeon Bay:  I'd pass.  You'd be better off heading to Birmingham's Bar (Bay Shore Drive) if you are near Sturgeon Bay.  My favorite is Donny's Glidden Lodge on the lake side.  You will need reservations.

Something a little different if anyone reading will be near Sturgeon Bay on Saturday May 2, 2020:  once a year the Rotary sponsors a tour of the shipyards.  They build some pretty large vessels there.  I think the tickets are online only.  And it's the only way to get in unless you work there. 

And the public golf course at Peninsula State Park is a very fun golfing experience.   

[mu_hilltopper]

I need to go to Glidden Lodge.   Just never quite get there.

Hey, I heard it was pronounced "Gly den" .. is that accurate?

[Lighthouse 84]

Glidden. Not Glydin.

And the pan fried perch at the Nightengale is to die for.

The burgers at Birmingham’s are on bread.  Outstanding.

[warriorchick]

The beer garden at Al Johnson's is a great stop to hang out with a bloody or beer outside. They have cornhole out front if you're passing time waiting for a table inside the restaurant, as well. Hitting up the Skyway drive-in theater is a fun retro activity for an evening. Also recommend renting kayak/canoe at Nicolet Beach in Peninsula State to get a different view of the shoreline.

Also, the current member of the Johnson family is a Marquette grad. The last time I was there, they had a basket of magazines to read while you waited for your table. One of them was Marquette's alumni magazine.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Anyone else absolutely hate Door County? 

[tower912]

For those who have been to both, compare Door county to the Leelanau peninsula.

[Jockey]

The Bayside Tavern in Fish Creek is always fun, and for outdoor drinking hit Fred and Fuzzy's just south of Sister Bay for some good sunset views at an outdoor bar.  The beer garden at Al Johnson's is great too.

Future's So Bright. I Gotta Wear Shades. Owner is the guy from Timbuk 3. At least as of a couple years ago.

For a quick burger, probably the best in the area.

[Jockey]

Always hit White Gull for breakfast at least once.

Agree about the Cookery - nothing special.

[warriorchick]

If you go to Door County in mid-summer, a trip to Fragrant Isle lavender farm on Washington Island is an absolute must.  The lavender plants are in bloom then, and it is stunningly beautiful.

[Cheeks]

Dyckesville bowling with the best cheese curds in the state....or at least Brown County....close to Door.

[warriorchick]

Dyckesville bowling with the best cheese curds in the state....or at least Door County.

Relatives?

[Cheeks]

Relatives?

We own the joint

[Cheeks]

If you go to Door County in mid-summer, a trip to Fragrant Isle lavender farm on Washington Island is an absolute must.  The lavender plants are in bloom then, and it is stunningly beautiful.

Gorgeous

[BrewCity83]

Future's So Bright. I Gotta Wear Shades. Owner is the guy from Timbuk 3. At least as of a couple years ago.

For a quick burger, probably the best in the area.

Yes, pAt MacDonald's family has owned the Bayside for years.

If you're a musician, check out the Holiday Music Motel in Sturgeon Bay. https://holidaymusicmotel.com/home  It's an old retro hotel owned by a couple musicians, and they put on all kinds of collaborative shows (I think every night) with whoever stops in.  They also organize the annual Steel Bridge Song Festival every June in Sturgeon Bay. 

[Hards Alumni]

Who has been to Door County? The wife and I are thinking about making a trip for Labor Day weekend. We have never been, so I'm open to all suggestions as far as where to stay/things to do/where to eat. Thanks!

We go every year at that time, its a great time to be up there.

Eat: Wickman House (best in DC), Al Johnson's (breakfast), Julie's (breakfast), Chives (Dinner), Wild Tomato (lunch, dinner), Discourse (coffee), Wilson's (ice cream), English Inn (After dinner Ice cream drinks!), Good Egg's (breakfast on the way out of DC)
Stay:  We usually stay at the High Point Inn just between Ephraim and Sister Bay.  Nice rooms, best location
Drinks:  Door County Brewing/Hacienda Brewing, Hatch Distillery, One Barrel Brewing, Island Orchard... or any of the 7 or 8 wineries.
Do: Peninsula State Park, Washington Island (be prepared to spend a bit of money to get there and back), Sunset sailboat cruise, Sister Bay Bowl is worth a game, Golf... and you have to check out PC Junction.  I have no clue how this place doesn't get sued into the ground yearly.

[MUfan12]

Dyckesville bowling with the best cheese curds in the state....or at least Brown County....close to Door.

Seconded. Great curds. Cheap beer. Bar pizza. Can't beat it.

[drewm88]

Yeah but no carts.  Have to carry your club.

What does the course tip out at?

I'd suggest $5 if you put your ball in the pond and have to go ask for a new one.

[Lighthouse 84]

Speaking of curds, on the way in and out of Door, do yourself a favor and stop at Renard's Cheese.  Either on 57 or Hwy S, depending on which direction you are coming from.  You can buy Renard's Cheese at a few stores on the peninsula, but nothing better than freshly made.  And the string cheese there is soooo good. 

[Spotcheck Billy]

Future's So Bright. I Gotta Wear Shades. Owner is the guy from Timbuk 3. At least as of a couple years ago.

For a quick burger, probably the best in the area.

The owner is the father of the Barbara of Timbuk 3.

Has the Shipwrecked been rebuilt since it burned down? Our HOG chapter has stayed at the Coachlight Inn several times, good people running that place.

Agree with others about Glidden, nice setting and good food. Another unique thing is Door County still has an outdoor theater, we usually go on rainy nights when we camp @ Peninsula. The Viking Grill in Ellison Bay has great breakfasts, we usually stop there on the way to Newport for an all day hike.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Has the Shipwrecked been rebuilt since it burned down?

Yes.  Nice building in the same location.  Terrible beer.