72-Hour Romantic Winter Getaway

So you’ve wrangled the time off for a long weekend in Door County. Great! Now what do you do when beaches, sailboats, and sun basking aren’t options?

Rest easy, there’s more than enough to do in Door County during winter to fill up a romantic 72 hours on the peninsula.

Lodging

First thing’s first—find a place to stay. Many Door County lodgings offer year-round packages and trip enhancements. Whether cozy bed-and-breakfasts and high-end resorts to secluded cabins and cottages and houses, there's a place to stay for any taste.

Friday

Morning
Start the weekend by taking your mind off the grind with a couple’s massage at a relaxing Door County spa. Step back, rejuvenate, and re-center yourself. Choose from four relaxing spas just a short drive away, no matter what community you decide to lay your head in.

Afternoon
Door County is awash in natural beauty, and the five state parks and 19 county parks dotting the shoreline offer ample opportunity to explore the solitude and splendor of Mother Nature.

If the snow is thick, try stepping into a pair of snowshoes at Crossroads at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay, or a perennial favorite, the swales and forest of The Ridges Sanctuary in Baileys Harbor.

Evening
Test your creative juices together with do-it-yourself art projects, take a cooking class, or check the events calendar for gallery openings. There are more than 100 galleries in Door County, many of which are open throughout the winter.

Saturday

Morning
You may love a Starbucks, but Door County is proud of its selection of cozy, locally-owned independent coffee shops. You’ll find a great cup of coffee and some great local conversation from folks eager to share their favorite spots. Ask your innkeeper for the nearest cup, as nearly every town has its own.

Late Morning
Door County is home to multiple wineries, breweries, and a cider mill. A winter visit is a great opportunity to sample hand-crafted beer, wine, and spirits and meet the locals making them.

Stop in for a tasting of your choosing, or join a tour and leave the planning to the experts.

Evening
As much as we love a Door County supper club or a quiet meal at a corner pub, the peninsula’s dining scene offers several intimate fine dining restaurants that are must-trys.

Sunday

Morning
Whether it’s breakfast under a grass roof or irresistible cherry-stuffed french toast, you’ll be able to find exactly the breakfast you’re looking for to fuel a final day of discovery. Ask you’re innkeeper for their favorite dish and be on your way!

Late Morning
Lighthouses have been central to the identity of Door County for more than 150 years and these architectural and historic gems continue to capture imaginations today. Though guided tours of the 11 lighthouses of the peninsula aren’t available in winter, a visit to the grounds of Cana Island, Eagle Bluff, or the Baileys Harbor Range Lights will provide a backdrop for amazing photographs.  

Afternoon: Last Stop
It’s time to head home, but one of the Midwest’s most-photographed spots awaits you on your way back to reality. 

Cave Point County Park is jaw-dropping in summer, but it's awe-inspiring in its winter freeze. Located on the Lake Michigan side of the peninsula, the caves beneath the water and stunning rock formations have been formed over thousands of years by waves pounding against the limestone bluffs. In summer the waves make a thunderous clap, and in winter form picturesque ice formations on the shore.

If you have an extremely early getaway, a visit here at sunrise is spectacular.

Just north of Cave Point is Whitefish Dunes State Park, another wonderful spot for a final couple’s hike or stroll along the shoreline.