12 Ways to Enjoy Door County Indoors and Out This Winter

By Jennifer Billock

Door County in winter is equally beautiful whether you’re inside or out. On your trip this season, enjoy some stimulating outdoor fun, then warm up at a nearby activity inside. Here, we offer a dozen outdoor-indoor combos in Door County — but feel free to mix and match activities based on your interests.

Before You Head Out: Due to unpredictable weather conditions in winter, we recommend calling ahead to ensure the activities and places listed here are open during your visit.

Join a Sleigh Ride, Peruse Creative Spaces

Live out your holiday-movie dreams on a wintertime horse-drawn sleigh ride with Mayberry’s Carriages, which leaves from Lautenbach’s Orchard Country Winery in Fish Creek and winds through the orchard, vineyard, and nearby logging trails. After the 30-minute ride, wander around Egg Harbor’s art galleries. Artists at Plum Bottom Gallery and Cappaert Contemporary Gallery (open by appointment only) may even have captured a piece of the wintry beauty you saw on your journey. End the day with a live performance at Birch Creek Music Performance Center.

Snowshoe, Explore Carlsville

Bay Shore Blufflands Nature Preserve sits right on the edge of the bay of Green Bay between Egg Harbor and Sturgeon Bay, which means if you snowshoe the 2.5-mile trail there, you’ll trek through gorgeous changing landscapes — from rocky shores to pine forests to spacious fields. Switch back to shoes for a trip to Carlsville, a small town famous for made-in-Door-County products like candles, coffee, wine, and spirits.

Make & Shop for Art, View an Amazing Sunset

Wield a paintbrush or try your hand at metalwork — Fish Creek’s Peninsula School of Art offers classes in a variety of mediums. After creating, head north to Ephraim and shop for whimsical home decor so you can take more memories of Door County back with you. Look to Sip for colorful dishware, Island Lavender Farm Market for aromatherapy products, and Blue Dolphin House and BDH Studio for local art. In the evening, step onto the shoreline of Eagle Harbor for views of an awe-inspiring sunset.

Hike, Learn About Nature

Whether there’s snow on the ground or not, a winter romp through The Ridges Sanctuary in Baileys Harbor will give you a unique view of Door County. Take a naturalist guided hike to learn about local plants and wildlife and see the Baileys Harbor Range Lights. Stop inside the Cook-Albert Fuller Nature Center, which has a children’s area, history displays, art exhibitions, a gift shop, and more. Check the schedule to see if a workshop or class coincides with your visit.

Birdwatch, Pamper Yourself

Birders, it’s time to flock to Crossroads at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay! Three preserves make up the 200-acre protected area, which is alive with flight in wintertime. Even in the first few months of the year, birders hiking through may spot more than 60 different species, including Great Horned Owls, Black-Capped Chickadees, and Pine Siskins. Rest and recover from your participation in citizen science at nearby Saguaro Day Spa, a relaxing holistic sanctuary. Try the gemstone massage for an extra-special experience. 

Sip Hard Cider, Stargaze

Start indoors for this Door County journey. First, grab some drinks at Island Orchard Cider in Ellison Bay, where they use apples and pears grown on Washington Island to make their ciders. Or, have an afternoon pick-me-up at Kick Ash, where you can get coffee and other warm drinks in a refurbished church sanctuary. Once night falls, head to Newport State Park, Wisconsin’s only International Dark Sky Park, for some unparalleled stargazing. You can even see the Milky Way on clear nights.

Take a Boat Ride & Island Adventure

Just because it’s winter, that doesn’t mean you have to skip a visit to Washington Island via the Washington Island Ferry. Just remember to make a reservation first since schedules are limited at this time of year. When you get to the island, take some time to appreciate the quiet woodlands, then follow the snow-covered path to the Norwegian-style Stavkirke. Warm up with a stop at WIS-CO Washington Island Coffee, a coffee shop and bakery, utilizing a small-batch roaster and locally sourced ingredients.

Fat Tire Bike, Dine at a Café

Cyclists know that fat-tire bikes are best for snow, so grab one from Nor Door Sport and Cyclery, then hit the trails at Peninsula State Park in Fish Creek. All of them are open to fat-tire biking unless they are groomed and marked for cross-country skiing. (Note: Sunset Trail is open for snowmobiles only.) When you’ve worked up a hearty appetite, head to Julie’s Park Café for cinnamon-bun French toast or a Door County cherry-topped burger.

Ice Skate, Skip a Beer

Strap on your skates and head over to the Teresa K Hilander Community Ice Rink in Sister Bay to work on your salchows, lutzes, and axels…or just skate around for fun! Check the schedule before you go so you aren’t iced out by a broomball game. Next, warm up in the taproom at Peach Barn Farmhouse & Brewery and enjoy one of their signature beverages such as the winter ale and four seltzers on tap.

Snowmobile, Bowl

Do you have a need for speed? A desire to feel the cold winter wind whipping against you as you zip across the snow? Hop on a snowmobile and motor your way from Baileys Harbor

to Sister Bay. The trail takes you through Mud Lake State Wildlife Area — parts of which you can’t access in the warmer months. Peel off all your gear once you arrive in Sister Bay and enjoy a fun day of great food and knocking down pins at Sister Bay Bowl.

Ice Fish & Try Axe Throwing, Indoor Golf

Who says fishing is just for warm weather? Hit the ice at Little Sturgeon Bay and cast down

for some of the most varied ice fishing in Door Country. If you don’t catch a trophy walleye, you might snag whitefish, pike, or perch. Continue indulging your adventurous side afterward at Door County Sandbox in Sturgeon Bay, where you can choose from axe throwing or virtual golf and then enjoy a full bar and restaurant.

Cross-Country Ski, Warm Up With Hot Chocolate

Cross-country skiers, this one’s for you and your crew. Potawatomi State Park in Sturgeon Bay has 8.5 miles of trails for both classic and skate skiing enthusiasts. The routes are separated into four different sections; classic cross-country skiers, stick to the exclusive Green Trail. See who can get to the end of the route the quickest — it’ll prepare you for your next stop: the board game café, The Gnoshery. Grab a hot drink and gather around a table for some friendly competitive games.