Door County is a northern Wisconsin vacation paradise situated on a peninsula in Green Bay, on the western shore of Lake Michigan. Dubbed "The Secret Midwestern Paradise" by "Money Magazine" in 2002, more than two million visitors travel to Door County every year to vacation along 300 miles of rugged coastline and quaint small towns.
A longstanding tradition in Door County is the outdoor fishboil. What began as an economical way to feed large groups of fisherman at once has turned into a treasured tradition on the island for tourists and locals alike. A fishboil begins by building a large campfire and placing a kettle of boiling water above it. Thick steaks of Lake Michigan white fish are placed in the pot, along with potatoes and onions. When the water boils over and creates a large plume of steam, the meal is done and served over melted butter while tourists dine outdoors. A directory of local restaurants that continue the fishboil tradition can be found at www.doorcounty.com/dine/fish-boils.aspx.
The official dessert of Door County is cherry pie, which is the result of more than 2,000 acres of cherry orchards in the county and a long history of fruit farming on the island. Tourists can pick their own cherries at a number of orchards from mid-July to mid-August. A directory can be found here: www.wisconsincherries.org/buy_cherry_products/pick_your_own/index.asp.
Door County has ten different lighthouses, some dating back to the mid-1800s. The need for these lighthouses was created when the seven-mile Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal was completed in 1890, allowing large cargo ships to travel between Green Bay and Lake Michigan. Every June a lighthouse festival occurs in Door County, when tourists can arrange for land and sea tours of these beacons. The Door County Maritime Museum has a complete lighthouse listing, which can be found here: www.dcmm.org.
The Fish Creek community's history dates to 1857, when immigrants arrived to stake their fortune on the area's rich natural resources, including forests and fishing. Today this area is a vacation getaway filled with cottage rentals and art galleries. Fish Creek is a hub of artistic activity and home to Peninsula Players Theatre, the oldest professional resident summer theatre in North America. Every February, residents gather for the Fish Creek Winter Festival, which includes zany events including bike tosses, minnow racing, toilet seat tosses, and snowshoe dancing. More about Fish Creek can be found at: fishcreekinfo.com.
Door County has over 100 miles of off-road bike trails and is also a popular destination for road bike enthusiasts. Three state parks have wooded trails suitable for everyone from families to experts, and local bike shops provide rentals and free route maps. Read about biking Door County by visiting: www.doorcounty.com/outdoor/biking-hiking.aspx.
