It’s a cool, crisp fall morning in Door County as water laps on 300 miles of shoreline. Canadian Geese soar above vibrant orange-red and yellow foliage, a mix of Sugar Maple and birch trees’ leaves sway in the breeze.
The picturesque scene attracts visitors seeking slow-paced exploration, while the community activities draw high- energy festival fun. Each village, from Sturgeon Bay to northernmost Washington Island, hosts experiences catering to travelers who seek engaging experiences.
By Vanessa Whiteside | Photography by Dan Eggert
EMBARK ON APPLE ADVENTURES DURING HARVEST
Picking apples at one of Door County’s orchards is a long-standing tradition for many during autumn. The area includes 400 acres of apples with more than a dozen varieties. For locals like Destination Door County’s Senior Media Relations Manager Jen Rogers, driving the family to Sturgeon Bay’s Cherry Lane Orchards to pick McIntosh and Cortland varieties signifies the season’s start.
“My daughter loves to climb the old ladders and pick apples. Kids can pour apples inside an old-school apple shine tumbler. We always come home with more apples than we need and make lots of fresh apple sauce,” says Rogers.
In Bailey’s Harbor, Koepsel’s Farm Market attracts families to celebrate its fall traditions centered around its orchard. Grandma’s farm stand in the front yard in 1940 evolved into a 4,000-square-foot building where shoppers stock up on homemade jellies, fruit butter, and jams. The Chopped Red Cherry Jam, a best seller, competes with homemade fruit pies and baked goods for take-home gifts. Shoppers are encouraged to make their craft beer six-pack from a vast selection.
Koepsel’s is more than a farm market; it is a memory-making destination. Mounds of pumpkins, gourds, and corn stalks create a photo-worthy scene. Each year, a colossal fiberglass pumpkin serves as a play space for kids.
“It’s nice to be able to see people come back,” says Manager Karina Oram. “They bring their kids and grandkids. Ninety- nine percent of customers are what make it a rewarding part of the job.”
SAVOR FLAVORS FROM SEED TO GLASS
To fully experience fall, locals recommend creating a self-guided tour of three cideries in the region.
Island Orchard Cider produces Normandy-style hard cider after handpicking apples harvested on seven acres on Washington Island. At its Ellison Bay taproom, a production facility, cider drinkers can build a flight of four five-ounce pours or request a full glass pour. Sip cider on the dog-friendly patio during a cool-weather day.
At Lautenbach’s Orchard Country Winery & Market in Fish Creek, the top-ranking hard cider made with estate- grown fruit tastes semi-dry to sweet. Build a tasting flight and purchase charcuterie snacks at the market before exiting the outdoor patio, where seating overlooks a bountiful vineyard and orchard.
Located 20 minutes south at Sturgeon Bay’s Door Peninsula Winery, they’ve mastered fruit-forward hard ciders, recently earning medal honors at the Finger Lakes International Wine & Spirits Competition. On Fridays, savor a glass of refreshing aged cider while listening to live music at the Wine and Cocktail Garden.
APPRECIATE STUNNING FALL FOLIAGE VIEWS
Picture this: A canopy of color surrounds as the light filters through the branches. Leaves tease onlookers with their best hues, from fiery orange to cheerful yellow. And the best time to see the show? Travel Wisconsin’s Fall Color Report estimates the county’s fall colors to peak in the third week of October.
One of the most sought-after views of the region is from the Eagle Tower observation platform at Peninsula State Park. Through Oct. 31, Eagle Tower provides nature lovers panoramic views from a 60-foot observation deck above Green Bay. Navigate to the top via the wheelchair-accessible ramp or ascend 100 steps, stopping periodically to rest at benches before reaching the top.
“I love the crisp air and sun-shiny days of fall in Door County,” says Destination Door County’s Chief Communications Officer Jon Jarosh. “In particular, the scenic views at several locations along the coast offer spectacular viewpoints to take in the splendor of the county’s fall foliage.”
Jarosh adds bonus lookout points, including Washington Island’s Mountain Tower, Ellison Bluff County Park, and Whitefish Dunes State Park’s Old Baldy are not to be missed. Drivers must have a Wisconsin State Park System vehicle admission sticker to enter, which can be purchased online or at the parks’ drive-up windows or kiosks. A day pass sticker ranges from $8 to $20.
The peninsula, surrounded by 300 miles of shoreline, inspires outdoor seekers to immerse in vivid fall colors on a scene cruise via Shoreline Boat Tours or airplane. The Door County Maritime Museum’s Fall Lighthouse Festival tours from Oct. 4-6 venture to three lighthouses not ordinarily open to the public departing from various peninsula locations. This year, the museum is also sponsoring a Night Lights Hike event on Cana Island, where hikers can witness the 1869 iconic lighthouse illuminate sweeping views of Baileys Harbor.
“There is a wonderful atmosphere of preservation and education and sharing of our maritime history, which is easily accessible. We offer the ability for people to get into them (lighthouses) a couple of times of year,” says Paige Funkhouser, Door County Maritime Museum Community Engagement Manager. “And the people that provide the tours do their best to share information. They’re very welcoming.”
The museum’s airplane tours offer a bird’s-eye glimpse of the fall color spectrum via a 60-minute tour with a pilot, who is also an arborist. On a calm water day, the $300 flight often includes identifiable shipwrecks. Reservations to the museum’s excursions are available at dcmm.org.
But why see trees from overhead when you can traverse through them? Adventure hounds get a unique perspective of the treetop canopy by gliding along a thrilling 2,000- foot zipline course with Lakeshore Adventures in Bailey’s Harbor. The guided one-hour tour is reserved in advance and costs $69.99 for adults and $59.99 for youth.
At Kurtz Corral in Sturgeon Bay, leaves crunch underfoot during a guided Wooded Walk Ride on horseback. For $75 each, each rider, ages six and up, is assigned a horse based on their abilities for the one-hour wooded and open trail experience.
DISCOVER UNIQUE ACTIVITIES AT FALL FESTIVALS
According to Rogers, the county’s seasonal events are popular with locals and visitors. In fact, many tourists rebook their lodging accommodations to return the following year, and festivals are a big reason.
Car enthusiasts will appreciate the nostalgia of the Autumn Fest Classic Auto Show on Sept. 14. Morning activities kick off with a brisk Hey Hey 5K Run, starting and ending at Door County Brewing Company’s taproom in Bailey’s Harbor, followed by a car and motorcycle cruise downtown.
Listen to live music, peruse arts and crafts booths, or indulge in food truck fare in good company.
In Sturgeon Bay, the annual Harvest Fest promises to draw a celebratory crowd on Sept. 21 for family-friendly entertainment. Place your bid at the Bass Around the Bay Street Art Project’s live auction at Martin Park until 5:30 p.m. Afterward, jam to the sounds of the rock band Glass Hamr.
What is fall without a spirited Halloween party? Don a prize-winning worthy costume to Jack O’Lantern Days on Oct. 26 in Fish Creek, a Halloween-themed event for all ages, complete with town-wide trick-or-treating.
Not to be missed, test your bravery at Thrills and Chills in downtown Sturgeon Bay on Oct. 26 by walking through the Boys & Girls Club of Door County’s haunted house. It’s free to tour, and repeated walk-throughs are encouraged for the fearless.
While Door County offers high-energy autumnal adventures, Funkhouser considers it a destination where first-time and return visitors can delight in a relaxed setting.
“The change in the air, crispness, and the energy starts to slow down. People describe the winter hush hibernation feel,” says Funkhouser. “Yes, we have festivals and events on the weekends, and people come up and want to see the colors. But it’s a different pace, a vacation vibe.”
DINE LIKE A LOCAL
- OLD POST OFFICE RESTAURANT 10040 Water Street, Ephraim
Reserve a seat at a traditional fish boil prepared outside over an open fire by boil master Jeremy “Torch” Klaubauf, who appeared on Bravo’s “Top Chef” reality show. Savor a locally sourced whitefish dinner with captivating waterfront views through the last Sunday in October. - MELT BISTRO AT RENARD’S ARTISAN CHEESE 2189 County Road DK, Sturgeon Bay
A Wisconsin trip without cheese isn’t complete. Feast on loaded macaroni and cheese or a Honey Truffle Melt before shopping the market’s Wisconsin products for what else? Cheese, of course. Fresh cheese curds are available to sample. - AL JOHNSON’S SWEDISH RESTAURANT & BUTIK 10698 N. Bay Shore Drive, Sister Bay
Surrounded by a Nordic aesthetic, breakfast lovers order Swedish pancakes with tangy lingonberries or strawberries. A side of homemade meatballs is customary. Spy goats on the rooftop, a must-see attraction at the restaurant celebrating its 75th year. - HILL STREET 4149 Main Street, Fish Creek
Craving comfort food? Dripping burgers served with house-made condiments, tacos, and heaping salads arrive tableside, resembling high- end restaurant fare, an unexpected twist for a townie pub with a regular following. - CARRINGTON AT THE LANDMARK RESORT 7643 Hillside Road, Egg Harbor
Stunning sunset views of the Bay of Green Bay compete for attention during upscale dining at the resort’s restaurant. An award-winning menu, Wednesday Wings prepared five ways and Saturday Prime Rib specials. - WILSON’S RESTAURANT AND ICE CREAM PARLOR 9990 Water Street, Ephraim
Since 1906, diners have listened to jukebox tunes while biting into flame-broiled burgers at the old-fashioned diner. Home-brewed root beer and ice cream sundaes are somehow tastier when enjoyed on the patio watching boats on the water.