Top Things to Do in Door County, Wisconsin

See the remains of the freighter M.J. Barteleme, which ran aground in 1928, and scale the 97 steps of the Cana Island Lighthouse on this small island outside Baileys Harbor. 

Within Whitefish Dunes State Park along Lake Michigan, beech forests, wetlands and shoreline studded with caves and limestone cliffs show off Door County's wilder side at Cave Point County Park. doorcounty.com

Explore shipwrecks, lighthouses, islands, caves and more on narrated high-speed boat tours that depart from different points around the county.

In Sturgeon Bay, tour the restored tugboat John Purves, step into the wheelhouse of a 1907 steamship, and learn about ship captains and shipbuilders at this maritime museum. 

Each July in a Fish Creek park, master artists render paintings at the largest event of its kind in the Midwest. Bid on favorites at an auction. 

Guests take scenic tours by day or by night, and hear creepy tales of ghostly sunken ships and murder at stops in a cemetery and at haunted lighthouses. 

The eight wineries promise incredible scenery and expertly crafted vintages.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Door County's Charming Towns and Islands

Sunrise yoga and a day of family entertainment end with a bonfire and fireworks over Eagle Harbor, recalling the tradition of early Norwegians celebrating Midsummer's Eve (mid-June).

Some favorites: Woodwalk Gallery, for works by 70-plus artists, in Egg Harbor; Edgewood Orchard Galleries in a fruit-barn-turned-gallery in Fish Creek; and TR Pottery, a working studio-gallery in Fish Creek.

In Fish Creek, would-be artists choose from projects like metalwork and fused glass.

Fruits grown on the 100 acres produce jams, wines and ciders. Try wine and cider flights at the outdoor picnic areas.

Professional musicians perform chamber music in a variety of venues. 

Northeast of Ellison Bay near the peninsula's tip, Newport appeals to outdoorsy types, with secluded camping, hiking, biking and kayaking.

Enjoy original musical comedies at the new indoor theater, or outdoors in the summer in an open-air amphitheater at Peninsula State Park.

Catch a Broadway production by America's oldest resident summer theater in a wooded setting along the shore. During intermission, watch the sun set over Green Bay by a bonfire.

Miles of hiking and biking trails in the 3,776-acre park near Fish Creek include Sunset Trail, a 9.6-mile park overview.

Many days, visitors can watch the husband-and-wife team blowing the glassworks sold here in Sturgeon Bay.

Ten minutes outside Sturgeon Bay, trails lead to views across Sturgeon and Green bays. Rent canoes and kayaks to paddle Green Bay. 

Get a great overview of the area, rolling past drawbridges, shipyards and Victorian mansions in Sturgeon Bay.

A ferry crosses waters dubbed Death's Door from the tip of the mainland to the 35-square-mile island, where visitors enjoy beaches, museums, farms and golfing. From Washington Island, a passengers-only ferry runs to Rock Island State Park, home to Pottawatomie Lighthouse. 

Steaks and seafood star at this historic Fish Creek fine-dining spot, where fireplaces inside and outside warm cool nights.

An emphasis on healthy local foods creates an ideal stop for burgers, soups and sandwiches in Sturgeon Bay.

At the Carlsville business, the coffee roaster has a window onto the roasting process. 

This family-owned eatery and pub in Egg Harbor features traditional supper club favorites along with Cajun-inspired cuisine.

The chef-owner's farming roots show in the focus on local ingredients at this breakfast and lunch spot in Sister Bay.

The whole family—even the dog—is welcome at this upscale lakeside restaurant with fantastic lobster bisque.

The small-batch distillery in Egg Harbor crafts spirits with local organic grains and honey. Sample craft cocktails in a space overlooking the production room. 

This Madison-based brewer opened a taproom in Egg Harbor with a massive beer garden and cozy firepits. Soak up your brew with a wood-fired pizza from Pizza Bros next door—pick from a menu of classic pies or build your own.

A fish boil every hour from 5 p.m. to close gives guests at the Fish Creek restaurant lots of chances to watch the action.

In Sturgeon Bay, visit Scaturo's for a large selection of breakfast foods, pizza and baked goods.

Each dessert at the Fish Creek bakery is handcrafted and packed with fresh ingredients; try the apple-cherry pie.

Savor lakeside dining at Gordon Lodge, 6 miles northeast of Baileys Harbor, with dishes like Pasta Paesano, with chicken, sausage, prosciutto and orecchiette pasta.

Locally sourced ingredients flavor Trixie's dishes, such as whitefish ceviche, fried pork wontons or a grain bowl, in a small wood building in Ephraim.

Build your own charcuterie board at the peninsula's newest wine destination, in Sister Bay. The back patio opens up into a bucolic wooded prairie.

In Fish Creek, this New England-style bed-and-breakfast holds one of the best fish boils—part dinner, part theater, all tradition.

If you only splurge on one upscale dinner, do it at Ellison Bay's Wickman House. Seasonal dishes like Sunchoke Farroto, Blackened Carrots with tomato jam and spicy Fishmonger Stew will linger in your memory longer than they do on your plate.

Watch cooks in Fish Creek toss the crust for delicious pizzas topped with local ingredients, including Wisconsin cheese curds.

Whirlpool baths, fireplaces and balconies enhance a shoreside stay in Baileys Harbor. Bikes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards encourage exploration. 

Seagulls and ship horns provide the soundtrack at this family-friendly resort in Sturgeon Bay.

Newly renovated rooms offer unbeatable proximity to downtown Fish Creek at a modest rate, or reserve one of their roomier suites or cottages for extra amenities like a fireplace or kitchen.

Relax in minimalist-posh guest rooms at Sister Bay in one of Door County's newest lodgings.

Relax at an indoor pool or play croquet or bocce ball on the 5-acre grounds at this 1937 Ephraim B&B.

Near Whitefish Dunes State Park, condos have fireplaces and whirlpool tubs. All units face the water.

This 1884 nine-room inn and restaurant in Sturgeon Bay serves continental breakfasts to get you started on your day.

In 1907, teams of horses pulled this lovely inn—Door County's oldest operating inn—across frozen Green Bay to Fish Creek.

For more information doorcounty.com