Door County, Wisconsin, is a picturesque vacation destination known for its charming small towns, scenic landscapes, lighthouses, and abundance of outdoor activities. Situated on a peninsula jutting out into Lake Michigan, Door County offers two distinct sides, divided by two main highways: Highway 42 and Highway 57. Each side has its unique attractions and experiences to offer visitors. Let’s explore both sides to help you plan your perfect Door County getaway.
Travel & Places
Explore nature-focused travel, historic places, and scenic backroads through thoughtful observations. This travel section highlights state parks, rural landscapes, historic buildings, barns, small towns, and lesser-known destinations worth slowing down for.
From quiet river trails and waterfall hikes to old structures and rural relics, these posts blend exploration with storytelling. You’ll find practical travel inspiration, regional insights, and a closer look at the architecture, landscapes, and natural spaces that shape each place.
Whether you’re planning a weekend road trip, searching for historic sites, or simply enjoying rural photography and field notes, this collection is designed to help you discover meaningful places and appreciate the stories they hold.
Many destinations featured here are located throughout Wisconsin, Upper Michigan, and the surrounding regions, with occasional travels beyond.
A Chilly Sunday in Oshkosh: Quirky Finds and Sweet Delights
Oshkosh, Wisconsin, makes an easy and enjoyable day trip when you are in the mood for something simple, local, and memorable. On a recent winter outing, we met up with my daughter and her fiancé and spent the day exploring a few stops that offered exactly that — a good meal, quirky shopping, and a sweet finish before heading home.
Twig’s Museum and Gift Shop Shawano, WI
Twig’s Museum and Gift Shop in Shawano, Wisconsin, is a fun stop if you enjoy local history, vintage advertising, old soda memorabilia, and small-town flavor. What looks like a simple gift shop from the outside opens into a nostalgic collection of signs, bottles, crates, old equipment, and displays tied to regional soda and dairy history.
We were exploring the area around North Star Mohican Casino Resort in Bowler and wanted to include a stop that felt a little different. Twig’s turned out to be a nice mix of museum, tasting room, and gift shop, which made it an easy place to spend some time indoors while still feeling like part of the local experience.
Glimmer Falls Richmond, Wisconsin
Glimmer Falls near Richmond, Wisconsin is a quiet natural stop tucked into the woods of Shawano County along the Red River. This small waterfall and cascade area features smooth rock ledges, flowing water, forest trails, and a peaceful setting that makes it worth the visit.
Covered Bridges Of Ashtabula County, Ohio
Ashtabula County in northeastern Ohio is one of the best places in the Midwest to see covered bridges. Scenic rural roads, wooded valleys, and historic crossings give this area a slower, more old-fashioned feel that makes it especially fun to explore in fall, though the bridges are worth visiting in any season.
Bond Falls In Paulding Michigan
Bond Falls is one of the most impressive waterfalls in Michigan’s western Upper Peninsula. Located near Paulding in Ontonagon County, the falls spread across a wide rocky section of the Middle Branch of the Ontonagon River, creating multiple cascades, powerful flow, and changing views from one overlook to the next.
Palms Brook State Park Kitch-iti-kipi
Kitch-iti-kipi, also known as the Big Spring, is one of the most unusual natural attractions in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Located in Palms Book State Park near Manistique, this large freshwater spring is known for its clear blue-green water, drifting trout, and self-operated observation raft that lets visitors glide out over the spring.
Manistique Michigan
Exploring Manistique Michigan in Early Spring Manistique, Michigan makes a great Upper Peninsula stop if you enjoy lighthouse views, shoreline walks, small-town discoveries, and a mix of interesting roadside and waterfront scenes. What started as a quick weekend route through the area turned into a chance to slow down and explore the Lake Michigan shoreline, … Read more
Lakenenland Sculpture Park
Lakenenland Sculpture Park in Marquette County, Michigan
Lakenenland Sculpture Park is one of the most unexpected and entertaining stops in Upper Michigan. Located about 15 miles east of Marquette, this outdoor art park features more than 100 welded scrap-metal sculptures spread across 37.5 acres of wooded property.
It is the kind of place that feels part roadside attraction, part art park, and part Upper Peninsula oddity in the best possible way. Whether you visit in summer or winter, Lakenenland is a fun stop for photography, wandering, and seeing something completely different from the usual waterfalls and overlooks.
Apostle Islands and Madeline Island
Apostle Islands and Madeline Island Trip
A few years ago, my husband and I took a trip to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and Madeline Island in northern Wisconsin. We boarded the first ferry of the day from Bayfield and crossed Lake Superior to Madeline Island.
After arriving, we spent part of the morning exploring the island before renting a boat for the afternoon. From there, we followed the shoreline of the Apostle Islands and passed lighthouses, waterfalls, sandstone cliffs, and sea caves.
Lake Superior was calm that day, which made the trip even more memorable. Because conditions were so good, we were able to safely reach areas that are not always easy to see by private boat.
Enger Park Duluth
Enger Park in Duluth, Minnesota
Enger Park is one of the best free scenic stops in Duluth. Set high above the city, the park combines walking paths, a historic stone tower, gardens, and wide views over Duluth, Lake Superior, and the Twin Ports.
If you are looking for an easy place to stretch your legs and take in a broader view of the city, Enger Park is well worth adding to a Duluth visit. It is one of those stops that works for a quick visit, but it also has enough trails, overlooks, and gardens to justify a longer wander.
Copper Falls State Park
Copper Falls State Park in northern Wisconsin is known for its dramatic river gorge, scenic waterfalls, and forested hiking trails. Located near the town of Mellen in Ashland County, the park offers visitors a chance to explore rugged landscapes shaped by rushing water, dark rock formations, and dense northern forests.
The park’s most famous features include Copper Falls, Brownstone Falls, and the Cascades. Wooden bridges, stairways, and scenic overlooks allow visitors to experience several viewpoints of the Bad River gorge while hiking through the surrounding woods.
Rock Island Wisconsin
Rock Island is a 912-acre Wisconsin state park in Door County that takes two ferry rides to reach. The first ferry leaves Gills Rock for Washington Island. The second leaves Washington Island and takes visitors to Rock Island, where you’ll find hiking trails, shoreline views, a historic boathouse, primitive camping, and Wisconsin’s oldest lighthouse station. … Read more
McClintock Park – Marinette County
McClintock Park is a scenic county park along the Peshtigo River in Marinette County, Wisconsin. This quiet stop is known for its series of wooden footbridges crossing rapids, forested river views, trout fishing, and primitive campsites.
If you enjoy short nature walks, rushing water, and peaceful woodland scenery, McClintock Park is worth a visit. The walk is not long, but the bridges, rapids, mossy rocks, and mixed forest make it a memorable stop in northeastern Wisconsin.
Communiversity Park and UW-Green Bay Arboretum Trail System
Communiversity Park and the UW–Green Bay Arboretum Trail System offer one of the most peaceful nature escapes in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Along the bay, Communiversity Park is a beautiful place to watch the sunset, while the nearby arboretum trails wind through wooded areas, creeks, ponds, and quiet natural spaces that are worth exploring in every season.
Historic Washington House Two Rivers, WI
The Washington House Museum and Ice Cream Parlor in Two Rivers, Wisconsin is a charming historic stop where visitors can enjoy a scoop of Cedar Crest ice cream while exploring a small museum filled with local antiques and artifacts. Located in Manitowoc County near the Lake Michigan shoreline, the Washington House offers a unique blend of Wisconsin history, nostalgia, and small-town charm.
Kewaunee Wisconsin Lighthouse and Harbor
Kewaunee Lighthouse on Lake Michigan in Kewaunee, Wisconsin
The Kewaunee Lighthouse and harbor area make a beautiful stop along the Lake Michigan shoreline in eastern Wisconsin. In winter, this stretch of shoreline is especially interesting for icy harbor views, winter birds, ducks, and the chance to spot bald eagles along the water.
We usually make a couple of trips each winter to Kewaunee to check the ice conditions, look for wildlife, and walk out for a closer view of the lighthouse and harbor. It is one of those places that can look completely different from one visit to the next depending on wind, waves, and temperature.
Baileys Harbor Birdcage Lighthouse
This winter view along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin, offers a glimpse of the island where the Baileys Harbor Bird Cage Lighthouse stands. From this stretch of shoreline, you can see the island from a distance and enjoy the icy waters and quiet beauty of Door County in winter.
Spam Museum Austin Minnesota
The SPAM Museum in Austin, Minnesota, is one of those roadside stops that is unusual enough to be memorable whether you already love SPAM or have never been tempted to buy a can. Located in the hometown of Hormel Foods, the museum mixes food history, pop culture, military history, and a healthy amount of humor.
Lake of the Falls, Mercier Wisconsin
Lake of the Falls County Park is located along the Turtle River near Mercer in Iron County, Wisconsin. The park sits between Lake of the Falls and the Turtle Flambeau Flowage, making it a scenic stop for fishing, camping, and exploring the river’s rocky shoreline.