Door County Touring Recommendations

[Team Golden]

Hi – This isn’t so much a geocaching question but more of a what are the places to see in Door County. I’m looking for the cool views, lighthouses etc.

We are up there a few times a year so we have done the normal shopping in towns etc.

I’m looking for the hiking paths that take you for a great view or somewhere that you have been that you love to go.

Thanks in advance.

Team Golden

[Cheesehead Dave]

The lighthouse at Eagle Bluff is neat to see. Eagle Tower in Peninsula State Park offers a very scenic view if you don’t mind the eight-story climb…

[TyeDyeSkyGuy]

Washington Island is a must if you are looking for scenic views. You can catch sunrise and sunset over water in the same day. Just $10 per person round trip to ride the ferry.

[Cathunter]

I highly recommend the Cana Island Lighthouse. A small fee gets one an informational tour of the keepers house and a good history lesson. There is also a cache there- “I have seen the Light” by DCexplorer.

Actually, there are not a great deal of caches in Door County and 95% of them will take you somewhere worth visiting.

[IceCreamMan]

We lived in Sturgeon Bay back in the day. One particularly cool spot back then was a place called Cave Point. Beautiful place. Haven’t been there in decades, but I’m guessing the park is still there in some form.

[Cathunter]

@IceCreamMan wrote:

We lived in Sturgeon Bay back in the day. One particularly cool spot back then was a place called Cave Point. Beautiful place. Haven’t been there in decades, but I’m guessing the park is still there in some form.

Yep… Cave Point County Park. A regular stop for me when I get up that way. 2 caches there as of June.

[DCexplorer]

I live in Door County, and know the county inside and out. Seriously. Before I can make some recommendations, though, some more information would be nice.
When are you planning on coming up to visit?
What caches have you done up here already, and don’t need to repeat?
Are you hiking, biking, kayaking?
How brave are you?

I must take issue with Cathunter’s statement, though; For a rural county, (Pop. 27,000) there’s quite a few caches. Our problem is that there’s not a large population of local Geocachers, and “vacation cache” placements are strongly discouraged.

DCexplorer

[Cathunter]

@DCexplorer wrote:

I must take issue with Cathunter’s statement, though; For a rural county, (Pop. 27,000) there’s quite a few caches. Our problem is that there’s not a large population of local Geocachers, and “vacation cache” placements are strongly discouraged.

DCexplorer

You don’t need to take issue, as my comment was meant to be a positive one. I like Door County just the way it is. 😀

Now what they have done to WI Dells, that is another story altogether. 🙄

[greyhounder]

And actually, they are asking about geocaches — just things to do and see.

It’s all quite lovely — see it all!

Bec

[Team Golden]

DCexplorer – We are in Door County quite a bit. My future in-laws own a place in Sturgeon Bay. Our next trip will be in early Sept for 4 days. During this time we are bringing my parents for their first time in 15+ years.

What I’m looking for is really anything that is worth seeing. I have done a number of caches but it’s typically only to get in and get out of the cache.

I know we did one cache up by the tip in a small park by Gills Rock. It was in a park that was way back in the woods and you would have never known it was there.

So far on my list is:
1) to see all of the lighthouses by land, water and air.
2) Cave Point. We were there once but it was cold and raining so we didn’t stay long.
3) Washington Island. I have never been there.

You are correct that geocaching takes you to a lot of places. I’m don’t need to geocache these places. We don’t own a kayak but do have a 19ft boat. The places I am looking for can be driven to, hiked to, or I’m up for a challenge hike.

Thanks for all of the feedback so far.

[DCexplorer]

Since you mentioned bringing parents along, I’ll keep that in mind with these recommendations. I’ll try to tie it into Geocaching where possible. I like to have people visit the interesting out-of-the-way spots as well as the obvious spots.

There’s three caches by three different lighthouses. Hit ’em all.
1. I Have seen the light!
2. Sturgeon Bay Canal Lighthouse
3. Baileys Harbor Ridges on the “Quiet Side”

The Ellison Bay Bluff County Park is an interesting place to visit. There’s a time-consuming multi-cache there called “Door County Challenge” but the first two legs are relatively easy.

Southern Door has several caches that are interesting places.
1. Dam, where’s that cache?
2. Gardner Swamp Thing
3. Ahnapee Trail Detour
4. Haines Park

Cave Point County Park has already been mentioned.

“A Pebble for your thoughts?” is at a popular unknown beach in Sister Bay
“Rock of Gibraltar II” is at a little-known beach in Fish Creek

“The Caves of Door Bluff Headlands” in Ellison Bay is another interesting spot.

Sturgeon Bay has a couple of easier caches, “R.R. Bridge” and “Your own private beach”

Other things to do and/or see:
American Folklore Theatre
Peninsula Players
Skyway Outdoor Drive-in theatre
Uncle Tom’s Newport School Candies
Ice cream at Wilson’s
Blue Front Cafe in Sturgeon Bay for lunch
Kick Coffee in Sturgeon Bay / Leroy’s Coffee in Ephraim
Passtime Books in Sister Bay
Edgewood Orchard Galleries in Fish Creek
Sunset Bar & Grill – Southern Door – Casual dining
Alexander’s – between Fish Creek/Ephraim – Fine dining

I think that covers everything! Let me know if you have any more questions!

[Team Golden]

Thanks for the help…..

[Author]

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