• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Work With Us
  • Shop
  • Blog Coaching
  • Disclosures
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Amazon
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
How many of you have heard you will no longer be a How many of you have heard you will no longer be able to travel once you have kids? I find most people who say these things don’t even have kids or if they do they have never traveled with their kids!

I’m not really into counting countries and we enjoy visiting places more than once, seeing the beauty all over the US and right in our state too. You don’t have to travel far to give your kids amazing experiences but you can also take them wherever you want. Y’all know my motto, if kids live there kids can visit!! 

Where have you been that people said you were crazy for taking your kids (or your parents for taking you) but you were so glad you didn’t listen to them and went anyway.

#travellingwithkids #familytravel
Everything you need to know about visiting Chichen Everything you need to know about visiting Chichen Itza, one of the 7 Wonders of the World (SAVE + SHARE this post).

Chichen Itza is 2.5 hours from Cancun, 2 hours from Playa del Carmen, and 90 minutes from both Tulum and Merida.

You can get here by renting a car, booking a private tour on Airbnb Experiences like we did, coming on a tour bus or for budget travelers taking the ADO bus. 

Most tours from Cancun are all day long, leaving as early as 7/8 am and as late as 9 pm drop off. This is because you’ll visit cenotes outside of Chichen Itza and the town of Valladolid. Since we only had 4 days in Cancun we didn’t want to spend a full day on the road but also really wanted to visit so booking private transportation allowed us to skip all the other stops and just go there and back. We were picked up at 9 and back at the hotel by 4 so we could have a relaxing evening.

Current admission is $533 Mexican pesos for adults, $80 for kids 3-12 and free for kids under 3. That’s about $30 US for adults and $5 for kids.

Once inside there is the main attraction that everyone comes to see but there are also other Mayan dwellings and a cenote. I recommend coming with a guide or hiring an official guide once on site so they can give you information on the history.

Have you been to any of the 7 Wonders? If so, which one(s)?

Hubby and I climbed the Great Wall of China together in 2007, Jordyn, James and I have been to the Colosseum in Rome, the girls and I have been to Petra and we all visited Machu Picchu, Christ the Redeemer, Chichen Itza and the Great Pyramids of Giza together!

#chichenitza #7wondersoftheworld
Today is the last day of school and I could not be Today is the last day of school and I could not be more proud of Jordyn! Look at all those awards she racked up at her end of the year ceremony. She’s reading 3 grade levels above hers, was only 9 points away from a perfect score on her state reading test and made the Honor Roll every quarter of the year. It’s time to celebrate, let summer begin!!!
We’ve been to 34 states and while we haven’t v We’ve been to 34 states and while we haven’t visited them all yet these are 4 states you should consider visiting this summer. (SAVE + SHARE this list for inspo)

📍Idaho- Last year we explored Southern Idaho and it blew us away. City of Rocks National Reserve, Kayak to Shoshone Falls, white water rafting, and walking behind Perrine Coulee Waterfall are musts!

📍Alaska- We visited the South East part of Alaska, Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan and WOW talk about stunning. You’ll love exploring ice caves, walking on glaciers, canoeing through ice bergs, seeing the volcano and hopefully spotting some bears!

📍Utah- From the famous national parks like Zion and Bryce to the lesser known areas like Kanab, Utah is stunning. You can’t miss sand boarding through Coral Pink Sand Dunes and ATVing through the gorgeous landscape.

📍California- Where else can you surf and ski/snowboard in the same day? California has the most national parks in any state so you know the beauty is beyond amazing. Having lived there for 3 years I’ve explored so many cities and there is something for everyone!!

Would you like me to share my website link for our itineraries for each of these trips in stories? Have you been to any of these? Which state intrigues you the most from this list? What city/state would you like to see us cover?

#visittheusa #bucketlisttrip #travellingwithkids
We have been traveling with our girls since they w We have been traveling with our girls since they were 6 weeks old. Is traveling with kids always easy? Nope! Are there added costs to traveling with kids? Yes! But having status with World of Hyatt has helped elevate our travels, making things a little easier and saving us money, here’s how (SAVE + SHARE this post).

1. Being a family of 4 standard hotel rooms can be kind of cramped. Having status with World of Hyatt means we’re eligible for free upgrades when available including suites as a Globalist.

2. Eating out for breakfast everyday on a vacation starts to add up really quickly. As a Globalist we get free breakfast for 2 adults and 2 children.

3. At hotels with club access Globalists also get free access which includes drinks and snacks, the perfect way to hold kids over until dinner without spending money.

4. I don’t know who decided 9 or 10am was a good time for check-out, hello we’re on vacation, we want to sleep in! Having status with World of Hyatt means you qualify for late check out at 2pm or 4pm depending on your level of status. So whether you sleep in, hit the pool or use the other amenities at the hotel you can enjoy a little longer. It especially helps us when we have flights later in the day.

5. After paying for our hotel room we hate having added fees. Thankfully when you have Globalist status with World of Hyatt resort fees are waived on free night awards and/or eligible rates.

6. Free hotel nights! There is nothing like booking a hotel and not paying a penny! Having joined World of Hyatt we rack up points (on more than just stays) and the higher your status, the more points you earn to get free stays faster.

7. As World of Hyatt members we even earn American Airlines miles on our Hyatt stays, getting us free flights faster to save even more money!

From being more comfortable to finding more ways to earn, you’re missing out if you haven’t joined World of Hyatt!

@hyatt #HyattPartner
4 Ways to Redeem Points at Hyatt Hotels & 7 Ways t 4 Ways to Redeem Points at Hyatt Hotels & 7 Ways to Earn World of Hyatt Points & (SAVE + SHARE):

Ways to Redeem
1. Redeem points for rooms at Hyatt hotels. There’s nothing like experiencing luxury without the cost, so glad I could redeem Hyatt points for this stay with one of the best views of Tokyo.

2. Redeem points to cover your meal at participating restaurants at Hyatt hotels.

3. Redeem Hyatt points to cover your spa treatment at participating spas at Hyatt hotels. 

4. Redeem points through World of Hyatt FIND experiences. With over 200 experiences like cooking classes, tastings, & walking tours there are so many activities to choose from!

Ways to Earn
1. Are you an elite member with American Airlines? If so, you can earn 1 Hyatt point for every $1 spent on AA flights. These are in addition to the normal miles you’ll earn on American, just sign into your AA account & link your World of Hyatt account.

2. Rent a car through Avis & can earn 500 Hyatt points per rental. Just provide your Hyatt membership number when making the reservation & use AWD code K817700.

3. Book a FIND experience by World of Hyatt and earn 10 points per $1 spent. Hyatt offers over 200 experiences such as culinary classes with celebrity chefs, hot air balloon ride in Arizona, guided bike tour over the Golden Gate bridge and more.

4. Even if you aren’t staying at a Hyatt property, if you eat at the hotel restaurant or book a spa treatment you can earn 5 points per $1 spent. We actually ate at a Hyatt restaurant in Kyoto & even though we weren’t staying there I gave my World of Hyatt number & received points!

5. Earn points on everyday spending with a World of Hyatt credit card: 2 points per $1 spent on restaurants, airline tickets, local transit, rideshares, & gym memberships plus earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

6. Transfer points earned on other credit cards who partner with Hyatt such like Chase Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, Freedom Unlimited & Freedom Flex. 

7. Book a cruise with Lindblad Expeditions & earn 5 points per $1 spent.

Are you doing any of these?

📍Andaz Tokyo

@hyatt #HyattPartner
If you visit Lisbon or any mainland city in Portug If you visit Lisbon or any mainland city in Portugal I highly recommend adding a trip to Madeira! It’s an island off the coast of Portugal, actually closer to Africa than Portugal. Here’s how I spent 6 days in Madeira (Save + Share this post):

🇵🇹Day 1: Pool day at my hotel (NEXT Hotel) for most of the day and then I went running up the crazy hills of Madeira to see Funchal by foot.

🇵🇹Day 2: I explored the NW part of the island visiting Seixal Beach, Ponto Moniz, Fanal Forest and Ilheus da Ribeira da Janela.

🇵🇹Day 3: I went on a sidecar adventure where I explored Valley of the Nuns, the Cabo Girão Skywalk, and the fishing town of São Pedro with @madeirasidecartours.

🇵🇹Day 4: Whale and dolphin watching tour but we only saw dolphins. In the evening I did an Airbnb Experience at a locals farm house where he cooked a great dinner where 90% of the items were picked directly from his gardens that day. He also taught us how to make poncha, a favorite local drink. The tour should already be linked in my Maderia story highlights.

🇵🇹Day 5: I toured the SE part of the island visiting Ponta do Garajau, Monte Palace, and ended the day at the most beautiful views from Pico do Arieiro (the shots of me on the clouds).

🇵🇹Day 6: I watched the sunrise from Miradouro Ponto do Rosto and then did an 8 mile hike of Levado do Caldeirão Verde. After the hike I relaxed at the pool!

If you want photos taken in Madeira I recommend @robframing.

Honestly Madeira was everything and I don’t see it dropping out of my top 5 international destinations anytime soon.

The Traveling Child

If kids live there, kids can visit!

  • Affording Travel
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Kenya
      • Morocco
    • Asia
      • Singapore
      • Thailand
    • Australia
    • Caribbean
      • Aruba
      • The Bahamas
      • Barbados
      • Cuba
      • Grand Cayman
      • Jamaica
      • Puerto Rico
      • Trinidad
    • Central America
      • Costa Rica
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Denmark
      • France
      • Italy
      • Spain
      • The Netherlands
    • North America
      • Alaska
      • Arizona
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Florida
      • Georgia
      • Hawaii
      • Idaho
      • Illinois
      • Kansas
      • Louisiana
      • Mexico
      • Nevada
      • New York
      • South Carolina
      • South Dakota
      • Tennessee
      • Texas
      • Utah
      • West Virginia
      • Wisconsin
    • South America
      • Brazil
      • Colombia
  • Travel Tips
    • Tips on Traveling with Kids
    • Trip Planning Tips
  • Reviews
    • Airline Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Product Reviews
  • Lifestyle
  • Buy Our Book
  • Blog Coaching

25+ Fun Family Things to do in Door County, WI with Kids

August 30, 2019      Destinations, North America, Wisconsin

This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more information. All opinions are my own.

Never in my 33 years of life would I think I’d rank Wisconsin as one of my favorite trips. However, after spending five nights in Wisconsin on our Door County vacation here I am saying it was one of my best family vacations. Door County is a beautiful part of Wisconsin. It’s home to family-friendly attractions like Wood Orchard Market, the Door County Maritime Museum and Schoolhouse Beach.

One of my favorite things about Door County is that it has so many family-friendly activities! It is truly a vacation spot that caters to children! There are so many things to do in Door County with kids!  In this post, I will share some of our favorites with you (including Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm). I’ve included our Door County itinerary below will to help you plan your own family vacation there.

 

You may also be interested in: Fun Things to do in Wisconsin Dells in the Winter: Our 3 Day Itinerary

 

mom holding up toddler daughter wearing white in the middle of a lavender farm
This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking on any of the links below, I may get a commission if you make a purchase at absolutely no additional charge to you. This helps offset the costs of running this blog & I appreciate your support. Please see my privacy & disclosure policy for more.

Planning Your Door County, WI Vacation With Kids Itinerary 

When traveling with kids, it’s important to plan your itinerary.  Door County has so many fun, family-friendly activities to choose from it might seem overwhelming. But, by deciding what you’d like to do and see ahead of time it takes some of the stress off of the trip. Plus, it can be a good way to spend time together pre-vacation. Get your kids involved and sit down and plan out where you’re going to eat and all the amazing things you will do!

 

Door County is definitely a vacation destination you want to visit when it’s warmer. A lot of the fun things to do are outdoor activities and specific to warmer weather. That is not to say the Door County wouldn’t be a good option in the winter, but this post focuses on things to do in the summer, late spring and early fall when it’s still warm enough to enjoy the outdoors with your kids. 

 

How to Get to Door County, Wisconsin

The closest airport to Door County, Wisconsin is Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport. From here it will take you a little over an hour to get to Door County. Door County is not easily accessible by public transportation so renting a car is a must. The airport had every national car rental company such as Alamo and Enterprise. You can rent a car seat or travel with your own, read my tips on traveling with a car seat here.

If you’re planning a trip to Chicago or live there it’s an easy three and a half hour drive from there. You can easily extend your trip and make it two in one or visit Door County on a long weekend if you’re a Chicago native.

girl in red shirt sitting in the cockpit of a plane
The pilots let my daughter sit in the cockpit on our flight to Door County.

You May Be Interested in Reading: Tips for Flying with Toddlers

Where to Stay in Door County with Kids

On our Door County vacation we were booked for five nights at the Newport Resort in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin. It’s located in the middle of Door County which made us equal distance to Sturgeon Bay and Sisters Bay, two towns in Door County we frequented. As far as staying here with kids they loved the playground on site as well as the two pools (indoor and outdoor so they could enjoy it despite the weather).

Playground in the middle of turf outside a hotel in door county, WI.

As someone traveling with my family, I loved that the rooms here are apartment style. We had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full kitchen (with all the supplies you need to cook), dining room, living room and a large patio. This is great as space is always essential with kids and being able to cook meals can save you money on vacation. Here’s a tour of our suite, suite 124.

Kitchen of Newport Resort in Door County, WI.

The downfall of Newport Resort to me is that it’s outdated and the rooms can definitely use some renovations. While the kitchen had granite countertops, the bathrooms did not but everything was clean most importantly. There was no vacancy during our stay and the resort was packed which leads me to believe it’s one of the best options when traveling to Door County with kids.

Bathroom of Newport Resort in Door County.

Things to do in Door County with Kids, Our Door County Itinerary 

Day One in Door County with Kids

Breakfast at Al Johnson’s

We arrived late the previous night so we had a full day ahead of us. Everyone says you didn’t do your Door County vacation right if you didn’t see the goats on the roof of Al Johnson’s so we started our day with breakfast there. It’s a Swedish restaurant and the roof is covered in grass and there are indeed real goats that walk, graze, and sleep on the roof! If you want a table get there early! We made the mistake of arriving around 10am, thinking “oh its Tuesday, there won’t be a wait”, well the wait was 90 minutes. Thankfully there is a play area for kids but 90 minutes is still too long to wait for a table. Our initial idea was to order our food to go and then eat it at the tables outside at their bar next door. When we went inside to order there were seats at the bar so we ate there instead and there were no issues with the kids sitting there too.

A boy and a girl outside playing with wooden building blocks.

3 plates of food including french toast, swedish pancakes, and eggs and potatoes.
Al Johnson’s is a must when visiting Door County with kids. They will love seeing the goats on the roof of the restaurant.

Exploring Washington Island in Door County with Kids

After breakfast we drove twenty five minutes to Northport Pier where we would take the ferry to Washington Island. Unless you have someone taking you around the island you’ll need a car but don’t worry, you’re able to drive your car right onto the ferry. To bring your car on the ferry you’ll pay $26.00 plus $13.50 per adult and $7 per child 6-11. The ferry runs every 30 minutes but hours vary throughout the year so check the ferry schedule here.

Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm

When looking at things to do in Door County and Washington Island I came across Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm. It is a gorgeous farm with Lavender everything and has free entry! The kids enjoyed running throughout the fields and smelling the lavender. They saw so many butterflies and bees throughout the farm. At first they were scared of the bees but quickly realized the bees are only there for the lavender and leave you alone as long as you don’t bother them. Once they realized this they found it quite entertaining watching them.

Little girl standing in the middle of Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm in Door County.
Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm is too beautiful to leave off your Door County itinerary.
A boy and a girl both taking up close pictures of lavender.
Once the kids stopped being scared of the bees, they photographed them!

A little girl in a white dress posing for a picture on a lavender farm

You May Be Interested in Reading: Tips for Taking Family Vacation Photos

Albatross Drive-In

You’ll soon notice a pattern that most of the restaurants in Door County have play areas for kids while you wait for your food. Our lunch spot, Albatross Drive-In on Washington Island was no different. There was a sand boy filled with buckets, shovels, trucks and a swinging chair that the kids enjoyed. There is even a jukebox and you can dance while waiting for your meal. It’s called a drive-in because you park, walk up to a window and order then pick a bench to sit and eat. This Washington Island restaurant serves burgers, fries, and milkshakes.

Boy and girl playing in a large outdoor sandbox waiting to eat dinner.

Little boy and girl sitting on a swing smiling and holding hands.

Schoolhouse Beach

After lunch it was time to hit the beach, there are many on Washington Island but we chose Schoolhouse Beach. It’s one of only five beaches in the world that has smooth limestone rocks instead of sand so your Door County itinerary isn’t complete unless this is on your list. The beach, which is really Lake Michigan is beautiful. The water is crystal clear, calm, and while quite chilly that didn’t bother the kids at all. It’s a public beach and free of charge.

A little boy and girl playing in a rive with a rocky bottom

Mom and daughter standing in a lake with matching swimsuits

Like our matching swimsuits? You can these exact suits here and check out the other matching swimsuits here.

Dinner at Wild Tomato

There are three Wild Tomato locations in Door County but we chose the one in Sisters Bay as it was on the way to our resort. Door County is quite popular amongst Wisconsinites so the wait was about 45 minutes. Again there is a playground right behind the restaurant that the kids played at while we waited and we avoided the “is our table ready, we’re so hungry comments”. At the table they also give the kids dough to play with while they wait for their food. 

pizza from wild tomatoe in door county, wi

Day Two of our Door County Vacation

We kicked off day two in Door County with kids having breakfast at Door County Coffee & Tea Company. Just go ahead and order the cinnamon french toast roll and thank me later!  There was no play area here but we played UNO while we waited and the food came out pretty quickly.

Door County Maritime Museum

After stuffing our faces we went to the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay (there are two locations). We explored the Shipwreck Exhibit as it’s interactive and the most kid friendly one. There is a simulated video where you can steer a ship wheel and see it crash as well as crates the kids can open and see the contents of what you’d find on a ship. The museum is open 7 days a week except major holidays. Hours for the museum are: January-March 10am-4pm, April-June 10am-5pm, July-Labor Day 9am-5pm, Labor Day-December 10am-5pm. Admission to the museum is $15 for adults, $10 for kids 5-17 and free for kids 4 and under.

After exploring the museum we were able to take a tour of the 100 year old tug boat, John Purves. It was a very good tour and the tub boat was named after our tour guides father so it was very special. We were able to see the engine room, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen and captains quarters. Tug boat tours are only offered from 10am-3:30pm May 1- October 29. If you don’t want the tug boat tour admission is $5 cheaper.

Mom and daughter stand outside a tug boat

Mom and daughter posing with a large tug boat steering wheel.

The Farm

You cannot visit Door County with kids and not visit The Farm, honestly even if you don’t have kids this should be on your Door County itinerary. The Farm is a living museum of rural America and here you get the opportunity to see what goes into running a farm. Kids can feed baby goats a bottle of milk, feed cows corn, check out the chicken coops and even milk a goat. Our visit to the Farm was one of the highlights of our trip, the pictures below show you why better than I can tell you.

Mom and daughter feeding a baby goat as one of their things to do in door county with kids.

Little girl milking a goat at the farm in door county

The Farm is only open Memorial Day Weekend through mid-October from 9am-5pm. Adults and anyone over 13 costs $8.50 and children 3-12 are $5. In addition to the entry fee if you want to feed the goats it’s $0.25 per bottle of milk or bag of corn.

PC Junction

If you’ve followed my blog for a while you know my motto is “if kids live there, kids can visit”. I never really fell into the whole “kid friendly” destinations theme but Door County seriously caters to families. PC Junction is a casual restaurant that has a train track in the kitchen/bar area. Once you place your order the train which is constantly going around actually brings your food and drinks to you. The excitement on these kids faces was priceless, maybe if I install one of these at home they’ll be more excited about dinner. 

We came here for lunch and I’m glad we did as we heard the wait to sit at the few seats that the train delivers to during dinner hours can be brutal. However, if you haven’t noticed a theme yet of course there is a playground right on site that kids can play at while you wait. Even though we were seated right away the kids played there after we ate.  I would definitely include this restaurant as one of the things you do with your kids on your itinerary.

Wood Orchard Market

We were originally going to do a cheese tasting across the street from Wood Orchard Market but learned the shows are in the morning so instead we ended up at Wood Orchard Market and we’re so happy we did. They make the best fresh treats and sell fresh fruit as well. You have to try the Apple Cider Donuts and try to get them when they are warm, they literally melt in your mouth. They too have a big playground, tractor bikes, hop scotch and more to entertain kids. Since we had already done two activities for the day and the kids wanted to play we hung out here until dinner.

Picture of a little boy and girl sticking their faces in a cut out of a tractor and pumpkin hauler at woods orchard market in door county.

Fish Boil

Fish boils are a big thing to do in Door County so we had to see what they were all about. There are a few restaurants that offer them on different days of the week but we went to Rowley’s Bay Restaurant for their Wednesday boil. The boil is open to everyone so you can see while they make the fish. After its ready it’s taken inside and served buffet style with other meats and side dishes.

a fish boil kettle
Attending a fish boil is one of the top local things to do in Door County.

Day Three in Door County

Door Artisan Cheese Company

Even though we found out there is way more to Wisconsin than cheese we still had to have some. Did you know the University of Wisconsin has the only Master Cheesemaker Program in the United States? In order to get in you the program you must currently be making cheese in a Wisconsin plant and hold a Wisconsin cheesemaker’s license for a minimum of ten years. With those types of requirements we know the cheese had to be good. The Door Artisan Cheese Company has their kitchen behind huge glass doors and you can visit anytime from 9:30-11:30am to see the process of how the cheese is made.

A cheese maker in WI separating the curdles.

The head cheesemaker wears a microphone and you can ask him questions about the process. He even comes out to give samples of the freshly made cheese. After watching, we asked for a tour of the cave where they age all of their cheese. Anyone can get this free tour, you just have to ask!

Cheese vaults in door county, WI

 

Cana Island Lighthouse

After getting our cheese fix we headed to Cana Island to climb the lighthouse. It was on every list of things to do in Door County I read while doing research for our trip and I see why. Just getting to the island is an adventure! You used to be able to walk on a pier to get to Cana Island but unfortunately due to extensive snow this past winter the lake levels have risen so much it’s underwater. Now you can get there by taking a complimentary tractor ride across the lake.

Little girl smiling at the camera with a tractor and pull behind her.

Once on the island we paid the $12 admission fee for adults, kids under 4 are free and kids 5-17 are $10. The lighthouse is open from 10am-5pm, with the last admission at 4:30pm. You are not able to hold kids while climbing up to the top of the lighthouse but Kennedy (3 years old) climbed all 97 steps with no issues. The view from the top is gorgeous!

If we knew in advance about the open space on the island we would have packed a blanket and a picnic basket to have lunch after. Even though we didn’t we took advantage of the grass and were running all around the island. Pets are all and plenty of people were playing fetch or throwing around frisbees. 

Cana island lighthouse a Mom and daughter running through the grass.
Running around Cana Island was one of our favorite things to do in Door County.

Like our matching rompers? You can order the same ones here, or see all the matching rompers/jumpsuits available here.

Two moms with their children standing in front of a lighthouse smiling for a picture.
Enjoying exploring Door County with kids with my friend Karen from @themomtrotter!

Casey’s BBQ & Smokehouse

Since we didn’t bring food to Cana Island we had la late lunch after we left. We sat in the outside patio of Casey’s BBQ & Smokehouse. I’d recommend coming here for dinner instead as half of the menu is only available after 5pm. We didn’t realize that and were too hungry to look for somewhere else to eat. 

Lunch at Caseys' BBQ and smoke house in door county with a chicken smoked chicken breast, mac and cheese, sweet potato fries and corn.

Not Licked Yet Frozen Custard

We had driven by Not Licked Yet a few times on the way to other places and each time the line was crazy long. We had to see what all the fuss was about so we went and thankfully beat the evening crowd. They sell sandwiches and other snacks but people really come here for the frozen custard so that’s what we got. It reminded me of soft serve ice cream but it was delicious. They also have a big playground where kids can play before or after a treat. There are so many ducks with babies that were adorable and you can purchase duck food to feed them if you’d like.

Day Four in Door County with Kids

Village Cafe

Just three minutes from our resort is a quaint breakfast and lunch restaurant, Village Cafe. The breakfast potatoes were so good so I definitely recommend getting a side of those. We arrived early, around 7:30AM and were seated immediately. However, when we drove by later around 10AM, the line was out the door.

Breakfast at the village cafe in door county with scrambled eggs, homefries and french toast.

The Ridges Sanctuary

If you are an outdoorsy family you have to visit Ridges Sanctuary. As we were walking inside to pay our admission fee we saw two staff members catching butterflies to tag them before their migration. The kids were able to see them up close and personal which they enjoyed. Outside  the nature center there is an interactive area for kids. They can make mud pies, add to the insect house and more. It was a really unique and fun thing to do for the kids.

When we went inside there were tables with different activities for kids. These included coloring butterflies, making caterpillars, and making a diagram showing the process of how butterflies come about. The activities in the nature center are free but if you want to hike any of the trials it’s $5 for adults while anyone under 18 is free. Ridges Sanctuary is open daily from 9am – 5pm May – October and only Monday – Saturday from 10am – 4pm November –April.

The kids making caterpillars out of buttons.

After enjoying the nature center we finally headed to our hike. We did the Family Discovery Trial which was amazing. At the start of the trial there are backpacks in a bin for the kids filled with binoculars, a magnifying glass, compass and more for their adventure. 

The ridges sanctuary hiking trail in door county, WI one of the many fun things to do with kids in door county.

Along the path there is a paleontologist area with additional tools for them to find fossils. We saw so many real animals as well including a toad, caterpillars eating on milkweed and more.

A girl looking through binoculars while on a hiking trip in door county, Wi.

Children on a hiking path between trees.

Be sure to pack and put on both sunscreen and bug spray before heading on this trail. The mosquitos were out there and we got bitten several times as we weren’t prepared. Other than that the trial is amazing! Just use the bathroom at the welcome center, there is only a port a potty at the beginning of the trial. 


Fred and Fuzzy’s

For lunch we went to Fred and Fuzzy’s, known for having one of the best sunset views in Door County. I didn’t enjoy the food as much as some of the other restaurants we visited but it seems their Cherry Margarita is the real draw on why it’s a favorite amongst locals. Still the views here are amazing and worth a visit just for that!

Fish tacos served with chips and salsa from Fred & Fuzzy's in Door county

A little boy and girl sit on red and yellow stripped lounge chairs by lake Michigan.

Sister Bay Scenic Tours Live Music Sunset Cruise

Every night we were in awe of the sunsets so it was only right to go on a sunset cruise on our last night. We did the Scenic Tours cruise out of Sister Bay but they have another one out of Fish Creek. The sunset cruise has live music and the nicest Captain ever. He let all the kids drive the boat and wear his Captain’s hat. Even if you were a big kid you could drive the boat as well!

girl driving boat on Lake Michigan one of the many things to do in door county, WI with kids
If you’re visiting Door County with kids they will love getting the chance to drive the boat!

The way the sun reflects on the lake is absolutely gorgeous. The purple and pink hues of the clouds are what really make the Door County sunsets so special. The sunset cruise costs $39 for adults and kids 12 and under are free. The cruise lasted a little over an hour and a half.

Be sure to include this sunset cruise in your  list of things to do while in Door Count, WI.

Boathouse on the Bay

Right across from the marina is Boathouse on the Bay. They have two outdoor patios and often have live music in the evenings. Most of the restaurants we ate at had mostly sandwiches on the menu so this was a nice change. They offer pasta dishes, oysters, and a wider variety of options. The food was great and we all enjoyed our meals.

Shrimp fettucine Alfredo with a piece of garlic bread from the boathouse restaurant in door county, WI.

Day Five, The End of Our Door County Vacation

Unfortunately, today was the day we were going home. We stopped at the Wood Orchard Market one last time to get our fix of Apple Cider Donuts. 

Little girl biting into an apple cider donut after visiting the farmers market in door county, wi.

Things to Do in Door County with Kids That We Didn’t Have Time For

When we were first told our Door County vacation was going to be 5 nights I wasn’t sure if there would even be enough for us to do. We quickly discovered there are so many things to do in Door County and we didn’t even have enough time to do them all. Here are some other options to include in your Door County itinerary.

  • Cherry Lanes Arcade Bar – Cherry Lanes Arcade Bar is great for rainy days or in the evening if you are looking for something to do late at night. They are open until 2AM and have an arcade and a bowling alley. If you have tweens or teenagers traveling with you then this would be a great place to stop and hang out!
  • Hands on Art Studio – Hands on Art Studio is another rainy day activity. Here you can make your own art from painting ceramics to fused glass. I don’t know a kid that doesn’t love making an art project (or adult for that matter!) If you haven’t visited one of these DIY art studios with your family before it’s definitely worth trying out.
  • Skyway Drive- In – Skyway is the local drive in movie theater showing two movies each night. One low price allows you to stay for both movies! This is something to do with older kids as well. Unless you’ve been blessed with littles that will sit through a whole movie it might be better to skip this until they’re a little older. 
  • Cherry Picking – We just missed cherry picking season but if you come to Door County with kids this would be such a fun activity. We’ve done strawberry picking in Miami before and loved it.
  • Apple Picking – Like cherry picking, apple picking is also a fun thing to do in Door County. The season for picking apples is the fall which we were too early for. 

Door County, WI Really Nails Down the Family Aspect & Is the Perfect Vacation Destination for Kids

Door County is a family-centric county and there’s no shortage of things to do with kids. There are so many fun things to do with kids and adults alike in this beautiful location. It’s best to visit door county during warmer months when you can enjoy outdoor activities on green spaces like beaches, parks, and forests. Whether it’s a weekend getaway or an extended vacation stay, there are plenty of family-friendly accommodations for all budgets that will make your trip a memorable one!

We had an amazing time experiencing all the things to do in Door County with kids. We heard fall is a stunning time to visit and hope we can return to see the leaves change. Until then we hope this Door County itinerary helps you plan your own trip to Wisconsin. Did you find this blog post helpful? If so please share it on Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter!

Looking for other domestic trip ideas? Our other favorites include Wisconsin Dells,  Fort Myers and Sanibel Island, our Southwest road trip, our Colorado ski trip, and New Orleans.

*Our visit to Door County, Wisconsin was sponsored by Door County Visitors Bureau and Travel Wisconsin. We were so happy to be able to complete this trip with Karen and Aiden from The Mom Trotter. All opinions expressed are my own and true. *

We had a blast discovering all the things to do in Door County with kids!

The Traveling Child is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

Share88
Tweet
Pin91
Email
Share
179 Shares

Newsletter Subscribtion

 
Join Our Mailing List
You'll get tips on affordable travel, flight deals and detailed itineraries for every trip we've been on (family, girlfriends getaway, baecations and solo) to make your planning process easier.
Thank you for subscribing!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Devesh says

    August 30, 2019 at 11:38 am

    Thanks for sharing a great post!

  2. Karen says

    September 9, 2019 at 6:31 pm

    Oh wow, book me a ticket….. goats on the roof, cheese making and those sunset views! Door County looks amazing.

Primary Sidebar

  • Amazon
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
  • YouTube

Hi! We’re The Hambricks

Hi! We’re The Hambricks

If kids live there, kids can visit! That's our motto and you'll often find us exploring destinations most don't find "kid friendly". We've traveled to 35 countries on 6 continents with our children since they were 10 weeks old and share tips to make it easier and affordable. But mom and dad are people too so we also write about solo travel, baecations and girlfriend getaways.

Newsletter

Subscribe to Our Newsletter
You'll get tips on affordable travel, flight deals and detailed itineraries for every trip we've been on (family, girlfriends getaway, baecations and solo) to make your planning process easier.
Thank you for subscribing!

Recent Posts

  • The Best Christmas Markets in Europe
  • The Best Christmas Markets in the USA
  • The 11 Best Eiffel Tower Photo Spots
  • The Best Places to Go for Halloween
  • Things to Do in Southern Idaho

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

Facebook

FOLLOW US ON PINTEREST

Copyright © 2023 The Traveling Child, LLC.