Door County in the Spring is an Incredible Time to Visit
Lest you think there’s only cold weather to be had (and soggy grass and mud), Door County in the spring serves up the fresh scents of the cherry blossoms and lilacs, a lovely lake breeze, and a hint of sunshine. Spring is a perfect time to visit, especially if you want the peninsula all to yourself. In fact, many of the inns and B&B’s offer discounted rates due to the low amount of visitors in March, April, May, and even early June.
Cherry blossoms might be the main attraction in mid-May, but there’s more as the ice gives way to sand beaches firm enough to walk upon for miles; the fresh scent of the forest in a state park hike, the soft wind upon your face as you bike the trails, and a touch of history when you venture to one of the 11 lighthouses on the peninsula or see the shipyards in Sturgeon Bay.
Come with me as I share with you my insider tips and drop all the details of family-friendly activities you can enjoy in the spring. Girlfriends’ weekends and couples will enjoy the suggestions too!
FEATURED PHOTO CREDIT: Do not miss the cherry tree blossoms in mid-May. Photo credit: Elvis Kennedy, Flickr.
Door County Cherry Blossoms — Come to this DC to See the Cherry Blossoms!
Washington DC and Portland, Oregon are not the only places to see the cherry trees in bloom. Door County in the spring offers spectacular cherry blossoms, endless waves of white petals that sweep across the land. Up close or from a distance, admire the grandeur of what will be the eventual harvest. For those that live nearby, lucky you! This is right in your backyard! For those traveling from afar, fly into Green Bay, Wisconsin, and drive up the coast. It’s a trip worth taking.
Unlike other parts of the country, these cherry blossoms do not beckon the crowds. Door County’s cherry blossoms are another one of the peninsula’s best-kept secrets. You’ll find the blossoms around mid-May (give or take a week) and they typically last up to 2 weeks.
The Iconic Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Pierhead Lighthouse is the most photographed Door County lighthouse and dates back to 1881. Photo credit: Jim Bauer, Flickr.
See the Door County Lighthouses
Door County has 11 beautiful historic lighthouses. The Door County peninsula juts out into Lake Michigan, and because of the geography of the area, settlers came by ship into what is known today as Green Bay. They settled along the shorelines and developed businesses which then brought more ships and eventually tourists! Without today’s GPS technology, lighthouses were an essential means of maritime navigation.
Not all Door County lighthouses are accessible and open to the public, although there are Door County Lighthouse Festivals—offered a few times throughout the year—which give you a ideal opportunity to see the lighthouses up close, including special access to a few that are not open to the public.
The next Door County Lighthouse Festival is June 11 – 13, 2021. For more information visit: Spring 2021 Door County Lighthouse Festival.
If your spring visit is in June, Door County Trolley also offers lighthouse tours — another fun option for taking a closer look at these historic maritime towers.
The Cana Island Lighthouse is one of the most iconic on the peninsula. Visitors can climb the lighthouse for an unforgettable view! Photo credit: , Flickr.
Door County in the spring is a great time to visit the lighthouses because there are no crowds or lines. You can still visit many of them on your own, and some do offer a tour for a small charge. One of our favorites is the Cana Island Lighthouse (pictured above). Rising water levels have made getting to the lighthouse a bit of a challenge. There are tractors that will carry visitors in a hay wagon across the shallow causeway starting in May. Should you wish to view the lighthouse and not climb up the inside, you can do that any time of the year but bring your Wellies!
Door County Lighthouses
Pottawatomie Lighthouse (Rock Island)
Bike or Hike a Door County State Park
Springtime hikes and bike rides through the Door County state parks are a wonderful experience, and I would absolutely not leave this activity out of your weekend, even if it rains! The parks are well maintained and some of them you can even drive through. But the best way to experience the splendor of the earth is to actually immerse yourself in the forest. Each park has its own personality, and each offers up something another does not. Newport State Park, for instance, is one of the few dark sky parks in the county. It also has Lynd Point/Fern Loop (the shorter version of Lynd Point). This is our favorite trail, and it that takes you along the shoreline and through the middle of the forest. It truly is an enchanted forest! Peninsula State Park is perfect for a family bike ride. The limestone trails are cleared, and some of the biking is on a paved pathway. Our favorite hike in Peninsula is Eagle Trail, but be sure you’re up for the effort. It’s not a challenging trail, but it’s also not for anyone who has a hard time with stairs or uneven terrain.
The best part of the spring hiking and biking in the state parks: No bugs. And all the spring flowers!
A long, leisurely stroll down an empty Whitefish Dunes beach is the perfect activity when visiting Door County in the spring!
Enjoy the Scent of a Lake Breeze and Stroll Along the Beach
If a hike or a bike ride doesn’t interest you, then go ahead and walk the shoreline! In the summer and fall, the beaches are crowded. In the winter, there’s ice. But Spring is the perfect time to experience the waters of Lake Michigan and Green Bay. On either side of the peninsula, you can see clearly for days as the water extends into the horizon.
Can’t you just feel it now? The fresh air, the waves kissing the sand, and the laughter as your little one scoots ahead of you.
Here are Door County Mom’s favorite spots to walk along the water. You can also view them on Google Maps.
Newport State Park
Whether you’re on a trail or you just make your way to the shoreline, there will be several opportunities to check out the water here. Newport State Park has a couple of trails that take you to the water. If you want to stay out of the woods, there is a long stretch of beach to enjoy. Here is the latest update for Newport State Park where you can also download a trail map in advance. Trails feature water exposure in Newport Bay, Europe Bay, Sand Cove, Duck Bay, and Rowleys Bay. We’ve hiked them all; each very pretty.
Whitefish Dunes State Park
This beach goes on for miles and even has a dog-friendly section to it. Climb up the wooden stairs along the way and pivot your beach walk towards Old Baldy, the largest sand dune in the area. Note: as of this writing, much of the shoreline has been erased due to the water levels over the past few years. Check here for the latest updates. And if the beach is open, please avoid putting your toes in the water in the area marked off. There are undercurrents in those areas.
Cave Point County Park
Experience the spectacular drama as the Lake Michigan waters thrash into the cliffs. Keep your little ones close, but do venture down to the water and walk along the rocks. Or watch the water a safe distance from the pathway in the woods. Cave Point County Park is a must-stop, even if you don’t want to walk along the water.
Liberty Grove Town Park
A best-kept secret, this secluded beach is located in Liberty Grove on the Lake Michigan side. The shoreline extends for miles and provides a nice, quiet, serene walk in the spring. It’s on the north end of Newport State Park and is also referred to as Hotz Memorial Town Park.
Lakeside Park, Jacksonport
Walking along the sand beach in Jacksonport is very quiet, and you can walk for days with relative ease. There is also a boat ramp, a children’s play area, covered picnic shelters and grills in case you’d like to pack a lunch, and restrooms. It’s located on HWY 57, in downtown Jacksonport.
Stroll through the pristine boreal forest made up of a series of low, sandy ridges, alternating with wet areas called swales. Photo credit: The Wisconsin Gazette
Explore The Ridges Sanctuary
LOCATION: BAILEYS HARBOR
The Ridges Sanctuary in Baileys Harbor is an excellent spot for a hike in the Spring. It is a slice of protected land which over time has created a series of ridges and swales due to the water’s gradual decrease during the melt of the ice age. This type of landform is somewhat rare in the US as many were destroyed during the 20th-century industrial revolution. So there’s a little history for you!
Along the beautiful trails of the boreal forest, you’ll notice you are surrounded by wildflowers, birch trees, white spruce, and balsam fir. You can also enjoy the iconic boardwalk walk to the lighthouse. It’s delightfully charming and a wonderful spot to take family photos as well. In addition, at one end of the boardwalk is the lighthouse, and at the other end is the light. And just past that, across the street is Baileys Harbor Beach where you can do a mini walk along the water.
The Ridges has a nature center too, Cook-Albert Fuller Nature Center, where adults and kiddos can explore. However, due to COVID-19, the center is closed at this time. Please call ahead or check the website to see if the Nature Center is open again. You can still walk the trails from dawn to dusk, but may not be able to stop inside. There is a small charge to hike the trails, well worth it, as the trails are quaint, not too long, and extremely well-maintained. It’s a classic Door County experience and a great way to spend the afternoon.
There is also an accessibility boardwalk called the Hidden Brook Boardwalk. This makes a great walk for those on wheels such as walkers, wheelchairs, and strollers.
Logan Creek Property, Jacksonport
The Ridges also manages a property south of the nature center in Jacksonport. Spring is an excellent time to visit here. Spring wildflowers are outstanding, with Hepatica, Spring Beauty, Trilliums, and Trout Lilies putting on a show from mid-April to the end of May. A trail system and parking lot have been developed on the site at 5724 Loritz Road.
For more information about the Ridges Sanctuary, visit their website at www.ridgessanctuary.org
The Ridges Sanctuary
8166 State Hwy 57
Baileys Harbor, WI 54202
920.839.2802
Hike the trails for $5 from dawn to dusk (no dogs)
Or visit inside the Cook-Albert Fuller Nature Center: (call ahead for hours)
Hitch a ride on the open carriage on the Door County Spring Blossom Tour! Photo credit: Door County Trolley
Ride the Door County Trolly on a Spring Blossom Tour
Enjoy a fun-filled day on an iconic Door County trolly and tour the blossoms, hop onto a carriage ride, visit a winery, test your fear of heights at a scenic overlook, and top it off with a delicious lunch at the English Inn! This is not to be missed if you are looking for fun and excitement. For those with kiddos in tow, you can still bring them aboard and they’ll be guaranteed to be amazed. Kids will love seeing the medieval knight’s armor in the English Inn too. Singing, laughter, liveliness, and a good time are included with your ticket, and the experience is sure to exceed your expectations. It will be an unforgettable good time! Learn more about the Spring Blossom Tour.
2021 Tour Dates
April 3, 10, 17, 24
May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
For more information about the Door County Trolly, visit their website at doorcountytrolley.com
What seems so small in the distance is breathtakingly large in person! See the large ships in the shipyards in Sturgeon Bay. Photo credit: Door County Maritime Museum
Tour the Shipyards in Sturgeon Bay and Visit the Door County Maritime Museum
LOCATION: STURGEON BAY
Calling all mariners! The Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay (and satellite museum in Gills Rock) is a truly enjoyable experience. In May, the museum offers a rare and once-a-year tour of the actual shipyards in Sturgeon Bay. Due to the pandemic, we are not certain the tours are happening in 2021. Please call ahead to verify.
Regardless of whether or not the tour occurs, you may still like to walk the park and see the large ships in the dock. The museum also offers a great opportunity to learn more about Door County’s incredible and storied maritime history.
Door County Maritime Museum
120 North Madison Avenue
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
920.743.5958
For more information about the Door County Maritime Museum, visit their website at dcmm.org
Door County Mom loves to hear from her readers! Let me know if you tried any of these suggestions and found them as fun as we did. I’d also love to hear of other springtime activity suggestions! I promise to send you a special Door County Mom sticker if you contact me! Enjoy!
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