Visiting Door County with Kids

Kristy Pepping said:  Candy and fudge anyone? Do not miss this opportunity to indulge when visiting Door County with kids! Door County Confectionery fudge is homemade and in some stores, you can actually see bakers preparing it in front of your eyes. Candy includes everything from suckers to gummies to chocolate. Plus, they have several stuffed animals in case your child is searching for a new friend. I personally love their English Toffee and my kids always grab a handful of candy from one of their several bins. Yum!

Kristy Pepping said:  Sister Bay Bowl is a bowling alley located right downtown in Sister Bay. It's a great family outing for a rainy afternoon or an evening before bedtime routines. If you decide to eat while you are there, kid's get a free game with the purchase of a meal. Check out their food menu for detailed options. Also, they have typically host special events throughout the year, which can be a lot of fun if you are in town during one of them.

Kristy Pepping said:  Wisconsin is known for several foods and one of these is cheese. But do your kids know how that cheese that goes into their sandwich or on their macaroni is made? Renards Cheese will show you how cheese is made and you even get some samples at the end of the tour! Tours are 30 minutes and advanced reservations are required, when operating.

Kristy Pepping said:  The Red Putter is a miniature golf course in Door County. If you have early risers like my kids, you'll love that they open earlier than the other mini golf courses in the area. This course has fun water features and rock obstacles to complete. They also have benches between holes for little ones to take a break.

Kristy Pepping said:  Door County is a peninsula and right off the tip, are two small islands, Washington and Block. Washington is the larger of the two islands and this quick ferry goes to just Washington Island. The Washington Island Ferry can accommodate cars as well, and that mind-blowing concept could honestly be the highlight of this short trip for your kids! You simply sit in the car, pay your entrance fee and drive your minivan or sedan directly onto the boat! Pets are welcome but must be leashed if brought outside of the car.

Kristy Pepping said:  If you are looking for fun in Door County, Egg Harbor Fun Park says it all. This place has go-carts, mini golf, batting cases, an arcade, bounce houses and more! Kids can easily spend an afternoon at this place. Also, they have a restaurant onsite serving up pizza, hot dogs and other snack items. Personally, we have played mini golf, gone on the bounce houses and went gem mining (another fun activity!) Oh and I relived my softball days in the batting cages, which were great!

Kristy Pepping said:  The Ridges Sanctuary is a unique nature preserve with 30 acres to explore. There are over 500 plant species, breeding birds and endangered/threatened species. Kids can explore both the indoor Nature Center and hike the Ridges outdoors. The Cook-Albert Fuller Nature Center has exhibits, workshops and classes. Hiking you'll experience animals and plants on several well-marked trails. There are also 2-hour guided hikes where you'll learn more about the property for an additional fee.

Kristy Pepping said:  If you are visiting Door County with kids and need a fun indoor activity, try candle dipping! Door County Candle Company makes their own scented candles and is the only one in Door County like this. It's a fun place to buy these candles, but kids will love the process of making them. Kids will receive a plain candle and can add various colors by dipping them in different waxes.

Kristy Pepping said:  If you are looking to commemorate your trip with a souvenir, head to Fun Stuff, in downtown Fish Creek. Unassuming from the outside, this store is full of interesting products from lip gloss to socks to magnets. They also have a dedicated kid's section, which is always stocked with the latest trending toys. Please note that this store does have a set of stairs so if you are traveling with a stroller, you'll need to carry it up the short flight.

Kristy Pepping said:  Birchwood Lodge is a fun place to stay in Door County with kids. First of all, they have several different room arrangements from regular hotel rooms to entire houses for up to 10 people including kitchens. In the lobby, they offer breakfast each morning and DVDs to watch in the rooms. There is an indoor and outdoor pool, grills on site, game room, laundry facility, bike rentals and more. Plus, this hotel is close enough to walk into downtown Sister Bay and there is a grocery store behind the property for those kid-friendly snacks.

Kristy Pepping said:  A trip to Door County would not be complete without attending a fish boil at the Old Post Office Restaurant. Although there are several spots around town that hold these, the Old Post Office Restaurant stands out. Why? They offer the fresh fish plus fish alternatives if you have kids who are picky eaters. The whole family will love the boil process! Whitefish is caught by local fisherman and then all can watch as they boil the fish in a large pot. The grand finale is when kerosene is poured on the pot creating large flames and the oil spilling out. Dinner is served at this point! See website for the menu.

Kristy Pepping said:  If you are on Washington Island (accessible by ferry), visit Mountain Park. This is a pretty park to go on a hike, but the best part is the lookout tower. If you have little ones, this may not be suitable for them because they will need to climb 186 steps to get to the top of the lookout tower. Once you are at the top, there are some great views of the island and Lake Michigan. On a personal note, my youngest was four when we did this and was able to handle this climb. There are some steps that bring you to a landing where you can rest and even sit at a picnic table before heading up the stairs of the tower.

Kristy Pepping said:  Parkwood Lodge offers everything from traditional hotel rooms to suites to even rooms with bunk beds. For kids, there is a pool, playground, tennis court, pool table and game room. If you wish to make food on your own, Parkwood Lodge has room options with kitchens, grills onsite and even picnic tables outside.

Open May - October

Kristy Pepping said:  Bay Shore Outfitters offers unique Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga classes every week. This fun class is run in shallow water and they use a milk jug with sand in it to keep everyone's board in place. No experience necessary. I will add Bay Shore Outfitters also features paddleboard rentals, classes and even daily kids' camps, which is especially ideal for short-term visitors.

Kristy Pepping said:  Fragrantisle is a lavender farm located on Washington Island. In order to get there, you'll need to take the ferry over with your car or jump on the tram that tours the island once you are off the ferry. They are the largest lavender grower in the Midwest. Kids will love running through the fields, smelling the lavender and seeing how it's grown, and dried out to make products. Once you are done touring the farm, check out their large array of lavender products inside the shop, or enjoy lunch on the terrace.