Visiting Door County with Kids

Kristy Pepping said:  For a place to sit outside for dinner and enjoy a lake view, Fred & Fuzzy's fits the ticket. This casual restaurant is located in front of the lake and offers a full food menu plus kid-approved desserts. And, if you have antsy kids like mine, you can place their order and then watch them throw rocks into the water from the shoreline, play in the small sandy beach or take a walk down the little pier.

Open Late May - Mid-October; Lunch and Dinner

Kristy Pepping said:  If you are looking for a fun game of mini golf, Pirate's Cove is a great stop! It offers scenic waterfalls, some water holes and lots of winding hills to aim for that hole in one. I like that they offer several sizes of clubs perfect for all kids. Plus, they give kids a goody bag at the end with a pirate's flag, eye mask and other pirate themed loot! And if you get a hole in one on one of two holes for the day, you win a free game! (Good thing we go back each year so we can redeem the one my daughter won last time!)

Kristy Pepping said:  Edgewood Orchard Galleries is a place where you'll find unique jewelry, sculptures and interesting lawn art. Everything is handmade by artists from the area and beyond. For kids, they have this fun walking trail around the property, This short trail makes a loop in front of the property and you'll find several boxes of flat rocks along the way. Kids love to pile these rocks on each other making their own sculptures. They also have several rocking chairs which are a favorite activity for kids as well while you shop indoors.

May - October

Kristy Pepping said:  Is your child horse-obsessed like mine? Then they will love Kurtz Corral! They offer horseback Western trail riding led by instructors. Make sure your family dresses in long pants and closed-toe shoes. Helmets are available for all riders. Trails vary in length and any age can ride. Reservations can be made online.

Kristy Pepping said:  The Door County Historical Museum offers several hands-on exhibits and the building dates back to 1939, hence the historical name. Kids can learn about the history of Door County both from a nature perspective and a manufacturing one. Some of these smaller yet interesting exhibits for kids include a fire truck you can climb on, a small play jail, and a nature area. Great place to visit anytime, or for a rainy day activity!

Kristy Pepping said:  Dancing Bear is a family-owned toy store. We decided to head downtown Sturgeon Bay and stopped in this toy store during our Door County trip. The shop owner had a sweet cat and a dog in the toy store which was an added bonus for my daughter! As for toys, you will find unique books, games, puzzles, and more. For such a small shop, they sure pack a lot of toys in!

Kristy Pepping said:  There are not too many drive-in movie theatres left in the country, but Door County has a great one! Their theatre features two awesome family-friendly movies a night! In case you are not familiar with how a drive-in works, you simply drive your car in and tune the radio to a certain station to listen to the movies. This theatre also has a snack area if you wish to purchase drinks or food to bring back to your car. Please note they do not take credit or debit cards, but they do have an ATM onsite. Double features show for the price of one.

Seasonal hours

Kristy Pepping said:  Toot toot all aboard! Do you have a train-loving child? While visiting Door County with kids, check out PC Junction - a restaurant that delivers your food via a model train car! Please note that the train delivers food around a circular track at the counter so if you want the train delivered food, this is the place to sit! Other than that, there is also other seating located around the restaurant and they have an outside patio too. While you wait or after your meal, make sure to walk the kids in the back of the property. They have pedal cars and playground equipment.

Open May - Late October; Lunch and Dinner

Kristy Pepping said:  If you did not bring your car to Washington Island (via ferry), you may be surprised to learn that there are actually several roads there. So it's hard to get around without a mode of transportation. No car? No worries. Just jump on the Cherry Train! This train or really tram takes you around the island and stops at all the touristy places to see. Plus, you'll have a guide giving you background on each stop. Rides are two hours each and trams are open so make sure to dress accordingly.

Runs Mid-May - Late October

Lisa R said:  Lautenbach's Orchard makes for a relaxing stop where you can taste the best of what Door County has to offer and even pick some apples and cherries in season. The upscale farm market sells a wide variety of baked goods, specialty food products and gifts and offers complimentary wine and product tastings daily. Seasonal activities include on-site fruit picking, festivals, and sleigh rides. When the weather is nice, families can buy lunch from the farm store and carry it outside to the playground, where kids can burn off energy while enjoying the wonderful scenery.

Kristy Pepping said:  Plum Loco is a fun stop for kids when in Door County! You can get a bucket of carrots and grain to feed the animals. Some animals include horses, pigs, goats, sheep and other barnyard friends. After you are done feeding, there is a fun play area in the middle of the property. Kids will love the little play houses large enough to go in and out of, the pedal cars and the several games to play like checkers at the tables that surround this area.