Visiting Door County with Kids

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:  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:  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:  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:  We really like this beach when visiting Door County. This is a small beach with plenty of parking nearby and they also have a parking lot at the beach. There is also a playground for added fun. Kids can bring small rafts into the water and there is a nice roped off section for swimming. Plus there is plenty of sand for that signature sandcastle! Note there are no lifeguards on duty and they only have port-a-potties. But this beach is right downtown Fish Creek so there are plenty of restaurants nearby for a bite to eat and use of a regular bathroom.

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:  Gibraltar Grill is an American-style cuisine restaurant. It has a nice indoor section, but the best place is actually the patio and lawn. While you wait for your food, play a game of cornhole, try your hand at the giant Jenga or test out your Ladder Ball skills. Kids will have more than enough to stay entertained while they wait for dinner to be served. If you have your four-legged friend with you, they are also dog-friendly!

Kristy Pepping said:  If you are coming to Door County with kids, you want to take full advantage of nature! A great stop to get some fresh air is Peninsula State Park. This park offers several marked trails for walking or biking, a sandy shoreline beach and a lighthouse to climb up. Make sure to stop by White Cedar Nature Center for other park activities like crafts and workshops. Plus, they offer the "Like to Hike" program in which kids participate in park activities and earn pins (for purchase). Kids 3+ can receive a Wisconsin Explorer booklet and earn a patch once complete.

Kristy Pepping said:  Wisconsin makes amazing custard! I would describe their frozen custard as a more dense version of frozen yogurt and creamier than soft serve ice cream. A great place to enjoy custard in Door County is at Not Licked Yet. Every day, they offer a different flavor to sample, along with favorite traditional flavors. They also have an outdoor playground and a scenic trail that runs behind the property with plenty of ducks floating by.

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:  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.

Tim Ponisciak said:  Kids who are die hard football fans will love this museum, located next to historic Lambeau Field. You can see the Packers' 13 world championship trophies, a replica of iconic head coach Vince Lombardi's office and numerous interactive exhibits. Depending on the day, you can also schedule a tour of Lambeau Field!

Amy S. said:  If your (probably older) child is into theatre, Door County has some great options. Door Shakespeare presents the Bard’s plays in a beautiful outdoor space—imagine watching A Midsummer Night’s Dream under the stars, surrounded by the deep dark of the North Woods. The Peninsula Players, America’s oldest resident summer theater, stages a variety of classical and contemporary works, including comedies, murder mysteries, and amusing regional fare. I remember seeing—and loving—a silly musical called “Lumberjacks in Love” there when I was a kid.