This article is not simply an under-the-breath muttering while kicking the can around the driveway. This article aims to give the reader a local perspective on why their vacation was underwhelming while providing insight to overcome these potential shortcomings. So without further ado, here are the 5 reasons why your Door County vacation sucked:
Number 1.
You drank too much. Oh, I can hear it now, “how can a Wisconsinite possibly utter those words?” But I have my reasons. Hear me out!
Like nearly everyone in, or traveling throughout our great state, I have enjoyed more than a few good times drinking. However, it is easy for excessive drinking to lead to a sucky vacation. This could be in the form of a ticket from the local authorities, an embarrassing story involving you that your friends won’t shut up about, or quite simply the lack of memory upon returning home.
In addition, drinking consumes a lot of time. Not just in the time of putting a few back, but the travel time involved with going to and from establishments, and the groggy mornings you slept mostly through the next day. You can drink just about anywhere and anytime. If you spend the majority of your vacation drinking, why did you even drive up here? You could have done that at home.
Now, I’m not just sitting up on my high horse telling you how wise I am. I realized that drinking can make a vacation suck while visiting some friends in Colorado last year. I remember getting back to the airport after the trip with cobwebs in my head wondering why I spent the majority of my vacation drinking and parting like I was still in college. I had the weight of regret heavy in my gut, wishing I would have camped, fly-fished, and spent a morning watching the sunrise in the mountains instead.
Number 2
“It was so crowded!” I hear it a lot. “There were so many people, and it was mostly just shops.” Does this sound like your vacation? If so, there are two simple solutions: come at the right time and go to the right places.
Now, some people love happening places with beautiful shops. Some people don’t. If you like a little space, keep reading.
Coming to Door County for the 4th of July, or Labor Day weekend is going to be busy, so if you hate large crowds, I’d recommend a different time. What time? I tell customers all the time that my favorite time of year in Door County is late spring. Come when there is a warm week or weekend in April or May, This can be hard to plan out if you need to get dates set a while in advance (because we have some freak snowstorms and bad weather). However, many of the visitors to Door County are within a 4-hour car drive. If that’s you, look at the weather app on your phone and come up when it's looking nice. Lodging will be much easier to find this time of year. Many of the businesses will start to open around this time too (check ahead if this is essential to you). Most importantly, it's beautiful around this time. Many woods are blanketed with wild ramps, turkeys are gobbling at dawn, and the creeks are flowing strongly with beautiful steelhead running up them. It’s not too hard to find a day that is 65F+ around this time of year, and after a Wisconsin winter, that feels like 75F!
If you’re not sold on my late spring recommendation, or you find yourself surrounded by people during your stay, here are my tips and tricks to avoid the crowds.
Wake up early. If there is a restaurant you absolutely must go to during your stay up here (cough* cough* goats on the roof), get there when they open. Trust me, you won’t be waiting as long as you would if you got there at 10 am.
Get out of town! Look up Door County Land Trust. They have properties all over the county that have beautiful walking trails. I visit many of their properties throughout the year and rarely see anyone, which is just the way I like it. Also, we have some amazing State Parks here too. My favorites are Newport, Potawatomi, and Peninsula State Park!
Number 3
“Everything was so expensive!” This isn’t necessarily Door County’s fault. If you’ve been paying attention, everything is so expensive everywhere right now. But I understand that overspending past your budget can damper your experience, so here are my tips:
Don’t eat out for every meal. I would also say refer to Number 1 for this too. Eating out can add up. You do not need to eat out every meal. I would recommend going to a few of the fabulous restaurants while up here, but not for every meal. There are great places where you can buy your food to make wonderful meals. Some of my favorites are Healthy Way Market, Main Street Market, and Marchant's. You can buy healthy local food and enjoy your wonderful meals for the same cost as eating deep-fried Sysco freezer food from most bar & grills. To me, that’s a no-brainer.
Less is more. You might be trying desperately to hit all these different spots all around the County in one trip. That is going to be a lot of driving and money spent. Door County is intimate, yet spread out. Pick a few things you want to do during your trip. Be in the moment while doing those things. Take your time, take a nap on the beach, and talk to your traveling companions. If you’re trying to go, do, and see everything - you’re not going to get it all in and it's going to add up and wear you out. I’ve lived here my whole life and there are many things I still haven’t done yet. It’s okay. Be in the moment.
Buy local. If you are going to buy something, buy it from a business that gives back to the community. Eat at restaurants that are open year-round (they’re often cheaper too). Buy from the businesses that sponsor local schools, are involved in the community, and pay local taxes. If you want Door County clothing, consider buying it from us at Door Born. We’re two local guys and donate 1% of our clothing sales back to Door County causes.
Number 4
“We had bad weather!” Sorry to hear that, but it doesn’t mean it’s over. Here are some fun things you can do no matter the weather:
Get a warm drink at a Cafe. Bad weather makes for great intimate conversations. Head to one of the countless cafes in Door County to drink something warm and share a good conversation. I love Door County Coffee, Buttercups Coffee, and the Blue Horse Cafe.
Go to a museum. If you’re into history, or looking at cool pictures, checking out one of the local museums might be the ticket. My favorites are Sturgeon Bay’s Door County Maritime Museum and Door County Historical Museum.
Watch a movie! The Sturgeon Bay Cinema has plenty of seating and captivating offerings. If the weather is awful, grab some popcorn, sit back, and relax.
Go shopping! No matter what the weather, we sell online at www.doorborn.com. But if you don’t like our stuff, there are plenty of other great stores in the county. I think On Deck, Wilkins & Olander, and Ecology are all great stores to visit!
Number 5
“I wasn’t sure what to do or where to go.” Being unprepared can derail a vacation rather quickly. So, how do you know where to go, or what to do? Don’t worry, I got you!
Talk to the locals. In a day and age where most people have their chin pinned to their neck and their eyes locked on a screen, it is refreshing to interact with strangers. Ask the person in line at the cafe where they like to go. Ask workers you see for recommendations. Talk to people and see what they like to do in Door County.
If your socializing is not producing the results you were looking for, go straight to the source. Throughout Door County, there are many visitor centers. Start with Destination Door County, then look at specific centers for each town like Ephraim, Sturgeon Bay, or Baileys Harbor! These places are here to get you on the right path during your vacation!
Do your homework. Prior to your trip, do your homework. Look at different travel blogs, Instagram accounts, and Google reviews. There are many great opportunities in Door County that require some sort of reservation. Plan out a few things and get a seat! Don’t be sorry for yourself when you’re unable to do the things you wanted to because you never got around to reserving a seat.
I hope you enjoyed this article! If so, consider shopping for yourself, or gift shopping on our website to support our small business!