Words and photos by Amy Bizzarri
Celebrate Winter with “Friluftsliv”: Long Winter Weekend in Door County, Wisconsin’s Snowy Wonderland
Friluftsliv is the new hygge: Scandinavians make a point of enjoying the great outdoors year-round, so much so that they coined the term “friluftsliv“, the feeling of immersing yourself in nature and in return, feeling energized, refreshed and at peace. The Door Peninsula in the wintertime, with its peaceful, lakeside parks and trails, cozy cafes and pubs, and tranquil countryside blanketed with snow, is the perfect destination for learning to embrace nature no matter the weather. Don your best snow gear and get ready for a weekend of fun as you immerse yourself in this stunning winter wonderland.
Here’s a three-day plan for a long winter weekend in Door County, Wisconsin.
DAY 1 – Sturgeon Bay
Aim for an afternoon arrival in the world-renowned shipbuilding hub Sturgeon Bay, so you can experience the small-town charm and explore its cozy cafes, pubs and boutiques.
Pick up a pound of Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels and Cashew Bear Claw Turtles at Door County Candy.
Find decor inspiration at Bliss Marketplace, a unique home accent boutique in the trendy Third Avenue shopping district.
See the art of glass blowing in action at Popelka Trenchard Glass Fine Art Gallery & Studio, owned by nationally renowned master glass artists, Jeremy Popelka and Stephanie Trenchard.
Door County Candle Company pours the intoxicating, natural fragrances of the peninsula — Frasier fir, blue spruce, sweet clover — into long-burning, apothecary jar candles.
Dig into a deep dish Pokey Stix Pizza topped with fresh garlic, melted butter, and fresh Wisconsin parm-romano and mozzarella at Sonny’s Italian Kitchen and Pizzeria. Cap off your evening with a couple of small-batch, craft brews at adjacent Bridge-Up Brewing.
Images courtesy of Door County Candy and Popelka Trenchard Glass
DAY 2 – Cave Point and Sister Bay
Hike to the peninsula’s picturesque limestone sea caves along the 1.6 mile Cave Point Lakeside Trail atWhitefish Dunes State Park, home to the highest sand dunes in Wisconsin.
Start with the fried cheese curds then enjoy wood-fired pizzas and bountiful salads at wildtomato Wood-Fired pizza & Grille.
Explore the Sister Bay’s unique boutique scene: Choose an ornament for your tree at Tannenbaum Holiday Shop, a Lutheran church turned holiday gift mecca; shop the extensive selection of quality outdoor clothing, gear and gifts at the waterfront Bay Shore Outfitters; Dig through the culinary treasures and adorable figures at Pipka’s, a cozy gallery shop owned by artist Pipka Ulvilden.
Dine and bowl a round or two at Sister Bay Bowl, a Wisconsin-style supper club beloved for its sirloin steaks and locally caught, fried fish.
Stargaze along 11 unspoiled miles of lakefront backed by 2,300 acres of forest at Newport State Park, Wisconsin’s only wilderness state park and also the first state park in Wisconsin designated by IDA as an International Dark Sky Park.
Day 3 – Fish Creek, Peninsula State Park and Bailey’s Harbor
Fuel up with cherry crepes, cherry-stuffed french toast and a wide selection of omelets at Julie’s Park Cafe in Fish Creek.
Pick up fat tire bike rentals from Nor Dor Sports in Fish Creek then bike the lakefront Sunset Trail to the circa 1868 Eagle Bluff Lighthouse at adjacent Peninsula State Park, a 3,776-acre state park with rocky bluffs and 8-miles of pristine Green Bay shoreline.
Lunch on handcrafted sandwiches, soups, salads and the best coffee in town at Blue Horse Beach Cafe in Fish Creek.
Make a pitstop to see the Boynton Chapel, a replica of a 12th-century Norwegian stave church (Stavkirke) located on the beautiful Björklunden estate on the Lake Michigan shore just south of Baileys Harbor.
Snowshoe or hike the softly lit Hidden Brook Boardwalk at the 1,600-acre Ridges Sanctuary, Wisconsin’s oldest non-profit nature reserve.
Experience a traditional Door County fish boil at the White Gull Inn, a Door County favorite since 1896.
Where to Stay
Door County offers a wide range of accommodations, from luxury cabins to charming B&Bs to yurts. We stayed at the Runaway Lodge at Valmy, a comfy, clean, affordable and well-situated lodge located in Sturgeon Bay.
Amy Bizzarri is a Chicago-based freelance writer focused on travel and adventure. Check out her latest books
111 Places in Chicago That You Must Not Miss and
The Best Hits on Route 66.
Follow along on her latest adventures on Instagram @amybizzarri
