Fall for Door County!
A Door County Autumn is Like Nowhere Else!
Fall is Nature’s Magic Show!  The air is changing, the weather is cooler, and the holidays are just ahead.  All the wonderful memories you have of Fall are in the air and in the landscapes of Door County waiting for you to stop on by, this Fall.  The fragrances and sounds of Fall surround us at each and every turn.  And where better to experience a piece of the Fall than in Door County – one of the best places in the entire Midwest to take in Fall!

If you love the Fall, you will love it even more in Door County! 

October is the absolute best month for color-watching in Door County!  Some of the trees (usually the very young ones) start changing in early September, and this year, because of the dry weather, some of the older ones have begun change slightly - but the rest of them wait patiently until October. 

FALL FESTIVALS
There are two major Fall Festivals in Door County, Pumpkin Patch Festival in Egg Harbor, October 10th and 11th this year, and the Sister Bay Fall Festival, October 16th – 18th.  Take a look at what is happening in conjunction with the festivals too (check out our Calendar of Events for full details). 

For example the Pumpkin Patch in Egg Harbor coincides with

• The 35th Annual Townline Art Fair in Ephraim – an excellent outdoor art fair with many fine local and Midwest artists represented, October 10th and 11th - and the Fine Line Design Gallery is just wonderful.
• WASHINGTON ISLAND CIDER PRESSING & FALL FESTIVAL on Washington Island, October 17th  - 19th  

Maybe take in a day of the Pumpkin Patch Festival in Egg Harbor, and a day on Washington Island – the ferry boat ride is a lot of fun (about 20 minutes)!

The two main Festivals, Pumpkin Patch and the Sister Bay Fall Festival do get quite crowded.  Nonetheless, we still enjoy the Fall festivals – there is so much happening, and with great weather, there’s not a nicer place to be!  While the crowds are big, the festivals are well run and lines for food, etc. move very quickly.  We love this time of year in Door County!

At these fests, John Mayberry usually has his wagon hitched up with a team of horses ready to take you on a Fall adventure. Sometimes there’s face-painting for the kids, brat stands (excellent), and roasted corn on the cob (nothing better!), some of the best chili around, music, Pumpkin Beer (brewed and served at Shipwrecked – very good!), Pumpkin Spice coffee made by Door County Coffee & Tea Co., silent auctions, and special items for sale at the shops.  And the towns look like a Dickens Village - with corn stalks and pumpkins perched just about everywhere – cozy and inviting.  Egg Harbor has a contest for the best display by a business, and the shopkeepers and restaurants get very creative and put their talent to work for some real-show stopper displays! 

Fall for Door County!  The sheer beauty of the scenery is breathtaking!  The rich, Fall colors and smells fill your senses with delight!  Walk through Ephraim Wetlands through the crunchy leaves, or through the parks, along the water - just perfect!  Some of the best colors you will ever see are right here in Door County!  Come on up and enjoy these Fests!  We know if you are here in the fall, you, too will Fall For Door County!

Tip # 1: If you want to avoid some of the crowds during any of the festivals, then you can stay in another town – like for Pumpkin Patch

• Fish Creek at the White Gull, Thorp House, Whistling Swan, Homestead Suites, AppleCreek Resort, Cedar Court, Hilltop Inn, By The Bay Motel, or Main Street Motel, Whistling Swan.
• Ephraim stay at The Ephraim Inn (which is delightful for couples), The Eagle Harbor Inn, the Trollhaugen, the Bay Breeze Resort (super for everyone), The Edgewater Resort, Harbor View Resort, the High Point Inn, the Somerset Inn, Ephraim Motel, Park’s Edge Cottages, Lodgings at Pioneer Lane, or Ephraim Shores Motel and Restaurant, Pine Grove Resort; or rent a cottage at Ephraim Village Cottages
• Sister Bay at The Country House (wonderful for adults), Little Sister Resort, Open Hearth Lodge, Church Hill Inn, Coachlite Inn, Village View, Pheasant Park Resort, Scandinavian Lodge, Birchwood Lodge, Nordic Lodge, Inn at Little Sister Hill
• You might even want to stay in Sturgeon Bay (a short 15 minute ride to Egg Harbor) at some of the most beautiful B&Bs in the Midwest, like the White Lace Inn, Reynolds House, Scofield House, Pembrooke Inn, Black Walnut Guest House, Chanticleer Guest House, more!  If in town, make sure you stop in the Copper Kettle Confections for some gourmet popcorn and homemade fudge!  Stop in Wilkins and Olander too for some wonderful women’s clothing and accessories.
• Sprinkled around, there are some other super resorts like Baileys Harbor Yacht Club, Kangaroo Lake Resort, Square Rigger Lodge, Westwood Shores, Bridgeport, Bay Shore Inn, Glidden Lodge, Journey’s End Motel & Cabins, Beach Harbor Resort, Snug Harbor Resort, and more.
• Stay on the “Quiet Side” at Blacksmith Inn on the Shore, Beachfront Inn at Baileys Harbor, Gordon Lodge, Orphan Annie’s Schoolhouse Inn, the New Yardley Inn, Inn at Windmill Farms, Baileys Harbor Ridges Resort, or Square Rigger Lodge in Jacksonport!
• Or Stay in Egg Harbor and enjoy the festivities up close!  Walk to it all from Door County Lighthouse Inn (a B&B) or Newport Resort, Egg Harbor Lodge, The Ashbrooke, Lull-Abi Inn, or Bay Point Inn!  Check out The Shallows in Egg Harbor too!

And for Sister Bay Fall Festival, try all of the above and substitute Egg Harbor for Sister Bay, and try

• The Ashbrooke, the Cornerstone Suite, Door County Lighthouse Inn, Newport Resort, The Shallows Resort on the water, Egg Harbor Lodge, the Lull-Abi Inn, the Alpine Resort, the Cottage Retreat, Applewood Cottage, the Cape Cod Motel, Door County Bluff House, the Wakefield House, or the Bay Point Inn.

Call ahead!  Of course – you will have to call any and all of these places for availability – they fill up pretty fast for Fall, but they are also a delight for a Winter Weekend getaway!  We have reviewed each of these inns and really like them – read all about them!

If in town during a festival, try the street food, which is always great, and try some of our favorite restaurants there (see our Restaurant Review section).  Look for your own printed copy of our Pocket Navigator(tm) Dining guide (which literally fits in your pocket!) at your favorite inn!

Tip # 2: Also, another option, you can visit Door County on the weekends that do not include a festival – but the later you go, the more you will find restaurants closing up for the season (most close up after the Sister Bay Fall Fest), and a lot of the leaves down and waiting for Spring!  But it is definitely quieter then, if solace is what you seek in your Fall Memories!

Tip # 3:  Come up during the week anytime in October (especially the first 3 weeks) and you can avoid a lot the crowds.  This is a wonderful idea if you want to take in the colors, relax, enjoy Door County without the larger crowds, and just, well, chill out in the Fall air!

Pumpkin and Fall Item Round-up!

1. Pumpkin and Spice coffees from Door County Coffee & Tea Company (ahh!)
2. Pumpkin beer at Shipwrecked!  If you like beer, this is a must!  We must try some each year.
3. Pumpkin candles at many of the shops, including the Door County Candle Company in Sturgeon Bay.  These have a wonderful fragrance and are a pleasant reminder that it’s Fall!
4. Pumpkin face-painting at the fests sometimes!
5. Pumpkin Patch sweatshirts and caps at the fest!
6. Fall arts and crafts everywhere!  From lawn ornaments to wall hangings!
7. Fresh pumpkins at farm stands that you can buy!
8. Pumpkin, Apple or Cherry Pies – check out Sweetie Pies, and Bea’s Ho-Made Products in Gills Rock!
9. Check out Gomy’s in Egg Harbor for some of the best fudge we have ever had!  Tell Mike and Sharon we sent you!
10. Some fall gelato at Double Delites in Egg Harbor!  Please tell Julie that DoorCountyNavigator.com sent you!

Without doubt, Door County is one of the best places in the Midwest to be in the Fall – for all ages!  Definitely call ahead for reservations at any of the inns, B&Bs, hotels, motels or resorts that we have reviewed – and please tell them your found them on DoorCountyNavigator.com – that helps keep the site alive and well!  You can read our reviews in our Review section for more ideas! 

25 Things To Do in Door County This Fall