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Places to Stay : Ephraim

Pine Grove Resort
10080 Water St.
P.O. Box 94
Ephraim, WI 54211
800-292-9494
920-854-2321

The Pine Grove Resort is a special place, where all rooms have a view. And not just any view. But a view of Green Bay waters near Eagle Harbor in Ephraim. Four rooms have views of woods.

Checking in
AS you head north, enjoy the drive through the town of Ephraim and along the coast. The Pine Grove Resort will be on your right—on the east side of the street. And you can’t miss it, as it is the only brown building (cedar and stone) in this part of Ephraim.

Look for the “office” sign, and check in. This area also has brochures and maps about area attractions (the “Pocket Navigator,” profiling restaurants is a must-have and it is available here). There is access to high speed Internet in the office, and wireless service throughout the Resort.

Breakfast area/menu
Near the office is the breakfast buffet area. Included in your stay are items on this buffet (open 8 to 10 a.m. daily): homemade scones, cinnamon rolls as well as fruit and yogurt. Regular and Decaf (Door County Brand) coffee is also available here.

Stop by again about 2:30 p.m., when cookies and lemonade are served.

Rooms & suites
There are 45 rooms available in two buildings (called north and south buildings), which are connected. All rooms have a private bathroom (tub/shower combination) as well as: microwave, refrigerator, coffee-maker, TV/cable. A DVD is available to rent on a complimentary basis; ask at the front desk. Vending machines are around.

The owners updated all the rooms in 2006 with carpeting and furnishings. The bathrooms were painted then, too. Some of the rooms and corridors will get new carpeting, and many will get updated linens, too.

Of course, all the rooms afford access to a view of the water and a private balcony where you can enjoy the scenic vistas. You select the rooms by how they relate in proximity to the shoreline. Choose from front water view, middle water view and back water view rooms, for example. Each has a private interiorentrance. There are four wood view rooms, as well.

We saw a front water view room, outfitted with two queen-size beds. What stood out was the amount of floor space –especially between the beds and the dresser in this room. It was more than what you usually find in hotel rooms.

Another front water view room had one king-size bed and one sofa sleeper. It afforded a view of the water as well as nearby Peninsula State Park.

We liked the layout and feel of the room with a queen-size bed and sofa sleeper. Its deck connected with the pool’s deck (more about the pool below).

Another favorite was the room with a woods (no water) view. The view of the woods is apparent when you enter the room, and the balcony gets you close to sounds of nature like birds and crickets (great to wake up to and go to sleep by, respectively).

Hint: For the best view, reserve the specialty suite. It is situated close to the water and has floor to ceiling windows that take advantage of that location.

This suite--with a king-size bed, upgraded art/accessories--also has a spacious bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub. The tub affords two windows—one looks out at the water and another looks inside at the suite.

Pine Grove Resort also offers a family suite—three bedrooms, two baths and a full kitchen, dining room with fireplace—on its grounds.

Pool, game and exercise rooms
“They love our pool. I think that is why most people come here. They love it,” said Pattie Schmirler, general manager.

It is a nice pool, indeed. Find it inside with a water depth of three to five feet. There are cedar walls and ceiling, floor to ceiling windows with a view, and an inviting outdoor sun deck.

There is plenty of chaise loungers, and the convenience of rest rooms near the pool.

Also near the pool is a game room outfitted with a pool table, dart board, card table and video games. The exercise room--with treadmill, bike, free weights and more--is adjacent to the pool, too.

Private Pine Grove Resort beach
You will definitely want to cross the street (the crosswalk is just outside the resort’s door), and head to the private sand beach.
Take a swim or soak up the sun. More lounge chairs are here, as well as a gas grill and picnic tables. What fun!

You can seek shelter under the resort’s own beach house. It even affords a view of the famed Francis Hardy Center for the Arts, Ephraim.

Nearby attractions
When it’s time to leave your room, the pool and the private beach, consider visiting Door Peninsula lighthouses or its wineries, Pattie advised

“And the Door County Trolley has great tours. And, of course, there is Peninsula State Park, which is right here and where you can bike and do so much more,” she said. (By the way, Pine Grove Resort, has a covered area, where people can store bikes they bring).

There is abundant shopping for home accessories, art, jewelry and more in Ephraim. And Ephraim’s pretty Eagle Harbor is a place to hook up with all kinds of water sports, such as sailboat rides.

The Pine Grove Resort puts you near the action. It’s a place for families and couples traveling together to check out. And when you do, tell them DoorCountyNavigator.com sent you there.