Places to Stay : Sister bay

Bay Shore Cottages
10862 N. Bay Shore Dr.
Sister Bay, WI   54234
bayshorecottages@dcwis.com
920-854-4721

Bay Shore Cottages is an intimate grouping of vintage cottages on the popular Highway 42 strip in Door County and within walking distance of Sister Bay restaurants, shops, marina and more.

Checking in
As you head north on Highway 42, you’ll pass a cluster of shops and restaurants in downtown Sister Bay. Continue north, and slow down after passing the Sister Bay Marina. It’s somewhat residential here, and Bay Shore Cottages will be coming up on the right); there is a blue and white sign with the American flag above it.

Head to the office. The driveway is a “u” shaped, and no matter which side you enter from, off Highway 42, you can find your way to the office and check-in area at the back of the property. This is also the place to pick up brochures about Sister Bay and Door County. Kids can come back and borrow a ball or Frisbee from the stash located here.

Cottages
There are four cedar cottages on more than a half-acre of land.  Each has a bathroom with shower (no tub), air conditioning, wireless Internet service, TV/cable and a kitchen. All kitchens are equipped with stove, refrigerator, coffeemaker, toaster, dishes, pots and pans; two have a microwave, and two cottages do not.

They are vintage cottages, so don’t expect granite countertops and a lot of frills.
“They are the way they are,” Johann Dumsick, your host, says.  If you like cottages, we think you will enjoy their charm.

They are numbed one, two, three and five (four is no longer available). But we like their fun word names that are posted: Bay View, Happy Days, Pal-O-Mine and Happy Hollow.  So, here they are by number and name. 

We think we will enjoy discovering the Bay Shore Cottages, so sit back, relax and read on!  We'll take you on a little tour that we just took.  It always helps to know that professionals were here taking a look, to help you find exactly what you are looking for.  And we have found that the whole category of "cottages" is really picking up a lot of interest these days, as folks look for the simpler things in life.

Cottage One: Bay View (Available Year-Round)
Bay View was our favorite of the cottages here. In fact, Johann calls it her “premier suite.” It has a living room, two bedrooms and two entryways, but the side entry, near the drive, is the one to use. 

The flooring in the living room, with the look of hardwood, was recently installed. Johann also works in the flooring department at Door County Interiors & Design in Egg Harbor, so she knew exactly what to look for as she replaced the floor here. The living area is open to a kitchen and an eating area with a table and four chairs in nice condition. 

The bedrooms are carpeted; one has a queen-size bed, and another bedroom has three twin size beds. 

“It’s like an apartment, and this cottage is available to rent year-round,” Johann says.

Cottage Two: Happy Days
There’s a ramp up to the door of this cottage, so you can roll up any suitcases on wheels.   This cottage is set up as one large room with a queen-size bed. Nearby is a kitchen area, and there two chairs and a table tucked behind the door. 

No microwave in the kitchen, but you may find the other equipment handy.

“There is a couple who comes here each fall, and this one, Cottage Two: Happy Days, is the only one they stay in. And I hear others say, ‘It is cozy,’” Johann says.

Cottage Three: Pal-O-Mine
From the deck and entryway, you enter this cottage’s sitting area; a partial wall separates it from the queen-size bed in the sleeping area.

There are pine walls, and the cottage air smelled fresh and clean.

Cottages Five/Six: Happy Hollow (available as two-bedroom or a three- bedroom accommodation)
There’s a big cedar deck in front of this cottage, and you enter into a living area with a sofa sleeper.

There is a queen-size bed in one bedroom, and two twin beds in another.

If you have a large family, or if you want to spread out, think about reserving the adjoining third bedroom with its own bathroom.  Johann calls it her motel room or Number Six. 

Number Six is one spacious room with a separate entrance and queen-size bed. And you can rent Number Six on its own, too. There is a lot of natural light in this room. But keep in mind that you share the deck with Cottage Five/Happy Hollow.

Near Sister Bay attractions
Bay Shore Cottages has a wonderful location, less than a mile north of Sister Bay’s downtown area. Here, you’ll find dining such as Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant, the Waterfront, Sister Bay Bowl and more. There are bookstores, clothing shops and galleries as well. 

Johann likes to advise her guests to visit the lighthouses and the performing arts especially Peninsula Players and American Folklore Theatre.

Family friendly
Bay Shore Cottages is family friendly with green space for children to play near the cottages and a swing set on the grounds, away from traffic. There are also charcoal grills and picnic tables for guests to use. Parking is available in proximity to each cottage.

“There is room for kids to play outside here, and be safe and sound; and I also get couples with no kids,” Johann says.

Last words
Highway 42 through Door County is a main thoroughfare, but we did not hear a lot of traffic noise when we were in the cottages during the middle of June.  If you are looking for a good northern Door County location at a value with basic, clean overnight accommodations in a charming setting, then this may be for you.  Please call Bay Shore Cottages to learn more, and let them know DoorCountyNavigator.com got you there.