Visiting Door County with Kids

Kristy Pepping:  Wisconsin is known for several foods and one of these is cheese. But do your kids know how that cheese that goes into their sandwich or on their macaroni is made? Renards Cheese will show you how cheese is made and you even get some samples at the end of the tour! Tours are 30 minutes and advanced reservations are required, when operating.

Kate Wille Murray:  Beaches are clean and wide. Great trail to get from parking lot to the beach. Beaches are no longer handicap accessible because of high Lake Michigan levels.

Kristy Pepping:  The Farm offers up close and personal visits with farm animals. They have a large barn area and then several farm animals who also roam the property freely like goats and kittens. All animals are friendly, but if you have a family member a bit scared of animals, take this into consideration. You can even feed the animals like goats some milk from a bottle! Besides the animals, there are smaller buildings in the back of the property that gives you a history lesson into various farming methods.

Kristy Pepping:  The Door County Historical Museum offers several hands-on exhibits and the building dates back to 1939, hence the historical name. Kids can learn about the history of Door County both from a nature perspective and a manufacturing one. Some of these smaller yet interesting exhibits for kids include a fire truck you can climb on, a small play jail, and a nature area. Great place to visit anytime, or for a rainy day activity!

Kristy Pepping:  Dancing Bear is a family-owned toy store. We decided to head downtown Sturgeon Bay and stopped in this toy store during our Door County trip. The shop owner had a sweet cat and a dog in the toy store which was an added bonus for my daughter! As for toys, you will find unique books, games, puzzles, and more. For such a small shop, they sure pack a lot of toys in!

Kristy Pepping:  Candy and fudge anyone? Do not miss this opportunity to indulge when visiting Door County with kids! Door County Confectionery fudge is homemade and in some stores, you can actually see bakers preparing it in front of your eyes. Candy includes everything from suckers to gummies to chocolate. Plus, they have several stuffed animals in case your child is searching for a new friend. I personally love their English Toffee and my kids always grab a handful of candy from one of their several bins. Yum!

Kristy Pepping:  Is your child horse-obsessed like mine? Then they will love Kurtz Corral! They offer horseback Western trail riding led by instructors. Make sure your family dresses in long pants and closed-toe shoes. Helmets are available for all riders. Trails vary in length and any age can ride. Reservations can be made online.

Kristy Pepping:  The Ridges Sanctuary is a unique nature preserve with 30 acres to explore. There are over 500 plant species, breeding birds and endangered/threatened species. Kids can explore both the indoor Nature Center and hike the Ridges outdoors. The Cook-Albert Fuller Nature Center has exhibits, workshops and classes. Hiking you'll experience animals and plants on several well-marked trails. There are also 2-hour guided hikes where you'll learn more about the property for an additional fee.

Kristy Pepping:  If you want some water fun while you are visiting Door County, head out as a family on a 2-hour shipwreck tour. Take glass-bottomed kayaks out on Lake Michigan and see the many wrecked ships at the bottom of the lake. This is a guided tour and you are asked to bring items like sunscreen and bug spray. See website for a complete list of what to pack for your adventure.

Kristy Pepping:  If you are looking for ziplining in Door County, I highly recommend Lakeshore Adventures. They gave us a great safety lesson before we started, had two instructors with our family the entire time and all of our kids had fun. You need to be between 60 and 245 pounds to ride and you must bring closed-toed shoes.

Kristy Pepping:  Plum Loco is a fun stop for kids when in Door County! You can get a bucket of carrots and grain to feed the animals. Some animals include horses, pigs, goats, sheep and other barnyard friends. After you are done feeding, there is a fun play area in the middle of the property. Kids will love the little play houses large enough to go in and out of, the pedal cars and the several games to play like checkers at the tables that surround this area.

Kristy Pepping:  Toot toot all aboard! Do you have a train-loving child? While visiting Door County with kids, check out PC Junction - a restaurant that delivers your food via a model train car! Please note that the train delivers food around a circular track at the counter so if you want the train delivered food, this is the place to sit! Other than that, there is also other seating located around the restaurant and they have an outside patio too. While you wait or after your meal, make sure to walk the kids in the back of the property. They have pedal cars and playground equipment.

Kristy Pepping:  If you are visiting Door County with kids and need a fun indoor activity, try candle dipping! Door County Candle Company makes their own scented candles and is the only one in Door County like this. It's a fun place to buy these candles, but kids will love the process of making them. Kids will receive a plain candle and can add various colors by dipping them in different waxes.

Kristy Pepping:  Every year we go to Hands On Art Studio. When you drive up, you'll see horses and chickens out front. Once you enter the property, you'll notice several little houses all with a different craft to make. Kids can work on glass mosaics, jewelry, ceramics, painting, metalworking and more. You really can't go wrong! After you are finished, there are snacks and drinks located at checkout. Plus, a playground outside for some fresh air. Just note that projects need time to dry and are typically available for pick-up next day afternoon so plan accordingly.

Kristy Pepping:  If you are looking for fun in Door County, Egg Harbor Fun Park says it all. This place has go-carts, mini golf, batting cases, an arcade, bounce houses and more! Kids can easily spend an afternoon at this place. Also, they have a restaurant onsite serving up pizza, hot dogs and other snack items. Personally, we have played mini golf, gone on the bounce houses and went gem mining (another fun activity!) Oh and I relived my softball days in the batting cages, which were great!