Better known as a summertime retreat, Door County’s double-sided shoreline draws sunbathers and surfers June through August when the weather peaks into a pleasant mid-70s. It’s sometimes called the Cape Cod of the Midwest, with the beaches, lighthouses, and seafood shacks to prove it.
In December, this Midwest beach town becomes an idyllic winter retreat. Instead of shores and sand, you’ll find snowy landscapes, comfort food, and festive holiday events. This guide tells you the best hikes, eats, and holiday treats to enjoy during your winter visit.
Hiking in a Winter Wonderland
Every introduction to Door County’s scenic off-season should begin at Whitefish Dunes State Park. The beachfront park turns snowy November through March when you can trade in your swimsuit for snowshoes — though if visit in early December, it’s not quite deep enough yet for snowshoes. Inside the park, you’re surrounded by the postcard panoramas: towering hardwoods like oak, beech, and maple intermixed with evergreens, all comfortably blanketed in white.
Begin your trek on the Yellow Trail, branching off to head down to the creek. It might be slow going, not because of the terrain, which is fairly flat, but because you’ll want to stop every few minutes to snap another photo. For those who like to move faster, there are three cross-country skiing trails, the longest over four miles. Ice fishing, another favorite winter pastime, is possible at Clark Lake. The park even has a program to loan out fishing poles and tackle, free of charge.
After finishing up the loop, head north to an outdoor escape of a different kind. Björklunden — meaning “Birch Grove” in Swedish — is the northern campus of Lawrence University, a venue for educational seminars. The tranquil setting seems well-suited to contemplation. And if the landscape isn’t as dramatic as Whitefish Dunes, Björklunden has something the state park doesn’t: a replica 12th-century Norwegian stavkirke.
Following a short trail from the lodge, you’ll arrive at a small clearing to find Boynton Chapel, looking every bit the fairy tale with its dark exterior and woodland backdrop. Blue-toned stained glass glimmers in the windows. The scalloped eaves end in dragon heads, there to ward off evil. It’s one of two stavkirkes in the county. The second, on Washington Island in the far north, is another reproduction, built to honor the area’s early Scandinavian immigrants.
At 1,600 acres, The Ridges Sanctuary outdoes the others in sheer scale — it’s nearly twice the size of Whitefish Dunes, four times that of Björklunden. Miles of trails wind among hearty conifers that form a boreal forest rare for this latitude. White spruce and balsam fir flourish, even irises and orchids in warmer months.
If you only have time for one outdoor excursion, take an early morning trip to Cave Point County Park for a sunrise photo session. Waves from Lake Michigan batter the shore where icicles cling to dolomite cliffs carved with sea caves, hidden depths for kayakers and divers to explore. Some of the water escapes through blowholes, erupting in the air like a geyser.
Holiday Cheer in Door County
The winter beauty is only part of the appeal. Door County shines with festive events that warm the season. At the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay, the Merry-Time Festival of Trees runs from November through mid-December, filling the space with dozens of elaborately decorated Christmas trees. Alongside exhibits on shipwrecks, lighthouses, and Great Lakes nautical history, a 101-year-old red tugboat out front glows with white lights.
In Ephraim, Christmas in the Village offers a daylong celebration with caroling, carriage rides, a tree lighting, and a visit from Saint Nick. The village’s Norwegian heritage shines through old-fashioned games and Moravian holiday displays.
For holiday shopping, the Tannenbaum Holiday Shop in a 19th-century church sells everything from nutcrackers and Nativity scenes to snow globes and themed trees—think music, marine life, or even upside-down firs that save space and highlight ornaments. It’s a treasure trove of design inspiration.
Where To Eat in Door County
If you’re looking for authentic Swedish fare, you’ve come to the right place. In winter, Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant & Butik offers a genuine Scandinavian banquet — with drinking songs. Their annual Swedish Julbord in December was a feast of herring, lox, potato sausage, cheeses, and “julskinka,” the Swedish Christmas ham, all washed down with glögg, a spiced blend of wine, fruit, and almonds fortified with Swedish vodka. The goats on the roof may be replaced with lighted reindeer in winter, but the food steals the show.
In nearby Fish Creek, the Progressive Holiday Dinners on select weekends in December and January pair a stay at the historic Thorp House Inn and White Gull Inn with a five-course feast. The evening starts with hors d’oeuvres and live music, followed by a horse-drawn wagon ride to the White Gull, elegantly trimmed for the season with guided tours before dinner.
