What to do in Northern Door County

The public beach and park is located right across the street from The Parkside Inn. Here, you can enjoy a sand beach, the refreshing waters of Green Bay, beautiful scenery, fishing, a park pavilion, a playground, tennis courts and restrooms. There is also a building with a full kitchen, available for rent from the town of Liberty Grove. Many people use this facility to host weddings, family reunions, birthdays and banquets of classes. We are very fortunate to have such a well-maintained, recently updated, public beach and park just a stone’s throw from the Inn.

Brew Coffee House
Brew Coffeehouse is a spacious yet cozy coffeehouse that offers a great place for people to come together. It is deceivingly large; comfortably seating 40-50 people. The shop consists of a main room with traditional cafe tables, three smaller rooms with leather couches and chairs, and one room with a larger conference style table for groups or meetings. They also have free WiFi and scenic outdoor seating under umbrellas. The space is also available for rent for private parties.

The Clearing
The Clearing is an adult school that focuses on the fine arts, crafts, nature, and humanities. The mission of the Clearing is to provide diverse educational experiences in the folk school tradition, in a setting of quiet forests, meadows and shoreline. The Clearing is a place where adults who share an interest in nature, arts or humanities can learn, reflect and wonder.

Ellison Bay Bluff
Close by is a breathtaking view of the Bay from the crest of Ellison Bluff in 174-acre Ellison Bluff Park. This 174-acre park offers one of the most breathtaking views in the county. A wooden walkway/observation deck leads safely to the edge of sheer, 100-foot limestone bluffs. For the more adventurous, an enclosed catwalk extends out over the bluff. Shady picnic area and cool breezes off the water add to the charm.  There is also a pet friendly, one mile, gravel walking trail through the park.

Linden’s Gallery
After over ten years in Asia, Brian and Jeanee Linden opened Linden’s of Ellison Bay in 1996 in Northern Door County. The enchanting 6,000 square foot gallery, situated in a Prairie-style Lutheran Church- an Ellison Bay landmark since 1955, is dedicated to rotating art exhibits and Asian objets d’art. Linden’s is considered to be one the Midwest’s top destinations for Asian art and is open from May through October.

The Mink River Basin
Upscale restaurant with sports bar. Great food, affordable prices. Steaks, fresh local fish, specialty burgers, pasta including all you can eat soup & salad bar, plus peel ’n eat shrimp and buffalo chicken wings. Home of the Pit Boss, a deli sliced prime rib piled high, Friday Fish Fry, all you can eat: $10.95. Lunch daily 11:00-2:00, Dinner nightly 5:00-close, breakfast Sat. & Sun. 8:00-11:00. Dining room smoke free. Bar open daily 11:00am. Outside seating available.

Newport State Park
Northeast of Ellison Bay, is Wisconsin’s only formally designated Wilderness Park. With 2,373 acres and 11 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline it offers quiet alternatives to bustling Door County.  Newport offers 38.3 miles of trails; all of them open for hiking. Of these, 16.8 miles also are open to off-road bicycles.

Savory Spoon

The Savory Spoon Cooking School is a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, and is a seasonal school open from June through October each year. We welcome you to come have fun in our kitchen, whether you are planning a special event or just need to learn the basics. Expand you repertoire of techniques and recipes in our exciting hands on classes. Take your taste buds on a culinary tour of the world while learning to combine the flavors of different cultures. This is the perfect opportunity for the home cook to infuse meals with a loving professional touch and a pinch of the exotic.

The Shoreline Restaurant

Only at The Tip of Door County do you find the quaint surroundings that remind you of what Door County is really all about. The Shoreline Restaurant offers something hard to find, a dining room with a view! This is the place you can have a great meal, watch the sparkle on the water, catch a beautiful sunset, watch a storm blow in, or just listen to some relaxing music. Enjoy wine and beer in lounge with water view.

The Wickman House

This restaurant features local, farm-to-table food, craft cocktails, outdoor dining & a gazebo bar!

The Viking Grill

Casual, affordable dining in a friendly atmosphere. Made from scratch menu includes hearty breakfasts, specialty lunches and exciting dinner entrees. Come try an unforgettable bowl of our famous whitefish chowder. Home of the outdoor fish boil. Open daily 6am. We’ll leave the grill on for you.

Washington Island Ferry

Just a few miles off the tip of the Door County peninsula lies Washington Island. A friendly year-round home to 700 people, the island is also an enchanting destination for thousands of visitors each year. The Washington Island Ferry Line is the vital transportation link across storied Death’s Door passage.  On Washington Island, visitors can enjoy pebble beaches, swimming, hiking, biking, sightseeing and much more.  Click for rates and times of the ferries.