Travel Guide to Door County with Lands’ End

Hello, Lovelies!

What a whirlwind the past week has been. I am still pinching myself that it is all real life. Before I share further, I thought a little backstory would be fun. When I was in college, I had this dinky little Blogspot blog. Those were the OG blogger days when there was no Instagram, and Twitter was just getting started. In between my organic chemistry classes, I would blog about things I actually cared about like my outfits and my adventures as a college student.

One of my very first blog posts was ‘How to Style Corduroy Pants’. These weren’t any pants, these were Lands’ End corduroy pants. As a 19-year-old I dreamed about working with brands like Lands’ End. Back then, blogs weren’t really monetizable and without a source of income, I finished school and entered the “real world workforce”. Blogging was always in the back of my mind but between working long days and eventually building a family, it was something I never was able to fulfill until my daughter entered preschool in 2017.

Full Circle Moment:

Since then I have grown so much and it really is a full-circle moment to be able to say that this blog post is sponsored by Lands’ End and Door County. 19-year-old Kalyn would be jumping up and down screaming if she saw 33-year-old Kalyn’s life.

Last week I had the chance to travel with other Lands’ End ambassadors to Door County, Wisconsin to discover everything this amazing midwest peninsula has to offer.

Door County and Lands’ End Trip:

Even though this trip was sponsored, all of these opinions are my own. I have used the itinerary the Door County team created for us to give you a great travel guide to the “Cape Cod of the Midwest”.

From where to stay, how to get around, what to eat, and things to do, this travel guide will cover it all. This guide would be a great weekend itinerary and I hope you find it helpful, or maybe it even inspires you to visit this little slice of midwest heaven!

Where to Stay:

• Gordon Lodge: Located on the North Bay, this lakefront property offers private beaches, hiking trails, and tons of activities from biking to kayaking. There are many lodging accommodations offered like cottages for the whole family or smaller lakefront hotel rooms. They also have an incredible breakfast buffet daily and a beautiful restaurant, At Top Deck, that offers delicious food combined with ariel views of the lake.

Travel by Trolley:

• If you choose to opt out of traditional means of travel, I highly recommend booking a tour of Door County with their very own Door County Trolley. From scenic coastal and lighthouse tours to wine and cheese tours and even spooky ghost tours, Door County Trolley has a tour for every preference. Plus, is there anything more quintessentially fun than a charming tour guide while riding a bright red trolley!? Door Country Trolley was a true highlight of my trip.

Door County Trip Itinerary:

Door County is one giant peninsula made up of darling communities filled with special places to shop and dine, hiking trails, lighthouses, orchards, and vineyards. One of the best ways to split up your Door County itinerary is to break it into two sides. Focus on the west side of the peninsula for one day and the east side for another. If you are spending more than two days in Door County you could spend several days on each side and really get to explore the different towns.

Itinerary for the West Side of the Door Peninsula:

• Peninsula State Park:
  • Eagle Tower: climb the stairs to the top or take a leisurely stroll up the rampway to view gorgeous panoramic landscapes of the park, shoreline, and surrounding islands as well as a picturesque view of the village of Ephraim.
  • Eagle Terrace and Trail: a bit more challenging of a hike than Eagle Tower but the reward is a gorgeous terrace that offers beautiful views of the shoreline and town of Ephraim. There is even a selfie station you can use to snap a few pictures on your phone.
• Lautenbach’s Apple Orchard and Market: if you are looking for a fun all-around experience, Lautenbach’s is a must. From seasonal cherry and apple picking to wine tasting and a vineyard, and a fun market filled with amazing goodies like apple cider donuts, there is something great to experience for everyone at Lautenbach’s. Our group had a blast exploring the apple orchards!
• Explore Downtown Egg Harbor: Door County has so many gorgeous towns and little communities to explore and Egg Harbor should be at the top of your list. The town has a New England feel with all white buildings and hydrangea blooms a plenty. There is no scarcity of great shops to explore and charming restaurants to grab a bite to eat in. A few of my favorite places to eat are listed below.
  • Mezzanine: if you want to give cheese curds an honest try, Mezzanine’s are hands down my favorite in Door County. I also highly recommend their whitefish toast and chowder that closely resembles a New England Clam Chowder.
  • One Barrel: grab a beer or a cider along with a slice of pizza from Pizza Bros next door and enjoy the center of Egg Harbor. If you like rosé you need to give Gentry’s Hard Cider Rose from One Barrel a try.
• Anderson Dock: You haven’t been to Door County without an adventure down to Anderson Dock– one of the only places where graffiti is acceptable. Boaters and tourists alike have left their mark on the dockside warehouse. From engagements to first-timers, this is a fun place where you can bring along paint of your own and leave your own creative flare on the warehouse walls.
• Wilson’s Ice Cream: A mile stroll from Anderson Dock is the infamous Wilson’s Ice Cream which offers a variety of ice cream flavors (my personal favorite is the cherry cheesecake flavor), sundaes, and a quaint ambiance only complete with a darling white and red awning. Come hungry because the smallest scoop at Wilson’s could feed a whole family!
• White Gull Inn Fish Boil: Upon wrapping up a fun day exploring Door County, cozy up by the fire at White Gull Inn for an authentic Door County Fish Boil.
  • Traditional Door County Fish Boils feature freshly caught Lake Michigan whitefish (they have a mild, but flavorful taste) cooked over an open fire in boiling water with small red potatoes. Salt is the only spice used. Fish oils rise to the surface of the boiling cauldron, and when the fish is perfectly done, the Master Boiler tosses a small amount of kerosene on the flames under the pot. The great burst of flames causes the boilover, spilling the fish oils over the side of the pot and leaving the fish perfectly done, steaming hot and ready to serve.
  • Fish Boils are an experience and you usually end up learning a lot about the Door County area from the Master Boiler.
  • Be sure to ask for a slice of cherry pie for dessert!
• Sunset Park: After eating your fill of whitefish and cherry pie, stroll down to Sunset Park on Sturgeon Bay to watch the sunset over the water!

Sailing Cruise in Sister Bay with Sail Door County:

If you are looking for a great way to spend a day in Door County, I highly recommend taking a sailing tour of Sister Bay with Sail Door County. The crew was charming and knowledgeable about Door County. But…don’t let the crew fool you, they will quickly put you to work on the sailboat from hoisting sails to trying your hand at steering. Enjoy the gorgeous views of the Green Bay.

After your tour enjoy the town of Sister Bay. Stop by Stabbur Beer Garden for a chance to see goats grazing on the roof!

Itinerary for the East Side of the Door Peninsula:

• Cave Point County Park: if you are looking for one of the best hikes in Door County start at Whitefish Dunes State Park and hike it to the cliffs of Cave Point for rugged views of Lake Michigan that includes splashing waves and worn Dolomite.
• Cana Island Lighthouse: explore Door County’s most iconic lighthouse. Climb all 97 steps to the top to see a view of turquoise-colored waters and foliage below. If the trail to the lighthouse is covered with water, opt for the bumpiest tractor ride of your life over to the other side.
• Ridges Sanctuary: a nature preserve that offers accessible winding nature trails for every ability. Along the trails, explore Bailey’s Harbor range lights that help guide ships to shore to this day!
• Visit a Brewery: After a day of hiking, wind down with a brew from either Sway Brewery or Door County Brewing Co., and don’t forget to grab a bite to eat from Chives Food Trucks.
• Shopping in Fish Creek: Experience local stores and boutiques that offer everything from alpaca fur apparel to resident artists’ jewelry and designs.
• Dinner at Thyme: Thyme offers a variety of local small plates, appetizers, and dinners that are sure to impress. Their appetizers are my favorite and I always have to grab a flatbread and a cup of whitefish chowder!

What to Pack & What I Wore from Lands’ End:

Depending on the time of year you visit Door County, this guide will change but if you are headed to the Door Peninsula in the early fall, I have a few pointers on what to pack for your adventures.

• Packable Layers:
  • Quilted Jacket: I love this reversible Barn Jacket from Lands’ End that comes in several colors. The reversible feature allows you to create two different looks in one jacket. This jacket is easy to pack, layer with, and provides warmth as well as rain protection.
  • Layering Vest: Vests are perfect for chilly fall mornings that turn into pleasantly sunny days. I opted for this fun floral printed vest on our trip to style with a variety of t-shirts, active tops, and sweaters.
  • Sweater Blazer: Whether you are styling a sweater blazer with joggers or leggings for a travel day look or with a button-down shirt and dress pants for a nice dinner, they are a great, versatile, staple to add to your travel wardrobe. I love this camel one because it can be styled with a variety of colors and styles.
  • Button-down Shirt: I love the no-iron button-down shirts from Lands’ End because they truly do not wrinkle even when packed in a tight carry-on.
  • Pullovers and Sweaters: You will spend lots of time outdoors in Door County so come prepared with a variety of active pullover tops/fleeces and sweaters that will keep you warm all day long. I have several favorites listed below. Simply click on your favorite to shop!

• Jeans: Lands’ End jeans are hands-down my favorite. I love their straight-leg jeans because they look great with boots, sneakers, or flats!
• Leggings: I love Lands’ End’s active high-impact leggings. They are flattering, great quality, and I especially love the deep pocket on one side and the new fall colors they come in.
• Shoes: I wore a pair of sneakers to the airport and brought along with me a pair of Chelsea boots, comfortable loafers, and ballet flats.

What I Packed:

Below you will find everything I packed from Lands’ End to take with me to Door County. I was able to pack it all in a carry-on suitcase!

Outfits I Wore:

Here are several outfits that I created with the pieces I packed above from Lands’ End. I hope they help you pack the perfect pieces for your trip to Door County.

Click on an Image to Shop:

Door County and Land’s End:

This collaborative trip between Lands’ End and Door County was truly the perfect match, and I felt so lucky to be part of it. If you weren’t aware, Lands’ End started as a company that sold sailing equiment for racing sailors out of Chicago. Originally intended to be Land’s End, owner Gary Comer decided to keep the name Lands’ End after a major print error. After a surge of interest in the company after the launch of the ‘Lands’ End Yachtsman Equipment Guide’, Lands’ End moved their facilities to Dodgeville, Wisconsin (a small town outside of Madison) and eventually transitioned from creating sailing equipment to apparel.

Since Lands’ End is located in Wisconsin, and has an affinity for apparrel that supports an active and adventurous lifestyle, Door County is truly the perfect place to partner with given the many parrells and values shared between brand and location.

This trip was truly unforgettable. I am so thankful to the Lands’ End and Door County teams for all of their hard work to make this trip not only possible but filled with amazing experiences.

Be sure to put Door County on your travel bucket list and don’t forget to pack your Lands’ End styles with you!

xoxo,

Kalyn