ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE
Originally founded in 1970 as The Heritage Ensemble when a Madison professor stumbled upon a pine-rimmed theater in Peninsula State Park, Northern Sky Theater is one of the country’s most prized cultural institutions. The company has built its reputation on developing original productions centered on Midwestern folklore and small-town Americana, with a year-round schedule of quirky originals that hilariously highlight Wisconsin traditions, local dialects, fishing culture, and, of course, Packers fandom. The 248-seat Gould Theater, debuted in 2019, takes the lead in the colder months, but come summer, performances take place under the towering pines of the 650-seat outdoor amphitheater, rekindling the magic first sparked by the founding troupe. northernskytheater.com
PRESSED TO IMPRESS
Tucked into the quiet northern reaches of Ellison Bay, Island Orchard Cider is Door County’s first locally grown and produced hard cidery. In 2005, founders Bob and Yannique Purman began planting dwarf apple and pear trees on Washington Island, and in 2011, their vision came to life. In the renovated 1930s-era tasting room, work your way through the creative and fascinatingly diverse lineup. The Brut in a Barrel is aged in Kentucky bourbon barrels before being bottled like Champagne, while the Kingston Black is crafted from the renowned but notoriously difficult-to-grow English cider apples that yield a beautifully full-bodied, high-tannin sip. The Hopped Brut Apple Cider took home a Gold Award at last year’s GLINTCAP, the world’s largest international hard cider competition. islandorchardcider.com
CHERRY-PICKED CHARM
A sprawling family-owned orchard estate in Fish Creek, Lautenbach’s Market & Winery blends a winery, cider mill, bakery, farm market, and tasting room into one quintessentially Wisconsin experience. The family has been growing, harvesting, and producing trophy-winning fruit products on the 100-acre farm since 1955. Here, the tasting journey is epic. There are more than 40 wines and ciders to choose from, all produced on site, including signature fruit wines made from Door County’s famous cherries. The cherry is sacred here, and the star ingredient in a number of scratch-recipe nibbles too, from staples like jams and pie fillings to surprises like salsa, barbecue sauce, and balsamic vinegar. The farm even hosts a cherry pit spit competition every summer, and you test your skills on the patio track. orchardcountry.com
INN THE KNOW
White Gull Inn has been welcoming travelers since 1896, originally built as a boarding house during the area’s early tourism boom. The white clapboard property, with its wraparound porches and flower-lined façade, has since evolved into both a beloved inn and one of Wisconsin’s most iconic dining destinations. The menu is a love letter to classic Midwestern comfort fare, winding through generous plates of cherry buttermilk pancakes, corned beef hash, and grilled open-faced sandwiches by day, and White Marble Farms pork chops, lemon dill whitefish, and Black Angus beef topped with morel mushroom blue cheese butter come nightfall. The cherry-stuffed French toast is a local legend, but come hungry! whitegullinn.com
HARBOR HIDEAWAY
Hidden just off the main strip in downtown Fish Creek, Spruce and Shore is an intimate boutique just a short-walk away from the town’s famed art galleries, boutiques, and waterfront restaurants, and for ghost hunters, the haunted Alexander Noble House. It’s a legacy property with a fascinating history. Formerly the Eagle Inn, the property was relocated from Ephraim to Fish Creek in 1981 — by way of a barge over the water. The Refresh Collection took over in 2025, employing a sweeping renovation to transform the historic property into a modern boutique collection of cozy guestrooms, suites, and a standalone Harbor Cottage with sweeping views of Fish Creek Harbor and Peninsula State Park. spruceandshoremotel.com