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Fish Creek, Wisconsin is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Door County. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan and surrounded by lush green forests and sandy beaches, it’s no wonder why visitors flock to this town. From outdoor activities to entertainment options, there is plenty of things to do in Fish Creek, Wisconsin.
You can discover over 20 historic structures built from the 1860s through the turn of the century as you stroll through the village’s center. Enjoy shopping, dining, and art galleries surrounded by the rich history of a settler’s town.
There are also tons of opportunities for outdoor adventures abound with hundreds of miles of scenic shoreline and trails in Peninsula State Park.
Whether you’re looking for a leisurely weekend of shopping and dining or a weekend of hiking and kayaking, you’ll find a vast amount of things to do in Fish Creek, Wisconsin. Let’s take a look at five of the best things to do when you visit one of the best places in the United States.
STATE PARKS
The trails around Fish Creek offer some of the most breathtaking and scenic views in all of Door County. There are trails for hikers of all skill levels and biking paths that wind through scenic woods and along Lake Michigan’s shoreline. Whether you’re looking for a leisurely stroll or an intense workout, there is something here for everyone.
If you are looking for outdoor adventures in Door County, the town of Fish Creek considers Peninsula State Park its backyard. The park offers Wisconsin’s most comprehensive amenities, including campsites, a summer theater, an 18-hole golf course, a sand beach, biking trails, and eight miles of Door County Shoreline.
Hikers will enjoy 20 miles of hiking trails rated from easy to difficult. You’ll have the opportunity to see local birds and enjoy the forest scenery. The park is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. year-round.
If you’ve brought your family, you’ll want to stop by the park’s White Cedar Nature Center, which features family-friendly displays and nature programs throughout the year. The center is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the tourist season and on Saturdays during the winter. Check the online calendar for a schedule of upcoming activities.
Don’t miss the best scenic view available at Eagle Tower, high above the Niagara Escarpment. You’ll enjoy panoramic views of the park, the surrounding islands, and the Upper Michigan shoreline. Reach the top by climbing the 100 steps or using the 850-foot, fully-accessible canopy walk that winds above the tree line to the top of the tower.
The first Eagle Tower was constructed by hand in the early 1900s as a fire lookout tower. The newest Eagle Tower (the third) opened in 2021.
If you want to see a variety of plant and animal life in one location, visit Whitefish Dunes State Park. Whitefish Dunes is a day-use park protecting the dune environment on the eastern Door County Peninsula.
You will see traces of mammals throughout the park. You’ll likely see and hear many kinds of birds. The plants you’ll find have adapted to exist in the harsh sand dune environment. The park is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. year-round.
You can stroll along the lake or hike some of the 14.5 miles of hiking trails. Make sure to visit the nature center to learn about the region’s human history and explore a recreated village site to show what life was like at Whitefish Dunes.
BEST WINERIES
Celebrating its 25th year, the award-winning Stone’s Throw Winery features fine wines traditionally made from premium California grapes. Grapes are harvested in Califonia at optimum ripeness and delivered to the winery in refrigerated trucks in 36 hours.
Enjoy wine tasting, dining featuring Italian specialties and fresh organic vegetables, shopping, a stroll through the gardens, and a game of bocce ball. The tasting room is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The restaurant is open daily from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 3382 County Rd. E, Baileys Harbor.
You’ll want to visit The Door Peninsula Winery for a tasting gallery featuring the local fruit. This establishment was founded 45 years ago in a former two-room schoolhouse. Initial products featured the county’s famous cherries, followed shortly by apple, strawberry, and plum wines. Offerings have expanded over the years and now include wines with locally grown Wisconsin grapes.
The buildings have also expanded over the years and now include the Door County Distillery featuring several varieties of vodka and gin, whisky, brandy, and bitters.
The two tasting bars feature over 60 different wines and ciders. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 5806 State Hwy 42, Sturgeon Bay.
EAGLE BLUFF LIGHTHOUSE
10249 Shore Road, Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek
One of the features of Peninsula State Park is the Eagle Bluff Whitehouse. Built in 1868, the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse still guides vessels through the narrow Strawberry Channel. You’ll find the lighthouse on a bluff 76 feet above Green Bay’s sparking waters. Restored by the Door County Historical Society, Eagle Bluff Lighthouse is a tribute to its keepers.
Decorated with some of the original furnishings and other period antiques, a tour with a knowledgeable guide allow you to hear the stories of the three keepers and their families who served from 1868-1926. For a fee, the historical society conducts group tours from mid-May through mid-October.
WASHINGTON ISLAND
Your visit to Washington Island begins with a five-mile ferry ride through the waters known as Death’s Door, home to several sunken shipwrecks. It is the largest of the 30 small islands found off the peninsula.
You’ll want your vehicle or a bike to explore the island’s 100 miles of paved roads. The Washington Island Ferry Line provides year-round service to the island for both passengers and vehicles.
Enjoy shopping and dining, visit historical museums, stop by a lavender farm, or walk along the limestone-covered Schoolhouse Beach. Water activities include kayaking, paddle boarding, boat tours, shipwreck diving, boating, and fishing.
Washington Island features several parks and even an inland lake. Check the calendar for festivals, special events and fun things to do in Fish Creek, Wisconsin throughout the year.
WHITE GULL INN
4225 Main Street, Fish Creek
What visit would be complete without tasting a local Door County favorite? Known for the best fish boil, White Gull Inn is a historic bed and breakfast inn and restaurant established in 1896. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
You’ll want to make a reservation for a famous Door County fish served on Wednesday and Friday through Sunday from May through October and on Friday evenings the rest of the year.
This traditional Door County fish boil features freshly caught Lake Michigan whitefish cooked in boiling water over an open fire. You’ll want to arrive early to watch the Master Boiler at work.
FISH CREEK SCENIC BOAT TOURS
9448 Spruce Street, Fish Creek
Discover Door County from the water with Fish Creek Scenic Boat Tours to learn more about the history and sights on the shore. The daily narrated scenic tours include a cruise along the Peninsula’s State Park shoreline to visit the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse, a cruise of the Peninsula Park Caves and Ephraim, including the story of the Niagara Escarpment, and the Millionaire’s Row and West Islands cruise featuring incredible scenery, wildlife, and human history.
Witness one of Door County’s glorious sunsets on a Sunset Live Music Cruise. Enjoy the live music and brief narratives on the 69-passenger partly covered tour boat. The tour route varies for viewing the best possible sunset.
A cooler of refreshments is available on board, and guests are welcome to bring their own food and drinks.
DOOR COUNTY MARITIME MUSEUM
120 North Madison Avenue, Sturgeon Bay
To learn about the area’s maritime history, take time to visit the Door County Maritime Museum, found a 30-minute drive south of Fish Creek at Sturgeon Bay. The museum features several galleries providing the history and experiences of sailors and shipbuilders.
The Peterson Gallery delivers an account of Door County shipbuilding from the beginning of the 17th century to the end of the 20th century. Take a moment to look through a live periscope to see the Sturgeon Bay waterfront and the ships. The Asher Gallery features pictures of difficult salvage jobs and all sizes of engines used in older vessels. You’ll also see a small boat-building shop.
View the beautiful stained glass windows made for the museum when walking up the stairs. The Baumgartner Gallery provides a lighthouse exhibit and a wide range of model shops. The Horton Gallery allows you to step into an actual wheelhouse of a 1907 steamship. The museum is open daily year-round. Hours are 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. January through April and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May through December.
Don’t miss a guided tour of the John Purves, a restored 1919 Great Lake tugboat. Tours are available May-October.
DOOR COUNTY KAYAK TOUR
8113 Hwy 57, Baileys Harbor
If you’re ready for some active water adventure, enjoy some of Door County’s beautiful scenery with a Door County Kayak Tour. Each tour location features stunning bluffs, caves, lighthouses, shipwrecks, and more. Your experienced guides will provide a memorable tour.
- Cave Point County Park, where you’ll visit the caves and coves with an available upgrade to add cliff jumping;
- Door Bluff County Park, where you’ll see a shipwreck, Native American rock art, and beautiful scenery;
- Wisconsin’s Wetlands, where you’ll experience a spectacular ecosystem.
The Eco Estuary tour through the Wetlands is excellent for beginners.
EDGEWOOD ORCHARD GALLERIES
4140 Peninsula Players Road, Fish Creek
Take home a unique piece of art when you visit one of the Midwest’s most respected art galleries, Edgewood Orchard Galleries. The gallery features work by over 150 artists. You’ll find a wide range of media, including paintings, sculptures, glass, clay, wood, and jewelry.
You’ll find Edgewood Orchard Galleries in a restored fruit barn built in 1918 surrounded by a bricked courtyard, arbor, and glassed portico. A peaceful sculpture garden guides visitors as they walk through the woods and gardens surrounding the gallery. The gallery is open daily from May through October.
Final Thoughts on Things To Do in Fish Creek, Wisconsin
Fish Creek offers something for everyone—whether you’re visiting for a day trip or staying long term. With so many options available ranging from outdoor activities like hiking or biking to indoor attractions like shopping or dining out at one of the many restaurants in town—you’ll never be bored and find plenty of things to do while exploring Fish Creek, Wisconsin. So come check out this charming little village nestled along Wisconsin’s beautiful Door County coast—you won’t regret it!
