Events, News and Feature Stories on Door County, Wisconsin's Hospitality Industry

Baileys Harbor to host 22nd Annual Brown Trout Tournament April 16-18 in Door County

Brown fishing is hot right now and only getting better. The cloudy conditions make for great fishing due to the low visibility.

Harbors and Bays on Lake Michigan have been clear for weeks. The Bayside is still clinging to its rapidly thinning ice cover. Fishing in Egg Harbor and northern bays on the Bayside has been increasing over the past few days. Local anglers predict a very good catch for the tournament as well as a good turnout.

Fishing in the tournament can be done all over Door County but the registration station is at the Baileys Harbor Fire Station. The grand prize package is valued at $1500 for the heaviest fish. This includes a discounted price on mounting the monster brown, $600 in cash, a two night stay for four at the beautiful Baileys Harbor Yacht Club, 18 holes of golf for four at Idlewild Golf Course in Egg Harbor as well as gift certificates for other fine establishments in Baileys Harbor. Tickets are only $25 to enter and are available all over the county. Prizes are awarded by weight and pay out to 60^th place, so there is plenty of prize money to go around.

For a great place to stay, check out some of our members’ Spring specials .

Running in Door County

Door County is a great place to get out and enjoy nature through physical activity. With miles of trails in our countless state parks, there is no shortage of undiscovered terrain for all skill levels.

Running for fun is great but for those looking for a little challenge, there are plenty of events for you to partake in.

The  Door County Half Marathon & Nicolet Bay 5K event is the first of the year. Taking place May 1^st this year, it is the kick off of the competitive running circuit up here. There are a limited number of spots open so make your plans quickly. The Half Marathon has a limit of 1,200 participants and the 5K only has 400 openings.

Fish Creek celebrates Independence Day right by hosting the 5K Hairpin Run to benefit Gibraltar Area School. Starting bright and early at 8:30 am in Fish Creek, this is one of the most popular events Door County offers.

Next up on the roster is the Door County Triathalon which takes place July 17-18^th this year. It features both a sprint and half iron man. Egg Harbor’s Murphy’s Park turns into the headquarters for this very popular event.  With a motto like “Can’t Bluff the Bluff”, who can turn down the challenge? Do you have what it takes? Be one of the thousand entries to prove that you do.

Washington Island gets their turn to host the Rec Run around the end of July. There is a 2 or 5K walk/run and a 10K run for participants. The race begins at 10am. Tour Washington Island the healthy way.

Algoma Shanty Days happens in mid August every year. Join in the 5K run/walk around the quiet lake side town of Algoma.

The YMCA hosts a Duathalon & Labor Day Run every year. The run/bike & 5K starts at 9:30 the Saturday of Labor Day weekend.

Potawatomie State Park has the Run Wild early October every year. This 3 mile or 5K run takes place in one of the prettiest of the state parks.

The Fall 50 is the longest event in Door County’s circuit. It follows the back roads from the tip of the peninsula to Sturgeon Bay covering a whopping 50 miles. Starting at 7am, this team or single competition comes around in late October every year.

Sevastopol School District hosts the Turkey Trot in early November featuring a .5, 1, 2, or 4 mile race.

No matter what length trip you are looking for, there is something in Door County’s circuit for everyone. Running can be competitive or just for fun. With miles of trails and back roads, there is no end to the possibilities!

Ladies’ Rock Island Rendezvous! A Door County Weekend of Sea Kayaking, Hiking and Companionship

Looking for a new twist on Girls’ Night Out? Check out the Rock Island Rendezvous June 24 - 27.

Join the Team Leadership Center paddling team for a weekend of sea kayaking, hiking and companionship. There is a 12-person limit and space is filling up fast so make your reservations today.  The cost of the weekend is $475 a person which includes sea kayak instructions and gear, camping permits and gear and prepared gourmet meals on the trail. For more information, check out Team Leadership Center or email adventures@teamleadership.com.

It’s March Madness at Stone Harbor Resort of Door County

March is Stone Harbor’s 10^th anniversary celebration! Festivities are planned for the whole month.

Rooms are only $89 a night so make your reservations today!  Stone Harbor Resort is located on the ship canal in the heart of Sturgeon Bay.  Centrally located just minutes from shops, activities, dining and so much more, you know you will find something to do.

• March 11^th is the Anniversary Party/Business Mixer from 6-7:30pm. Come meet us for complimentary beer & wine with hors d’oeurves. Bring your friends, everyone is welcome.
• March 13^th brings St. Patrick’s Day and you can’t miss the parade which will start at 10am. After that, join us for a St. Patrick’s Day Party in the Pub from 8:30pm-12:30am. There will be prizes, drink specials and much more so grab all the green clothes and beads you have and head over to Stone Harbor.
• March 24^th is “Anglers Night Out!” Fishing Show and Seminars! Today is for all those ice fisherman crying because the ice is no longer here or all those guys counting the days until the Brown Trout Tournament in Baileys Harbor. This is your time to get away and take in all things fishing related. Leave your cares at home and reconnect with your inner angler.
• March 26^th & 27^th is the Door County Home Builder’s Show. Are you thinking about remodeling or building your home but need some inspiration? Look no further. This weekend is your time to talk to local builders, see the latest trends and much more.

Bands will be playing throughout the month of March. Be sure that you can

• March 12^th- The Hits
• March 13^th- Cookee (Folk & Fun)
• March 19^th- “Coverleague” Mike & Bob Starr
• March 20^th- Kevin Wells (Jazz & more)
• March 26^th- Andy’s Automatics
• March 27^th Laforce & Kimmes

Don’t forget to make your reservations for Easter Buffet serving from 11am-3pm on April 4^th.

Coming April 23^rd! The Groovin’ Sisterhood Weekend! “The Bahama Mamas getaway by the bay!”

For more info, contact Stone Harbor Resort at 1.877.746.0700.

Door County Lodging’s Spring Packages are here!

Come celebrate Spring in Door County with us. Plan your spring trips now with these great lodging and dining packages from our lovely members.

Door County in the spring is a beautiful time of year. The birds are singing, the ice has started to leave the harbor and winter is slowly slipping away.

Birchwood Lodge

Enjoy the luxurious Birchwood Lodge Premier Suite. These suites feature European design with modern amenities. Every Premier Suite has a Double Jacuzzi® whirlpool, fireplace, king sized bed, spacious bathrooms and kitchenettes along with private balconies.

• Our Romantic Getaway Special includes a two night stay in a Premier Suite, a bottle of champagne, chocolate fondue delivered to your room, horse drawn carriage ride/weather permitting, and relaxing bath fragrances for each night & a light continental breakfast. Package price is $259 – $295 (week/weekend) + tax
  Available October 25th, 2009 – May 7th, 2010
• Wine & Dine Package- The perfect package for wine lovers! Spend an afternoon on a guided wine tour for two at Door Peninsula Winery. Tour the old school building and listen to the success story of the winery. Enjoy a romantic evening of dining at the new Alexander’s Restaurant. Package includes a bottle of Door County Cherry Wine and a snack bag of dried cherries. Enjoy the Cheese and Cracker basket in your room after the long day of touring.
  Package price is additional $124.00 plus tax to the room rate
• Magic Delights- Two night stay in Premier Suite, Grand Suite or Premier Deluxe with double Jacuzzi whirlpool, fireplace and king size bed. Whether you are an early riser or prefer to sleep in, enjoy the sweet aroma of breakfast at Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant. Spend the afternoon taking a scenic tour of Door County on a horse drawn carriage ride (Advanced reservation required). To warm up after a fun day of walking in the parks or shopping wind down in front of your fireplace with a delectable assortment of tantalizing fondue delights and toast to your beautiful Door County vacation with a chilled bottle of champagne.
  Package Price available October 25th, 2009 – May 7th, 2010.
  Package value $252.00 – $342.00 plus Tax (depending on the type of the room)
• Weekend Getaway- Stay Friday and Saturday nights in one of our Premier Suite, Grand Suites or Premier Deluxe and get a $20 Gift Certificate for Champagne Brunch at Alexander’s Restaurant and complimentary 12″ Pizza delivered to your room.
  Special value $221.00 – $281.00 plus tax /depending on the room type/
  Price available October 25th, 2009 – May 7th, 2010.

Eagle Harbor Inn

• Winter Magic Package- Dream two nights in feather-down suite luxury, Sparkling Cider and Truffles on arrival, Breakfast Baskets delivered for Breakfast in Bed, Herbal Whirlpools by the fire and Swedish Massage for you and yours… January 1, 2010 – May 13 2010   $398.00 + tax
  Rates higher on festival & holiday weekends
• Progressive Dinner Package- Experience the uniqueness of our Door County Progressive Dinner by Trolley! Cocktails & Hors d’ouerves at the Hands On Art Studio, excellent Dinner at Inn at Kristopher’s across from the Sister Bay Marina & decadent desserts at Eagle Harbor Inn! $73 per person. Feb. 27; March 27; April 10, 24; May 1,22,29; June 12, 2010. Lodging and Dinner for two From $348 – $408 + tax
• Honeymoon Package- Establish your own tradition for your annual getaway to Door County! Two nights in our elegant whirlpool Suites, Champagne and Homemade Truffles upon arrival; Bath Amenities and Robes, Homemade Breakfast Baskets delivered for Breakfast in Bed and two half-hour Swedish Massages at the Spa! Call or e-mail for the pricing on your specific dates. Winter includes sumptuous dinner for two at the renown Inn at Kristopher’s, Sister Bay. January – December 2010 From $385 – $573

Country House

Getaway to Romance Packages

• A two-night stay for two in a water-view room with king bed or 2 queen beds. Candlelight dinner for two at the White Gull Inn, Fish Creek or the Mission Grille, Sister Bay. Choice of a two person massage package at The Spa At Sacred Grounds, Ephraim or a Door County goodies basket, and a $25 Door County Gift Certificate for whatever. $334.
• A two-night stay for two in a water-view Specialty Room with an in-room two-person whirlpool, invigorating 3-way body spray two-person shower and queen size bed. Candlelight dinner for two at the White Gull Inn or the Mission Grill. Choice of a two person massage package or Door County goodies basket, and a $25 Door County Gift Certificate. $434.
• A two-night stay for two in a water-view Suite with a king size bedroom and a greatroom featuring a two-person whirlpool and fireplace. Candlelight dinner for two at the White Gull Inn or the Mission Grille. Choice of a two person massage package or Door County goodies basket, and a $25 Door County Gift Certificate. $484.

Settlement Courtyard Inn

• Girlfriends’ Getaway in the Coach House is a two night stay for you and your closest girlfriends! The package includes two one-hour spa services for each and dinner at Alexander’s Restaurant.
• Couples Romantic Retreat Package features two nights in the lovely Coach House Suite, a Couples Massage, Bottle of Simon Creek Wine, and Dinner at Alexander’s Restaurant.
• Girls Time Out Package is for you and your best girlfriend! Come stay two nights in the Coach House Suite, 2 massage facials, a bottle of Simon Creek Wine and dinner at Alexander’s.

Glidden Lodge Beach Resort

• SPRING FLING SPECIAL Available in May 2010 (Excluding Memorial Day). Similar to our ever-popular Winter Fling, Spring Fling also gives you three nights for the price of two AND extends the deal through the month of May! So enjoy Shipyard Tour Weekend, Mother’s Day, and all the blooms May has to offer while enjoying a FREE night’s stay!

• WINTER FLING SPECIAL Available Oct. 19, 2009 through May 1, 2010 (excluding holiday periods). Treat yourself and come to Door County. The “Winter Fling” is our longest-running and most popular package. Stay three nights for the price of two!!! It’s that simple. No schedules to meet with nothing but time to totally unwind.

****Also during March and April the WINTER FLING would be available for any spring break-ers.

The Ashbrooke

Although The Ashbrooke is closed until April 9th, check out their specials for dates after they reopen.

• The Sure Thing Package is a great way to lock in a 10% savings on your reservation!
• Romantic, By Nature includes two romantic nights in a French Country Room with a two person whirlpool, fireplace, and gift certificates for shopping, dinner for two and a day at the Lavender Spa.
• The Enjoy Dinner on Us package is a two night getaway including a $50 gift certificate to one of the finest restaurants in Door County.

Beachfront Inn

Spring Special (April – June 24th)
Stay any three nights and get the third night at 50% off.

“Your Glass is Half-Full” 1 Night Package
Visit us one night and receive a FREE $25 gas card as well as a delicious bottle of Door County wine. A great pick me up getaway for only $125!* (Offer excludes Rooms 204 and 206. It includes 2 people per room. Extras are $10. per person.)

“Your Cup Runneth Over” (April – June 24^th)

2 Night Package
Stay two nights with us and receive a FREE $50 gas card, delicious bottle of Door County wine, wine tasting for two at Stone’s Throw Winery, complimentary wine glasses and a $50 gift certificate for a scrumptious gourmet dinner for two. Call us crazy, but we’re only charging $290!* for this package!

“Fish and Ships” Classic Door County Special

$320* plus tax includes:

• 2 Weekdays Sunday-Thursday (excluding rooms 204 & 206) for two people
• Welcome Bottle of Door County Wine
• 2 Fishboil Dinners at the Sandpiper Restaurant in Baileys Harbor
• 2 Tickets for a Boat Excursion with Lakeshore Adventures in Baileys Harbor
• $25 Gift Certificate from DCVB

Door County wrecks to be included in Ghost Ships Festival out of Milwaukee

Three shipwrecks in Door County’s coastal waters will be included in this year’s Ghost Ships Festival March 5-6 in Milwaukee.

This festival is a conference dedicated to Great Lakes Maritime history including both scuba diving and historical chapters. It takes place this weekend in Milwaukee at the Wyndham Milwaukee Airport and Convention Center.

The Fleetwing, which was built in 1867 and sank due to navigational errors on Sept. 26, 1888 just off the shores of Garret Bay.  This wreck is visible from the surface of the water and lies in 5-25 feet of water.

E.R. Williams was located recently and is a very well documented shipwreck in the Green Bay waters just north of Saint Martin Island in Michigan. Local dive tours will travel to this wreck.

Frank O’Connor was one of the largest wooden ships ever built. It burned in 1919 approximately 2.6 miles north north east of Cana Island in Baileys Harbor. Local lighthouse tours will take you to the buoy marking the spot where the ship lies in 105’ of water.

Door Community Auditorium puts on great musical weekend!

Door Community Auditorium is putting on quite a show March 5-6^th.

Different Drums of Ireland will be playing on the main stage on Friday night at 8pm. Featuring five musicians from Northern Ireland playing the Lambeg and Bodhran drums, as well as the guitar, snares, long drum, pipes, and vocals.

Saturday morning at 9am, Dr. Ed Risden is presenting a free lecture called “Shakespeare’s Problem Plays Why Do We Call Them Problems?” This lecture is part of the St. Norbert Distinguished Lecture Series.

Melaniejane will be playing fireside with pat mAcdonald on Saturday night. The pair plays a variety of instruments and always puts on a good show. Both are popular local musicians and are involved in the Steel Bridge Songfest in Sturgeon Bay in early June.

Tickets are available at the Door Community Auditorium box office from 10 am to 3 pm Monday thru Friday, and from 11 am to 3 pm the day of the concert. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 868-2728, or via the internet at www.dcauditorium.org.

Toft’s Point: A Door County Nature Preserve

Located on the quiet side in Baileys Harbor, you can go for a walk in a place where time stands still at Toft’s Point Nature Preserve.

Toft’s Point is a nature preserve bought in 1967 by The Nature Conservancy and donated to UWGB in 1968. The preserve spans almost 750 acres of the most pristine natural beauty and rarest of wildlife. Three endangered species call Toft’s Point home. Baileys Harbor is home to three major preservation areas:  Ridges Sanctuary, Mud Lake State Wildlife Area & Toft’s Point which make up one of the most significant natural areas in the Great Lakes Basin.

Toft’s Point in the winter is especially magical. The snow falling among the cedars is so silent; you can hear the waves crashing long before you see the water. The walk out to the end of the path brings you to a beautiful view of North Bay. The rocks are caked in thick ice from the constant crashing of waves.   This truly is one of the last places to remain untouched by time and technology.

Toft’s Point is named after the family that settled the area in the 1870’s. Thomas Toft brought his family to live on the Point just outside Baileys Harbor. After Thomas died in 1919, Emma, one of his seven children, returned home to live with her mother. She opened up a summer resort which consisted of the five small cabins located on the property.  The buildings are for the most part still completely intact.

It is actually very easy to reach this time capsule tucked away on the shore in Baileys Harbor. Simply take Ridges Rd (look for the Sandpiper Restaurant) out towards the end. You will pass Ridges Sanctuary and Ridges beach and travel farther down the road. Right before the road splits, there is a small unmarked road leading off to your left. The only way to get back to the sanctuary is to turn on this road, simply marked Toft Point Rd. Follow this road back and you will find a small parking area at the gate.

For more pictures, check out Door County Lodging on Facebook.

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Plan your Door County Getaway with Birchwood Lodge!

Conveniently located just minutes from downtown Sister Bay, you are within walking distance of great shopping and dining.

Spend your days exploring our many state parks or just lounging by the pool. With six inches of fresh snow, there are endless possibilities.  Door County awaits so make your plans now.

Winter Wonderland
Stay one night from Sunday till Thursday in one of our Premier Suites and get 50% off the second night. *In order to receive the special pricing it needs to be mentioned at the time of making reservation.

Midweek Special
Stay three week nights from Sunday till Thursday in one of our Premier Suites and the third night is free. Stay three week nights from Sunday till Thursday in any other type of room and the third night is 50% off.*In order to receive the special pricing it needs to be mentioned at the time of making reservation

These specials are available until April 30th, 2010.

Casino Night Benefit for Door County Youth

Casino Night will be held at the Jaycee’s Hall in Sturgeon Bay on March 13. Registration begins at 5:30pm and the games begin at 6pm.

Jared Meyer of Sturgeon Bay has been chosen to participate in the People to People Ambassador Program. This program provides children with a way to experience our world first hand. Jared will be traveling to Australia to learn about their culture, heritage and way of life. He will be learning about Aboriginal traditions and practices through spending time with the Jawoyn people, snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef with a marine biologist, and going backstage at the Sydney Opera House as well as many more activities. Let’s help Jared raise the money to make this trip possible.

Black Jack and Texas Hold ‘Em tournaments will be held for as long as people want to play. Special Prizes will be awarded to the top winners of the night. Admission is $20 a person which includes a Mexican food buffet, free beer, soda and play money.  A cash bar is also available as well. The live auction will be held at 10pm and a silent auction will run throughout the night. Prizes include Packers Tickets, Cubs Tickets, gift certificates for local Resorts and businesses and much more. For more information, contact Bill 920.421.1571 or Deb at 920.421.1573.

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