Door County: A Child’s Paradise!
Door County has always been known as a family friendly destination. With plenty of year round activities to do, there is never a shortage of fun. There are thousands of acres of hiking and 300 miles of shoreline just waiting for you to explore.
The spring is the best time of the year for hiking. The forest floor is exploding with hundreds of wildflowers and scurrying wildlife. The trails along the shores of Lake Michigan offer an amazing water view that is not visible the rest of the summer due to heavy leaf cover.
Door County has gotten some new forms of tours in the last couple years. Segway the Door Tours brings a new angle on taking a guided tour of areas of interest using segways instead of bikes or trolleys. Gravity Trails lets you take flight above the ponds, sand dunes and forests surrounding Wagon Trail in Rowley’s Bay using their zip line. If your family is not especially interested in nature and wildlife, there is still plenty to do. The mini golf courses and go-cart track are always a hit. Sister Bay, Ephraim and Egg Harbor all have fun parks offering a variety of activities.
The summer is the most popular time to come to Door County. Our many beaches, water sports and balmy weather provide the 
ultimate summer vacation. You can rent boats in Sister Bay or Ephraim as well as Nicolet Bay in Peninsula State Park.
Every kid loves playing with animals. Door County is home to multiple petting zoos and riding stables. Spend a lovely summer day feeding baby goats and kittens or stroll along a forest trail on horseback.
Rainy days don’t have to be spent staring out the window of your room during your vacation. There are plenty of fun things to do if the weather decides it doesn’t want to cooperate. Bowling is always a hit for all ages at the Sister Bay Bowl. Otherwise, there are places that offer do-it-yourself art and workshops at local art galleries.
Fall brings changing leaves, hiking, and frosty mornings. Take a stroll through any of Door County’s many hardwood forests to see an eruption of colors amongst the barren branches and evergreens. It also seems to be the best time to go to some of the many farm markets to sample all of Door County’s cherries, apples and other local fruits. You can spend an entire day wandering around tasting the latest batch of apple butter or cherry pie filling.
Fall is when Door County’s festivals kick into high gear. It seems like every weekend in the fall brings some kind of festival or event. The grand daddy of festivals takes place in Sister Bay late in October. Fall Fest is a 5,000+ person block party complete with activities, live music, ping pong ball drop and parade. Children of all ages enjoy racing to catch a flying ping pong ball to win a prize at a local business. 
Other festivals include Pumpkin Patch in Egg Harbor and Marina Fest in Sister Bay which are both very family oriented event.
Winter time may seem like the wrong time to go on vacation but there’s fun for all ages to enjoy on those frosty days. Ice skating at the Theresa K Hilander ice rink in Sister Bay is a great way to spend an afternoon. Didn’t bring your skates? The warming house is open all weekend long as well as afternoons during the week for equipment rentals and a concession stand for hot treats to warm you up. All ages and levels are welcome.
Sledding is always fun and Peninsula Sate Park opens its borders to the public for Hill 17. As a child growing up here, many afternoons were spent climbing the giant hill towering above the golf course. Every year, we would climb farther up until at last we were brave enough to go to the top. Once we were there, adrenaline kicked in and we would all jump on the sled and shove off. The ride seemed to last forever as we sped down the hill rivaling some ski slopes I’ve seen. At the end, we would either roll off or slide into the straw hay bales lining the boundaries. If you have young children, have no fear, there is a bunny hill that is provides enjoyment for even the youngest toddlers.
No matter what time of year it is, there are always great kid friendly activities to do in Peninsula State Park and the other State Parks. They offer acres of hiking trails open year round, paved roads for bike riding or walking, visitor centers to learn about local wildlife and some of the best beaches in Door County. These beaches are great for walking along the water or finding seashells. These 
beautiful beaches lie vacant until mid June when the swimming season begins. Even if it’s too cold to swim, which many times throughout the year it will be, these amazing beaches are still great places to take hikes and explore the shoreline.
Door County Lodging’s Members are great destinations for the whole family. Here are just a few descriptions of kid-friendly members.
Beachfront Inn in Baileys Harbor boasts over 100’ of shoreline along Lake Michigan that is both kid and pet friendly. Terry, one of the owners, often creates treasure hunts on this amazing sandy beach for any interested kids digging in the sand. A bonfire ring on the beach provides a great way to spend the evening with s’mores and popcorn provided. It also has a wonderful indoor heated swimming pool with toys and floats provided. Bring your kids and your pets to bask in the summer sun or go hiking through the Ridges Sanctuary, just minutes from the hotel. The Beachfront Inn is within walking distance of the Public Beach, Town Marina and Kendall Park as well as an array of locally owned restaurants.
Coachlite Inn is located next to some of the most kid-friendly attractions in Door County. It lies right next to endless amounts of mini golf, arcade games and best of all Go-Karts! Coachlite Inn is just minutes from Sister Bay’s downtown shopping district and beautiful new Waterfront Park. There is a very nice bike/walking trail lining the property that is perfect for getting downtown. Spend your afternoons relaxing at the Public Beach or renting a boat and discovering Door County by water. The Concert in the Park series plays on Wednesdays in Sister Bay which provides great background music as you bask in the sun or splash around in the crystal clear blue water. Start your day off right with complimentary breakfast of baked goods, fresh fruit juice and coffee. After exploring everything Door County has to offer, relax in the Inn’s outdoor whirlpool-hot tub.
Eagle Harbor Inn is located in Ephraim’s bustling downtown area but holds on to that Door County beach atmosphere. It lies one block north of the beautiful sandy public beach and is within walking distance to some of the best shopping in Door County. Although it has the peacefulness of a quaint B&B, it was designed so parents can enjoy its’ romance while staying at a place that it is kid-friendly. Some of the suites come with a 6’ whirlpool and a spiraling staircase that intrigues kids of all ages. Kids 4 and under stay for free. The indoor current pool turns into the perfect wave machine for children swimming against the current. There is a large playground on site as well as a bike room for you to safely store your bikes between rides. Evenings mean meals outdoors using grills and picnic areas keeping you focused on your family. Perhaps most inviting of all is the Inn’s food! Opt to have Breakfast in Bed ($18) with a delivered Homemade Breakfast Basket or partake in afternoon treats served in the main Inn, 3-5pm, offering the best double chocolate brownies & fresh lemonade from the Inn’s kitchen!
Glidden Lodge Beach Resort lies off the beaten path near Whitefish Dunes State Park and Cave Point Natural Area. There are miles of hiking and exploring just minutes from the resort as well as an amazing beach on the property. Glidden Lodge is offering a Family Affair package between Oct.19, 2010 and April 19, 2011. This package includes tokens for the game room, unlimited movies and board games from our front desk, popcorn, and a 16” deluxe pizza with soda/juices delivered to your door. You’ll also be able to choose one of the following: a one-day family-pass to the Maritime Museum, the YMCA, or the Door County State Parks.
Shallows Resort on the shores of the Bay is a perfect place for families to come this year. They offer free kayaks, canoes & rowboats, bikes, Internet. There are two fire pits and have firewood on site for an evening campfire. Shallows Resort is very well known for its’ wonderful beachside activity area which includes sand play area and Rainbow Play set on the shore and a nearby pool and hot tub. Between now and June 10th, mention Door County Lodging’s kid-friendly blog and your kids stay free when you book a room in the Shore Side Motel & Gatehouse Suite accommodations.
