The Best of Door County

Most visitors to Door County follow Highway 42 north from Green Bay and keep right on driving through Sturgeon Bay without stopping, eager to reach the more widely publicized villages of the northern peninsula. That is a genuine mistake, and one that a growing number of travelers have stopped making in recent years as word has spread about what Sturgeon Bay actually offers. This is the county seat, the peninsula’s largest city, and the place where Door County’s working identity, its shipbuilding history, its fishing culture, its serious museums, and its year-round community life, coexist with boutique lodging, outstanding restaurants, excellent golf, and one of the most walkable and genuinely charming downtowns in northeastern Wisconsin.

Sturgeon Bay sits at the base of the Door County peninsula at the point where State Highways 42 and 57 split, making it the literal and figurative gateway to everything north of it. The Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal cuts across the peninsula here, connecting Green Bay to Lake Michigan and creating the island-like geography that gives the city its dramatic waterfront character on multiple sides. Two historic bridges cross the canal in the city, and both are worth stopping to look at. The steel bascule drawbridge on the east side of downtown is one of the most photographed structures in the county.

This guide covers everything Sturgeon Bay has to offer in 2026, from the shipyards and fishing to the museums, golf, restaurants, shopping, lodging, and the natural areas that make this the most underrated stop on the entire Door County peninsula.

Table of Contents

• About Sturgeon Bay
• Shipbuilding: The Working Waterfront
• Fishing in Sturgeon Bay
• Museums
• Door County Maritime Museum
• Door County Historical Museum
• Miller Art Museum
• Potawatomi State Park
• Lighthouses
• Golf
• Restaurants and Dining
• Shopping Downtown
• Where to Stay
• Events and Festivals
• Planning Tips for Sturgeon Bay
• Related Guides

About Sturgeon Bay

Sturgeon Bay was incorporated as a city in 1883, though it had been a center of commercial activity since the 1850s when the logging boom opened the northern forests and the city became a critical shipping point for lumber moving south through the Great Lakes. The Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, completed in 1882, was one of the most consequential engineering projects in Door County history, cutting a navigable channel through the narrowest point of the peninsula and dramatically reducing the distance ships had to travel around the tip of the Door to reach Lake Michigan from Green Bay. It transformed Sturgeon Bay almost overnight from a regional logging town into a major commercial port, and the shipbuilding industry that followed has never fully left.

Today Sturgeon Bay is a city of approximately 10,000 year-round residents, by far the largest community on the Door County peninsula and the only one that functions as a full-service city with year-round commerce, a hospital, a full school system, and the county government. For visitors, this means Sturgeon Bay is operational in every month of the year in a way that the smaller, tourism-dependent villages to the north are not. Restaurants, museums, shops, and golf courses are open through the shoulder seasons when much of the northern peninsula is quiet. It is the most accessible and consistently rewarding destination on the peninsula regardless of when you visit.

The city divides naturally into several distinct areas. Historic Third Avenue is the downtown shopping and dining core, with brick-fronted buildings housing restaurants, galleries, and boutiques along a walkable stretch that has been beautifully maintained. The working waterfront along the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal to the east of downtown is where the shipyard activity is visible from public streets and the historic lighthouse structures stand at the canal entrance. Potawatomi State Park on the city’s western edge provides immediate access to some of the finest hiking terrain on the peninsula. And the newer commercial development along the main highway corridors provides the practical amenities that the rest of the peninsula lacks.

Shipbuilding: The Working Waterfront

The shipbuilding industry has defined Sturgeon Bay for more than a century, and watching the work of the city’s shipyard remains one of the most genuinely fascinating things you can do here. Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding on the city’s waterfront is one of the largest shipbuilding operations on the Great Lakes, constructing and repairing some of the largest vessels in the region. The company’s history on this site stretches back to the Christy Corporation, which built its first ship in Sturgeon Bay in 1918, and the yard has been producing vessels continuously ever since.

Walking along the public areas near the waterfront on the east side of downtown, you can see the scale of what is being built or repaired at any given time. The massive hulls of Great Lakes freighters, ferries, and specialty vessels tower over the waterfront in various states of completion, and the sight of a ship that will spend the next several decades steaming across the Great Lakes taking shape in this relatively small city is one of those experiences that gives you an immediate and visceral sense of Sturgeon Bay’s working identity. It is completely free, requires no advance planning, and is equally impressive for adults and children.

The shipbuilding heritage is honored and documented in depth at the Door County Maritime Museum, where the full history of commercial shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay from the 19th century to the present is explored through exhibits, models, photographs, and artifacts. The connection between what you see on the waterfront and what the museum documents creates a richer understanding of both experiences.

Fishing in Sturgeon Bay

Sturgeon Bay is one of the finest fishing destinations in the Great Lakes region, and the range of species and fisheries accessible from the city is broader than almost anywhere else on the peninsula. The bay itself is one of the top-rated smallmouth bass fisheries in the country, with miles of rocky shoreline, submerged structure, and clear water creating ideal habitat for bass that consistently exceed five pounds. Visiting anglers who target smallmouth specifically make Sturgeon Bay a destination trip rather than an incidental stop.

Beyond smallmouth, the waters around Sturgeon Bay produce walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, largemouth bass, and rock bass throughout the season. Charter fishing operations targeting Lake Michigan salmon and lake trout operate from the Sturgeon Bay waterfront, with the chinook salmon run in late summer and fall drawing serious anglers from across the Midwest. Ice fishing is enormously popular on the bay through the winter months, with perch, walleye, and northern pike all active under the ice when conditions are right.

Several fishing charter operators depart from the Sturgeon Bay marina for half-day and full-day Lake Michigan trips. Check the Door County Directory for a current list of licensed charter operators. Shore fishing is excellent from the public pier near the canal entrance and from multiple public access points along the bay shoreline. The fishing pier at Potawatomi State Park is one of the most productive and accessible shore fishing spots in the city, with walleye and smallmouth bass both regularly landed from the pier.

Museums

Sturgeon Bay has the finest concentration of museums on the Door County peninsula, and the three major institutions here together represent one of the best rainy-day or cultural-afternoon itineraries anywhere in northeastern Wisconsin. All three are within comfortable walking distance of each other in the downtown core, and a full day spent moving between them covers maritime history, regional cultural history, and Wisconsin visual art in a sequence that feels genuinely satisfying rather than rushed.

Door County Maritime Museum

The Door County Maritime Museum at 120 North Madison Avenue is the anchor of the Sturgeon Bay cultural scene and one of the most impressive regional maritime museums in the Great Lakes. Drawing around 95,000 visitors annually, the museum has been preserving and celebrating the maritime heritage of Door County and the Great Lakes since 1969, and the depth and quality of its exhibits make it a destination in its own right rather than a supplementary stop.

The Jim Kress Maritime Lighthouse Tower is the architectural centerpiece, a ten-story structure that gives visitors a perspective on the harbor and the ship canal that no other vantage point in the city can match. You start at the top with panoramic views and work your way down floor by floor through exhibits covering shipwrecks, lighthouse keeping, commercial fishing, navigation, and the shipbuilding industry. The exhibits are interactive, intelligently designed, and engaging for visitors of all ages.

One of the most popular experiences at the museum is the guided tour of the John Purves, an immaculately restored 149-foot Great Lakes tugboat docked just outside the building. The 40-minute tour takes visitors through the engine room, crew cabins, galley, and wheelhouse of this 1919 working tug, and the guides bring the vessel’s history to life with stories of the crew who lived and worked aboard her. The tug tour costs a small additional fee beyond museum admission.

Other exhibit highlights include large-scale ship models, a full pilothouse from an ore carrier, a Titanic’s Wake display covering the effect of the 1912 disaster on Great Lakes shipping culture, the restored Fresnel lens from Sherwood Point Lighthouse, a War of 1812 exhibit, and the Christmas Tree Schooner display. The museum is open May through October daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults, $7 for youth ages 5 to 17, and free for children four and under. The Maritime Museum also operates the Death’s Door Maritime Museum in Gills Rock and Cana Island Lighthouse near Baileys Harbor. The Maritime Museum also organizes the annual Lighthouse Passport Days event each May and throughout the season.

Door County Historical Museum

The Door County Historical Museum at 18 North 4th Avenue is one of the best free attractions in all of Door County and one of the most beloved small museums in the Midwest, recognized by the Chicago Tribune as among the finest in its category. Admission is free, though donations are warmly appreciated and genuinely important to the museum’s continued operation.

The museum houses the deepest collection of Door County artifacts anywhere in the world, and the experience begins before you reach the main galleries with stained glass entry doors depicting four of the earliest periods in Door County history: indigenous peoples, a sailing ship, a fisherman, and a lumberman. The ground floor greets visitors with the Seasons of Life wildlife diorama, a stunning display featuring more than 100 species of native Wisconsin fauna rendered with such realism by master taxidermist Michael Orthober that it takes a moment to register that the animals are not alive. The diorama has been growing since 1997 and consistently draws the most enthusiastic responses from first-time visitors.

The lower level is a wonderland of 19th and early 20th century Door County life, with a fully realized replica street scene including a seamstress shop, newspaper office with artifacts from the Door County Advocate, a replica Trodahl’s grocery, a dime store with an original Woolworth’s sign, and an old-fashioned telephone switchboard. The Pioneer Fire Station addition houses three fully restored vintage fire trucks and an extensive firefighting collection that draws particular enthusiasm from younger visitors. Other highlights include an original jail cell from the old Sturgeon Bay jail, a horse-drawn hearse, a sleigh, exhibits on the Great Williamsonville Fire of 1871, and rotating special exhibitions covering different aspects of Door County history throughout the season. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., May 1 through October 31. Admission is free.

Miller Art Museum

Located at 107 South 4th Avenue in the heart of downtown, the Miller Art Museum is a quiet gem that celebrates Wisconsin art through a permanent collection and rotating temporary exhibitions. The museum focuses primarily on two-dimensional visual art, featuring landscapes, abstracts, and representational works by local, regional, and national artists. Admission is free, making it one of the easiest additions to any Sturgeon Bay afternoon. The permanent collection highlights Wisconsin painters across multiple eras and styles, while the temporary exhibitions introduce visitors to artists who might not otherwise reach a Door County audience. The intimate scale of the museum allows for a genuinely thoughtful experience with each piece. Check millerartmuseum.org for the current exhibition schedule.

Potawatomi State Park

Potawatomi State Park is one of Door County’s great outdoor treasures and one that many visitors overlook in their rush north to Peninsula State Park. Located on the western edge of Sturgeon Bay where the bay meets Green Bay, the park’s 1,225 acres encompass 13 miles of hiking trails that climb the Niagara Escarpment and deliver views across the water that consistently surprise first-time visitors.

The observation tower at the park’s highest point offers a sweeping 180-degree panorama across Sturgeon Bay and Green Bay, with the city’s waterfront visible below and the open water stretching to the horizon. The tower is an easy hike from the main parking area and one of the most rewarding short climbs on the peninsula. The blufftop trails along the Niagara Escarpment are among the most dramatic hiking routes in southern Door County, with limestone cliffs dropping sharply to the bay below and old-growth forest providing shade even on the hottest summer days.

Beyond hiking, Potawatomi offers mountain biking on trails that are among the most challenging and technically rewarding on the peninsula, a concrete fishing pier that is one of the most productive shore fishing spots in the county, kayak and canoe access to the bay from the park’s waterfront, and excellent cross-country skiing and snowshoeing through winter. The park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. year-round. A Wisconsin State Park vehicle admission sticker is required for entry, at $28 for Wisconsin plates and $38 for out-of-state. A daily pass at $10 for Wisconsin plates and $13 for out-of-state is also available.

Lighthouses

Sturgeon Bay is the southern anchor of Door County’s lighthouse landscape, with two distinct lighthouse structures accessible from the city and the Door County Maritime Museum serving as the hub for lighthouse information and events across the entire peninsula.

The Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Lighthouse and the Sturgeon Bay North Pierhead Light stand at the Lake Michigan entrance to the Ship Canal, one on each side of the channel. Both are active Coast Guard stations and neither is open for interior tours during the regular season, but the walk along the public breakwater pier to the North Pierhead Light is one of the most accessible and photogenic lighthouse experiences on the peninsula. The bright red North Pierhead Light, built in 1881, sits at the end of the north breakwater with open lake views in every direction. It is a popular fishing spot as well as a photography destination, and the walk along the pier offers excellent views of both lighthouse structures and of vessel traffic entering and leaving the canal.

Sherwood Point Lighthouse on the southern shore of Sturgeon Bay holds the remarkable distinction of being the last manned lighthouse on the entire Great Lakes system, keeping a keeper on duty until it was automated in 1983. It is not open for regular public access, operating as a rest facility for military personnel, but it becomes accessible during Lighthouse Passport Days. Learn more about all 11 of Door County’s historic lighthouses in our complete Door County lighthouses guide.

Golf

Sturgeon Bay is home to two of the finest 18-hole golf courses on the Door County peninsula, and both offer a quality of experience that competes with anything in the region. Whether you are a serious golfer who wants a championship challenge or a casual player looking for a beautiful round in a spectacular setting, the Sturgeon Bay golf options deliver.

Idlewild Golf Club at 4146 Golf Valley Drive has earned a four-star rating from Golf Digest readers and is widely considered Door County’s premier championship golf experience. The 18-hole, 6,876-yard layout from the tips winds through a naturalist’s dream of forests, ponds, wooden bridges, and wetlands that make the course feel as much like a tour of a nature preserve as a round of golf. Ten of the 18 holes feature some form of water hazard, and the finishing hole plays to an island green that has become one of the most talked-about concluding holes on any Door County course. The Pub and Grill at the clubhouse is a genuine destination in its own right, with 180-degree views of the course and its central pond from the upper level. Idlewild is open daily from 9 a.m. Call (920) 743-3334 for tee times.

Cherry Hills Golf and Lodge at 5905 Dunn Road is an 18-hole, par-72 public course that has been welcoming golfers since 1977 and is consistently rated among the best value golf experiences in Door County. The layout of just over 6,200 yards rolls across gently changing elevation with strategically placed bunkers and greens that reward a sharp short game. The bar and grill on site features panoramic views across the course from every seat, and the lodge rooms all overlook the fairways, making Cherry Hills one of the most complete golf-and-lodging packages on the peninsula. Lodge guests who book direct pay just $25 per player for 18 holes with a cart. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Call (920) 743-3240 for tee times.

Restaurants and Dining

Sturgeon Bay’s restaurant scene is the most year-round and consistently operational dining landscape on the Door County peninsula, with a range of options that covers everything from casual pub fare and classic Wisconsin supper clubs to fine Italian dining and creative contemporary cuisine.

Trattoria Dal Santo at 117 North 3rd Avenue is the most celebrated dining destination in Sturgeon Bay and one of the finest restaurants in all of Door County, described by multiple reviewers as the best restaurant on the entire peninsula. The menu delivers an authentic Northern Italian cooking experience in a warm, romantic setting in historic downtown, with pasta made fresh, a wine list that complements the food beautifully, and service that makes a dinner here feel genuinely special. Highlights include the lasagna, the tuna carpaccio, the fettuccine Alfredo, and the cannolis. The Caesar salad, prepared with care, draws consistent praise. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 8:30 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday. Reservations are strongly recommended for Friday and Saturday evenings.

The Inn at Cedar Crossing Restaurant and Bar at 112 North 3rd Avenue is one of the most elegant and atmospheric dining rooms in Sturgeon Bay, located in a historic downtown building that dates to 1884 and now houses both the boutique inn and the restaurant. The menu focuses on regional American cuisine with Door County ingredients woven throughout, including an exceptional cherry pie that has become one of the most talked-about desserts in the county. The restaurant is open Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The bar menu is available on the same schedule.

Kitty O’Reilly’s Irish Pub at 59 East Oak Street is one of the most beloved restaurants in Sturgeon Bay, drawing a broad and loyal cross-section of the community with its combination of great burgers, excellent fish fry, Irish specialties, and one of the most renowned loaded Bloody Marys on the peninsula. The large heated outdoor patio, pet-friendly spaces, family sandbox, and year-round operation make it one of the most versatile and welcoming dining stops in the city. Open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. and weekends from 9 a.m.

Greystone Castle at 8 North Madison Avenue dates its history to 1898 and is one of the most characterful bar and grills in Door County. The walls are lined floor to ceiling with trophy wild game and fish mounts, and the menu of honest pub fare, BBQ bacon burgers, prime rib sandwiches, homemade onion rings, and cheese curds is as satisfying as the atmosphere. Open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Morning Glory by the Bay is one of the finest breakfast destinations in Sturgeon Bay, with harbor views and a menu of fresh, quality-driven morning fare that draws a loyal crowd. For pizza, Sonny’s Pizzeria is consistently one of the highest-rated restaurants in the city on Tripadvisor and is a reliable lunch or dinner stop with excellent thin-crust Chicago-style pizza. Elmo’s Wood Fired Pizza earns praise from visitors who love a wood-fired crust with the feeling of eating in Italy.

For the full peninsula dining landscape, see our Door County restaurants guide.

Shopping Downtown

Historic Third Avenue and the surrounding blocks of downtown Sturgeon Bay have developed into one of the most walkable and genuinely enjoyable shopping districts on the Door County peninsula, with an independently owned mix of art galleries, boutiques, specialty food shops, bookstores, and gift stores that rewards a slow afternoon of browsing.

Popelka Trenchard Art Gallery and Glass Studio is one of the most distinctive creative spaces in all of Door County, combining a working glass art studio with a gallery of sculptural glass, jewelry, and decorative art by the resident artists. Watching the glass blowing process and viewing the finished works side by side makes this one of the most compelling gallery experiences on the peninsula. The gallery occupies a beautifully renovated space on Third Avenue and is a natural anchor for any downtown shopping afternoon.

Novel Bay Booksellers is the kind of independent bookstore that reminds you why independent bookstores matter: a carefully curated selection, knowledgeable and passionate staff, a strong local and regional section, and the feel of a place that genuinely loves books and the community around them. It is one of the finest small bookstores in Wisconsin and a natural stop for anyone who judges a town by the quality of its bookstore.

On Deck Clothing Company, with its Sturgeon Bay location among others across the peninsula, offers the kind of casual, comfortable clothing that fits the Door County lifestyle without trying too hard. Madison Avenue Market carries wine, olive oil, and specialty food products in a browseable downtown setting. Door County Candy is a confectioner’s dream, with house-made chocolates, fudge, and candy that make excellent gifts. Sunshine House Resale Store is worth a stop for vintage and secondhand finds that regularly surprise visitors looking for something unexpected.

Bay Shore Outfitters on the waterfront side of downtown caters to outdoor enthusiasts with quality gear for kayaking, hiking, and water sports. The downtown district also has several antique shops and home furnishings stores that draw dedicated browsers from across the peninsula on weekend afternoons. For a broader overview of Door County shopping, see our complete shopping guide.

Where to Stay

Sturgeon Bay has the most diverse and year-round lodging landscape on the Door County peninsula, ranging from a boutique downtown inn where every room has a fireplace to a full-service resort and conference center, a golf lodge, and a range of motels and vacation rentals that cover every budget.

The Scofield House – Check availability on Booking.com

The Scofield House is a beautifully restored Queen Anne mansion built in 1902 by Sturgeon Bay’s then-mayor Herbert Scofield, and it remains one of the most distinctive places to stay in Door County. The exterior features an authentic five-color Victorian paint scheme, and the interior is rich with original oak paneling, inlaid hardwood floors bordered in cherry, walnut, birch, and maple, and period furnishings that give the home a genuine sense of history rather than a manufactured one. Six guest rooms are decorated with antique beds, floral fabrics, and Victorian wallcoverings, and many include double whirlpool tubs and fireplaces. The crown jewel is the third-floor Room at the Top, a skylighted 900-square-foot suite with sweeping views and Victorian antiques throughout. The property is adults-only.

Current innkeepers Karl and Janet are a consistent highlight in guest reviews, praised for their warmth, local knowledge, and genuine hospitality. A full gourmet breakfast is served each morning featuring homemade pastries, fresh fruit, juice, and at least two hot entrees, and complimentary snacks and beverages are available throughout the day. A large wraparound front porch with a porch swing is a favorite spot for evening tea. The inn is within walking distance of downtown Sturgeon Bay’s shops, galleries, and restaurants, making it a natural base for exploring the southern end of the peninsula.

Visit The Scofield House online — Google Map of The Scofield House

Inn at Cedar Crossing

The Inn at Cedar Crossing is a boutique bed and breakfast in the heart of downtown Sturgeon Bay, occupying a beautifully restored historic building that dates to 1884. The inn has nine individually decorated rooms featuring exposed brick, hand-carved beds, antiques, and gas fireplaces, and guests enjoy a continental breakfast each morning in the second-floor common room.

An acclaimed restaurant and bar called Cedar Crossing operates in the same building, serving locally sourced cuisine inspired by the bounty of the Door County peninsula. The inn is adults-only, three blocks from the waterfront, and within walking distance of shops, galleries, and museums.

Visit Inn at Cedar Crossing online — Google Map of Inn at Cedar Crossing

Snug Harbor Inn – Check availability on Booking.com

Snug Harbor Inn sits right on the waterfront in Sturgeon Bay and offers one of the more distinctive lodging experiences on the southern end of the peninsula. Accommodations range from waterfront rooms and cottages to whirlpool cottages and spacious suites with fireplaces and windows positioned directly over in-unit hot tubs. Cottages feature full kitchens, fireplaces, whirlpool tubs, and private decks with bay views, and the property also offers two boats available for overnight docking for guests who want something truly out of the ordinary. The inn is pet-friendly, making it one of the better options for travelers bringing dogs.

The property is located one mile from Sturgeon Bay’s shops and within walking distance of fine dining, and the on-site marina offers boat rentals, docking services, and fishing charters. Outdoor fire pits, a garden, picnic areas, and a terrace give the waterfront setting room to breathe, and the views of the bay from the cottages and suites are a genuine draw. For anyone looking for a waterfront stay in Sturgeon Bay with character, flexibility, and a laid-back marina atmosphere, Snug Harbor Inn delivers.

Visit Snug Harbor Inn online — Google Map of Snug Harbor Inn

The Lodge at Leathem Smith – Check availability on Booking.com

The Lodge at Leathem Smith is a full-service waterfront resort in Sturgeon Bay with 63 rooms including standard rooms and elegant suites with fireplaces and hot tubs. The property sits alongside a 48-slip marina, and amenities include a complimentary breakfast with chef-made omelettes, an on-site restaurant and bar called Kona Bay, and facilities for weddings and events.

It is a distinctive property with deep roots in the history of Sturgeon Bay and a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere that works well for families and couples alike.

Visit The Lodge at Leathem Smith online — Google Map of The Lodge at Leathem Smith

Cliff Dwellers Resort

Cliff Dwellers Resort sits just outside Sturgeon Bay along the water and offers individually decorated cabins with kitchens, private decks, and a quiet, wooded setting that feels a world apart from the busier stretches of the peninsula.

The small marina, picnic areas, and water views make it a great choice for visitors who want a longer, more self-sufficient stay with the freedom to cook in, explore at their own pace, and genuinely unplug.

Visit Cliff Dwellers Resort online — Google Map of Cliff Dwellers Resort

White Lace Inn – Check availability on Expedia – Check availability on Booking.com

The White Lace Inn is one of those places that lives up to its name in every possible way. Named three times to the list of the ten most romantic inns in America, this Sturgeon Bay bed and breakfast occupies four beautifully preserved turn-of-the-century homes connected by garden pathways, a gazebo, and a small fish pond.

The 18 guest rooms and suites are individually decorated with antique furnishings, Victorian beds, fireplaces, and oversized whirlpools for two. Breakfast is included each morning. More than 1,300 couples have been married here, which tells you something about the atmosphere. If you are looking for the most romantic lodging option in Sturgeon Bay, the White Lace Inn is the answer.

Visit White Lace Inn online — Google Map of White Lace Inn

Glidden Lodge Beach Resort

Glidden Lodge Beach Resort is one of the best-kept secrets on the Lake Michigan side of the peninsula. Ranked the top hotel in Sturgeon Bay on TripAdvisor and recognized by Architectural Digest as one of the most remarkable lakeside resorts in the world, the property sits on one of the largest privately owned white sand beaches in Door County with views of Lake Michigan from every unit. One, two, and three-bedroom condo-style units all feature gas fireplaces, double whirlpool tubs, fully equipped kitchens, and private patios or balconies overlooking the water.

The resort includes an indoor pool, hot tub, sauna, fitness room, and tennis court, and the adjacent Donny’s Glidden Lodge Restaurant is open for dinner. Glidden Drive offers quiet, scenic road biking, and Whitefish Dunes State Park and Cave Point are just a short drive away. If you have been looking for a quieter, more secluded alternative to the bay-side towns without sacrificing quality, this is the place.

Visit Glidden Lodge Beach Resort online — Google Map of Glidden Lodge Beach Resort

Bay Shore Inn

Bay Shore Inn sits on the Bay of Green Bay about two and a half miles from downtown Sturgeon Bay, offering a waterfront condo-style experience in a setting that feels comfortably removed from the bustle of peak season.

Originally established in 1922, the property transitioned into year-round condominium-style lodging and has built a loyal following among visitors who appreciate the combination of spacious accommodations, kitchen facilities, an indoor pool, and genuine waterfront views. The Main Lodge’s fireplace sitting room and sun porch are part of the original character that guests consistently mention as a highlight of the stay. It is well-situated for day trips in either direction along the peninsula.

Visit Bay Shore Inn online — Google Map of Bay Shore Inn

Westwood Shores Waterfront Resort – Check availability on Booking.com – Check availability on Expedia

Westwood Shores Waterfront Resort is a polished waterfront option on Bay Shore Drive in Sturgeon Bay that delivers well above its profile. One and two-bedroom suites all feature bay views, fireplaces, whirlpool tubs or walk-in showers, and full kitchens.

The resort has both indoor and outdoor heated pools, a whirlpool, sauna, and fitness center, along with complimentary paddle boats and rowboats for guests who want to get out on the water. The setting is scenic and genuinely relaxing, and the location gives you easy access to Sturgeon Bay’s growing restaurant and arts scene while still feeling like a proper escape.

Visit Westwood Shores Waterfront Resort online — Google Map of Westwood Shores Waterfront Resort

For a full overview of lodging across the peninsula, see our Door County lodging guide.

Door County fills up faster than most people expect, especially from Memorial Day through Labor Day and during fall color weekends in October. If you have dates in mind, it’s worth checking availablity now.

Browse open rooms across Door County on Expedia or search current availablity on Booking.com.

Events and Festivals

Sturgeon Bay has a full calendar of events throughout the year, reflecting its status as the year-round cultural and civic center of the county.

The Fire and Ice Festival in February brings ice sculptures, outdoor activities, and winter celebration to downtown Sturgeon Bay, one of the peninsula’s most beloved cold-weather events.

The Door County Beer Festival on June 20, 2026 in Baileys Harbor is a natural day trip from Sturgeon Bay for craft beer enthusiasts.

The Door County Maritime Museum hosts a range of events throughout the season, including special programming tied to the Lighthouse Passport Days weekends. Third Avenue Playhouse, Sturgeon Bay’s beloved intimate theater, runs productions throughout the year in its downtown venue and is one of the cultural anchors of the community.

The Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Lighthouse is open for special tours and events during Lighthouse Passport Days, giving visitors closer access to the canal structures than is normally available. Waterfront Mary’s Bar and Grill hosts live music three nights a week throughout the summer season, providing one of the most enjoyable outdoor entertainment venues in the city.

For the complete Door County festival calendar, see our Door County festivals guide.

Planning Tips for Sturgeon Bay

Sturgeon Bay operates year-round in a way that the smaller peninsula villages do not, which means it is one of the most reliable destinations regardless of when you visit. The museums, golf courses, core downtown restaurants, and Potawatomi State Park are all operational from spring through fall with reduced hours or seasonal closures in winter at some locations. Call ahead for specific hours if you are visiting November through April.

If you are making the drive from Chicago or Milwaukee, Sturgeon Bay is the first significant stop on the peninsula at roughly three hours from Chicago via I-41 and Highway 42. Consider spending your first night here rather than pressing north on arrival day. The Inn at Cedar Crossing makes an excellent arrival-night stay, and a morning breakfast at Morning Glory by the Bay followed by a couple of hours at the Door County Historical Museum and the Maritime Museum gives you a grounding in Door County’s character and history that makes everything you experience in the northern villages richer.

Parking downtown is easy by Door County summer standards, with a free public lot just off Third Avenue and street parking available on most blocks outside of the busiest summer weekends. The downtown is compact and walkable, with the Maritime Museum, Historical Museum, Miller Art Museum, Inn at Cedar Crossing, Trattoria Dal Santo, and most of the shopping district all within comfortable walking distance of each other.

A Walmart Supercenter and a Pick ‘n Save grocery store in Sturgeon Bay make it the best place on the peninsula to stock up on supplies before heading north. Many visitors planning a multi-night stay on the northern peninsula stop in Sturgeon Bay on the way through to provision for their lodging’s kitchen or cooler.

For a complete overview of everything the Door County peninsula has to offer beyond Sturgeon Bay, our complete Door County activities guide is the best place to start.

Related Guides

• Things to Do in Door County
• Potawatomi State Park Guide
• Door County Lighthouses Guide
• Best Museums in Door County
• Best Restaurants in Door County
• Where to Stay in Door County
• The Door County Fish Boil Experience
• Shopping in Door County
• Door County Festivals
• Door County Kayaking Guide
• The Complete Guide to Peninsula State Park
• Guide to Egg Harbor