Door County Communities: Egg Harbor
As I’ve said many times, Door County is a wonderful vacation destination made up of several quaint, little towns up and down the peninsula.
In my mind, there’s no place better in the world to spend a long, or a short, weekend.
And one of the most beautiful spots in Door County is a tiny village called Egg Harbor.
Located on the bay side of the peninsula, Egg Harbor is the first of the villages you’ll hit once you pass through Sturgeon Bay on Highway 42.
For over a decade, my family owned a place at Meadow Ridge Resort. So, needless to say, Egg Harbor holds an incredibly special place in my heart.
As you enter Egg Harbor, you immediately feel the stress melt away. Restaurants, shops, and hotels line main street through downtown.
Egg Harbor Restaurants
Need a bite to eat after the long drive up? There are so many choices, your head may start spinning. Check The Best of Door County directory for a complete Door County restaurant list, but our favorite Egg Harbor stops include Mojo Rosa’s, Casey’s BBQ and Smokehouse, Village Café, Rusty Tractor Breakfast Barn and Shipwrecked Brew Pub. You’re not going to go wrong a any of them.
Tasty margaritas, and delicious Mexican cuisine has made Mojo Rosa’s a long-standing family favorite. In fact, one time when my son was younger, we were really looking forward to watching a Chicago Blackhawks playoff game. We realized while here for dinner that our hotel didn’t have the channel the game was going to be on.
The owner – Kim – heard us talking about our disappointment and told us to come back at game time and she’d give us a table next to the television. My son and I sat and watched the game for hours, and she kept coming over to see how we were doing. That experience is one of the reasons we love this place, and that’s the type of people you’ll find in Door County.
Casey’s BBQ has a beautiful patio that’s perfect for a summer evening meal. I enjoy the barbeque ribs with a cold one, and my wife likes the pulled pork sandwich. They also have a great Friday night fish fry, and a full kid’s menu. Like most restaurants on the peninsula, Covid precautions are in place for your safety.
Looking for a great breakfast joint? You can’t go wrong at either The Village Café, or the Rusty Tractor Breakfast Barn. In fact, both The Village Café, and Rusty Tractor were named to The Best of Door County’s 2020 Best Breakfast List. Both are great places to stop for an omelet or a stack of pancakes before you start your daily adventure.
Shipwrecked Brew Pub is another top-notch joint.
The original burned down a few years ago, but they re-built the restaurant, and within a year, were back up feeding hungry visitors. Foods for all tastes pair well with their homemade microbrews.
Having brewed their own beer in-house since 1997 – it’s some of the best you find on the peninsula.
We stopped in just a few weeks ago and despite the Coronavirus pandemic, they haven’t missed a beat. Tables were spaced out, and all Covid precautions were in place. And of course, the food was delicious.
Egg Harbor Lodging
Need a place to stay while you’re here? You’re in luck.
Dozens of resorts, hotels, B&B’s and campgrounds offer accommodations to fit any budget. In addition to our place at Meadow Ridge, I’ve stayed at six different places in Egg Harbor, including five hotels and a rented house. I’ve never had a bad night’s sleep, and I’ve never been disappointed in a place I’ve stayed here – ever.
The five hotels we’ve stayed were the Ashbrooke Hotel, Landmark Resort, Lull-Abi Inn, Newport Resort, The Landing Resort, and each has their specific, individual Door County Charm. Check out our full Egg Harbor directory for a complete list of Egg Harbor lodging options.
Egg Harbor Shopping
Egg Harbor has some of the cutest shops on the peninsula, including those at Main Street Shops. An indoor-outdoor mall type setup, these stores are a great shopping experience, regardless if the weather’s warm and sunny, or chilly and rainy.
Some other great shopping spots include, Brilliant Stranger, Door County Nature Works, Fat Louie’s Olive Oil Company, and Spot. These are a few of the great stores you can stroll through, and because there are no chains, each shop is independent and unique. You can shop all day and find something new at every turn.
If you want to stock up on Door County’s great fruits, vegetables, jams, donuts, pies, coffee, and craft gifts, check out our Best of Door County 2020 award winner, Wood Orchard Market. It’s always a must stop on our trips.
In fact, our fridge at home is always stocked with Wood Orchard condiments, including the Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing, the Vidalia Onion & Creamy Cucumber Dressing, and my wife’s favorite, the Sweet Bourbon Glaze. We don’t grill without it.
A great stop when you pull into town is Main Street Market – a grocery store like no other.
It has everything you’d want from a big chain supermarket, but it’s locally owned, and family friendly.
They are there for you at every turn, whether you need help at the meat department, the bakery, or getting your groceries to your car.
There’s no questioning why this is a Door County favorite.
More to do around Egg Harbor
If the weather’s nice, head down to the Egg Harbor Marina. Owned by the Village of Egg Harbor, it’s a nice way to spend an afternoon. Harbor View Park, a public beach, and a long pier are highlights of the marina; we often take a walk out the pier to enjoy the scenery. It’s fun to look in the lake for fish swimming near the boats.
Plus, Harbor View Park is home to one of Door County’s top fall events – Egg Harbor Ale Fest.
Egg Harbor Ale Fest is a beer lover’s dream, where more than 40 brewers gather to hand out samplings of more than 100 craft beers. The festival also has great live music, and free trolley shuttle service is available. I’ve attended this festival, and it is everything you want an ale fest to be.
Stop me if you’ve heard me say this before, but if you’re looking to stay in Egg Harbor, book your spot early. Vacancies fill up quickly, so if you’re looking towards the spring or summer, book now. Check out our Door County lodging directory for a complete listing of Door County hotels, resorts, bed & breakfasts, and campgrounds.
What do you like to do in Egg Harbor? Let us know in the comments below
