Sturgeon Bay – The Facts

Without further ado, this is the long and short (more short than long) on what to do in Sturgeon Bay. Facts only, commentary omitted (for the most part 😉

Near
– Door County (30 minutes north)
– Green Bay (30 minutes SW)
– Algoma/Kewaunee (30-45 minutes SE)

Nature/Outdoor Activities
– Potawatomi State Park
– Sturgeon Bay Canal Trails (two) and Nature Preserve
– Ida Bay Preserve
– Ice Age National Scenic Trail (starts/ends in Potawatomi State park)
– Bayshore Blufflands State Natural Area
– Kellner Fen Natural Area
– Kayak Door County
– Several places to rent boats as well, including canoes and kayaks

Beer/Wine/Distilleries
– Starboard Brewing Company
– Bridge Up Brewing Company
– Door 44 Winery

Supper Clubs
– The Mill
– Nightingale

Got Kids?
– Several pick-your-own Orchards (cherries and/or apples – based on the season)
– Robertson Orchards
– Choice Orchards
– Cherry Lanes Arcade Bar (Ok, quick bit of commentary here, I can’t not for this place. If I could only choose ONE thing to do in Sturgeon Bay, this would be it. Hands down. Great to go here with kids, great without kids too)
– Numerous Parks
– Door County Maritime Museum

No Kids?
– Two golf courses (Cherry Hills & Idlewild)
– Fun downtown and main street scene… sports bar, Irish Pub, two breweries, main street shops with plenty of variety
– Antique store downtown
– Cherry Lanes Arcade Bar
– Door County Maritime Museum
– Door County Historical Museum
– Traditional Fish Boil at Waterfront Mary’s
– Sturgeon Bay Canal Light (for a quick photo opp)

Lodging
– Motel 57 (personal favorite, small kitchenette to save costs on eating, quaint and cozy inside, CHEAP in cost, not appearances/amenities)
– Snug Harbor Inn
– Holiday Music Motel (I’m gonna be promoting motels a lot on here… they’re due for a comeback)
– NUMEROUS Bed and Breakfasts – The Foxglove Inn, Whitelace Inn, Garden Gate Bed and Breakfast… and more
– Resorts/Hotels including: Stone Harbor Resort, Bridgeport Waterfront Resort, The Wanderlust Hotel, The Lodge… I could go on, but long story short you won’t be hurting for lodging accommodations. I haven’t stayed at them all, but would love to!

Dining
– Ok, I’m not going to name every place to eat here, it would be ridiculous to even attempt that, but my HIGHEST recommendations go out to: Sonny’s Pizzeria for a great pizza you won’t regret, the two supper clubs for a nice dining experience, Waterfront Mary’s for a classic dive bar experience with a traditional fish boil, and Door Co. Fire Company for a burger and some beers if you need to get your sports fix.

Last but not least… I have two points I like to focus on for whether or not YOU should visit.
– Point 1: Would I live here? From time to time during my travels, I often lapse into a daydream about living in that city. I will randomly get the urge to just pick up and move… nothing major, not a total life reset, but a nice change of scenery. And so I ask myself, “could I see myself living here? Like, if I find a decent job I enjoy that pays decently too, would I be able to enjoy living in this town/city?” If the answer is yes, I believe you need to visit this city… and for Sturgeon Bay, the answer is YES.
– Point 2: Do I want to visit this place again? Regardless of whether I’ve done it all yet or not, do I want to ever revisit here? Life is short after all… would I want to spend $200-$300 on a 3 day weekend HERE, when I could go somewhere new? If the answer is yes, I believe you need to visit this city… and for Sturgeon Bay, the answer is YES.

What did I miss? If you’re a local, what do you recommend that isn’t on this list? Or if you’ve been here before but I left something out, please let me know in the comments! I DO plan on coming back, and I’m always open to doing the things I haven’t done before. Life is too short, and I want to spend it in WI.