Probably as long as people have been vacationing in Door County, they have made comparisons to Cape Cod. The rocky shorelines, beaches, and quaint villages of the county offer a smaller Midwest version of that beautiful and famous east coast destination. Door County is gorgeous in any season, but in the winter, it’s simply magical – put on a warm sweater and start driving north up the peninsula. Here’s what’s waiting for you on Wisconsin’s Cape Cod of the Midwest.

Door County is located on a peninsula that extends northeast into the cold, clear waters of Lake Michigan. Wisconsin is shaped a little like a left hand and Door County is the hand’s thumb, so the county has picked up the nickname “the thumb.”
Facebook / Destination Door County
It’s a beautiful place, especially in the winter.
The county was settled by Europeans in the 1800s, who made a living fishing, logging, and farming. In later years an orchard industry thrived. But in recent decades, tourism became a dominant industry.
Facebook / Sister Bay - Door County, Wisconsin
As the area is so beautiful, it was only a matter of time the rest of the state and country discovered that, too.
For a long time, the tourism season was essentially the summer months, with another surge of visitors during the fall color season. In the winter, everything would close and the county was very quiet. But this has changed.
Facebook / Destination Door County
And it’s no surprise; there are so many things to do in the winter in Wisconsin.

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People have discovered one of Door County’s secrets: it’s incredibly beautiful in the winter months.
Facebook / Destination Door County
One of its other secrets? The fact that it reminds many visitors of Massachusetts. In fact, it’s often referred to as the "Cape Cod of the Midwest."
If you love the outdoors, there’s a lot to do on a Door County winter day. Ice fishing, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice skating are all possibilities.
Facebook / Sister Bay - Door County, Wisconsin
And with lighthouses like this, make Cape Cod Wisconsin a must-see this winter.
You may want to just relax and enjoy a classic and colorful Door County sunset – on ice.
Facebook / Sister Bay - Door County, Wisconsin
And enjoy all of the fun things to do in the winter in Wisconsin.

Have you visited the Cape Cod of the Midwest? What did you think? Did it feel like visiting Massachusetts? Let us know in the comments below!

For lodging information and more ideas of things to do on a Door County winter day, visit the Destination Door County website. Here are some delightful day trips in Wisconsin you should seek out this winter.

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More to Explore

Cape Cod of the Midwest

Megan McDonald | December 02, 2022

Is there anything to do in Door County in the winter?

There are tons of fun things to do in Door County in the winter! Door County’s winter activities cover all of the popular things to do outside in the winter, like:

      • Cross country skiing
      • Winter biking 
      • Ice fishing
      • Snowshoeing
      • Ice skate

 

Do people visit Door County in the winter?

People visit Door County in the winter and in the summer months! Due to the temperatures and humidity, Door County is a fun place to go to enjoy winter recreation. If you want to walk the beach, you’ll find unique, glittering ice stacks all along the way. It’s an experience that helps make Door County one of the most romantic places to go in the wintertime.

Are shops open in Door County in winter?

Yes, Door County shops are open in winter. In fact, you’ll find all of your favorite restaurants, like Al Johnson’s, open for the winter months. A popular Swedish restaurant that has been around for 58 years, they are well versed in keeping people warm in the cold months.

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Door County, WI, USA