Door County, Wisconsin: The Place to Be This July

Wisconsin’s Door County is one of those destinations that enthralls family travelers year-round, but, this July, it is the place to be. Cherry-picking season, which luckily falls in the middle of summer to perfectly coincide with most schools’ summer breaks, is finally here, and with some of the largest fruit orchards in the state, there are endless ways to enjoy the fun.

Whether you want to witness the beauty of the sprawling orchards from afar, enjoy some delicious dishes made with the sweet fruit, or go hands-on and do some picking of your own, Door County in July is the place to be to experience cherry season.

You can view the orchards in all their glory from many places throughout Door County, but taking a scenic drive along Highway 42 lets you enjoy the drive while exploring a large portion of the area. Some of the best places along the highway to see the cherry orchards are just north of Sister Bay and Egg Harbor and south of Fish Creek.

The town of Forestville is home to De-Lite Country Ovens, where you can pick up all kinds of cherry-themed treats, like chocolate-covered cherries, cherry juice and even cherry barbecue sauce. To give the family its very own cherry-picking experience, great for kids living in big cities who wouldn’t otherwise have access to farming experiences, head to Soren’s Valhalla Orchards in Sturgeon Bay, which offers a family-friendly experience on the family-run farm.

Once you’ve had your fill of Door County’s cherries, there are plenty of other ways to entertain the family in the summer sun. Five different state parks and 53 beaches along the shore of Lake Michigan (beach season runs from June through September when the waters are just right for swimming) give you plenty of outdoor adventures, and Northern Sky Theater is the perfect place to spend an evening enjoying a night of original family-friendly theater among the pine trees. During the summer, the talented cast performs six nights a week under the starry skies at Peninsula State Park Amphitheater and six nights a week at the indoor Gould Theater.