While peak foliage is still weeks away, now is the perfect time to secure your spot for what many consider Door County’s most beautiful season. Our fall color forecast looks promising, with cooler nights and sunny days creating ideal conditions for the spectacular reds, oranges, and golds that transform our landscape.
The shoulder season offers the perfect combination: comfortable temperatures for hiking and exploring, fewer crowds at popular attractions, and the chance to witness nature’s grand finale before winter’s quiet beauty takes the stage.
Make your fall color reservations now – October fills up fast!
Door County Fall Colors are a Transformative Experience
Many words have been written about Door County’s spectacular fall colors, but one writer’s transformative experience changed her entire outlook on travel. What started as curiosity about photos of our autumn landscape became a transformative experience that opened her eyes to the “lush trees that seemed to go on forever in vibrant hues of red, orange, yellow, and green.” They described our peninsula as looking “like something out of a Hallmark movie” – a sentiment we hear from visitors year after year.
The magic isn’t just in the colors themselves, but in the complete experience: historic lighthouses framed by brilliant maples, charming downtown areas carpeted in fallen leaves, and the authentic traditions like our famous fish boils that bring communities together. This is the Door County we’re proud to share, and why fall reservations fill up months in advance.
Don’t just take our word for it – experience the transformation yourself. Book your fall getaway now before peak season arrives!
Holiday Magic on the Horizon
The holidays come early to Door County, and this year’s celebrations promise to be more magical than ever. The Sister Bay Christkindlmarkt will return again this November, transforming our charming village into a Nordic winter wonderland complete with local artisans, traditional foods, and that unmistakable holiday spirit.
Planning your holiday getaway now means securing the best dates and avoiding the rush. Whether you’re looking for a romantic winter escape or a family celebration, Door County’s authentic holiday charm creates memories that last a lifetime. For a great overview of what the Door County Christkindlmarkt is all about, what this great video from the Al Johnson’s YouTube channel:
Episode 137 | A Visit to Christkindlmarkt | DOOR COUNTY GIRL
Eagle Bluff Lighthouse After Dark
Experience Door County’s maritime history in a completely new way at the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse Twilight Tours. The Door County Historical Society invites guests to explore the historic lighthouse after dark on Saturday, September 27 and Saturday, October 4, from 6-8 PM, surrounded by the glow of lantern light while musicians, storytellers and poets perform throughout the evening, conveying the history and spirit of Door County’s maritime past.
There’s something truly magical about experiencing our lighthouses as they were originally intended – as beacons in the darkness. These intimate evening tours offer a rare opportunity to step back in time and imagine the dedicated keepers who tended these lights through countless storms and seasons.
One More Thing: Door County Shipwrecks
Local Door County Adventure Rafting owner Matt Olson discovered the 138-year-old wreck of the Frank D. Barker in Lake Michigan this summer while scouting new rafting locations, marking his third major shipwreck find and adding another piece to Door County’s rich maritime history that includes over 240 known shipwrecks in surrounding waters.
Matt Olson Discovers Another Long-lost Shipwreck