What’s the first thing you think of when we say Spring Break vacation? Like most people, we think of a warm beach somewhere south, but because that’s what everyone thinks of it’s usually crowded and can be a bit overwhelming. So how about rethinking what Spring Break vacation means and head north to Door County? And what sounds more like a Spring Break activity than visiting some Door County wineries and breweries! If you’re staying at Bay Shore Inn, here are the closest Door County wineries and breweries to visit so your designated driver isn’t driving all over the peninsula.
4 Wineries Less Than 20 Minutes From Bay Shore Inn
Wineries in Sturgeon Bay
The closets winery to Bay Shore Inn is a quick seven-minute drive to Door 44 Winery. Their state-of-the-art facility is located on a six-acre vineyard right on Highway 42 just north of Sturgeon Bay. They offer winery tours, and wine tastings, flights, and bottles for purchase.
Keep heading a couple minutes north on Highway 42 and you’ll find Red Oak Winery in Carlsville. They offer a variety of red, white, dessert, and fruit wines in their famous barrel room. Red Oak uses French-style wine making techniques to produce their red wines, and German-stye wine making practices and temperature-controlled fermentation processes for their white and fruit wines.
Just across the street from Red Oak Winery is Door Peninsula Winery. Door Peninsula Winery has been a mainstay of Door County for 45 years. Door Peninsula Winery has produced more than 200 award-winning wines, ranging from robust reds to crisp whites, everyone will find something they love. With more than 60 wines and ciders available at one of their two tasting bars, it’s a must-stop when planning a wine tasting day.
And finally, just a couple minutes east from Carlsville is Simon Creek Vineyard and Winery. They aren’t currently offering tours, but their tasting room is still open to try all their wonderful wines. You have to try their Double Gold Medal winning Untouchable Red and Door County Cherry wines when you visit.
4 Breweries Less Than 20 Minutes From Bay Shore Inn
Breweries in Sturgeon Bay
The closest Brewery to Bay Shore Inn is Starboard Brewing Company right back in Sturgeon Bay. Starboard is Door County’s first nano-brewery. They have a taproom where you can sample some of their in-house brewed craft beers and pair it with some Wisconsin cheese or smoked salmon.
Just across the Michigan Street Bridge is Bridge Up Brewing Company. Bridge Up Brewing is a small-batch, ego-free, craft brewery for the people of Door County that focuses on brewing varied, input-driven, ever-changing beers with unique flavor profiles that change seasonally. Bridge Up’s flagship beers are always on tap, but their other taps rotate often so they’re always worth a stop to check out what’s new.
Breweries in Egg Harbor
Heading up north to Egg Harbor you’ll find two places to stop. First is One Barrel Brewing Company where you can try out some of their tap beers alongside a Roman style pizza from Wild Pizza Works. Then head across the street to Shipwrecked Brew Pub where they’re serving several year-round and seasonal brews.
See you for Spring Break!
To hit up some of these wineries and breweries plus some other stops, a Door County Trolley Tour is also a great option. Book your rooms at Bay Shore Inn and start planning your wine and beer tours for Spring Break!