Door County

The peninsula separates Green Bay from Lake Michigan and takes its name from Porte des Morts, the strait at its northern tip, a name drawn from Native American tales of a disastrous crossing that early French explorers heard, and the passage holds many shipwrecks. Ten historically significant lighthouses stand along the shores, most of them from the 19th century, among some fifty lights in all. Cherry orchards cover a good deal of the interior - the lake moderates the spring frost the same way it does at Traverse City. The fish boil is the local performance: whitefish and potatoes cooked in a cauldron over wood, with kerosene thrown on the fire at the end to boil the pot over and carry off the oil, which produces a large flare and is the reason people watch. Washington Island lies across the strait by ferry.

What you'll find

• Ten historic lighthouses - most of them from the 19th century.
• Cherry orchards - kept from late frost by the lake.
• The fish boil overboil - kerosene on the fire, a deliberate flare.
• Washington Island - across the Porte des Morts strait by ferry.

When to go

May to October; blossom in late May, colour in October. Several days.

What to expect

Summer and colour weekends fill the peninsula and the two roads through it. Winter closes most businesses. The ferry to Washington Island is weather-dependent. Accommodation books far ahead.

Nearby

Washington Island is north by ferry; Green Bay is south.