Activities: Washington Island, Wisconsin

Washington Island, one of more than 40 islands surrounding mainland Door County, is accessible by ferry. The ferries cross Porte Des Mortes (Death's Door), named because the waters of Lake Michigan and Green Bay meet there; unpredictable winds and shifting currents caused early French settlers to lose control of their vessels while going around the tip of the peninsula of Door County. In fact, Door County ultimately got its name from this piece of geography. Today's ferries safely carry autos, passengers, bikes, trucks, buses, and supplies 365 days a year. The trip lasts about 30 minutes each way. The restaurant at Northport offers views of the mainland ferry dock and the path the ferry takes to/from the Island. The island offers the Viking Train Tour and the Islander Bus/Luncheon Tour for those who wish to leave their car in Gills Rock. In the middle of the island, Lookout Tower provides views of much of the island. You'll find the County's oldest lighthouse on the Island (Pottawatomie Lighthouse), a variety of small museums (Jackson Harbor Maritime Museum, Jacobson Museum, and the Farm Museum), School House Beach (a calm harbor covered in rocks), and a glimpse of life on an island.

More things to do in northern Door County:
Fernwood Farm
Ellison Bay
Newport State Park
Europe Lake & Rowley's Bay
Gills Rock
Northport
Washington Island
Sister Bay, Ephraim, Fish Creek, Egg Harbor, Bailey's Harbor
Seasonal Activities

Questions? Call (920) 854-7324 or contact us online. Or, make a reservation now!