Clay Bay Pottery
Clay Bay Pottery in Ellison Bay has been creating beautiful hand-thrown pottery and tiles since 1976, founded by artists Jeanne and David Aurelius.…
- No dogs
Ellison Bay
Bluff views, dark skies, and the trailheads we love most. Bring proper footwear.
our picks
13 places we go
Ellison Bay Community Park & Beach
Still popular, but calmer than the marquee beaches — the one we pick when we want room to spread out. Playground and courts keep restless kids busy…
- Dogs, with caveats
- Free
- Kid Approved
Newport State Beach
Rustic, off the beaten path, and gorgeous. The beach we choose for a slow picnic afternoon — and the dog gets to come.
- Dogs welcome
Sand Bay Town Park
The quiet one. Beautiful, more private, and so shallow that kids can walk out forever. Pack a picnic and your own floaties; there are no rentals and…
- Dogs, with caveats
- Free
- Kid Approved
Turtle Ridge Gallery Boutique
Turtle Ridge Gallery-Boutique turns 40 this year! 🐢✨ This unique Ellison Bay gallery has been part of my life since childhood, and several members…
- Dogs, with caveats
Kick Ash Coffee
Coffee roasted and poured in an old country church at the top of the peninsula — plus a gluten-free bakery and their own Door County Love granola to…
- Dogs welcome
- Veg options
White Pine at The Ellison Inn
Where nostalgic Door County supper-club charm meets Nordic cooking: clean flavors, seasonal ingredients, comforting and refined at once. The…
- No dogs
- Veg options
Mink River Basin
The casual Ellison Bay standby — steaks, local whitefish, burgers, and a Friday fish fry, with a giant arcade room that buys the grown-ups a second…
- Dogs, with caveats
- Kid Approved
- Veg options
The Clearing Folk School
A folk school in the woods above Green Bay, teaching writing, woodworking, painting, and more the slow way. Even a walk through the grounds resets…
- No dogs
Henriksen’s Fish House
Door County has so many wonderful places to buy local fish, and our favorite close to home is Henriksen’s Fish House. It is centrally located,…
- No dogs
Door Bluff Headlands County Park
One of our favorite hikes anywhere, and the best bluff-top water views on the peninsula. The first stretch is steep and rooty, then it settles into…
- Dogs welcome
- Free
- Sunset Spot
Newport State Park
Where we go to lose the crowds. Quiet forest trails, miles of empty shoreline, and skies dark enough that the park is certified for stargazing. Fern…
- Dogs welcome
Island Orchard Cider
French Normandy-style hard cider made from apples grown on Washington Island and ferried across Death’s Door. Tastings and flights in the Ellison…
- Dogs, with caveats