Wisconsin’s Cape Cod of the Midwest Looks Even More Spectacular In the Winter

Probably as long as people have been vacationing in Door County, they have made comparisons to Cape Cod. The rocky shorelines, beaches, and quaint villages of the county offer a smaller Midwest version of that beautiful and famous east coast destination. Door County is gorgeous in any season, but in the winter, it’s simply magical – put on a warm sweater and start driving north up the peninsula. Here’s what’s waiting for you on Wisconsin's Cape Cod of the Midwest.

Door County is located on a peninsula that extends northeast into the cold, clear waters of Lake Michigan. Wisconsin is shaped a little like a left hand and Door County is the hand’s thumb, so the county has picked up the nickname “the thumb.”

It’s a beautiful place, especially in the winter.

The county was settled by Europeans in the 1800s, who made a living fishing, logging, and farming. In later years an orchard industry thrived. But in recent decades, tourism became a dominant industry.

As the area is so beautiful, it was only a matter of time the rest of the state and country discovered that, too.

For a long time, the tourism season was essentially the summer months, with another surge of visitors during the fall color season. In the winter, everything would close and the county was very quiet. But this has changed.

And it’s no surprise; there are so many things to do in the winter in Wisconsin.

People have discovered one of Door County’s secrets: it’s incredibly beautiful in the winter months.

One of its other secrets? The fact that it reminds many visitors of Massachusetts. In fact, it’s often referred to as the "Cape Cod of the Midwest."

If you love the outdoors, there’s a lot to do on a Door County winter day. Ice fishing, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice skating are all possibilities.

And with lighthouses like this, make Cape Cod Wisconsin a must-see this winter.

You may want to just relax and enjoy a classic and colorful Door County sunset – on ice.

And enjoy all of the fun things to do in the winter in Wisconsin.

Have you visited the Cape Cod of the Midwest? What did you think? Did it feel like visiting Massachusetts? Let us know in the comments below!

For lodging information and more ideas of things to do on a Door County winter day, visit the Destination Door County website. Here are some delightful day trips in Wisconsin you should seek out this winter.