Favorite Scenic Fall Color Drives

Fall color along Highway 92 south of Mount Horeb, Wisconsin
Fall color along Highway 92 south of Mount Horeb, Wisconsin
Fall Color Drive – Mt. Horeb to Monroe

Wisconsin, Minnesota, UP Fall Color

October 3, 2022. Fall color change is beginning in Wisconsin; we are starting to see the lime green peeking out among the wooded hillsides. Looks like it might be a week or two before Peak Color. But cool and dry weather is coming in a few days so that could produce some changes quickly.

The earliest fall color will occur in Northern Wisconsin from Vilas County to Hurley-Ironwood in the western Upper Peninsula. But timing your trip to catch real good color can be fickle and sometimes catching the earliest color doesn’t mean catching the best!

For your upcoming scenic fall color drive planning, I am listing lower down this page some of our earlier ScenicPathways articles on some of our favorite scenic fall color drives in Wisconsin, along the Mississippi Great River Road, and around Lake Superior.

Fall color St. Croix Interstate Park
Hiking along the river bluffs at St. Croix Interstate Park
Effigy Mounds Park Fall Color Scene
There were some nice splashes of fall color in mid-October at Effigy Mounds National Park

tahquamenon falls fall color
The Upper Falls at Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Upper Peninsula Fall Color Drive
fall color mn hwy 371
Fall color along the scenic drive to Lake Itaska, the headwaters of the Mississippi River.

Fall Color Drives – Wisconsin, Minnesota, Upper Peninsula

Wisconsin Travel – Fall Color Report

Top Door County Golf Courses

Golf Course Reviews Door County Wisconsin

Golf Courses reviewed in this article: Idlewild (Sturgeon Bay, WI), Orchards at Egg Harbor (Egg Harbor, WI), and Peninsula State Park Golf Course (Ephraim, WI)

Door County Golf Courses
Fall Golfing in Door County Wisconsin

During our trip to enjoy fall colors in Wisconsin’s Door County, my brother-in-law Dan and I planned to sample some of the peninsula’s golf courses. Based on reviews and recommendations we selected three courses to play during our stay: Idlewild (Sturgeon Bay, WI), Orchards at Egg Harbor (Egg Harbor, WI), and Peninsula State Park Golf Course (Ephraim, WI). Had we more time, we would have also played the Alpine Golf Course in Egg Harbor, but since Dan had played the course before, we elected to play the courses he had not played in the past. Although the weather turned abnormally cool and was also cloudy several days with some rain, Dan and I managed to play all three courses. The three courses we played, plus the Alpine courses, are the major 18 hole golf courses in the Door County peninsula.



Overall Golf Course Impressions and Ratings

Most Scenic Door Country Golf Course

The Most Scenic Door County Golf Course is The Peninsula Golf Course. The Peninsula State Park course is built into the north side of the bluff overlooking Ephraim and Lake Superior. Because it is part of the state park forest, except for the fairways, the landscape is heavily wooded with mature trees, some showing vibrant fall colors. The setting of the course offers several scenic vistas and has some dramatic elevation changes on some of the holes.

A very close second in terms of scenery is the Idlewild Golf Course south of Sturgeon Bay. Idlewild mixes woods, groves of trees, water, and terrain variety into an attractive combination. Where Peninsula’s beauty is primarily due to its bluff location and Mother Nature’s work on the surrounding forest, Idlewild’s attraction owes more to man’s skillful landscape design and course layout.

Most enjoyable Door County Golf Course

While we enjoyed all three courses, the Orchards of Egg Harbor got our vote for the must fun and challenge. Again Idlewild was a very close second. Peninsula was a clear third. I’ll comment more on this later.

Best Golf Pro Shop, Club House, Customer Service in Door County

Idlewild Golf Course wins this category hands down. The well-outfitted pro shop was staffed by a hospitable pro who actually gets out on his course and plays. He took the time to talk some shop about clubs and tips on playing the course. The second floor lounge has a very nice 180 degree view overlooking the golf course. The bar was staffed by the kind of people you find running your favorite neighborhood bar – friendly, service-oriented, down-home folks.

Since the temps were below 50 degrees, the course was not overly busy so Dan and I had lunch at the turn. Our sandwiches and chili were outstanding, truly home-made, made fresh and served hot. The food and beverage service is good enough to warrant a trip there even if not golfing. In fact, it was apparent several guys at the bar were there for that reason. They weren’t golfing.

The Orchards at Egg Harbor has a nice facility but is a clear second. The gentleman in the pro shop was pleasant enough but the bar-restaurant food quality and service was below par.

Peninsula State Park Golf Course comes in third in this category because it is more spartan facility and unfortunately showed evidence of being a stereotypical government run facility: microwave food, no bar service, limited pro shop selection, and lukewarm customer service.

Door County Golf Course Profiles

Review Peninsula State Park Golf Course

Peninsula Golf Course, Door County WI
Peninsula State Park Golf Course, Door County Wisconsin

Peninsula Park Golf Course Website

Stats. 3 tee boxes. Red 5428 yards, Blue 6304 yards. Blue tees rating 69.8, slope 123

Review and Comments. Fairways and greens were in very good condition, but if you miss the fairway in some cases you are on bare dirt with roots and rocks. Some tee boxes were too dry. Peninsula offers some interesting holes with unique challenges. Terrain changes and some narrower fairways provide most of the challenge. There are some great vistas of Lake Michigan from some holes.

Value. Weekend and mid-summer rates were competitive with other Door County courses. However, of the three courses were played it offers the least value. There are no fall, senior, nor weekday rates, and a State park daily or annual sticker required for entrance to the course.

Peninsula Golf Course, Door County WI
Peninsula Golf Course
Peninsula Golf Course, Door County WI
Peninsula Golf Course

Review Orchards at Egg Harbor Golf Course

Orchards at Egg Harbor Golf Course
Orchards at Egg Harbor Golf Course, Egg Harbor, WI

Orchards Golf Course Website

Stats. 5 tee boxes. Red 5485 yards, Black 7206 yards. Blue tees rating 72.4, slope 126

Course Review & Comments. The greens, fairways, and tee boxes were in good condition. The scorecard offers nice graphics and tips on playing each hole. Orchards or woods line most fairways, balls missing the fairway are usually playable. There are several interesting holes that combine challenge, yet are not gimmicky. We found number 16 the most scenic and challenging hole.

A Good Value. The Orchards offers both mid-week and fall rates and was a decent value.

Orchards at Egg Harbor Golf Course
Orchards at Egg Harbor Golf Course, Egg Harbor, WI
Orchards at Egg Harbor Golf Course
Orchards at Egg Harbor Golf Course, Egg Harbor, WI

Review Idlewild Golf Course

Idlewild Golf Course, Door County, WI
Idlewild Golf Course Door County, Wisconsin

Idlewild Golf Course Website

Stats. 5 tee boxes. Red 5354, Black 6876. Blue tee rating 70.7, slope 126

Course Review & Comments. Water is a factor on 10 of the 18 holes, adding to a pleasing variety of challenges from hole to hole. The fairways are moderately open, with groves of trees sprinkled throughout the course and woods lining some of the fairways. It is a Par 72 course, but the par 4 holes were not excessively long giving the average golfer a chance to reach the green in two. Favorite Holes: Number 9 is an island green, number 18 green is surrounded by water on 3 sides

Good Value. Offers both mid-week and fall rates. Best value in Door County.

Idlewild Golf Course, Door County, WI
Idlewild Golf Course, Sturgeon Bay, WI
Idlewild Golf Course, Door County, WI
Idlewild Golf Course, Sturgeon Bay, WI
A Swing Golf
David Leadbetter’s new A swing golf could improve your game. I’ll be trying it out this spring. (amazon affiliate link)

More Golf Course Reviews

There is one other 18 hole golf course in Door County worthy of consideration – the Alpine Golf Course in Egg Harbor. Alpine actually offers two 18 hole courses.  Alpine Golf Course Website

Door County Travel Blog Articles

Fall Colors and Scenic Travel in Door County

Sturgeon Bay sunset

Fall Scenic Drives and Interesting Places to visit in Door County Wisconsin

Traveling in Door County catching some great fall colors, visiting Door County’s quaint villages, playing a little golf, and finding who has best hamburgers and sandwiches on the peninsula.

Ephraim, Wisconsin
Along the lakeshore in Ephraim in Door  County Wisconsin

Sunday, October 7th.

While the temps were cool (50 degrees) the sun came out to show off the colors and offer a beautiful day to drive around the peninsula. Our first stop was at Door County Coffee’s Café and Coffee Roasting headquarters, a place we first heard about on Wisconsinmade.com. A great place for breakfast or lunch if fresh roasted gourmet coffee with your meal is an important ingredient. Over 100 coffee blends are available in their company store. In addition they have a pretty decent selection of unique gift items that are fun to browse through even if you are not in the market for gift ideas.

Door County Coffee Company
Door County Coffee Company – Outdoor Patio
Door County Coffee Company
Picking our coffee


Next stop was Egg Harbor’s PumpkinPatch Festival. We found the town in full swing with arts and crafts &tents all about town and all the artisan shops open with specials available. Down by the lakefront music by Big Mouth & the Power Tools playing classic rock and blues and lots of food for the hungry festival goer. Even though I just had breakfast, couldn’t pass up the BBQ roasted corn-on-the-cob.

Egg Harbor
Egg Harbor Pumpkin Patch Festial
Egg Harbor
Pumpkin PATCH Festival, Egg Harbor

Ephraim, Wisconsin

Wilsons Root Beer
Yummy Whitefish sandwich and fries with homemade
Root Beer

We drove through Fish Creek but didn’t stop as our destination was Ephraim, Wisconsin and Wilson’s Old Fashioned Café and Soda Shop. We ate on their screened in porch as the sun was keeping it warm enough.

Others stayed inside in the 1950’s Soda Shop mileau. You’d expect LaVerne and Shirley or Fonzi to walk in any minute. Playing on the authentic juke box were some a selection of Chuck Berry, Elvis, and Beach Boys tunes.

Jo and Donna had the burgers and pronounced them tasty. They came with a generous helping of fries, more than either could handle. Dan had the Reuben Sandwich which came with an extra generous helping of sauerkraut and chips + home made cole slaw. I had the Whitefish Sandwich and it passed the test – hot, not fishy tasting, and not overly breaded. I also had the fries and homemade cole slaw. I couldn’t finish all my meal either. Both Dan and I also had Wilson’s signature old-fashioned draft root beer served in a frosty mug. Beats A&W for sure.

Wilsons Ephraim
Wilson’s Soda Fountain & Cafe, Emphraim, WI
Wilsons Ephraim, WI
Old fashioned booths and juke box at Wilsons

Peninsula State Park

While Dan and I golfed the course at Peninsula State Park, the girls went hiking on some of the trails in the park. (See our golf course review here). The park offers over 10 hiking and nature trails with a variety of terrain, fauna, scenic lookouts and degree of difficulty. The 2 mile Eagle Trail is perhaps the most scenic with 150 feet high cliffs, lookouts over the lake and dense forest but it is also rated as a “difficult hike.” Jo and Donna were looking for a less strenuous outing so they chose to hike the 3 mile Skyline Trail. Beforehand they warmed up on a part of the Vita Course, a 1 mile loop with numerous exercise stations. The park’s camping capacity is huge, offering 468 camp sites, including 101 with electric service for RV camping.

Hiking Trails Peninsula State Park
Along the Skyline Trail at Peninsula State Park
Peninsula Park Hiking
A view of Horseshoe Island from the Skyline Trail, Peninsula Park

After hiking and golfing we returned to our lodging on the waterfront on Sturgeon Bay. That evening a beautiful sunset looking across the bay.

Sunset Sturgeon Bay, WI
Sturgeon Bay Sunset

More Door County Things to See and Do.

Hiking at Whitefish Dunes State Park on the Lake Michigan side of the Peninsula.

More Door County Fall Color Pictures

Here’s a Google Map showing some of the locations we visited during our fall scenic travel tour of Door County and some links to other articles on our Door County visit.

View the complete Door County Travel map in a larger view, with links to various destinations and attractions

Links to more Door County Travel articles

Discover more information on Door County at HelloDoorCounty.com

Door County Fall Color Pictures

Fall Color Pictures – Traveling around Door County, Wisconsin

During our fall color trip to Door County, Wisconsin we encountered some cool and overcast days but still managed to see most of the county and get some decent fall color pictures. Some of these you can see in our other Door County articles on visiting Door County villages, Hiking at Whitefish Dunes and golfing some of Door County’s top golf courses.

Driving along Bay Shore Drive between Sturgeon Bay and Egg Harbor

Murphy County Park, Door County
View from the pier at Murphy County Park, Door County
murphy county park door county
Entrance to Murphy County Park, Door County

Continuing along the Green Bay side of Door County we encountered some nice color in and around the picturesque village of Ephraim, Wisconsin

Along the lakeshore in Ephraim
Along the lakeshore in Ephraim in Door County Wisconsin
ephraim wisconsin
The village of Ephraim as viewed from across Eagle Harbor bay

Continuing along the Green Bay side until the tip at Hedgehog Harbor

Garrett Bay, Door County, WI
Garrett Bay at the tip of Door County
Door County Fall Color
Door County Scenic Drive

Over on the “quiet side” of Door County near Whitefish Dunes State Park

Whitefish Bay
Small park on Whitefish Bay south of Whitefish Dunes State Park
Door County Fall Color
Fall Color along Highway 57, Door County

A couple of neat barn quilts along Door County’s rural roads

barn quilts door county
An unusual artistic quilt block decorates this rural Door County barn
barn quilt door county
Barn Quilt near Jacksonport, Door County

Our visit to Door County was in the second week of October. Peak color would have been the following week. However, the trade-off could be even cooler weather than we encountered so we were happy with our choice ot timing of our trip.

Here’s a Google Map showing some of the locations we visited during our fall scenic travel tour of Door County


View Door County Trip in a larger map

Discover more information on Door County at HelloDoorCounty.com

Roscoe

Whitefish Dunes State Park

Old Baldy Dune Whitefish Dunes State Park

Hiking Whitefish Dunes Park, Door County, Wisconsin

Old Baldy Dune Whitefish Dunes State Park
Jo coming down from the Old Baldy Observation Tower

On the second day (October 8th) of our fall color trip to Door County we decided to explore the eastern side of the peninsula, called the quiet side since it has fewer resorts and fewer tourist attractions. One popular spot, however, is Whitefish Dunes State Park. Several hiking trails, an extensive sand beach (great for swimming in the summer time), picnic areas, nine hiking trails, and a nature center. Whitefish is a day use area so there are no camping facilities.

We decided to hike the Red Trail out to the Old Baldy observation tower located on the highest of the dunes that line the lakeshore in the park. The loop provides a variety of terrain running near the lake shore on the way out and then behind the dunes on the way back to the nature center. The 2.8 mile hike was just the right amount of exercise. We packed in a lunch which we enjoyed in the enclosed shelter near the nature center. Although a sunny day, the temps were in the 50s and the wind was roaring more than 25 mph so finding the enclosed shelter was a welcome discovery.

Whitefish Dunes State Park Hiking Trail
The Boardwalk on the Red Trail at the base of Old Baldy
Whitefish Dunes State Park Hiking Trail
Red Trail hiking loop at Whitefish Dunes State Park


Whitefish Dunes State Park Beach
On a cool fall day with temps in the 50s, the beach is empty
Whitefish Dunes State Park Beach
Looking towards Whitefish Dunes beach on a windy fall day

On our way back to our lodging in Sturgeon Bay, we stopped at Mike’s Port Pub & Grill for dinner. We found Mike’s by Googling places to eat in Jacksonport and Baileys Harbor. The four reviews were quite positive recommending Mike’s for their great food, excellent friendly and competent service, and decent prices. So we decided to give Mike’s a try.

We were not disappointed. Family run and true home cooking. Our service came right off the grill. My walleye sandwich was so hot I almost had to let it cool before biting into it. Moist, lightly breaded, one of the best fish sandwiches in my memory. Dan was equally enthusiastic over his steak sandwich and Donna’s shrimp was done just right skewed on sticks. Jo gave her burger 5 stars. By the time our dinner was over, the place was full . . . testimony to its reputation.

Mile's Port Bar & Grille
Nothing fancy about Mike’s exterior either but Mike’s shines in taste of a different kind, what goes in your mouth!
Mile's Port Bar & Grille
The inside of Mile’s Port Bar is typical small town Wisconsin but the food and service is big time.

Tomorrow rain is in the forecast. We plan to visit the Maritime Museum and other attractions in Sturgeon Bay.

Door County Visitors Bureau

Discover more information on Door County at HelloDoorCounty.com

Roscoe