Door County

Last month, I visited Door County with my family. Before heading up there, each of us picked an activity that we wanted to do while on vacation. One aunt wanted to visit the casino (I lost $12), my other aunt suggested we visit one of our favorite restaurants, and right away I knew what my choice was going to be: Cherry Lanes in Sturgeon Bay.

I discovered Cherry Lanes a few years back after a friendly bartender suggested Michael and I check it out. It did not disappoint. We bowled, drank and shot the shit with locals to our hearts’ content.

While a bar might not be the first place you’d think of taking your mom and aunts on a Saturday afternoon, I knew this was the perfect spot for one reason: pinball.

Pinball Wizardry

Yep, Cherry Lanes is more than just the lanes. This bar has a dynamite selection of pinball machines, and my mom loves pinball.

We rolled up with $10 in quarters each and had a hell of a time playing all sorts of pinball like Hook, Cleopatra and Super Mario Brothers (some only cost 25¢!). I also tried my hand at Frogger, Ms. Pac Man and that weird quarter-pushing game that you see at dive bars.

It was a blast bopping from game to game, and not a bad way to spend $10 or so. And, most importantly, my mom loved it.

The Drinks

While Cherry Lanes is the name of the game here, it is first and foremost a bar. In the past, Michael and I enjoyed hot toddies and super cheap taps. But when I visited with the fam, we treated ourselves to some of the specialty cocktails—and what a treat!

Being in Door County at the tail end of summer, we all were craving cherry (like real cherries—not phony maraschino cherries). Cherry Lanes’ cherry margarita was divine, but I have to say their Gutterball (a mix of tart cherry juice, lemonade and vodka) was a nice treat as well.

Best-Ever Bar Food

There’s nothing wrong with basic bar food. After all, who doesn’t crave a frozen pizza or some cheap mozzarella sticks while sipping Miller Lite?

But Cherry Lanes goes completely over the top with their menu. We ordered a cheese tray and expected something very Wisconsin. You know a few yellow cheeses, salami and a few pickles. That would have been fine.

But when the bartender came out with the tray, it truly rivaled any fancy charcuterie board I’ve had at more elegant venues. This cheese board was incredible. The blueberry cheese was something I dream about.

Anyways, this is my love letter to Cherry Lanes (and also Door County—it’s my favorite).

Typically, Michael and I celebrate a low-key New Year’s Eve. We put on our jammies, break out the board games, pop a bottle of bubbly and call it good. This year, though, we celebrated the end of a decade by traveling up to Door County, Wisconsin.

Door County is every Wisconsinite’s favorite summer destination, but I love it just as much in the winter. A lot of shops and restaurants are closed for the season, but I like seeking out all the stalwarts that stay open even in the cold.

Where to Stay in Door County in Winter (and All the Time)

This time, like every time Michael and I go to Door County, we stayed in Sturgeon Bay.

This is a great place to stay in the winter because, unlike the rest of the peninsula, most everything stays open during the off-season. Also, there are a lot of nice places to camp out.

For this quick getaway, we checked into the Holiday Music Hotel. We stayed here years ago and had a blast. The ’50s styling of the place is so fun and, honestly, the price is right for an impromptu trip. Not to mention the place has some great vibes. It’s owned and operated by musicians and there are a lot of artsy events going on in and around the hotel. Plus, a two-block walk has you right on the main drag for all the food, drinks and quirky shops you could ever need.

The location came in really handy on this trip, especially.

A Snowy Night in Sturgeon Bay

We spent most of our first evening right in Sturgeon Bay since it was pretty snowy. We hit up Within Things, a shop I’ve been following for some time on Instagram. It was wonderfully weird. We also snagged a mushroom book at Novel Bay Booksellers.

But the real fun didn’t start until after dinner. After a long drive back from Sister Bay, we decided to lay low and grab a drink nearby at Cedar Crossing. It was a beautiful snowy walk there from our hotel. The bar area was so relaxing and very swanky. We were just planning on a drink until the bartender recommended we check out another stop. We’re spontaneous people, so we took the short walk.

That’s how we ended up at my new favorite: Cherry Lanes.

This place was a blast! I snagged a hot toddy while Michael sipped on a Moscow Mule, then we decided to grab ourselves a lane. Michael and I had never bowled together before, so we had to rectify that.

For $15, we got shoes and an hour of bowling (a steal). We got in four games. Michael says he was practicing his spin the whole time. I’m not sure I believe him, so I’ll just brag here that I won three games out of four.

Other Wintry Musts in Door County

A lot of the upper peninsula shuts its doors in the winter, but there’s still plenty to do for a short stay.

Waking up after a night at Cherry Lanes, we had one order of business: Bea’s Ho-Made. This place is a must when you’re visiting Door County, no matter the season. This place sells some great jams and preserves. My favorites, though, are the hot garlic-dill pickles and the plum sauce. Oh my gosh, the plum sauce! It’s a must for Chinese takeout. Michael recommends the Hungarian relish. I know a jam shop doesn’t seem like a hip destination, but trust me, it’s worth the visit.

But Bea’s wasn’t our only stop. We also swung by Door County Bakery for some Corsica sticks. I’ve never seen this bread anywhere else. They’re essentially breadsticks covered in sesame seeds and drenched in olive oil. I can’t explain why these are soo good, but they are irresistible to me. I ordered four.

And no matter the weather, Peninsula State Park is always on my Door County list. While we weren’t able to check out Eagle Bluff Lighthouse in the snow, we still got to enjoy the sights and walk around a bit. Standing on the shores of Lake Michigan is always soothing to me, even in the cold and snow.

Ringing in 2020

On New Year’s Eve, we headed over to the Nightingale Supper Club in Sturgeon Bay for a nice dinner. I was positively thrilled that we could sneak in a reservation.

Michael and I put on our NYE best (mine being my glitter boots and flamingo pink dress) and sat down to a three-course dinner—something we do very rarely. We indulged with some stuffed mushrooms, homemade soup and prime rib (my go-to supper club order). I finished off the meal with a Grasshopper. I mean, you have to, right?

After a big night out at Cherry Lanes, we decided to opt out of the NYE conflama, so we just settled in for a night at the Holiday with our classic routine: games and pajamas (and a little time playing the instruments in the lobby).

If the rest of 2020 is this good, I’ll be the luckiest gal out there.