Birding, boating, cycling, dining, events, festivals, fishing, hiking, sailing, Saturday farmer’s markets, shopping and swimming are a few of our favorite activities in the bay area. There are endless opportunities of things to experience, see and do. Below are highlights of some of these attractions in the area directly surrounding Robertson’s Cottages. For complete and up-to-date information on all that Sturgeon Bay and the surrounding area has to offer please visit www.sturgeonbay.net.
The water surrounding Sturgeon Bay is known for having one of the best small-mouth bass fisheries in America. Lake Michigan and Green Bay hold king salmon, trout, walleye, perch, crappie, smallmouth bass, northern pike, lake sturgeon and muskellunge (better known as Muskie and is Wisconsin’s state fish!). There are numerous fishing charter operations available in Sturgeon Bay and throughout the county. Visit www.DoorCounty.com/experience/fishing/ to learn about fishing charters in Door County. *Please note: Anglers 16 years and older must have a valid Wisconsin fishing license and a Wisconsin Great Lakes Salmon/Trout stamp is required for salmon and trout fishing. Fishing licenses and Great Lakes stamps can be purchased locally at Howie’s Tackle, located at 1309 Green Bay RD (HWY 57), Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235. You can check in with them ahead of your trip by calling 920-746-9916. You may also purchase licenses online through http://www.fishsturgeonbay.com/licence-and-launches/ or with the Wisconsin DNR by calling 888-936-7463 or visiting https://dnr.wi.gov/. For up to date fishing reports please visit this site, https://www.wdor.com/fishing-report/.
This family friendly, 115 acre, donor supported nature preserve focuses on science, history and environmental education. It has seven miles of all season trails, four preserved buildings, a period garden, a learning center for lectures and other activities and the Leif Everson Observatory, Star Garden sculpture and Stonecipher Astronomy Center. Admission to the preserve is free, but there is a charge for some activities. Crossroads at Big Creek is located at 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235. For current information and event listings please call 920-746-5859 or visit www.crossroadsatbigcreek.org.
The Heritage Village was inspired by a group of 8th grade students from Sturgeon Bay in 1991. The idea was supported by The Sturgeon Bay Education Foundation, who leased a corner of their land to the Door County Historical Society for the village. After an archeological team determined that the site lacked significant artifacts or evidence of occupation, the Door County Historical Society began to create a village depticiting rural life in Door County between 1880 and 1910. Historical buildings began arriving on site for restoration in 1993. A fish house, school house, granary, chapel, a privy, general store and residential homes are all some of the structures you may tour on the grounds. Members of the Sturgeon Bay Home & Garden Club also started a Heritage Garden on site which includes flowers, herbs and vegetables. The Heritage Village is located at 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235. For current information and event listings please call 920-421-2332 or visit www.historicalvillage.doorcountyhistoricalsociety.org.
Voted the ‘Best small Museum in the Midwest’ by the Chicago Tribune, this family friendly museum houses a diorama depicting the area’s wildlife, artifacts, photos and videos that detail Door County history including the Pioneer Fire Company, early businesses, farming, native peoples, and veterans. The museum is open May-October from 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and charges no admission fee. It is located at 18 N. Fourth Ave., Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235. For more information please call 920-743-5809.
This family friendly 20,000 sq. ft. facility details the history of shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay starting from the 19th century. Artifacts, models and photographs cover a range of topics including lighthouses, the devastating storm of 1913, and ship salvage. Visitors are able to steer a steamship, navigate a ship through treacherous waters, create a ‘perfect storm’ and send the Coast Guard to a rescue operation. There is also a tugboat along the Sturgeon Bay’s ‘working waterfront’ that is open for guided tours May-October! The museum is open year round from 9:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day and is open from 10:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. the rest of the year. Door County Maritime Museum is located at 120 N. Madison Ave., Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235. For more information please call 920-743-5958 or visit www.dcmm.org.
