Discover Door COunty
The Peninsula We Fell in Love With
Experience the authentic Door County that inspired us to restore The Griffin Inn – a place where historic charm, culinary excellence, and natural beauty converge. Perched on the edge of the peninsula’s only remaining dark-sky region, we’re just a short walk from Green Bay, The Clearing Folk School, and a collection of local favorites — including our own on-site fine dining restaurant, Osteria Tre Tassi, widely regarded among the best restaurants in Door County.
Within minutes, you can reach Newport State Park, the Washington Island ferry, and numerous galleries and studios that embody Door County’s art community. At The Griffin Inn, Door County hospitality endures – where history, nature, and creativity meet beneath the stars.
Parks & trails
Northern Door County is defined by its quiet woods, limestone bluffs, protected shoreline, and trails that feel far removed from the busier parts of the peninsula. From The Griffin Inn, some of the area’s most beautiful natural places are just minutes away, offering easy access to hiking, birding, stargazing, paddling, and the slower outdoor rhythms that make Ellison Bay so special.
Newport State Park
Newport State Park is one of the great natural treasures of northern Door County. Located near the far end of the peninsula, the park protects more than 2,300 acres of forest, 11 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, and 30 miles of hiking trails. It is Wisconsin’s only wilderness-designated state park and is also recognized as a Dark Sky Park, making it one of the best places in the region for stargazing.
From The Griffin Inn, Newport is an easy and meaningful escape into the landscape that defines this part of Door County: quiet woods, open shoreline, long trails, and night skies that still feel truly dark. It is ideal for guests looking for a hike, a picnic, a beach walk, or a late-night look at the stars.
Mink River Estuary
Just south of Ellison Bay, the Mink River Estuary is one of the most pristine freshwater estuaries in the country. The river begins in spring-fed wetlands and flows only a few miles before reaching Lake Michigan at Rowleys Bay, creating a dynamic marsh and wetland system that supports fish spawning, bird migration, and an unusually rich mix of plant life. The Wisconsin DNR notes that the aquatic features of the estuary are best seen by canoe or kayak.
For guests of The Griffin Inn, Mink River is one of the closest and most distinctive natural experiences in northern Door County. It is quiet, ecologically significant, and deeply connected to the Inn’s own setting on Mink River Road.
Porte des Morts Park
Porte des Morts Park brings you close to the waterway that gave Door County its name. Set near the northern tip of the peninsula, the park offers a natural connection to Death’s Door Passage, Washington Island ferry traffic, and the maritime history that shaped this part of the county.
It is a worthwhile stop for guests driving north from The Griffin Inn toward Northport, Gills Rock, or the Washington Island Ferry. The experience is quiet and elemental: water, wind, shoreline, and the sense that this edge of the peninsula has always been a threshold between places.
Door Bluff Headlands County Park
Door Bluff Headlands is one of the most rugged and atmospheric places in northern Door County. Located near the tip of the peninsula, it offers a wilder, less developed experience than many of the county’s more visited parks, with forested trails, high bluffs, and views toward the waters of Death’s Door.
This is a place for guests who want to feel the older, quieter side of the peninsula. Its rocky shoreline and wooded headlands connect naturally to the maritime history surrounding Death’s Door, while its sense of remove makes it a beautiful counterpoint to a slow morning or evening back at The Griffin Inn.
Schoenbrunn Trail
Schoenbrunn Trail feels like the kind of Door County discovery that belongs on an Ellison Bay itinerary: quiet, natural, and a little tucked away. I would position it as a softer, less crowded walking option for guests who want to spend time outside without committing to a full state park hike.
Schoenbrunn Trail offers a beautiful reminder that northern Door County is not only about marquee destinations. Some of the most memorable moments come from simple walks, wooded paths, and small pieces of landscape that help you slow down and take in the character of your surroundings.
Bars & Restaurants
Door County dining is best experienced slowly: coffee before a hike, smoked fish from a historic dockside shop, cider made from island-grown fruit, a casual tavern meal after the beach, or dinner steps from your room at Osteria Tre Tassi. These local favorites reflect the range of the peninsula’s food and drink culture, from classic Wisconsin comfort to refined, ingredient-driven hospitality.
OSTERIA TRE TASSI
Osteria Tre Tassi is part of The Griffin Inn experience itself. Located on the historic grounds at 11976 Mink River Road, the restaurant brings rustic Italian cooking, locally sourced ingredients, garden-grown herbs and vegetables, cocktails, wine, and warm hospitality to the heart of Ellison Bay.
For guests staying at The Griffin Inn, this is the rare Door County luxury of having a thoughtful dinner steps from where you sleep. It makes the evening feel easy: no long drive, no rush, just a beautiful meal rooted in the same landscape as the inn.
ISLAND ORCHARD CIDER
Island Orchard Cider connects Ellison Bay to Washington Island through apples. The taproom is located in Ellison Bay, while the cider fruit is grown on the island, giving each pour a sense of northern Door County’s landscape, climate, and agricultural character.
For guests of The Griffin Inn, it is an easy and worthwhile stop for a tasting flight, glass pour, or bottle to take back after a day of exploring. It works especially well as a low-key afternoon visit: local, seasonal, relaxed, and deeply tied to this part of the peninsula.
CORNERSTONE PUB
Cornerstone Pub is a Baileys Harbor favorite with a downtown location and views toward the marina. Known for casual food, beer, fish fry, and a welcoming bar-and-grill atmosphere, it is a reliable stop for guests exploring the quieter east side of the peninsula.
For guests staying at The Griffin Inn, Cornerstone works well as a lunch or dinner stop on a Baileys Harbor day. Pair it with a drive along the lake side of Door County, a walk by the water, or a simple change of scenery from Ellison Bay.
COYOTE ROADHOUSE
Coyote Roadhouse sits on the north end of Kangaroo Lake in Baileys Harbor, offering a casual, everybody-knows-your-name atmosphere. It is a classic Door County roadhouse stop, with lake views, familiar comfort food, and the feeling of a place built for long lunches, fish fry nights, and easy conversation.
From The Griffin Inn, Coyote Roadhouse makes sense as part of a cross-peninsula drive toward Baileys Harbor and the Lake Michigan side. It is a good reminder that Door County’s best days often happen between destinations.
CHARLIE’S SMOKEHOUSE
Charlie’s Smokehouse is a Gills Rock tradition with roots going back to 1932, when Leroy “Roy” Voight opened a smokehouse on the dock and sold smoked chubs to summer visitors. Today, Charlie’s remains one of the great northern Door County food stops, known for smoked whitefish, salmon, trout, and other Great Lakes favorites.
For guests of The Griffin Inn, Charlie’s is perfect as part of a drive north. Pick up smoked fish for a picnic, a cottage snack, or a taste of the fishing history that shaped this end of the peninsula.
THE SHORELINE RESTAURANT
The Shoreline Restaurant sits at the tip of Door County in Gills Rock, with views over the western waters of Green Bay. It is the kind of restaurant where the setting is part of the meal: open water, northern light, a sense of being near the edge of the peninsula.
From The Griffin Inn, The Shoreline makes a beautiful dinner drive. Head north through Ellison Bay and Gills Rock, settle in by the water, and let the view remind you how close this part of Door County is to the elements that define it.
WILSON’S RESTAURANT & ICE CREAM PARLOR
Wilson’s has been part of Ephraim since 1906, and it still feels like a classic Door County summer ritual. With its old-fashioned soda fountain, ice cream specialties, home-brewed draft root beer, burgers, and nostalgic setting across from Eagle Harbor, it is the kind of stop that works for every generation.
From The Griffin Inn, Wilson’s is a must on an Ephraim drive. Go for an ice cream cone, a root beer float, or the simple pleasure of doing something that generations of Door County visitors have done before you.
AL JOHNSON’S SWEDISH RESTAURANT
Al Johnson’s is one of Door County’s most recognizable landmarks, known for Swedish pancakes, lingonberries, limpa bread, Scandinavian hospitality, and the real goats that graze on its sod roof during the warmer months. The goats began as a playful tradition and became one of the peninsula’s most famous sights.
For guests of The Griffin Inn, Al Johnson’s is more than a meal. It is a Door County rite of passage. Stop in for breakfast, bring visitors to see the roof, or make it part of a Sister Bay outing before returning north to Ellison Bay.
ANATOLIA CUISINE
Anatolia brings Mediterranean and Turkish flavors to Ephraim, with a menu centered on fresh, seasonal ingredients, kebabs, and traditional cooking. Its story also reflects Door County’s modern hospitality culture: owner Mukhtar Aghazada first came to the area as a J-1 student before returning to open a restaurant of his own.
For guests of The Griffin Inn, Anatolia offers a thoughtful change of pace on a Fish Creek or Ephraim day. It is casual, flavorful, and rooted in a personal Door County story.
GOOD EGGS
Good Eggs is an Ephraim breakfast favorite built around a simple idea: made-to-order breakfast burritos, wrapped to travel, with a garden-like outdoor dining area and water views nearby. It is casual, seasonal, and especially good for guests who want something quick but memorable before a day outside.
From The Griffin Inn, Good Eggs works beautifully as the start of an Ephraim or Peninsula State Park morning. Grab breakfast, walk the village, and keep the day easy.
THE VALMY HAPPY HOUR
The Valmy Happy Hour is an old-school Wisconsin tavern stop known for comfort food, Friday fish fry, broasted chicken, pork chops, steaks, seafood specials, and the kind of casual atmosphere that feels very Door County in a different way.
For guests of The Griffin Inn, this is a more out-of-the-way recommendation, best suited for those who like classic supper club energy, local taverns, and a less polished kind of discovery. It is the kind of place that reminds you Door County is not only shoreline views and galleries. It is also Friday night fish fry, old fashioneds, and regulars at the bar.
BAD MORAVIAN
Bad Moravian is a small Ephraim stop known for beer, wine, and pizza. The name itself feels right at home in a village shaped by Moravian history, while the experience is more relaxed and contemporary: a tucked-away place for a casual drink and something satisfying to eat.
From The Griffin Inn, Bad Moravian is a good low-key addition to an Ephraim outing. It is not about a formal meal or a packed agenda. It is about finding a small local spot that gives the village another layer.
ALEXANDER’S
Alexander’s is a Fish Creek dinner classic, known for fine dining, cocktails, seafood, steaks, supper club touches, and a polished but welcoming Door County atmosphere. It is the kind of place guests choose when they want dinner to feel like part of the trip.
For guests of The Griffin Inn, Alexander’s makes sense for a night out farther down the peninsula. Spend the afternoon in Fish Creek or Ephraim, stay for dinner, then drive back north to the quiet of Ellison Bay.
ROOTS INN & KITCHEN
Roots Inn & Kitchen is a Sister Bay stop with a historic building, a thoughtful kitchen, and a strong awareness of dietary needs, including vegan-friendly options. The property has the feel of a tucked-away garden inn while still being close to Sister Bay’s beach, shops, music pavilion, restaurants, and bars.
For guests of The Griffin Inn, Roots is a good recommendation for travelers looking for something fresh, casual, and accommodating. It is especially helpful for groups with mixed dietary preferences who still want a meal that feels local and considered.
CULTURED
Cultured is a sourdough bakery specializing in bagels, bread, sandwiches, and fermented goods like sauerkraut and kimchi. It brings a modern, fermentation-driven approach to Door County’s food scene, with the kind of offerings that work for breakfast, lunch, or a snack between stops.
From The Griffin Inn, Cultured is an easy Sister Bay addition, especially for guests who like bakeries, coffee, sandwiches, and food with a little craft behind it. Pick up something for the day, or make it part of a slow morning drive through northern Door County.
MINK RIVER BASIN
Mink River Basin is a classic northern Door County stop: casual, lively, and easy to love after a day outside. Family-owned and operated since 2000, it is known for burgers, local fish, pizza, wings, tap beers, whiskey, sports on TV, and one of the area's more playful bar scenes.
From The Griffin Inn, it is the kind of place that makes sense when the day calls for something unfussy and familiar. Stop in for a burger, a beer, a fish fry, or a relaxed night out without leaving the Ellison Bay orbit.
WATER, BEACHES & ISLANDS
Water shapes nearly every part of the Door County experience. From quiet village beaches and hidden bays to ferry crossings, island day trips, and the storied waters of Death’s Door Passage, these places connect guests to the shoreline, history, and maritime character of northern Door County. For guests of The Griffin Inn, the water is never far away.
Ellison Bay Beach Park
Ellison Bay Beach Park is the easy, close-to-home shoreline stop. Simple, scenic, and right in the village, it gives guests a place to touch the water without planning an excursion. It is ideal for a morning walk, a quiet sunset, or a slower afternoon between bigger Door County outings.
For The Griffin Inn, this is the neighborhood beach. It helps tell the story of Ellison Bay as a peaceful northern Door County village, where the water is always close and the day does not need to be over-planned.
Washington Island
Reached by ferry from Northport, Washington Island is one of Door County’s most memorable day trips.
The ferry crosses Death’s Door Passage, turning the journey itself into part of the experience. The island is home to beaches, trails, shops, restaurants, wildlife, and a deep sense of local history. The Washington Island Ferry describes the island as a 22-square-mile, year-round community with more than 700 residents and a destination for thousands of visitors each year.
Washington Island also carries a strong Scandinavian and Icelandic heritage, adding another layer to its identity. For guests staying at The Griffin Inn, it makes for a full-day adventure from Ellison Bay: drive north, board the ferry, cross the storied passage, and spend the day exploring one of Wisconsin’s most distinctive island communities.
Rock Island
Beyond Washington Island, Rock Island offers one of the most remote and transporting experiences in Door County. Reached by passenger ferry from Washington Island, this primitive Lake Michigan island does not allow vehicles and is home to hiking trails, a swimming beach, miles of shoreline, the historic Pottawatomie Lighthouse, and stone buildings built by inventor Chester Thordarson, who owned the island between 1910 and 1964.
From The Griffin Inn, the journey itself is part of the story: a drive to Northport, a ferry across Death’s Door, time on Washington Island, then another crossing to a quieter, wilder place. While Newport State Park holds the official Dark Sky Park designation, Rock Island shares the same northern sense of darkness, distance, and wonder that makes this part of Door County feel so rare.
Death’s Door Passage
Just north of Ellison Bay, Death’s Door Passage is one of Door County’s defining landmarks, both geographically and historically. The waterway lies between the northern tip of the Door Peninsula and Washington, Plum, Pilot, and Detroit Islands, connecting Green Bay with Lake Michigan. Its French name, Porte des Morts, or “Door of Death,” is tied to centuries of Native American legend, early French references, dangerous currents, rocky shoals, and shipwreck lore.
For guests of The Griffin Inn, Death’s Door is more than a dramatic name. It is the reason Door County is Door County, and a reminder that this quiet stretch of northern shoreline has always been shaped by water, weather, travel, and story. It can be experienced by ferry, boat tour, or simply by taking the scenic drive north toward Northport.
Garrett Bay
Garrett Bay is one of those quiet northern Door County places that rewards guests who like to wander a little beyond the obvious stops. Tucked along the shoreline north of Ellison Bay, it offers a more understated way to experience the water, with a calm, local feel and access to the rugged beauty of the peninsula’s northern edge.
For guests staying at The Griffin Inn, Garrett Bay makes sense as part of a relaxed drive toward Gills Rock, Northport, or Death’s Door. It is not about a packed itinerary. It is about the kind of small shoreline stop that makes Door County feel personal.
Arts & Culture
Ellison Bay and northern Door County have long drawn artists, makers, writers, and craftspeople inspired by the landscape. These galleries, studios, and cultural landmarks reflect the creative spirit of the peninsula, where pottery, leatherwork, folk school traditions, and handmade goods are part of the local identity. From The Griffin Inn, they offer a meaningful way to experience the area beyond the shoreline.
The Clearing
The Clearing is one of Ellison Bay’s cultural jewels. Founded in 1935 by renowned Danish-American landscape architect Jens Jensen, The Clearing is a continuing education center rooted in nature, craft, conversation, and the folk school tradition. Its wooded campus near Ellison Bay is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
For guests of The Griffin Inn, The Clearing feels especially connected to the spirit of the place. Both are grounded in history, landscape, and the slower rhythms of northern Door County. Whether visiting for a class, a tour, or simply to understand more about Ellison Bay’s creative legacy, The Clearing adds depth to any stay.
GILLS ROCK POTTERY
Gills Rock Pottery is one of Door County’s long-running artisan studios, making handmade pottery for the home and garden since 1979. The work is both functional and decorative, with pieces that feel connected to the landscape, homes, and seasonal traditions of northern Door County.
For guests of The Griffin Inn, a visit to Gills Rock Pottery fits naturally into a slow northern drive. It is a chance to bring home something handmade, useful, and rooted in the creative community that has long shaped Ellison Bay and the surrounding villages.
TURTLE RIDGE GALLERY-BOUTIQUE
Turtle Ridge Gallery-Boutique brings art, leatherwork, gardens, and Door County craft into one Ellison Bay stop. Its handmade leather bags are designed and created on site, with many pieces featuring embossed, hand-painted, or textured details. The gallery also features artwork by Mary Ellen Sisulak, along with jewelry, clothing, and artist-made goods.
For The Griffin Inn, Turtle Ridge feels especially connected to the creative spirit of northern Door County. It is not just shopping. It is a visit to a working studio, surrounded by gardens and the quiet natural setting of Mink River Road.
Local Excursions
From quiet village roads to classic harbor towns, northern Door County is best explored at an unhurried pace. The Griffin Inn offers an easy home base for scenic drives, shoreline walks, historic landmarks, and nearby villages that reveal the character of the peninsula. These local excursions are ideal for guests looking to spend a few hours, or a full day, experiencing Door County beyond the inn.
ELLISON BAY
Ellison Bay is the village that gives The Griffin Inn its sense of place. Quieter than some of Door County’s busier harbor towns, it offers a slower northern rhythm: wooded roads, limestone bluffs, artist studios, historic buildings, and easy access to some of the peninsula’s most beautiful natural areas.
For guests of The Griffin Inn, Ellison Bay is both a home base and a destination in itself. You can spend the day hiking Newport State Park, visiting galleries, stopping for coffee or cider, walking to dinner, or simply letting the village set the pace. It is the kind of place that rewards a slower itinerary.
FISH CREEK
Fish Creek is one of Door County’s most established village destinations, with roots in fishing, logging, hospitality, and summer travel. Today, it is known for restaurants, shops, galleries, waterfront views, and its access to Peninsula State Park.
For guests of The Griffin Inn, Fish Creek offers a more active village day without giving up the northern Door County experience. It is close enough for dinner or an afternoon walk, but different enough to make the return to Ellison Bay feel especially calm.
SCENIC DRIVE TO FISH CREEK & EPHRAIM
A drive from Ellison Bay to Fish Creek and Ephraim is one of the easiest ways to experience Door County’s range in a single outing. The route moves from the quieter northern villages into some of the peninsula’s most beloved harbor towns, with shops, restaurants, galleries, parks, and shoreline views along the way.
For guests of The Griffin Inn, this is a good half-day or full-day plan. Start slowly in Ellison Bay, head south for a meal, an ice cream cone, a walk along the harbor, or time in Peninsula State Park, then return north to the quieter pace of the inn.
EPHRAIM
Ephraim is one of Door County’s most picturesque villages, set along Eagle Harbor with white buildings, historic churches, preserved village architecture, and views toward Peninsula State Park. Its history is rooted in Norwegian and Moravian culture, which still shapes the look and feeling of the village today.
For guests of The Griffin Inn, Ephraim is an easy and beautiful drive south from Ellison Bay. Go for the water views, the history, the galleries, the ice cream, or simply to walk along one of Door County’s most iconic shorelines.
