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🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Door County, Wisconsin
Fragrant Isle's 20,000 lavender plants on Washington Island usually peak in July and August, and Cana Island Lighthouse opens May through October.
7 places · updated October 17, 2026
🌱 What’s happening now
Updated October 17
🪻 In season now
Seaquist Orchards Farm Market · Lautenbach's Orchard Country Winery & Farm Market · Door County Wildwood Market · Wood Orchard Market
✏️ Report outdated info
Door County is the thumb of land between Green Bay and Lake Michigan, and its northern half is where the lavender grows. The bay side has bluffs and harbor villages like Fish Creek, Ephraim and Sister Bay; the lake side around Baileys Harbor is quieter, with wetlands, dunes and lighthouses. Highway 42 ends at Northport Pier past Gills Rock, where a year-round car ferry crosses Porte des Morts to Washington Island. Cherry orchards line the back roads, and farm markets sell fruit, pies and preserves from July into fall.
There are two lavender stops. Island Lavender, now carried on by Wilder Farms, has its fields on Highway 57 between Baileys Harbor and Sister Bay and a shop in Ephraim; it hand-harvests and distills its own oil and makes more than 160 lavender goods. On Washington Island, Fragrant Isle grows about 20,000 plants on Airport Road, distills oil in copper stills and runs a café. Plan around July and early August if you want flowers in bloom, and around May through mid-October if you also want the lighthouse tours and Rock Island ferry.
The lavender farms
- Island LavenderLavender farm · Baileys Harbor
Ephraim shop open daily 10 AM-5 PM; farm fields on Highway 57 open for the ticketed Door County Lavender Festival in July.
- Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm & ShopLavender farm · Washington Island
Usually peaks in July and August
Open daily; fields $6 per person June 13-Labor Day (2026); 30-minute field and distillery tours; Tuesday evening wine and appetizers.
Best time to visit
May brings the Cana Island Lighthouse opening (May 1 through October 31) and the start of the Rock Island ferry, which runs Memorial Day weekend through the second Monday in October. In June, Fragrant Isle starts its field season; in 2026 its $6 per-person field entry ran June 13 through Labor Day, September 7, and the farm says its lavender usually peaks in July and August, depending on weather. July is cherry month: Seaquist Orchards opens U-pick cherries on limited days in July, and Lautenbach's Orchard Country picks tart cherries from late July into early August. Apples, cider and pumpkins fill the farm markets in September and October, when the bluffs at Peninsula State Park and Ellison Bluff turn color. The state parks stay open year-round, and the Washington Island ferry runs all year, but many island shops and restaurants close from late October to May.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Peninsula State Park🌳 State park · Fish Creek · about 7 mi, 15 min drive
Eight miles of Green Bay shoreline between Fish Creek and Ephraim, with bluff-top roads, bike trails, Eagle Tower and the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse. Come in October for the color from the bluffs.
Open year-round, 6 a.m.–11 p.m.
Wisconsin state park vehicle admission sticker required
- The Ridges Sanctuary🌲 Preserve · Baileys Harbor · about 6 mi, 10 min drive
A land trust that grew from 30 acres to more than 1,700, with boardwalk-style trails over ridges and swales and the Baileys Harbor Range Lights. Kids hike free; adults buy a trail pass.
Trails dawn to dusk; nature center Tue–Sat 9–4, Sun–Mon 9–3; trails close during gun deer season (Nov 22–30)
Trail pass for adults; kids free
- Cana Island Lighthouse🗼 Lighthouse · Baileys Harbor · about 7 mi, 15 min drive
An 1869 light on a small Lake Michigan island reached by a rocky causeway; climb 97 steps to the gallery of the 89-foot tower. A free tractor-pulled wagon helps if the causeway is wet or walking is hard.
May 1–October 31, daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; last climb 4:30 p.m.
Adults $12, youth 5–17 $10, 4 and under free (2026 listing)
- Newport State Park🌳 State park · Ellison Bay · about 12 mi, 20 min drive
More than 2,300 wooded acres with about 11 miles of Lake Michigan shore and about 30 miles of hiking trails. It is a designated Dark Sky Park, so stay late on a clear night.
Open year-round, 6 a.m.–11 p.m.
Wisconsin state park vehicle admission sticker required
- Ellison Bluff County Park🏞️ Park · Ellison Bay · about 10 mi, 15 min drive
A 174-acre park on a bluff more than 100 feet above Green Bay, with a stairway down to a lookout over the cliffs and islands. A good sunset stop on the way back from Northport.
- Whitefish Dunes State Park🌳 State park · Sturgeon Bay · about 19 mi, 30 min drive
Tall sand dunes and forest on the Lake Michigan side, with a beach beside the nature center and trails through the dunes.
Open year-round, 6 a.m.–8 p.m.
Wisconsin state park vehicle admission sticker required
- Cave Point County Park🏞️ Park · Sturgeon Bay · about 19 mi, 30 min drive
An 18.6-acre park where waves crash into undercut limestone ledges and spray from blowholes. A half-mile forest trail links to the Whitefish Dunes trails next door.
- Schoolhouse Beach🏖️ Beach · Washington Island · about 26 mi, 75 min drive
A beach of smooth white limestone stones in a sheltered harbor on Washington Island, with a marked swimming area and diving raft. Allow time for the drive to Northport and the ferry crossing.
- Jackson Harbor Ridges🌲 Preserve · Washington Island · about 28 mi, 80 min drive
A state scientific area on the island's northeast tip with beach, dune, boreal forest and shore meadow, and a nature trail open daily.
- Rock Island State Park🌳 State park · Washington Island · about 30 mi, 100 min drive
A car-free island reached by a second ferry from Washington Island, with hiking trails, a swimming beach, the Pottawatomie Lighthouse and stone buildings from the inventor who owned it from 1910 to 1964.
Passenger ferry Memorial Day weekend through the second Monday in October
No vehicle sticker needed; ferry fare charged by the ferry line
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- Seaquist Orchards Farm MarketCherry orchard · Sister Bay
A large cherry orchard north of Sister Bay whose market sells fresh, frozen and dried cherries, cider, pies and jams; U-pick cherries on limited July days.
- Lautenbach's Orchard Country Winery & Farm MarketCherry orchard (21+) · Fish Creek
Family orchard near Fish Creek with a bakery, farm market and tasting room, and U-pick tart cherries from late July into early August.
- Door County Wildwood MarketCherry orchard · Sister Bay
Pick sweet cherries in summer and cut flowers and pumpkins later in the season near Sister Bay.
- Wood Orchard MarketFarm stand · Egg Harbor
An orchard market near Peninsula State Park selling its own cherries and apples alongside baked goods, fudge and jams.
- The Albatross Drive-InRestaurant · Washington Island
An easy island lunch: burgers and around 60 shake flavors, with glider swings and a sandbox for kids, open Memorial Day to late October.
- K.K. Fiske Restaurant & The GranaryRestaurant · Washington Island
Island fish dinners, including whitefish and burbot, with traditional fish boils on Wednesdays and Saturdays in season (reserve ahead).
- Red Cup Coffee HouseCafé or coffee shop · Washington Island
A year-round island coffee house that opens before the first ferry.
A one-day plan
- 9:30 AMWashington Island Ferry, Northport Pier · about 25 min drive
Drive Highway 42 to its end at Northport Pier and take your car across; arrive early on summer weekends.
- 10:30 AMFragrant Isle Lavender Farm & Shop · about 10 min drive
Walk the fields or join a 30-minute field tour of the farm and distillery, then browse the shop; about 1.5 hours.
- 12:15 PMThe Albatross Drive-In · about 10 min drive
Burgers and a shake at the picnic tables; about 45 minutes.
- 1:15 PMSchoolhouse Beach · about 10 min drive
Walk the white stone beach and wade in the harbor; about 30 minutes.
- 2:00 PMReturn ferry to Northport · about 15 min drive
Drive back to the Detroit Harbor dock for the crossing to the mainland.
- 3:15 PMEllison Bluff County Park · about 10 min drive
Take the stairway down to the bluff lookout over Green Bay; about 30 minutes.
- 4:00 PMSeaquist Orchards Farm Market · about 15 min drive
Pick up cherries, pie or cider for the road; about 30 minutes.
- 4:45 PMThe Ridges Sanctuary · about 20 min drive
Walk an hour of trails over the ridges and swales near the Range Lights before dusk. If you skip the island, swap in Cana Island Lighthouse (last climb 4:30 p.m.) and Island Lavender's Ephraim shop.
Tips
- Peninsula, Newport and Whitefish Dunes state parks need a Wisconsin state park vehicle admission sticker; Rock Island does not, since no cars are allowed there.
- Fragrant Isle does not allow pets on the farm because it grows culinary lavender, and dogs are not allowed on Ridges Sanctuary trails, so plan for your dog.
- The Washington Island ferry carries cars, bikes and motorcycles year-round from Northport Pier at the tip of Highway 42; on busy July weekends, get there early.
- Fragrant Isle's 2026 field entry was $6 per person from June 13 through Labor Day and free after that; hours shown on its website were daily 10–4.
- At Cana Island, high water sometimes covers the causeway; the free tractor wagon is the dry way across.
- Many island businesses are seasonal (roughly Memorial Day to mid- or late October), so check before an off-season trip.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
When does the lavender bloom in Door County?
Fragrant Isle on Washington Island says its fields usually peak in July and August, with the exact timing set by the weather; it posts bloom updates on its social pages.
Do I need a ferry to see lavender in Door County?
Only for Fragrant Isle, which is on Washington Island. Island Lavender's fields are on Highway 57 between Baileys Harbor and Sister Bay, and its shop is in Ephraim, both on the mainland.
Is there a fee to visit the lavender fields at Fragrant Isle?
In 2026 the farm charged $6 per person to enter the fields from June 13 through Labor Day (September 7), with no field fee after Labor Day. Tours can be booked ahead.
Can I bring my dog?
Not to Fragrant Isle, which does not allow pets because it grows culinary lavender, and not on Ridges Sanctuary trails. Check each state park's pet rules before you go.
How late in the year can I climb Cana Island Lighthouse?
The lighthouse is open May 1 through October 31, daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last tower climb at 4:30 p.m.
🪪 Collect a stamp at every stop
The free Lavender Passport keeps a stamp for each farm and stop you visit, in real life and in the Lavender Farm Simulator. At the farm, play Field Quest to collect plant varieties as you walk, climb the leaderboards and unlock sponsor rewards.
Open the Passport🏡 Own a farm, café or inn here?
Add your listing for free so travelers find you, or become a Featured sponsor to sit at the top of this guide, on the Passport map and in the event calendars.
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