PET FRIENDLY Door County

Pet-friendly Door County truly is a gem hidden in plain sight. A short car ride from Green Bay, Wisconsin, it comprises the majority of a slender peninsula that juts out into Lake Michigan, creating to its left the actual Green Bay of the city and the Packer type football team of the same name. It is a place of stunning loveliness, of towering cliffs, of family beaches, of quiet inlets, of postcard-perfect small towns.

And Door County is most emphatically pet friendly. First of all, check out our pet-friendly lodgings, whether you're looking for a lakeside cottage or cabin, inn, bed and breakfast, or motel. Then take a look at our pet-friendly guide to Door County beaches. It's going to make you (and your pooch) happy.

In addition to the beaches and gorgeous natural scenery, Door County offers up lots of fun festivals that both you and your pet can enjoy. A great way to welcome in the season of summer fun is to visit in June so you can be part of the week-long, town-wide Fyr Bal Festival in Ephraim. It recreates the Norwegian tradition of celebrating Midsummer's Eve, including nightly bonfires that represent the burning of the Winter Witch and an annual Fur Ball Pet Parade.

If you're in Door County over 4th of July weekend, you've hit the jackpot, because you and your pet will have your pick of celebrations, with fireworks, parades, boat regattas, food, music, and fun in Sturgeon Bay, Gills Rock, Baileys Harbor, and Egg Harbor.

Finally, if you're visiting Door County for the fall foliage, make it your only purpose in life to time your visit so you're there for what citizens in the know call The Granddaddy of Door County Festivals, namely the Fall Fest in Sister Bay. It's got a parade, music, great local food, and one of the fest's oldest traditions, the Ping-Pong Ball Shoot, wherein 10,000 ping-pong balls (some containing prizes) are shot into the crowd. Your tennis ball-totin' pup is gonna love this one.