Self-Guided Driving Tour at Door County’s Washington Island
Description
Washington Island, with its rich maritime history and Scandinavian heritage, is a perfect escape from the mainland bustle. On this self-guided driving tour, you’ll explore a place where shipwrecks shaped the community, and where ”island time“ means slowing down to appreciate Washington’s natural beauty, historical sites, and its unique character. The tour starts at the Washington Island Welcome Coffee Pot. You’ll wind through rustic roads, past historic buildings, pristine beaches, and peaceful nature preserves. The route includes stops at quaint village shops, Jackson Harbor, and secluded spots like Little Lake with its hand-built museum. You’ll learn about the Danish, Norwegian, and Icelandic immigrants who shaped the island’s culture, and hear fascinating stories about the ferries that have connected this remote community to the mainland for generations. You’ll also hear about the surprising connection between West Harbor and the Underground Railroad.
Tour Options
Itinerary
You’ll catch sight of the Washington Island Welcome Coffee Pot, a quirky landmark shaped like a giant coffee pot that greets visitors arriving on the island. Any costs related to visiting the area are not covered in this tour.
You’ll pass by Nelsen’s Hall Bitters Pub, a historic tavern famed for its tradition of serving Angostura bitters shots to patrons. Please note that entry and any purchases at the pub are not included in this tour.
You’ll see the Washington Island Stavkirke, a striking wooden church inspired by medieval Norwegian architecture. Please note that entry to the church is not included in this tour.
You’ll catch a glimpse of the Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm & Shop, known for its vibrant fields of lavender and handcrafted products. Please note that entry to the farm and any purchases at the shop are not included in this tour.
You’ll pass by the Washington Island Farm Museum, which showcases historic farm buildings and agricultural tools from the island’s past. Please note that entry to the museum is not included in this tour.
You’ll spot the Mountain Tower, offering panoramic views of Washington Island and the surrounding waters. Any costs related to visiting the area are not covered in this tour.
You’ll pass by Percy Johnson County Park, a scenic lakeside area with a sandy beach and picnic spots. Any costs related to visiting the park are not covered in this tour.
You’ll pass by Schoolhouse Beach Park, renowned for its smooth limestone shoreline and crystal-clear waters. Any costs related to visiting the park are not covered in this tour.
You’ll catch a glimpse of Jacobsens Museum, featuring a collection of historic artifacts and exhibits highlighting local heritage. Please note that entry to the museum is not included in this tour.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(6)
Whitefish dunes took us out on Tuesday! We met with Emma-Lynn and she was fabulous! Smart quick wit and very kind!
At first, it was a little hard to figure out where I was and how to get things going. But once we did, the tour went through the whole entire island as expected. And was very helpful with the history and directions.
This is a fabulous self guided tour! I would give it 10 stars if I could! We saw a lot more than we planned to due to this tour. The narrative was fun and informative and the guidance was perfectly on cue. I would recommend 100%
Very well narrated, lots of interesting information. Directions were easy to follow. We liked the interactive map
The audio was really easy to follow, if on our own we would not have had such an in-depth tour. A lot of history of the island was given. We definitely enjoyed it. It was nice to go at our own pace.
Be sure to download tour using WiFi. Cell service is spotty and we weren’t able to hear all the information. There was a detour and after that we lost the rest of the tour. Thank goodness we had a paper map!
Hi there, I'm sorry that you were unhappy with your experience. Yes, we recommend downloading your tour using a WiFi connection, it shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes. When you were having technical difficulties, did you contact VoiceMap support via email or telephone? We are contactable by both telephone and email, so if you have technical difficulties, please reach out to us so we can identify what is going wrong. We also provide a map to the tour on your screen, which is especially helpful for driving tours, so we'd recommend having a look at the map if you're uncertain about the route in future. Once again, I'm sorry for the experience you had. Best, Helene
