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Wisconsin

Door County: Lighthouses, Lake Views, Orchards & Artists

Program No. 12334RJ
Explore idyllic Door County, where you’ll discover centuries-old orchards, historic lighthouses, alluring lake views, and artists who capture the beauty of this unique peninsula.

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Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.

DATES & PRICES

No shuttle Roundtrip airport transfer
Jul 14 - Jul 19, 2024
No transfer 1,999
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,249
Jul 21 - Jul 26, 2024
No transfer 1,999
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,249
Jul 28 - Aug 2, 2024
No transfer 1,999
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,249
Aug 4 - Aug 9, 2024
No transfer 1,999
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,249
Aug 11 - Aug 16, 2024
No transfer 1,999
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,249
Aug 18 - Aug 23, 2024
No transfer 1,999
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,249
Sep 15 - Sep 20, 2024
No transfer 1,999
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,249
Sep 29 - Oct 4, 2024
No transfer 1,999
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,249

DATES & PRICES

No shuttle Roundtrip airport transfer
Jul 14 - Jul 19, 2024
No transfer 2,419
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,669
Jul 21 - Jul 26, 2024
No transfer 2,419
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,669
Jul 28 - Aug 2, 2024
No transfer 2,419
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,669
Aug 4 - Aug 9, 2024
No transfer 2,419
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,669
Aug 11 - Aug 16, 2024
No transfer 2,419
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,669
Aug 18 - Aug 23, 2024
No transfer 2,419
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,669
Sep 15 - Sep 20, 2024
No transfer 2,419
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,669
Sep 29 - Oct 4, 2024
No transfer 2,419
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,669

At a Glance

Discover Wisconsin’s famed Door County, a peninsula home to five state parks, 10 lighthouses and 300 miles of scenic Lake Michigan shoreline. Savor fresh lake breezes and be inspired by the steep bluffs and sandy beaches on either side of the peninsula. Learn about Door County history, art, geology and culture from local experts like an award-winning taxidermist, a watercolor artist, a lighthouse docent, naturalists and orchard owners. Visit state parks and fascinating museums that showcase the area’s rich maritime roots and unique history, and enjoy an authentic Door County fish boil with a resident storyteller.
Activity Level
On Your Feet
Walking up to one mile, rocky terrain on field trips; climbing stairs.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Go inside and learn about the keepers of the beautifully restored Eagle Bluff Lighthouse.
  • Enjoy a Washington Island lavender farm.
  • Uncover the unique climate and geologic history of the peninsula by examining the Niagara Escarpment and hunting for fossils with a local naturalist.

General Notes

An airport transfer is available at an added cost.
Featured Expert
All Experts
Profile Image
Ed Fenendael
A native of Wisconsin, Ed began his art career over 30 years ago. He works in several media, but his main focus is watercolor and watercolor/ink. Ed's paintings can be found in Washington D.C., at Atelier Galerie in Giverny, France; at Morning Mist Studio (his private gallery) in Door County, in numerous corporate and private collections throughout the world; and the Miller Art Museum's permanent collection. He has studied at the Kansas City Art Institute, the University of Wisconsin and graduated from Marquette University. He teaches watercolor and offers workshops in the United States and abroad.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Ed Fenendael
Ed Fenendael View biography
A native of Wisconsin, Ed began his art career over 30 years ago. He works in several media, but his main focus is watercolor and watercolor/ink. Ed's paintings can be found in Washington D.C., at Atelier Galerie in Giverny, France; at Morning Mist Studio (his private gallery) in Door County, in numerous corporate and private collections throughout the world; and the Miller Art Museum's permanent collection. He has studied at the Kansas City Art Institute, the University of Wisconsin and graduated from Marquette University. He teaches watercolor and offers workshops in the United States and abroad.
Profile Image of Len Villano
Len Villano View biography
Photographer Len Villano built his first darkroom in his parent's bathroom at the age of seven (much to the chagrin of his three sisters). And while he’s trained as an architect and is an environmentally-conscious musician, photography is still the primary method Len uses to interact with the world around him. When he’s not waiting for the perfect light, Len serves as the photography director for the Peninsula Pulse.
Profile Image of Katie Krouse
Katie Krouse View biography
Katie Krouse currently serves as executive director of The Ridges Sanctuary, sharing her passions for conservation by leading the organization to protect and preserve the unique ecosystems found within. With a background in aquatic sciences and evolutionary biology, Katie has translated her interests into programming, conservation, and engagement through programs such as the Festival of Nature and land restoration activities. The Ridges Sanctuary, near Baileys Harbor, is considered one of the most ecologically diverse sites in the region by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Profile Image of Mike Orthober
Mike Orthober View biography
Mike Orthober became interested in wildlife at a young age. By the time he was in high school, area hunters were calling on his skills. He won “Best in the World of Fish” at the World Taxidermy Championships and has since judged national and state competitions. Mike created the Wildlife Exhibit at the Door County Historical Museum, using not just his taxidermy skills, but also painting the background and creating and constructing the habitat. Mike was inducted into the Taxidermy Hall of Fame in 2019.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Guarding Door County: Lighthouses and Life-Saving Stations
by Stacy Thomas
Jutting out of Wisconsin into the blue waters of Lake Michigan, the scenic peninsula of Door County is endowed with the longest coastline of any county in the nation. Since the mid-1800s, the region has boasted a strong maritime industry, dependent on the constant vigilance and efforts of U.S. Coast Guard units. The county has been home to as many as 12 historic light stations, as well as three life-saving stations. Beginning with Pottawatomie Light in 1837 and Sturgeon Bay Canal Life-Saving Station in 1886, keepers and surfmen survived both boredom and peril to ensure safe navigation and commerce, while rescuing those in distress. Through archival photographs, stories of shipwrecks, rescues, service, and pride spring to life. Rare rescue images of the Otter, a schooner which wrecked in 1895, are especially noteworthy.
My Kind of County: Door County, Wisconsin
by John Fraser Hart
The shores of Door County, Wisconsin have long served as an idyllic retreat for Midwestern families. The region's scenic beauty is augmented by a rich history that reflects the classic American experience and John Fraser Hart now pays homage to the "Cape Cod of the Midwest" in this engaging chronicle. A renowned scholar and a summer home owner in Door County for over fifty years, Hart possesses intimate knowledge of the physical geography and cultural history of the region. With his incisive geographer's eye, he charts the gorgeously sprawling landscape that draws more than two million visitors annually, including the limestone bluffs along Green Bay that loom as high as 200 feet. He also explores Door County's agricultural heritage -- including the famous cherry orchards -- was well as the difference between the Green Bay and Lake Michigan sides of the peninsula, and the quiet interior region. The book then turns to the cultural aspects of the region, examining diverse topics such as the history of the first ethnic European settlers, the tourist economy, and the settlements' primarily Belgian architecture. Detailed maps and vibrant photographs complement Hart's engaging prose, making "My Kind of County" the perfect gift for day trippers, summer residents, and geographers alike.
On the Road to Death's Door
by M. J. Williams
Emily and Stan Remington's maiden voyage in their newly inherited RV takes a lethal turn when a body fall off the top of their vehicle. The retired couple find themselves at the center of a murder investigation involving a politician, a corporate executive, and a hippie priest. The rookie RVers inevitably butt heads with the local sheriff as their investigation takes them from a backwoods cabin in Wisconsin's scenic Door County to the Bishop's Chancery in Madison to an abandoned island in the infamous Death's Door Straits.
Door County Tales
by Gayle Soucek
Befitting its role as Wisconsin's thumb, Door County has its own unique pulse. It is the idyllic paradise "north of the tension line," that sends many unsuspecting tourists spiraling into an addiction that lands them in a summer home. It is also the "Door of the Dead," which some historians blame for more shipwrecks than any other body of fresh water in the world. The variety of nature's splendors and terrors is matched by the cast of characters that has risen up among them. In "Door County Tales," these characters are given free rein, which seems only proper in a place where one might walk out of a restaurant and see goats grazing on the roof.
Door County Visitors Guide
by Door County Chamber of Commerce
Published annually, this visitors guide is your key to everything happening in Door County. Order online at www.doorcounty.com or call toll-free 1-800-527-3529. You'll find recommendations for restaurants and activities throughout the peninsula.





Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.