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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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Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.

DATES & PRICES

No shuttle Roundtrip airport transfer
Accommodation Details

Excludes round-trip airport shuttle transfers to and from the program location.

Accommodation Details

Includes round-trip airport shuttle transfers to and from the program location.

Jun 18 - Jun 23, 2023
No transfer 1,549
Roundtrip airport transfer 1,749
Jun 25 - Jun 30, 2023
No transfer 1,549
Roundtrip airport transfer 1,749
Jul 16 - Jul 21, 2023
No transfer 1,549
Roundtrip airport transfer 1,749
Jul 23 - Jul 28, 2023
No transfer 1,549
Roundtrip airport transfer 1,749
Jul 30 - Aug 4, 2023
No transfer 1,549
Roundtrip airport transfer 1,749
Aug 6 - Aug 11, 2023
No transfer 1,549
Roundtrip airport transfer 1,749
Aug 13 - Aug 18, 2023
No transfer 1,549
Roundtrip airport transfer 1,749
Aug 20 - Aug 25, 2023
No transfer 1,549
Roundtrip airport transfer 1,749
Aug 27 - Sep 1, 2023
No transfer 1,549
Roundtrip airport transfer 1,749
Sep 10 - Sep 15, 2023
No transfer 1,549
Roundtrip airport transfer 1,749
Sep 24 - Sep 29, 2023
No transfer 1,549
Roundtrip airport transfer 1,749
Oct 1 - Oct 6, 2023
No transfer 1,549
Roundtrip airport transfer 1,749
Jun 23 - Jun 28, 2024
No transfer 1,699
Roundtrip airport transfer 1,949
Jul 14 - Jul 19, 2024
No transfer 1,699
Roundtrip airport transfer 1,949
Jul 21 - Jul 26, 2024
No transfer 1,699
Roundtrip airport transfer 1,949
Jul 28 - Aug 2, 2024
No transfer 1,699
Roundtrip airport transfer 1,949
Aug 4 - Aug 9, 2024
No transfer 1,699
Roundtrip airport transfer 1,949
Aug 11 - Aug 16, 2024
No transfer 1,699
Roundtrip airport transfer 1,949
Aug 18 - Aug 23, 2024
No transfer 1,699
Roundtrip airport transfer 1,949
Aug 25 - Aug 30, 2024
No transfer 1,699
Roundtrip airport transfer 1,949
Sep 15 - Sep 20, 2024
No transfer 1,699
Roundtrip airport transfer 1,949
Sep 29 - Oct 4, 2024
No transfer 1,699
Roundtrip airport transfer 1,949

DATES & PRICES

No shuttle Roundtrip airport transfer
Accommodation Details

Excludes round-trip airport shuttle transfers to and from the program location.

Accommodation Details

Includes round-trip airport shuttle transfers to and from the program location.

Jun 18 - Jun 23, 2023
SOLD OUT
No transfer 1,949
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,149
Jun 25 - Jun 30, 2023
No transfer 1,949
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,149
Jul 16 - Jul 21, 2023
No transfer 1,949
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,149
Jul 23 - Jul 28, 2023
No transfer 1,949
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,149
Jul 30 - Aug 4, 2023
No transfer 1,949
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,149
Aug 6 - Aug 11, 2023
No transfer 1,949
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,149
Aug 13 - Aug 18, 2023
No transfer 1,949
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,149
Aug 20 - Aug 25, 2023
No transfer 1,949
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,149
Aug 27 - Sep 1, 2023
No transfer 1,949
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,149
Sep 10 - Sep 15, 2023
No transfer 1,949
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,149
Sep 24 - Sep 29, 2023
No transfer 1,949
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,149
Oct 1 - Oct 6, 2023
No transfer 1,949
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,149
Jun 23 - Jun 28, 2024
No transfer 2,119
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,369
Jul 14 - Jul 19, 2024
No transfer 2,119
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,369
Jul 21 - Jul 26, 2024
No transfer 2,119
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,369
Jul 28 - Aug 2, 2024
No transfer 2,119
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,369
Aug 4 - Aug 9, 2024
No transfer 2,119
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,369
Aug 11 - Aug 16, 2024
No transfer 2,119
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,369
Aug 18 - Aug 23, 2024
No transfer 2,119
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,369
Aug 25 - Aug 30, 2024
No transfer 2,119
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,369
Sep 15 - Sep 20, 2024
No transfer 2,119
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,369
Sep 29 - Oct 4, 2024
No transfer 2,119
Roundtrip airport transfer 2,369

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 Terrie Cooper
Terrie Cooper View biography
After 15 years of working in nature centers throughout the state, Terrie Cooper returned to her home in Ellison Bay to work as associate director of the Door County Land Trust. With a master's in environmental education and natural resources management from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and a bachelor’s in secondary education, biology and conservation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she is a naturalist and educator.
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 Jewel Ouradnik
Jewel Ouradnik View biography
Jewel Ouradnik is the owner and manager of Rowleys Bay Resort. With deep roots in Door County, Jewel grew up in nearby Sister Bay when her parents bought the resort in the 1970s. The family moved to a house on the property and opened a small restaurant. For Jewel’s family, food was the heart of daily routines and holiday traditions, and Jewel’s love of family and their traditions is demonstrated by preparing her mother’s recipes and sharing these edible delights through the restaurant and bakery.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
16 Reviews
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4.6 Average
(5) Review left 9/18/2022

The Door County trip was a beautiful location with nice temperatures and interesting tours that gave participants a better understanding of the area. The participants were very interesting and shared much information about travels around the world. The group leader made the experience even nicer. I would recommend this trip to anyone interested in a vacation area with much interesting history and an area that those of any age could enjoy.

(5) Review left 9/18/2022

People who had previously traveled in Door County were excited and amazed about all they learned during the week. It was a wonderful first experience for me after years of hearing about this special peninsula. I highly recommend this program.

(5) Review left 8/19/2022

Road Scholar really knows how to do it right. This was our first trip with them. Door County is a place that we've visited several times before, years ago. Yet we'd never explored any of the things we experienced on this tour. All of the instructors/guides were either the owners or managers of the facilities/sites we visited. It's a new experience to travel this way. It won't be our last Roads Scholar program, in fact we've got the Lobster tour in New England in October booked. We're very much looking forward to it.

(5) Review left 8/02/2022

This was my first trip with Road Scholar. This program was educational and fun. It presented a wide variety of activities. I would travel with this company again.

(4) Review left 7/24/2022

A nice trip. Learned a lot about door county, which is very historic. The trip to Washington Island was fun. The weather was good. A lovely resort. I upgraded to a balcony room, it was well worth the view. The participants were great.

(5) Review left 7/20/2022

Despite being on the go all day, the program is relaxing. The program provides a great overview of Door County - the history, geology, inhabitants, economy and natural beauty. The local experts - geologist, artist, naturalist, taxidermist - and field trips were enriching. The group leader added value to the experience.

(5) Review left 7/04/2022

This was my first trip with Road Scholar and I would go again in a heartbeat! I learned and experienced so much. Everyone was friendly, cooperative, and supportive. Try it--you will like it!

(1) Review left 10/16/2021

EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED. Door County is beautiful. We were there for the lovely Fall colors. The taxidermy program/artist was amazing and the watercolor program was fun. There was a "replacement" musician who was sorely unprepared for the last evening entertainment. The Trolley tours were fun with an amazing driver and the ferry to Washington Island was nice. We also enjoyed the museums. Now the rest of the story: The accommodations were dismal: mold in the shower, shabby doors/carpeting, no coffee maker or microwave in the room. They did not accommodate the vegetarian request and there was no where to purchase food other than the on-sight bakery. They served dinner at 5:00 and turned the lights out in the dining room at 6:00 to get us to leave! No adult beverages offered with dinner. The pub opened for 1 hr when we requested it to purchase wine for our dinner. The facility was too remote to do anything\explore on the 2 leisure evenings. We looked at the stars and had a bonfire. That was nice. I suggest RS have the Trolley Ghost tours replace a leisure evening. Be Aware: We flew in from CA. The Transportation option was not available to us because there are no flights to Green Bay arriving early enough. So we had to pay the only transportation cab available $200 both ways to get to the Program. The most concerning aspect of this program was the lack of concern by the group leader when a participant felt ill on the trip. The participant's concerns were dismissed. On their own, the participant followed up getting medical help...results: tested + for covid on the last day of the trip. We only knew this because the person was conscientious enough to email fellow travelers. Since then at least 3 others tested + for covid with similar symptoms. I have taken 5 previous RS trips that were excellent. What happened RS? Since the trip I have spoken with RS representatives; they assured me they are taking our concerns seriously. The fellow travelers were great as always!

This reviewer did not give a star rating. Review left 10/15/2021

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(5) Review left 10/11/2021

I like your website. I think it's pretty easy to use and is informative.

(5) Review left 10/04/2021

A very nice program...

(5) Review left 9/27/2021

This is a busy but relaxing program in a secluded location. There is much to learn about Door County: its geology, wildlife, economy, and ethnic communities. The presenters are excellent and such a treat with their individual personalities.

(5) Review left 9/26/2021

I made this comment quite often during the trip " You read the reviews and yet you still wonder how true they are" Well, this trip was my first with Rhode Scholar and FAR exceeded my expectations. It is hard to describe the knowledge you gain and the warmth you feel.

(4) Review left 9/25/2021

The evaluation is way too long.

(5) Review left 8/30/2021

This trip provided a very relaxing 'Get Away' experience. Door County a great place to visit in the the summer if you live in a hot part of the United States--beautiful scenery, no stress, interesting culture, never boring. Getting there via the Green Bay airport is a breeze. It was probably my favorite lifetime vacation just from the imparted sense of renewal.

(5) Review left 8/28/2021

It was a wonderful experience!! I recommend it!!






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