She mailed her ballot, giving high marks to Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant (best ethnic food), Sister Bay; Tannebaum Holiday Shop (best gift shop), Sister Bay; and Peninsula Players (best Door County surprise and photo spot), Fish Creek.
At Al's, she enjoys the staff's service and shopping in the adjacent butik, as well as the Scandinavian dishes. The house entrees include square Swedish pancakes served on Norwegian Porsgrund china with lingenberries and Swedish meatball accompaniments.
"We love the waitresses and the setting (a Norwegian log building, adorned with a grass roof and goats). And I always buy something when I'm there. They carry things we can't get other places," she said.
By shopping at Tannebaum (housed in a renovated vintage church building), Dorais has been able to add to her Department 56 designer collection of holiday ornaments and décor. "And if they don't have it, they can get it for you. Even my husband enjoys Tannebaum. That is one place he goes into," Dorais said.
She voted for the Peninsula Players, recalling family memories of a picnic in the theater's waterfront garden. It's a great place to watch the sunset and sip one of her favorite wines from Door Peninsula Winery before taking in a performance.
"We have so many years there. And it has been interesting to see how the Players have grow over the years," Dorais said.
More Favorite Haunts
Another ballot was filled in by Karla Enright, Bettendorf, Iowa. When asked to name the best beach, Enright chose Whitefish Dunes State Park, near Jacksonport. Favorite gift shop? That would be Blue Willow, Sister Bay, she said, adding that she is fond of the upscale kitchen accessories, as well as the garden items.
She goes on to call Ephraim's pretty-in-white skyline the best photo spot and Seaquist Orchards, Sister Bay, as the best buck spent.
"What I do is stock up on things – cherry syrup, jellies. They make excellent gifts, too," she said. "I also buy at Koepsel's (Farm Market), Sister Bay, and Ray's (Cherry Hut), Fish Creek. Ray's had a warm cherry pie coming out of the oven when I was there. That was great."
Enright and her family make the six and one-half hour drive about twice a year. Like Dorais, they have traveled to the Peninsula for about 20 years. That's enough time to discover the beach at Whitefish Dunes, which also offers up about 15 miles of hiking trails, a nature center and more.
What makes the beach on Lake Michigan stand out from all others? Enright likes its length and sandy shore among other things.
"The other beaches are nice, but not as long and far for walking the distance. And the dunes affect me. It is soft, not as rocky," she said.
Sailboat and catamaran excursions have taken Enright and her family on the Green Bay waters, where she has captured photographs of Ephraim.
"When you are out on the water and look at Ephraim, it looks like New England with the church steeples. That sets Ephraim apart," she said.
A European Feel
Kris Wiersum, Belding, Mich., compared the Peninsula to Belgium and voted for the Mission Grille (best restaurant wine list), Sister Bay; Maxwelton Braes (best 19th hole), Baileys Harbor; and the Coyote Roadhouse (coldest beer); well, the later was her husband's vote.
"Everyone is very nice, so down-to-earth," Wiersum said. "And it seems like you are in Belgium. But it is so laid back. You can get around so easy. There is a lot to do."
One of the things she likes to do is discover artists in galleries and working studios or at the Peninsula art fairs. "I have a silver bracelet I bought this year from an Egg Harbor artist. He made it, and it is nice to give back to the area," she said
The Results
Restaurant Wine List
1. Mission Grille, Sister Bay.
2. Vineyard Restaurant, Carlsville.
3. Waterfront Restaurant, Sister Bay.
Honorable mention: Sage, Sturgeon Bay; English Inn, Fish Creek.
Ethnic Food
1. Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant, Sister Bay. Say Ya to those Swedish pancakes.
2. J.J.'s & LaPuerta, Sister Bay.
3. Villagios, Juddville; and Sonny's Pizzeria, Ephraim and Sturgeon Bay.
Honorable mention: Sister Bay Café, Sister Bay.
Family Meals
1. Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant, Sister Bay. Goats edge PC's train.
2. PC Junction, Peninsula Center
3. Wagon Trail Resort, Rowleys Bay; Julie's Park Café, Fish Creek.
Honorable mention: The Cookery, Fish Creek; Second Story Restaurant, Ephraim.
Sunday Brunch
1. Wagon Trail Resort, Rowleys Bay. Make sure you go there hungry.
2. Alexander's, Fish Creek.
3. Florian's II, Baileys Harbor.
Honorable mention: White Gull Inn, Fish Creek; Landmark Resort, Egg Harbor (note: the Landmark Restaurant has changed to the Carrington Pub & Grill – now open seasonally and usually not for Sunday brunch, but worth a visit. Try the Friday Fish Fry).
Restaurant
1. White Gull Inn, Fish Creek; and Inn at Kristopher's, Sister Bay.
Close balloting throughout this category. So many good restaurants, too few spots of list.
3. Mission Grille, Sister Bay.
Honorable mention: Greenwood Supper Club, Fish Creek; Glidden Lodge Restaurant, Valmy; T. Ashwell's, Ellison Bay.
Sandwich
1. The Cookery, Fish Creek. Chicken salad put it over the top.
2. Wilson's, Ephraim.
3. Door County Bakery, Sister Bay; and Digger's, Fish Creek.
Honorable mention: Gibraltar Grill, Fish Creek; Coyote Roadhouse, Baileys Harbor.
Coldest Beer
1. Coyote Roadhouse, Baileys Harbor. Froze out the competition.
2. Husby's, Sister Bay.
3. Shipwrecked, Egg Harbor.
Honorable mention: Sister Bay Bowl, Sister Bay; J.J.'s & LaPuerta, Sister bay.
19th Hole
1. The Alpine, Egg Harbor; and Maxwelton Braes, Baileys Harbor. More than a few golfers have capped off a round at these venerable courses.
3. The Orchards, Egg Harbor.
Honorable mention: Coyote Roadhouse, Baileys Harbor; Peninsula State Park Golf Course, Ephrain; Fred & Fuzzyz's, Sister Bay.
Door County Surprise
1. Peninsula Players Theatre, Fish Creek. New look for returning visitors.
2. Fred & Fuzzy's, Sister Bay.
3. Flowers at Chelsea Antiques, Sister Bay; and Door County Sunsets.
Honorable mention: Ellison Bluff County Park, Ellison Bay; Cave Point County Park, Jacksonport.
Night Spot
1. Bayside Tavern, Fish Creek. Practically an institution.
2. C & C Supper Club, Fish Creek.
3. Skyway Drive-In Theatre, Fish Creek; and Husby's, Sister Bay.
Honorable mention: Peninsula Players Theatre, Fish Creek; Top Deck, Baileys Harbor; Shipwrecked, Egg Harbor; Stone Harbor Pub, Sturgeon Bay.
Night's Stay
1. Landmark Resort, Egg Harbor
2. Waterbury Inn, Ephraim: and Ashbrooke Suites, Egg Harbor.
Honorable mention: Blacksmith Inn, Baileys Harbor; Scandinavian Lodge, Sister Bay; Birchwood Lodge, Sister Bay; Hilltop Inn, Fish Creek.
Time of the Year
1. Autumn. Pure domination.
2. Summer.
3. Any time.
Honorable mention: Spring
Gift Shop
1. Blue Willow Show, Sister Bay. Joins neighboring Chelsea Antiques – a past antique shop winner.
2. Tannebaum Shop, Sister Bay.
3. Blue Dolphin Shop, Ephraim; Door County Nature Works, Egg Harbor.
Honorable mention: Al Johnson's Boutique, Sister Bay; Viva LaCottage, Sister Bay.
Best Buck Spent
1. Not Licked Yet, Fish Creek; and Blue Willow Shop, Sister Bay. A little shopping followed by a cone.
3. American Folklore Theatre, Fish Creek; and state park admission sticker.
Most Beautiful Churches
1. Ephraim Moravian, Ephraim. Door County's oldest still the best, just edging one of the newest.
2. Shepard of the Bay Luthern, Ellison Bay.
3. St. John The Baptist Catholic, Egg Harbor.
Honorable mention: Bjorklunden, Baileys Harbor; St. Mary of the lake, Baileys Harbor.
Beach
1. Whitefish Dunes State Park, Valmy. Lots of sand.
2. Nicolet Bay, Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek.
3. Newport State Park, Ellison Bay.
Honorable mention: Sister Bay public beach; Sand Bay Beach Resort, Sand Bay.
Cherry Pickin'
1. Seaquist Orchard, Sister Bay. A farm market favorite.
2. Lautenbach's Orchard, Fish Creek.
3. Hyline Orchard, Egg Harbor.
Honorable mention: Wood Orchard Market, Egg Harbor.
Photo Spot
1. Village of Ephraim. A post-card shot just about every way you look.
2. Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek.
3. Cave Point County Park, Jacksonport.
Honorable mention: Ellison Bluff County Park, Village of Sister Bay.
Mooring
1. Sister Bay Marina. The only one with a festival named for it.
2. Ephraim Marina.
3. Fish Creek Dock.
Honorable mention: Egg Harbor, Sturgeon Bay Yacht Harbor, Baileys Harbor Marina.
