Door County
Planners choose Door County for quality, not quantity. With a maximum group size topping out at 230 (Landmark Resort), the focus here is leisure, and gatherings tend to be high-end board meetings and retreats.
Known as the "Cape Cod of the Midwest," Door County is located 40 minutes northeast of Green Bay on a peninsula 50 miles long and 15 miles wide. Its particular shape gifts the county with 322 miles of shoreline dotted with lighthouses, golf courses, wineries and sleepy villages. Protected from the encroachment of chain businesses, visitors can look to one-of-a-kind experiences in every restaurant and shop.
"The unique attribute of Door County is that it remains the same as it was so many years ago," explains Jack Moneypenny, president and CEO of the Door County Visitor Bureau.
"The essence of our brand is relaxation and restoration in a maritime experience," he says. "When meetings are done for the day, we have 11 great golf courses, charter fishing and great state parks. It's a great place to lose yourself for a few hours and come back refreshed."
Larger meeting resorts include the Landmark Resort in Egg Harbor, with 294 suites and more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space; Wagon Trail Resort in Ellison Bay, with 93 guest rooms and more than 7,500 square feet of meeting space; and Gordon Lodge in Baileys Harbor, with 40 guest rooms and more than 5,000 square feet of event space.
There is a great deal to attract attendees. Cuisine is a draw, with fish boils a specialty, as are pies made from the cherries and other fruit of the county's many orchards. Four of 10 of the historic lighthouses can be easily visited: Cana Island Lighthouse, Eagle Bluff Lighthouse, Canal Station Lighthouse and Baileys Harbor Range Lights.
No one should visit Door County without getting out on the water. There are dozens of fishing charter companies offering expert guides and all equipment groups might need.
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