Washington Island

Washington Island ranks 8th on the list of places in the Midwest that look like they could be in Europe. It is your destination for adventure in Door County. It starts with a five-mile ferry ride across the once-treacherous waters of Death’s Door, where Green Bay and Lake Michigan meet. Once ashore, embark on a tour of one-of-a-kind shopping, eating, and outdoor fun hosted by the 600 residents who call the island home.

Back in the late 19th century, groups of Scandinavian immigrants crossed the perilous Death’s Door passage—a turbulent six-mile strip of water that connects Lake Michigan and Green Bay—to settle in Washington Island, located off the northeast tip of the Door County peninsula. Nowadays, you can embark on a scenic half-hour ferry ride to reach the small island community of Washington, which is home to galleries, stunning beaches, the sprawling Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm, and one of the country’s oldest Icelandic communities. Explore the island’s Nordic roots at attractions like the Jacobsen Museum, an impressive collection housed in Danish immigrant Jens Jacobsen’s turn-of-the-century log cabin home, or the Norwegian-inspired Stavkirke church.

Location: Door County, Wisconsin, United States

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