More Cuisine-Driven Drives

 Door County, Wisconsin

Festive outdoor fish boils and miles of sparkling shoreline beckon visitors to Door County, the 75-mile-long peninsula that separates Green Bay and Lake Michigan.

Eat smart: Fish boils―tender local whitefish and potatoes boiled in huge cauldrons over leaping flames―are a throwback to Scandinavian fishermen who settled in the region. The tasty tradition is preserved at several restaurants on the peninsula, the most popular (make reservations) is at The White Gull Inn (920-868-3517).

Be fit: Ferry from Washington Island at the tip of the peninsula to Rock Island State Park (920-847-2235). The car- and bicycle-free 900-acre island has 10 miles of hiking trails through cedar and pine forests that lead to towering lakeside bluffs. The Pottawatomie Lighthouse, built in 1858, is the oldest in Door County.

Live well: Get your creative juices flowing at the Hands On Art Studio (920-868-9311) where the upbeat staff are happy to help you spin clay pots, make mosaics, or paint and fuse glass into an unique souvenir.

Where to stay: The elegantly restored Washington Hotel (920-847-2169) housed boat captains who navigated the Great Lakes 100 years ago; now travelers are drawn to the comfortable rooms and bucolic grounds. The hotel's restaurant and cooking school feature local organic produce, including ale made with the island's wheat.