5 Types of Door County Bachelor & Bachelorette Parties

A bachelor or bachelorette party is your opportunity to plan an event or multi-day trip that captures who you are and celebrates the important role friends play in the lead-up to both meeting your partner and your wedding itself.

Although there’s an endless number of ways to throw a Door County bachelor/ette bash, we’ve compiled this list of five atypical, off-center party types to inspire you as you plan your trip. And don’t forget to keep track of all your trip and activity ideas using the Trip Planner tool.

Women playing bocce ball in at Door County winery

For Spirited Brides & Grooms

Wisconsin is of course known for its beer culture—and we’ve got plenty of beer, breweries, taprooms, beer gardens, and craft beer bars up here—but when it comes to spirits, Door County is also known for its wineries, distilleries, and even a cidery.

While, yes, some good-natured drinking is a staple for many bachelor and bachelorette parties, our local spirit-makers also offer facility tours, special events, live music, outdoor spaces for socializing and playing games while enjoying beverages.

You may also consider hitting up a beer or wine festival in early summer, following the Door County “wine trail,” or hunkering down at one of many local pubs and taverns that sling locally sourced beers, wines, and cocktails.

For the Sporty Spices

If you and your friends like to break a sweat, consider organizing your party around sports and active recreation. Or, pick one or two sports-based activities to pepper in to your itinerary to balance out all the amazing food and drink you’ll be enjoying.

Door County has dozens of golf courses, hiking trails, beaches, parks, and waterways, plus tons of local companies that can provide fishing charters and fishing equipment, motor-boat rentals, kayaks and canoes, stand-up paddle boards, scuba gear, bike rentals, and more.

For the View Junkies

If you want to use your trip as an opportunity to take an adventure, to experience something out of the ordinary before you tie the knot, think about taking advantage of Door County’s many natural wonders and their often-thinner crowds.

Imagine ferrying across Death’s Door to Washington Island, kayaking between the region’s numerous smaller islands, hiking wooded trails and taking in sweeping views from lookout towers, renting scuba equipment and checking out Great Lakes shipwrecks, or exploring five pristine state parks.

You’ll find more natural attractions along the county’s famously scenic shorelines and bluffs than you could possibly see in a single trip, so you might also consider picking a few in close proximity and exploring a nearby town or two.

Closeup of people in robes sitting and holding teacups

For Those Who Seek the Good Life

If you’re looking for a pre-wedding celebration that’s memorable yet sophisticated, one that gives you a taste of the finer things in life, you might want to start in the area’s dining and arts scenes.

Start with dinner and drinks at a local mainstay, followed by a show, concert, or performance and a Door County-style craft cocktail for a nightcap. Round out the rest of your bachelor/ette trip with visits to spas and salons, museums, local landmarks, specialty shops, and spots peddling higher-end drinks and fine wines. Our top-notch galleries, theater groups, fine dining restaurants, supper clubs, and wine experiences are as vibrant and innovative as you’ll find anywhere in the Midwest.

Goats on a grass-covered roof of a Al Johnsons restaurant

For Fans of the Weird & Wonderful

If you’re looking for a bachelor/ette trip that’s totally unique to you, that’s a little left-of-center, consider planning it around some of Door County’s wilder and weirder attractions. The off-kilter cool that permeates the Door County region manifests in many forms, so you’ll have no trouble finding experiences that will surprise, delight, and even challenge you and your friends.

Start by exploring the area’s iconic attractions, such as lighthouses, fish boils, and architecture and landmarks. Or, if you’re seeking the true oddball soul of the county, take things a step further and explore these uniquely beautiful natural wonders or these one-of-a-kind events, festivals, and local traditions.