Nicknamed Cherryland USA, the town of Door County, Wisconsin is the fourth largest producer of tart cherries in the United States. The peninsula grows between eight and 15 million pounds of this fruit every year. So when visiting the 70-mile long region (with 19 communities), you’ll find cherries abound. Well, cherries and cheese—lots of it!
During our most recent trip to this picturesque place, we discovered five spots every foodie will love. Read on to see why this hidden gem should be on your radar.

A Savory Experience
Just one trip to the Savory Spoon Cooking School & Marketplace and you’ll be planning your next visit soon enough. Located on Ellison Bay in a 140-year-old restored schoolhouse, owners Janice and Michael Thomas welcome visitors with open arms, and an apron, of course!
After owning her own catering company for 15 years and studying at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, Janice is the perfect person to learn from. Expect to meet new people and make friends as you prepare dishes such as arugula salad with gorgonzola, fennel and dried cherries, baked salmon with Door County cherries, pistachios, and herbed panko, Wisconsin artisan blue cheese flan, and Door County cherry and plum tatin.
Whether you’re a seasoned chef in your own right or a novice, she’ll walk you through step-by-step before you’re off to your station. After the work is done, grab a seat and savor your creation. Open from June to October, register for class at savoryspoon.com.

Scratch-made Satisfaction
When Megan Jutrzonka, owner of NutMeg Spice Bakery, Cafe & Coffee Shop opened on Madison Avenue in Sturgeon Bay, she had no idea her shop would be such a neighborhood hit. Open six days a week, residents flock here for cherry scones, blueberry muffins, turkey apple and brie wraps (comes with crispy rosemary and olive oil kettle chips), made-to-order specialty pies and cakes, cappuccino, and more. Megan even recreates some of her grandmother’s recipes like the German classic blitz torte. Grab a seat and relish these confections made with love.

One-Stop Delicious Shop
Seaquist Orchards is a family-owned farm market two miles north of Sister Bay. Go for cherry hand pies, strawberry rhubarb jam, chunks of gourmet fudge (think chocolate cherry), and much more. Located on approximately 1,000 acres, you’ll want to view the Seaquist family’s cannery, which makes tasty jellies, pie fillings, fruit syrups, and much more. Visit the 100-year-old working farm from May through October for a sweet treat unlike any other.

Calling All Cheesemongers
A trip to America’s Dairyland calls for a visit to Door Artisan Cheese Company. Here, master cheesemaker Mike Brennenstuhl offers guests an inside peek into the art of making cheese. Check out the Egg Harbor factory’s three aging caves where big wheels of cheese reside and ogle as cheesemakers stir curd all while answering any questions you may have—cheesy or not! The factory, which houses several cheeses that you can taste, offers everything from a limited-edition cheddar aged for a year in the caves to an in-house smoked gouda with notes of applewood. While here, grab dinner at the 60-seat restaurant Glacier Ledge. Share small plates like the gooey grilled cheese sliders or one of the herb, veggie, and cheese packed flatbreads. And before you leave Door Artisan, be sure to purchase a favorite fontina to take with you.

Raise the Roof
You’ll want to have breakfast at Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant & Butik in Sister Bay. Come with an empty stomach though because everything here is gargantuan. Order popular items like the Swedish pancakes with Swedish meatballs and wash it down with a tasty cup of hot chocolate topped with a whipped cream that is sure to topple. When you’re finished, stop by the restaurant’s shop for a box of Al Johnson’s Swedish pancake mix and syrup before heading to the rooftop—or standing on the sidewalk below—to see a variety of supercute goats grazing the sod.