One day on Washington Island, Wisconsin

There’s nothing like a day trip to an island to feel like you’re getting away from it all, so on our Lake Michigan road trip, I was determined to see if we could spend one day on Washington Island, Wisconsin.

The northernmost point of Door County (with the exception of uninhabited Rock Island state park), it’s a short drive from Sister Bay and Ephraim, with ferries taking you across the bay to the little island, home to just 710 people (and not a single stop light).

And while you don’t have specific attractions to tick off a list, it’s very easy to spend at least half a day on Washington Island, WI, if not more – here’s what we liked.

How to get to Washington Island

It’s easy to get to Washington island, only a short drive from Ephraim and Sister Bay to the ferry from North Point, with some lovely views during the 30-minute journey (they do pack the cars in tight, so hop out fast if it’s busy!) – the channel is known as Death’s Door (giving Door County its name) but on a sunny May day, it was heavenly!

The seasonal Island Clipper passenger ferry is no longer running, so the car ferry is the only option.

There’s usually at least one car ferry per hour during the year, more in summer, although do bear in mind it might be cancelled in bad weather – check the full schedule here. Allow some flexibility as well – with two ferries running, they sometimes go when they’re ready to go.

The ferries aren’t huge, so it’s worth getting there in advance to make sure of a place, especially in peak season.

You’ll pay for your vehicle and all the inhabitants, or it’s possible to go over as a foot passenger (and also to take a bike).

Along the way to North Point, you’ll drive the area’s famous curvy road (also know as the Jens Jensen Winding Road) which snakes left and right as well as up and down

What to do on Washington Island, WI

Schoolhouse Beach

Don’t miss Schoolhouse Beach, famous for its smooth rounded stones – one of only a few beaches in the world that has this phenomenon. You’ll find everything from bigger smoothed rocks, to egg shaped ones which fit in your hand.

I came across one circular flat stone which was oddly satisfying to hold. There are fines for taking the rocks away and lots of signs reminding you that they’re already home and not to remove though, so don’t be tempted to leave with a souvenir.

They’re great for skimming, building cairns or just lobbing into the incredibly clear turquoise water, which the beach is also famous for – it’s a cliche to say it’s like glass but it really is astonishingly clear!

You can picnic here too, or simply just enjoy the scenery. With the tree-lined bay curving around, and that beautiful blue water, it’s a very pretty place to relax in the sun.

If you’re looking for sand, head to Sand Dunes Park on the southern shore or nearby Gislason Public Beach, which is opposite Red Barn Park playground

Lavender Farm

There is one lavender farm on the island – Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm and you can spot the flowers in bloom normally between the start of July and early August.

The largest single-site lavender farm in the Midwest, you can wander the paths between around 30,000 lavender plants (for a small fee) and pick your own, as well as discovering more about the fragrant plant, its harvest and uses.

Whether the lavender is in season or not, you can also browse some of the products available in the shop too.

While you’re visiting, keep an eye out for the Washington Island Stavkirke nearby – the stave church is modelled after a 12th century building in Norway and looks like it’s out of a fairytale (although it’s still a working church)

The Butterfly House

Learn all about the life cycle of the monarch butterfly and its astonishing annual migrations at the Butterfly House, open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

You can watch the caterpillars grow and stroll under 100-year-old maple trees as the butterflies flit around the gardens.

Cherry train tours

It’s not hard to explore Washington Island solo, but if you like the idea of someone else guiding you around, the Washington Island Cherry Train Tours has at least three stops and guided commentary as you go.

The little carriages are definitely fun for kids to ride in, although as the tour lasts up to two hours (and you can’t hop on and off at the stops), it’s probably not the best option with little ones.

Always fun to look out for the bright red land train as you go through. The tour runs twice a day on dates from Memorial Day weekend through to mid October (daily from mid June to mid October), with kids aged 5 and under going free. Currently $25 for adults, $10 for children aged 6-11.

Go walking/cycling

Washington Island might be small, but if you want to walk around it, it will take you all day (and you’ll be walking on the roads much of the time). If you fancy hiring bikes/e-bikes, it’s a lot easier to see more of the island.

There are also some walking trails to try though. One of the easiest options with kids is to take a wander along the short Heritage Hiking Trail in the woods, which is very child-friendly.

Starting near the Welcome Centre close to the harbour, the whole hike takes around 10-15 minutes, depending how long you want to take enjoying the meadow views and flowers.

There’s also a 1.5-mile Little Lake trail, or head to one of the Nature Preserves, including a one-mile loop walk at the Domer-Neff Nature Preserve.

Visit a museum

There are a string of little museums on the island if you want to learn more about the area’s past (or are looking for somewhere to shelter if it’s a rainy day on Washington Island with kids!)

The Jackson Harbor Maritime Museum covers the island’s history of fishing, the role of the coast guard and the ferry, as well as ice harvesting.

Or Jacobsens Museum has various natural and historical exhibits about the island’s past, as well as nearby uninhabited Rock Island.

The Washington Island Farm Museum features a furnished log cabin to get a taste of how inhabitants would have lived, as well as various farm machinery and blacksmith tools.

While it’s not a museum, keep an eye out for the island’s old Post Office too, which first opened back in 1921.

Where to eat on Washington Island, WI

There are a string of lovely places to try if you’re grabbing something to eat or drink, and very child-friendly too.

If you’re looking for burgers and ice cream, head over to Albatross Drive In, while across the island Jackson Harbor Soup has great views over the water and (as its name suggests) great soup as well as sandwiches.

Back near the ferry dock, there’s also Island Pizza (with seafood, subs and salads also on the menu). Or for coffee and baked goods (as well as some very tempting accessories), try Red Cup.

Check out my 7-day itinerary for a Lake Michigan road trip with kids, including Door County, as well as elsewhere in Wisconsin and Chicago

Images copyright MummyTravels

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