Dubbed The Cape Cod of the Midwest, Door County, Wisconsin makes for a perfect getaway no matter the season: ice fishing and cross-country skiing in winter, hiking in spring, swimming and camping in summer, and leaf peeping in fall. But it also has a standout food and beverage scene, with hyperlocal culinary traditions. Here are six places to check out between your outdoor pursuits:

Renard’s Cheese © Destination Door County

Renard’s Cheese

This family-run operation established in 1961 is now on its third generation of cheesemakers, who credit the rich nutrients in the area’s soils to create lush, graze-worthy pastures for the local dairy cows. The shop sells various cheeses from cheddar to muenster to smoked string, as well as fun mash-up flavors like Colby jack mixed with bleu cheese. Don’t miss the cheese curds, a regional favorite, available in yellow, white and flavors like Cajun, garlic and dill, and ranch; they actually do make a squeaking sound on your teeth as you eat them, thanks to the protein and calcium structure. After you’ve tried some samples and purchased your favorite flavors, you can also peruse the selection of oils, jams, spreads and snacks. 

© Destination Door County

Door County Coffee & Tea

Only the top 2 percent of beans grown around the world are high enough quality to pass muster for this coffee company’s production. Its process for making flavored coffees (including ones made with locally grown tart cherries) involves using a macerating process that “rolls” the flavors on to the beans rather than the cheaper and less flavorful way of spraying it on, leading to a truer, richer taste. The café serves beverages, breakfast and lunch, with dishes including a Kitchen Sink bake with waffles, bacon, egg and cheese.

© Destination Door County

Sister Bay Bowl and Supper Club

One of the region’s quirky supper clubs, this fourth-generation restaurant offers local dishes like batter-fried lake perch, prime rib and bone-in pork chops. They also offer riffs on the Cherry Brandy Old Fashioned, a sweeter version of the classic cocktail that’s everywhere in Door County. After dinner, hit the retro six-lane bowling alley, converted from a dance floor in the 1960s.

White Gull Inn © Destination Door County

The White Gull Inn

Weekly fish boils in the courtyard of this historic bed and breakfast and restaurant draw in locals and visitors alike. Chunks of freshly caught whitefish from Lake Michigan are cooked outside in a large pot over an open fire along with salt and small red potatoes, in a ritual that dates back centuries to the time of the area’s Scandinavian settlers. After the fish oils rise to the surface, the Master Boiler throws a small amount of kerosene on the flames under the pot, spilling the fish oils out of the cauldron and leaving the fish ready to eat. Guests retreat to the dining room, where they enjoy the fish and potatoes along with lemon, melted butter, coleslaw, homemade bread, and cherry pie for dessert. It’s dinner and a show. 

© Destination Door County

Hatch Distilling Co.

Founder Chris Roedl got his start in the commercial poultry industry before deciding to become a beekeeper who distllls spirits from raw Wisconsin honey. Doc Wahl is his American Single Malt Whiskey, made from three varieties of malted barley and aged on-site in new American white oak barrels a minimum of two years. Its bracing gin is made with botanicals, including white spruce tips along with juniper, while spicy high-rye Fellowship Bourbon is crafted with heirloom grains. Guests can try a flight of spirits, as well as a selection of meads and ciders.

© Destination Door County

Coyote Roadhouse

This unassuming spot on the north end of Kangaroo Lake is wildly popular — and a perfect place for lunch. Every table seems to start with a loaf of French fried onion rings served with dipping sauces and an order of fried cheese curds — the Door County version of mozzarella sticks. There are also burgers, steaks and quesadillas, and an all-you-can-eat fish fry on Friday evenings, with deep-fried grouper and all the sides. They also serve up 30 bottles of beer and 10 options on tap.