I don’t know about you, but I feel like we got robbed of fall this year.

It stayed warm longer than usual, and suddenly, without much warning, the trees flipped their switch overnight. The air changed, the light softened, and just like that, peak color arrived. It’s beautiful, but it also feels fast—like we’re cramming all the cozy things we love about fall into a two-week window before winter talk starts taking over.

If you’re anything like me, you’re trying to soak it all in while it lasts. The drives. The cider. The sweaters and slow mornings. And there’s truly no better place to do that than Door County in October.

So consider this your gentle nudge to pause before the season fades. Here are five ways to savor fall in Door County before it’s gone, a mix of local favorites, slow-living moments, and simple joys that will leave you feeling grounded long after the leaves drop.

Five ways to savor fall in Door County before it’s gone

1. Drive Jens Jensen’s Winding Road

There are beautiful drives, and then there’s this one.

At the very tip of the peninsula, Jens Jensen’s Winding Road might just be my favorite view in all of Door County. The curves were intentionally designed to make you slow down, to notice the light filtering through the canopy, the rhythm of the turns, and the way the trees seem to arch overhead in perfect harmony.

In fall, it becomes pure magic. The leaves turn to golds, ambers, and deep reds, and every curve feels like a painting you get to drive through. There’s something about knowing that this road was created to help people pause that feels especially right this time of year.

2. Taste the Flavors of Fall

One of my favorite parts of fall in Door County is how the menus shift with the season. Suddenly, everything feels warm, cozy, and locally sourced like the chefs know exactly what our souls need after a busy summer.

Here are a few restaurants offering seasonal fall menus worth seeking out:

• Waterfront (Sister Bay) – Candlelit dinners, a front-row seat to the sunset, and ever-changing dishes that celebrate what’s fresh and local. Think maple-glazed salmon, squash bisque, or cherry-reduction sauces that taste like Door County itself.

• Chives (Baileys Harbor) – A cozy, elevated spot with fall-forward comfort food. Watch for mushroom risotto, apple-brined pork chops, or whatever their chef is experimenting with that week.

And if you’re craving something lighter (or just something to hold in mittened hands), stop at Island Orchard Cider in Ellison Bay for a cider flight. Their seasonal flavors—apple, pear, cherry, and French-style brut—taste like fall in a glass.

3. Don’t Overschedule—Leave Room for the Slow Moments

It’s tempting to want to fit in everything before the season ends—the hikes, the restaurants, the photo ops—but some of the best parts of fall aren’t on any itinerary.

It’s the slow coffee on the dock, wrapped in your coziest sweater while the morning fog lifts off the lake. It’s the unhurried conversations around the fire pit when you realize you’ve all stopped checking your phones. It’s finishing the book you’ve been carrying around since August.

When you plan your Door County getaway, leave space for these moments. Don’t trade busy for busy. The beauty of staying in a cabin is that it naturally invites you to slow down and savor—the flicker of the firelight, the smell of cedar, the quiet rhythm of waves against the shore.

4. Bundle Up for One Last Al Fresco Night

We’re right on the edge of saying goodbye to patio season, which is exactly why you should squeeze in one last night under the stars.

Grab a wool blanket, order a drink, and head to the fire tables at Twelve Eleven Provisions. Their outdoor setup feels like fall in its final form: crisp air, cozy layers, glowing lights, and the faint scent of smoke from bonfires.

If you prefer something more intimate, light your own fire back at the cabin and make dinner there. The sizzle of something simple on the grill, a glass of wine, and the sound of leaves rustling, it’s hard to imagine a better send-off to the season.

5. Find a Gift Before the Holidays Begin

I know we’re talking about savoring fall, not rushing toward Christmas…but there’s something special about finding a few thoughtful gifts before the season of to-do lists begins.

Some of my favorite local shops this time of year:

• Woodwalk Gallery (Egg Harbor) – A restored barn filled with local art, pottery, and handmade treasures.

• Sister Golden (Fish Creek) – A bright, joyful shop owned by a mother-daughter duo, perfect for unique prints and home décor.

• The Shops at Cupola House (Egg Harbor) – A collection of small boutiques housed in a historic building, great for jewelry, gifts, and Door County-made goods.

• Hill House (Gills Rock) – Elevated and charming, with cozy finds that make perfect hostess gifts.

Grab a latte from Leroy’s Water Street Coffee in Ephraim, wander the shops, and let yourself linger. There’s something grounding about shopping small, connecting with the makers, and leaving with a story behind every gift.

Where to Stay: Anchor Your Weekend in a Cabin That Feels Like a Destination

To really soak it all in, choose a place that invites you to pause. Each of our cabins offers something special for this exact kind of weekend:

The Point – A private peninsula on Clark Lake where the water wraps around you on three sides. Perfect for families or groups (sleeps 12). You’ll feel completely tucked away, with kayaks, canoes, and sunset views you’ll never forget.

Porte Haven – Perched on a bluff overlooking Death’s Door, this one’s for those who love quiet luxury. Think spa-like calm, round windows that feel like portholes, and a firepit with a front-row seat to the stars (sleeps 6 adults + kids).

The Bay – Designed for connection, with floor-to-ceiling lake views, a spacious deck, and a firepit made for lingering nights by the water (sleeps 8).

Each cabin is intentionally off the beaten path, close enough to the best restaurants and hikes, but peaceful enough that you’ll forget time altogether.

Somehow, the weekend of October 24–26 is still open at all three cabins, which feels like the universe giving us one last chance to catch our breath before the holidays begin.

Because this truly is the perfect ending to Door County’s best season.