The Door County Trolley has been a Door County staple for over 20 years! Starting with just one trolley and a dream, the operation quickly grew in a short time to include its own trolley station and a wide variety of tours. The trolley station, located in Egg Harbor, is home to a large number of cherry-red trolleys, a retail shop, and a full beverage bar. These tours are a popular pastime for first-time guests, long-time visitors, and even locals, with over 20 tours to choose from! With scenic tours, family-friendly tours, seasonal tours, drinking tours, and so much more, where do you even begin? We’ve curated a list of some of our favorite tours for you to embark on the Door County Trolley, whether it’s your first or fifteenth time climbing on board!
1. Wine, Spirits, & Brew Tour
One of the most popular tours on the Door County Trolley is the Wine, Spirits, & Brew Tour. As their website states, “Experience the flavors of Door County, one sip at a time!” The trolley will take you to a Door County winery, distillery, and brewery, where you can try samples of the finest wine, spirits, and beer that the peninsula has to offer. You can also listen to winemakers, brewers, and distillers talk about their craft, and there are additional opportunities to try more of their products at each location.
You don’t have to worry about overindulging on the drinks. Lunch and dessert are included with the tour! Even if you do end up drinking a little more than you bargained for, the Landmark Resort is a pick-up and drop-off location for the trolley, ensuring your safety and having all the fun you’d like!
2. Haunted Pub Crawl
The spooky season is just around the corner, which means that the Haunted Pub Crawl will be looming out of the shadows for its return! Only available from mid-September through the first weekend of November, this is a very popular trolley tour that fills up quickly, so make sure to secure your reservation well in advance!
As the name suggests, you’ll crawl through some of Door County’s more ghastly pubs and taverns, hearing tales of the ghosts and spirits that inhabit the halls while sampling some spirits of your own! At the trolley station, you’ll receive a complimentary beverage of your choice in a souvenir skull mug that glows in the dark, and you can purchase drinks at the three different locations you’ll visit. Dressing up for Halloween is highly encouraged and part of the fun!
3. Ghost Tour
Not every tour involves alcohol; there are plenty of tours for younger members of the family to enjoy, so they can participate in the frightful fun as well! Another very popular trolley tour is the Ghost Tour. Similar to the Haunted Pub Crawl, you’ll be regaled with spine-tingling stories of the ghosts that haunt the peninsula. Learn about the sunken ships captured by Death’s Door, haunted lighthouses, and mysterious occurrences that have occurred throughout Door County’s history. Unlike the pub crawl, this tour is available for much longer in the year, from May through November. Featured in USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, and Midwest Living magazine, this is a tour that’s fun, historical, and hair-raising for the whole family!
4. Santa Trolley Express
While there are some tours that are only available in the summer and fall, there’s one special trolley tour that’s only available in the winter, and it’s one that your kids will love! These tours are short and sweet, departing every fifteen minutes, so you don’t have to worry about making reservations months in advance or about your children getting restless waiting in line. Another bonus is that the trolley is heated, so you’ll stay warm and cozy on the ride, with a hot chocolate in hand from the station’s beverage bar.
Take your children to see Santa’s cabin in the woods, where he stays curating his list before he departs to the North Pole for the big day. Your kids can sit by the fire and tell Santa their wish list. Perhaps the best part is that all proceeds go to support DOOR CANcer, a non-profit organization that assists families battling cancer with financial aid.
5. Narrated Scenic Tour
The Narrated Scenic Tour is the most popular trolley tour offered, and for good reason! Family-friendly, less than two hours, and available from spring through fall, you can experience all the beauty of Door County from the comfortable seat of the trolley.
You’ll travel through lush forests, above limestone bluffs, and over stunning vistas, learning more about the county and each of the small towns that inhabit it. Each guide on the tour is a tried-and-true local, full of insider tips, fond memories, and deep knowledge about the peninsula. This is a great opportunity to plan more of your trip as you’re traveling, as well as seeing excellent spots to take family photos!
6. Spring Blossom Tour
Speaking of incredible views, the Spring Blossom Tour is only available for a few weeks out of the year, but it’s absolutely worth the time! Get a front-row seat to rows and rows of Door County’s cherry tree blossoms, which bloom for a couple weeks in May. Instead of a trolley, you’ll ride in a carriage pulled by horses, and you’ll get to experience more than just the cherry blossoms! Enjoy a wine tasting at a local winery, lunch with dessert at the English Inn, and even a bonus stop somewhere special!