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Rain Date

So you brought the kids to Door County with visions of long days wearing them out at the beach and in the park – but now the forecast calls for rain. What do you do?

You’re forgiven if you’re initially stumped for ideas when the rainclouds move in, but don’t let the frustration get to you.

Door County is renowned for its dedication to the arts, and that commitment includes our young artists.

Businesses don’t get much more family-friendly than Hands On Art Studio in Fish Creek. Hands On is a great place for kids (and adults) to fuel their creative impulses painting and decorating bowls, plates, cups and other pottery. Make a keepsake of your Door County vacation, or enroll your kids in a Hands On Art Camp.

The Peninsula School of Art in Fish Creek also offers 3-day kids workshops in July and August.

If you’re looking for a place to eat while you wait for the weather to pass, you can’t go wrong at PC Junction at Peninsula Center. Here, the food is delivered around the bar by train, and if there’s a wait for a seat, the kids can take over the grounds to race peddle-powered carts, visit the sugar shack, paint signs, and generally run wild.

The Northern Grill in Sister Bay offers another great family dining experience with its great arcade, big-screen TV, friendly service, and some of the county’s best pizza.

For a classic Door County experience the whole family will love, head to the Sister Bay Bowl and roll a few frames in one of the only bowling alleys left without electronic scorekeeping. Your kids will probably battle over who gets to keep score, while you get a chance for a nostalgic afternoon in the 6-lane alley that has barely changed in nearly 50 years.

If arcades are more your style, visit Johnson’s Park in Sister Bay or the Egg Harbor Fun Park, both of which offer everything from ske-ball to dual racing games and arcade classics.

Kids who love the pool (what kid doesn’t?) will love the indoor slide and pool at Meadow Ridge in Egg Harbor, available to non-guests for a small fee. Try a trip down the water slide, or enjoy the tumble buckets and water geysers. Or you can take them to one of the Door County YMCA’s program centers in Fish Creek for a day in the pool or games in the gym.

But don’t rule out the outdoors just because the rain falls or the skies are gray. Roiling waters may keep you off the beach, but they make Cave Point a thrilling place to watch the waves crash, and Door County’s shoreline is a great vantage point to watch the storms and lightning roll in over Green Bay. Hopefully, now you’ve got some options when you need to run for cover.