In a way, all Door County roads-or at least the main ones of Hwy. 42 and Hwy. 57--lead to Sister Bay.   In fact, the village's Information Center is located on the spot where the two highways come together.

There you'll see the Sister Bay Information Center in an old schoolhouse in Gateway Park.  It's a great place to plan your Sister Bay getaway as well as observe the historic log building architecture.

Here are some more tips for enjoying Sister Bay.

What's to do? We mention the intersection of Hwy. 42 and Hwy 57. But there's another important corner in Sister Bay. That would be the Corner of the Past Museum, Hwy. 57 and Fieldcrest Road (open weekends and holidays mid -May to mid-October). Included are a number of buildings for viewing. The Anderson House was moved over the ice from Marinette to Sister Bay. After a restoration in 1994, it offers visitors a glimpse at Sister Bay's past.

Sister Bay is also a great destination for people who enjoy water sports. The Waterfront Park has a beach, docks, playground and picnic areas. And the Sister Bay Marina has 100 slips and other conveniences for boaters.

Enjoy events year-round including Blossom Festival (May 8), Door County Festival of the Arts (Aug. 14), Sister Bay Marina Fest (Sept. 4), and the Sister Bay Fall Festival (Oct. 15 - 17, billed by organizers as the "granddaddy of all Door County fests" and perhaps everyone's fav, indeed).

What to buy: Sister Bay has many shopping areas. And some galleries and boutiques, tucked in rural areas, are destinations to themselves. So be prepared to drive around to get a true feel of what's available. But while you are in town, don't miss seeing Pipka's Gallery. Pipka Ulvilden, renowned nationally as a designer of Old-World Santa figurines, designs her Santas right here in Sister Bay. Her gallery is a place to see the vast collection as well as to learn more about Saint Nicholas any time of year. Mill Road Gallery presents stunning landscapes of many areas by painter Brigitte Kozma and wildlife paintings by her husband Tom Seagard. 

Also, don't miss visiting with the friendly staff at Passtimes Books. They have a huge collection of books by and about Door County as well as many novels and magazines you'll want to have during vacation.  Out of town and on Hwy. 57, you'll enjoy roaming the old barn housing Chelsea Antiques. Next door is the popular Blue Willow Shop with home accessories, furnishings, art and more.

What to eat:  From casual to classy, Sister Bay rocks with restaurants. Got kids? Check out the Patio Restaurant. It's got a midcentury vibe with the old light-up road sign. And the burgers and malts are even popular among the locals (good to know, right?) Also fun is JJ's La Puerta Restaurant, serving Mexican dishes as well as American food. Fred and Fuzzy's Waterfront Bar & Grill is kind of hard to find, but worth the trip-especially if you like to eat really close to the water.  Oh, and there's Al's Swedish Restaurant-that would be the one with the goats on the grass roof and the authentic Swedish dishes inside.  A lot of people like to eat at the Sister Bay Bowl, too. Classy options include Inn at Kristofer's, Mission Grille and Waterfront Restaurant.

Historical highlights:  Scandinavian hospitality is alive and well in Sister Bay, an area originally settled by Norwegians. John Thoreson came to Little Sister Bay and Ingebret Torgeson arrived on Big Sister Bay in 1857, according to village research.   Early settlers worked in lumbering and in about 1899 the harbors and large docks afforded stops for tourists traveling on Goodrich Steam Lines and other boat lines.

Where to stay: Again, variety is available in this village. From B&Bs like the Church Hill Inn to resorts including the Inn at Little Sister Hill, Country House Resort, Birchwood Lodge and Scandinavian Lodge, Sister Bay has a lot of choices at various price points. Check them out at www.doorcountynavigator.com 

To learn more: Sister Bay Advancement Association, 920-854-2812, www.sisterbaytourism.com