Located just east of Green Bay and jutting out like a thumb into Lake Michigan, Wisconsin's Door County remains, for the most part, a jealously guarded secret. Weekenders from Milwaukee (2 1/2 hours south) and Chicago (4 1/2 hours south) are a common sight. But the peninsula seldom attracts notice outside the region.

This is one of those rare places that successfully balances the friendly atmosphere and leisurely pace you look for in a rural retreat with the tourist infrastructure necessary for a comfortable and lively family vacation.

Among the attractions are 250 miles of coastline dotted with lighthouses, state parks, rocky beaches and sailboat-filled marinas. The county's nine small fishing villages, which are within seven to 11 miles of one another, make for popular biking destinations. Farm stands throughout the area are bountiful with produce and the state's renowned dairy offerings. And acres upon acres of pick-your-own cherry orchards demand at least an afternoon from late July to early August.

The area also offers lots of outdoor concerts and theater. Often ranked among the best regional theater troupes in the country, American Folklore Theater puts on nightly performances in the woods at Peninsula State Park through the summer. (Bug spray is free.)

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No visit to the area is complete without participating in the local custom known as a fishboil. This boisterous Scandinavian tradition involves filling a large cauldron with potatoes, whitefish and spices, and setting it all on an outdoor fire. The food is less the point--in fact, some say it's to be avoided--than the beer, music and company. There are also more conventional--and refined--dining options available. The Sage Restaurant and Wine Bar in Sturgeon Bay, for example, serves much-praised contemporary American cuisine in an Art Deco setting. And Wilson's Ice Cream, family-run since 1906, is a revered institution--and a necessary stop.

Accommodations range from B&Bs to home and condo rentals to full-blown resorts. One popular family choice is Egg Harbor's Landing Resort (920-868-3282), which offers condo suites with fully-equipped kitchens, a pool, tennis and basketball courts and movie rentals. Rates vary depending on room size and month; from late June through August, a one-bedroom suite that comfortably sleeps four runs $150 a night. For more places to stay, check the website maintained by the Door County Chamber of Commerce at www.doorcountyvacations.com.

Photo courtesy Gray Goose Bed & Breakfast.