At Door County's Cave Point Park along Wisconsin's thumb, Mother Nature cued up new chords on a crisp January morning. Sun warmed the water, and waves nudged wafer-thin shards of nighttime ice to the rocky shore. They shooshed forward with a rhythmic tinkling and constant crackling. Even more alluring was the brilliant blue-green of Lake Michigan. It hugged limestone cliffs undercut with caves and a snow-white shoreline. Caribbean-colored water lapped against icicles strung as delicately as chandeliers.

"She's singing," Dwight Zeller said of the lake after we ran into each other looking for good photo opportunities.

Zeller manages the historic site at Cana Island Lighthouse station in the warm months, but says winter is his favorite season on the 75-mile-long peninsula.

"If you're looking for a single-word answer," he said, "it's 'quiet.'"

Why go now

Tourists are everywhere spring through fall. They come for flowering orchards, harvest festivals, 250 miles of shoreline, inland forests and the creative vibe of an artists colony known for galleries, concerts and the impressive Peninsula Players Theatre.

Special to the Star Tribune, Star Tribune
Ice formations hang from limestone cliffs and rocks like chandeliers at Cave Point Park in Door County, Wis.

Winter visitors find a calmer, cozier Door County. There's a sense of rejuvenation and romance while watching wind, water and ice conjure new twists on frosty scenery.

On a more practical front, winter lodging is more affordable. While many attractions do close, you can still find good eats, browse galleries and boutiques, participate in creative workshops and enjoy the outdoors with cross-country skiing, sleigh rides or shoreline hikes before thawing out with steaming mugs of hot cherry cider.

Get artsy

If you have even an ounce of creativity, the Hands-On Art Studio (3655 Peninsula Players Road, Fish Creek; 1-920-868-9311; www.handsonartstudio.com) is nirvana. The converted rural barn and outbuildings hum with the happy vibe of kids and grown-ups playing with stained glass, mosaics, metal jewelry, pottery wheels, spin-painted T-shirts and even fire as staffers teach how to handle blowtorches and plasma cutters for metal sculpture.

"We're play coaches," quips owner Cy Turnblad. There are no scheduled classes -- just a $7 studio fee (plus project supplies) and as-you-go coaching that makes this a one-of-a-kind place.

Go early in your trip to leave a day for staff members to fire glazes or let projects dry. It's easy to lose track of time here, but you can order pizza or snacks and even bring your own drinks on adult nights.

Tour the orchard

The 100 acres of fruit trees at the Lautenbach family's Orchard Country Winery & Market may be dormant, but a sleigh ride through the lanes and into the woods is one of the top things to do on a winter weekend.

At Mayberry's Carriages, Percheron, Belgian and Clydesdale horses pull a sleigh fit for a small group or a cozy vintage one for couples (book at 1-920-421-1152).

The Lautenbachs' market also is one of the best destinations for farm-stand fanatics and foodies. The wine counter offers samples of their two dozen wines, including a delicately sweet Honeycrisp apple wine, cherry chardonnay and two spiced wines to be served hot.

The rest of the store is peppered with displays and samples of tart or sweet cherry cider, cherry-infused mustards, dressings and barbecue sauces, cherry almond jelly and a sweetly spicy cherry salsa. If you have a cooler (or a cold trunk), you can grab frozen pies and hamburgers or brats made with cherries (9197 Hwy. 42, Fish Creek; 1-920-868-3479; www.orchardcountry.com).

Gangsters and wine

Another standout among the four wineries that stay open in the winter months is Simon Creek Vineyard (5896 Bochek Road, Sturgeon Bay; 1-920-746-9307; www.simoncreekvineyard.com). Its Untouchable Red, a semisweet blend based on a Cabernet, is a bestseller and a frequent recommendation at local restaurants. Its name is a nod to local lore that had Simon Creek farm's owner refusing to sell his land to Al Capone.

You can sample four wines or pay $6 for a glass of your choice. There are four reds, five whites (including the light citrusy American Viognier) and Door County cherry wine, which isn't overly sweet.

Head to the park

With 16 miles of ski trails, a whopper of a sledding hill and great coastal scenery, Peninsula State Park reigns as a four-season, 3,776-acre attraction. You can climb a fire tower for sweeping views of Ephraim Harbor and outer islands or drive along its Shore Road to look for "shove"-- giant, jagged ice heaves that glow with glacier blues (9462 Shore Road, Fish Creek; 1-920-868-3258; www.wiparks.net). You can rent skis at nearby Nor Door Sports (4007 Hwy. 42, Fish Creek; 1-920-868-2275; www.nordoorsports.com). Lisa Meyers McClintick of St. Cloud is the author of "Off the Beaten Path: The Dakotas," an upcoming "Minnesota Lakes Vacations" travel app through Sutro Media, and blogs at www.10000Likes.com.