Cole cooks bacon and eggs in cast iron skillet and Dutch oven, and the kids and I bake biscuits over the fire for breakfast. We drive to downtown Bayfield. The kids finish their Junior Ranger booklets and earn their Apostle Islands National Lakeshore badges from the tourism office. We walk to see the Keeper of the Lighthouse gift shop in downtown. The kids each pick a small souvenir to take home. We walk up to Sweet N’ Salty for their house made waffle cones (yum!) and delicious ice cream and eat at a nearby park on the grass in the shade. While in Bayfield we also drive the Fruit Loop to the orchards for peaches and blueberries which was highly recommended by locals. V loves the charming homes in Bayfield and neighborhoods with views of Lake Superior. It is absolutely breathtaking! I’m so happy our family finally made a visit to charming Bayfield to see the Apostle Islands and experience some majestic hikes. We definitely can’t wait to come back again soon!
Things to Know:
*Bayfield, Wisconsin is a small, historic town on Lake Superior known for the Apostle Islands National Seashore.
*Known for its seasonal attractions including boating and kayaking in the summer, and ice caves and Northern Lights in the winter.
*Bayfield is the main point for accessing the Apostle Islands, a group of 21 islands on Lake Superior, and features one of the largest concentration of lighthouses in North America.
*Enjoy hiking trails, scenic waterfront, boutique shopping, and dozens of orchards along the “Fruit Loop” on the county highway.
*Celebrate Bayfield’s iconic Apple Festival, held annually the first weekend in October. It is the perfect time to enjoy the vibrant fall colors, take home fresh apples from the orchards, special events, live music, and parades.
*Bayfield has been recognized by the Chicago Tribune as the Best Little Town in the Midwest and by Smithsonian Magazine as one of America’s Best Small Towns.
Related Blog Posts:
*Hiking the Apostle Islands, Wisconsin: Siskiwit Falls in Cornucopia
*Apostle Islands Cruise from Bayfield, Wisconsin
*Hiking the Apostle Islands, Wisconsin: Meyers Beach Sea Caves Trail
*Historic Walking Tour in Downtown Stillwater, Minnesota
*More adventure related blog posts
*More Wisconsin related blog posts
Our onboard snack bar serves beer, wine, lemonade, soda, coffee, candy, chips, and sandwiches. Pre-order a River Rock Meal to add to your trip or grab a pizza or sandwich at our River Rock Patio before boarding the boat.
We do not allow outside food to be brought onboard, but if you have a personal water bottle you want to bring, that is okay.
Our onboard snack bar serves beer, wine, lemonade, soda, coffee, candy, chips, and sandwiches. Pre-order a River Rock Meal to add to your trip or grab a pizza or sandwich at our River Rock Patio before boarding the boat.
We do not allow outside food to be brought onboard, but if you have a personal water bottle you want to bring, that is okay.
Shop Photography Prints:
I loved the charming homes and architecure:
So cute!
Beautiful spiral staircase here:
Downtown Bayfield and gorgeous bed and breakfast properties that look over Lake Superior:
Highly recommend Sweet & Salty ice cream for their homemade waffle cones! Yum!
Car ferry to Madeline Island, the largest of the Apostle Islands:
Drive the “Fruit Loop” on the county highway and visit Bayfield’s famous orchards and farms:
Our kids enjoyed working in their Junior Ranger books and earned an Apostle Islands National Lakeshore badge:
Cole leveling up his camping beverage:
The ranger office and visitor center is a great place to learn about the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore:
We stayed one night at a cozy harbor front motel on our travel day and camped in our tent the rest of the time. It was a perfect location right in downtown and overlooking Lake Superior from the harbor.
We met this pack of hunting dogs at the gas station! There are twice as many on the other side of the truck:
They may not tell you you’re in the North Woods but there will be signs:
We had the best time in Bayfield and exploring the Apostle Islands! We can’t wait to come back soon!
