Best Things to Do in Bayfield, Wisconsin

Bayfield, Wisconsin is a Great Place to Vacation

Bayfield is a super cute waterfront town in Wisconsin, about one hour and 40 minutes from Duluth. We were able to get away for a two-day trip and we’re so glad we went. This quaint town has a population of just 439 people. With a coffee shop, book store, boutiques, and much more it’s a great place for a family trip or girls’ weekend.

1. Stay in a Hotel or Camp on Madeline Island

While in Bayfield, we stayed at the Harbor’s Edge Motel. This motel is clean, cute, and conveniently located across the street from the Madeline Island ferry. It also has outdoor seating, which was just a few yards from Lake Superior. If you prefer something more rustic, consider camping on Madeline Island!

2. Shop Around Main Street

Start your morning at Gale Force Coffee. Located just a block from Lake Superior, grab coffee and bagels to get the morning started. Then, enjoy a picnic at Bayfield Civic League Memorial Park, which has a ton of benches all facing Lake Superior. When you’ve finished your breakfast, take a stroll around town, and be sure to stop into the bookstore and the cute little gift shops and boutiques that line Main Street.

3. Find Great Pizza at Manypenny Bistro

If you’re looking for delicious pizza, head to Manypenny Bistro. The pizza is really good and cheesy, and the service is super quick. Or, check out Morty’s Pub for pub classics, like sandwiches, burgers, and fish and chips. And across the street from Morty’s is a cute and tiny ice cream shack if you’re looking for something sweet.

4. Take the Ferry to Madeline Island

From Bayfield, you can take a beautiful 25-minute ferry ride over to Madeline Island, where you’ll find an entire town to explore. The ferry schedule changes seasonally, but during peak summer months it runs every thirty minutes daily. It costs $16 roundtrip for an adult. For an additional fee, you can bring a car as well as a car with a trailer for those planning to bike, kayak, and camp on Madeline Island.

5. Spend the Afternoon Exploring Madeline Island

There are 22 Apostle Islands and 21 of them are protected National Lakeshore. Madeline Island, the largest of the 22 islands is 14 miles long and has an entire town with a post office, police and fire departments, art galleries, restaurants, bars, and a museum. Be sure to stop by Tom’s Burned Down Cafe for a unique experience! There is also a beautiful public beach for swimming. You can rent bikes, hike Big Bay State Park, rent kayaks, or camp.

6. Take a Cruise Around the Apostle Islands

For a fun adventure on Lake Superior, book a tour with Apostle Island Cruises. The boat ride is about 55 miles round trip and close to three hours long. Our captain was fourth-generation from Bayfield and he had an incredible amount of knowledge about each island. My favorite story was about a bear who enjoys swimming back and forth between two islands. I imagine her living her best life, catching fish all day and swimming around her private islands.

You’ll also get really close to the sea caves, which are one of the biggest attractions in the area. The caves were carved by wind and waves over the course of thousands of years. If you want to get even closer, you can rent kayaks and go under and through the caves. We were lucky enough to see an incredible sunset on the way back to Bayfield as well.

A Beautiful and Easy Getaway

Bayfield and the Apostle Islands are unique places with so many things to do! It’s an absolutely beautiful area with plenty of options for places to walk, eat, drink and explore! Looking for more Wisconsin inspiration? Check out my blog posts on Vilas County and Wisconsin Dells.