Destinations
Map

Bayfield & Madeline Island

 

Bayfield is the type of small town travelers dream about – picturesque and charming with modern amenities and accommodations. Summertime fills this Lake Superior port with sailboats, sea kayaks and charter fishing boats. Bayfield takes pride in its Victorian mansions, restored and opened as gracious inns or bed & breakfasts. On summer nights, Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua stages unique cabaret entertainment under a big tent just outside of town. In addition, Bayfield is the gateway to the stunning Apostle Islands National Lakeshore; 21 gem-like coastal islands that are home to lighthouses, sea caves, hiking trails and terrific blue-water sailing.

The Madeline Island Ferry crosses the bay on a 3-mile trip to Madeline Island. The Island is home to Big Bay State Park and the Madeline Island Historical Museum, located on the historic site of the former American Fur Company trading post.

FEATURES AND PROFILES

Pack Some Purpose: Traveling Green with Kids

Pack Some Purpose: Traveling Green with Kids As a national leader in the green travel movement, Wisconsin offers lots of ways to blend memorable travel with environmental learning opportunities for your family.
Read More

5 Great Farm-Fresh Restaurants

5 Great Farm-Fresh Restaurants Choose restaurants that emphasize the flavors of farm-fresh, seasonal cuisine to get a true taste of Wisconsin. Here are a few of the many options in the state.
Read More

Fall in Big Bay State Park

Fall in Big Bay State Park It's been called one of Wisconsin's loveliest North Woods settings: Big Bay State Park on Madeline Island, the largest and most accessible of the Apostle Islands. Yet it remains somewhat unheralded among travelers - for now.
Read More

The Perfect Mancation, a Fall Golf Getaway

The Perfect Mancation, a Fall Golf Getaway Perfect weather. Smaller crowds. Off-season discounts. Just a few of the reasons why fall is prime-time for one final golf getaway before the clubs are stored for winter.
Read More

Casinos Round-Up

Not a snowbird? Maybe it’s time to warm up to the bright lights and excitement of Wisconsin casinos. Visitors can find high stakes bingo, video poker, slot machines and blackjack tables grouped in modern, spacious surroundings at Wisconsin's 15 Native American casinos. Many have frequent-player or other incentive programs that give you chances to win prizes on top of your winnings.
View

TRAVELOGUES

Finding it All in Washburn

It is the last town before reaching the quaint, bluff-side, shop-filled, water-sport laden Bayfield. Recently, a renaissance of sorts has been taking place and it is time to take notice. You may still be on your way to Bayfield, but it would be well worth your while to spend a day in Washburn.
Read More

Under the Big Top

Lake Superior’s Big Top Chautauqua, around since 1986, preserves the Chautauqua spirit but gives it a contemporary spin. Nelson and his Blue Canvas Orchestra smoothly morph from one musical genre to another—country to blues to folk to bluegrass—often accompanied by a big-screen slide show of farm, lake, and/or historical images.
Read More

VIDEO GUIDES

Wisconsin Waterfalls Video Guide

Wisconsin Waterfalls Video Guide One of the best parts about traveling is finding the "secrets" that make a destination truly unique. In Wisconsin, you'll find dozens of waterfalls - a sight you don't expect to find in the Midwest. There's a few near Green Bay and you'll find many more scattered throughout the Northwoods. Take the trip through a truly special part of Wisconsin with Yanick Dalhouse and Jerry Huffman.
Watch Video

SOME OF OUR BEST

5 Great Summer Berry-Picking Spots

5 Great Summer Berry-Picking Spots Blueberries, raspberries, and more! Here are a few of the many great picking locations around the state, plus a site to unearth more sweet spots.
Read More

Five Great Farmers' Markets

Five Great Farmers' Markets Wisconsin is home to more than 70 farmers’ markets, each offering a slice of authentic local life, along with tasty seasonal bounty. Here are five of our favorites.
Read More

TOURS AND ITINERARIES

“Inviting People Back to Our Land”

“Inviting People Back to Our Land” Wisconsin has the most Native American tribes east of the Mississippi. Find out more about cultural tourism opportunities for each of the 11 tribes here.
Read More

Classic Wisconsin Courses

Classic Wisconsin Courses The list of high-profile public courses carved into Wisconsin’s golf landscape since 1980 is impressive. It includes Whistling Straits, Blackwolf Run, The Bull, The Bog, Troy Burne, University Ridge, Trapper's Turn, SentryWorld, Horseshoe Bay and this year Northern Bay in Adams County, featuring replicas of some of the nation's greatest holes.
Read More

DESTINATIONS

Bewitched by Bayfield

Bewitched by Bayfield Far from urban cares and suburban sprawl, the tiny town of Bayfield is your winter gateway to Lake Superior and the magnificent Apostle Islands.
Read More

COMING SOON

TRAVEL GREEN LODGING