The Best Small Town In Wisconsin For A 3-Day Weekend
With over 800 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, the opportunities for a lakeside vacation in Wisconsin feel endless. As a result, narrowing down spots for a weekend retreat can definitely feel overwhelming. However, your search ends here: add Bayfield to your travel list this year.
This small town, home to just over 500 residents, sits along the shores of Lake Superior near the Apostle Islands and offers everything you need for a perfect weekend getaway. Downtown, you will find an abundance of local cafes, galleries, and boutiques, while just outside of town, ski resorts, boreal forest reserves, and historic farms provide plenty of ways to stay busy. In fact, don’t be surprised if you are already booking your next travel dates by the time you finish the article!
A Morning Downtown
Despite its small population, Bayfield’s downtown stays surprisingly active. With many of its businesses all within a short walk of each other, you will definitely want to set aside a morning to explore it. If you arrive in the morning, you can begin your day at Wonderstate Coffee, the town’s year-round coffee shop that serves an extensive coffee and tea menu, along with an array of seasonal specialties. After getting your coffee fix, walk a few steps down the block to Roxanne’s, a local boutique that has been in business for over five decades, selling all kinds of items, including gifts, jewelry, clothing, and home decor. The building it is housed in is also a historic gem, dating back to 1892.
If you enjoy browsing art, make sure to stop by the Bayfield Artists' Guild, a local gallery featuring work by northern Wisconsin artists. Here, you can find paintings, ceramics, sculptures, jewelry, soaps, lotions, cutting boards, and more to take home with you to remember your trip. Once lunchtime hits, make your way down to Manypenny Bistro, a family-owned restaurant and bakery that serves all of your favorite American classics. A few dishes you’ll find on the menu include a wood-stone oven pizza, burgers, sandwiches, fish tacos, and more.
Outdoor Recreation
You’ve seen the downtown area, so now it's time to get outside and explore the great outdoors! If the weather is nice enough to go for a hike, you’ll definitely want to check out Frog Bay Tribal National Park, which proudly claims the title of the first tribal national park in the United States. This national park, along with the Frog Bay Conservation Management Area, celebrates the cultural significance of water and the spiritual connection that the Red Cliff Band has with Lake Superior. Here, you will be able to explore the rare boreal forest ecosystem, undeveloped sandy beaches, and coastal wetlands, experiencing the wild beauty of the Bayfield Peninsula. While there are plenty of hiking options, some of the most popular include Easy Trail and Beach Trail, both short walks leading to the shoreline, and Ravine Trail, a roughly one-mile route that winds through ravines.
If you visit Bayfield during the winter, you can hit the slopes at Mt. Ashwabay, a beloved ski area that has over 25 miles (40 kilometers) of groomed Nordic trails and 12 alpine runs. If you didn’t bring your gear with you, you can also rent from the area, which has ski, snowboard, and boot rentals available.
Museums & Historic Farms
Founded in 1856 following a treaty between the United States and the Ojibwe (Chippewa) native people, Bayfield quickly became a major shipping port in the region. As a result, its maritime history is both prominent and fascinating. Travelers can explore this part of the town’s history at the Bayfield Maritime Museum, which welcomes more than 19,000 visitors each season and displays artifacts that highlight Bayfield’s and the Apostle Islands’ nautical heritage.
Bayfield’s agricultural heritage is also worth celebrating, and there is no better place to do so than at Hauser’s Superior View Farm. This farm has been passed down through five generations, founded in 1908. Today, you’ll find a nursery, greenhouse, orchard, and cidery on-site. And, perhaps most notably, the farm’s iconic red barn! This barn was built in the 1920s, arriving as a mail-order barn that was delivered by horse-drawn wagons. Make sure to bring your camera, because a gorgeous view of the lake and the Apostle Islands awaits from the hilltop. After, browse the nursery and farm store, or grab a small batch cider from the cidery. Just make sure to check the farm’s hours before your visit, as some of the facilities are closed for the month or season.
Where To Stay
To round out your perfect weekend in Bayfield, check into one of the town’s charming accommodations. Want to stay on the water? Seagull Bay - A Lakeside Motel is a wonderful option for you. This modern and upscale motel has some of the best views of Lake Superior you’ll find in an accommodation, and even has direct access to the Brownstone Trail, allowing you to easily get out and explore the nature around town.
If you prefer to stay right in the heart of town, St. James Social is the hotel for you. Its history dates back to 1884, when it first opened as the town’s original Main Street Hotel. Today, it has been revitalized and renovated to reflect a modern atmosphere and has plenty of incredible amenities, including a rooftop lounge, a sauna, an on-site restaurant, daily breakfast, and a coffee and tea bar.
A Memorable Weekend In Bayfield Awaits
There are so many places to travel in Wisconsin, and picking just one town to highlight is certainly a challenge. However, Bayfield is a great destination to keep in mind if you are looking for a short, yet action-packed getaway. Or if you prefer to stay at the hotel all weekend long, enjoying the sauna and rooftop lounge, that would be fine too! However you choose to spend your getaway in Bayfield, it will almost definitely be a memorable one.
