10 Things To Do in Bayfield Wisconsin For The Perfect Weekend Getaway

10 Fun Things To Do in Bayfield Wisconsin For The Perfect Weekend Getaway

10 Things To Do in
Bayfield, Wisconsin
For The Perfect Weekend Getaway

If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen the girls trip we recently took to Bayfield, Wisconsin. We took off from the Twin Cities for the last few days in September to explore the beautiful Apostle Islands, Northern Wisconsin and the quiet little town of Bayfield.

Where is Bayfield located?

Bayfield is nestled along the shore of Lake Superior in Northern Wisconsin. Just 1 hour and 45 minutes from Duluth and less than 4 hours from Minneapolis, it’s the perfect weekend getaway especially if you’re located in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

So jump in the car and get ready for a beautiful road trip to the Wisconsin side of Lake Superior, here’s 10 fun things to do in Bayfield!

1. Stay at a historic bed and breakfast like the
Old Rittenhouse Inn

This little town is packed with history. And one of the best historic locations is the Old Rittenhouse Inn. Built in 1890, it’s Wisconsin’s first country inn and gourmet restaurant. The property has 20 guest rooms with fireplaces, whirlpool tubs, and stunning views of Lake Superior.

But the Old Rittenhouse Inn isn’t the only great place to stay, also check out the Bayfield Inn!

2. Kayak to Lake Superior sea caves

In Bayfield, kayaking is the most popular activity. With a plethora of sea caves around Lake Superior there are a number of different companies that offer rentals and tours.

We used this company and had a great time! You can even do a night tour to the sea caves.

3. Watch the sunset over the marina

Bayfield gives me some very strong Maine vibes with the charming marinas and quaint sailboats. Make sure you come down to the marina at sunset to see the vibrant colors reflected back in the water!

4. Have drinks on the Bayfield Inn deck overlooking
Lake Superior

Dinner or drinks, your choice! The menu is yummy or you can have a local beer and sip while you take in unbeatable views of Lake Superior.

5. For an easy hike, head to the
Houghton Falls Natural Area

This hike will have you feeling like you’ve just stepped into the movie FernGully or have somehow wandered into the lush Pacific Northwest. It’s full of caves, moss, lopsided trees and little waterfalls. It’s a short, easy and mostly flat hike there and back. Parking is free.

And for hard-core hikers, take the Meyers Beach hiking trail past and above the sea caves.

6. Take the ferry to Madeline Island

The Madeline Island Ferry Line provides transportation between Bayfield and the charming town La Pointe.

It’s a quick 25-minute ride that is packed with spectacular views of the Lake itself and several of the 22 Apostle Islands.

You can bring a car, bike or simply walk onto the ferry.

With miles of sandy beaches, hiking trails or paths to bike on, Madeline Island is a great place to disconnect for the day. Check out Big Bay Town Park by canoe or join a kayak tour here as well!

Check out the schedule and plan your trip or tour.

You can even rent mopeds to cruise around the island! How charming is that?!

7. Drive the Bayfield “Fruit Loop”

It might surprise you to find out that Northern Wisconsin is home to a number of Apple Orchards & Fruit Farms. While you may only think of Wisconsin as buried in snow, there is actually a microclimate near Lake Superior that creates some of the best tasting apples and fruit juices.

And Bayfield just happens to be the kick off point for a popular self-guided tour bringing you to sixteen of the farms, orchards, and wineries.

Use this map & website to help plan your trip!

While we didn’t drive the entire Fruit Loop, we did stop at a number of the places near Bayfield. We were pleasantly surprised with the local cideries and enjoyed the free tastings provided!

8. Camp on one of the 18 islands that offer campsites

Interested in camping on one of the islands? It’s not your usual camping experience that’s for sure! There is no drive up car, tent or RV camping anywhere. Instead the Apostle Island campsites are only accessible by sea kayak, motor boat, sail boat, or water taxi.

Reservations are required and regular campsites cost $15. Group campsites are $30.

9. Rent a sailboat or book a cruise

Why only admire the sailboats from the admire when you can also book a sailing tour around the Apostle Islands?

Check out Manitou Sailing Charters for some very reasonably priced sailing excursions! As low as just $65 for per person!

10. Visit the Bayfield Maritime Museum

This popular museum is usually frequented by thousands of visitors each summer but was closed during 2020 due to Covid-19. It will be re-opening in the summer of 2021 and is a very classic thing to do in Bayfield!

Things To Know Before You Go

Bayfield starts to close down mid-September

We went the final few days in September and already a lot of the kayaking companies had stopped offering tours. And on a Monday night, there were only 2 restaurant options in all of Bayfield. However, some of this may have been due to some covid-restrictions.

But despite that, we loved visiting during this time because there were no crowds anywhere. The town was super quiet and we felt as if we had it to ourselves. If you’re looking to visit at time when everything is sure to be open, summer is the busy season!

It may be quiet in the late fall but the drive to Bayfield will be spectacular with the changing leaves! The stretch leading up to Duluth and crossing into Wisconsin provides some truly remarkable views.

Pack layers, it can be chilly off the shore of Lake Superior in the fall!

While Bayfield is a popular summer destination, it certainly is worth visiting in the fall. But that cool breeze rolling off Lake Superior is sure to be brisk so make sure you’ve packed layers for kayaking, patio dining, hiking or walking around town!