We've spent our whole lives on this shore, so here's the honest local rundown — the spots we send every guest to, with drive times measured from the cabin door. Ferries and island trips run on Lake Superior's schedule, so check current hours before you head out.
Twenty-one wild islands and twelve miles of mainland shoreline, with old lighthouses, sand spits, and the famous sea caves. Cruise boats and guided kayak tours leave right from Bayfield — or we'll put you on the water ourselves.
A working harbor town of galleries, coffee shops, and fresh whitefish on the dock. Up on the hill, the orchards run pick-your-own apples and berries all season and pour cider through the fall Apple Festival.
The one Apostle Island you can drive onto. The car ferry crosses to La Pointe in about twenty minutes — day-trip it for the beaches, the museum, and a burger at Tom's Burned Down Café.
The mainland sea caves — red sandstone arches you paddle into by kayak in summer, and in a hard-freeze winter you can walk to on the ice. Stop for a shore lunch and the best sunset west of the peninsula.
The local hill — downhill and cross-country skiing plus fat-biking in winter, and miles of quiet mountain-bike and hiking trails once the snow's gone. Small, friendly, and never a lift line.
Summer concerts and homegrown musical revues under a big blue canvas tent, with the stars coming out over the tent flaps. Buy tickets ahead — the good shows sell out, and it's a Northwoods evening you won't forget.
A mile-and-a-half of sand beach, a boardwalk over the lagoon, and sandstone bluffs with some of the warmest swimming water in the islands. Pack a picnic and make an afternoon of it.
Ancient lava flows, deep gorges, and two big waterfalls linked by a woodsy loop trail with railed overlooks. The prettiest inland hike in the region and worth the drive on a rainy-on-the-lake day.
Pick a cabin, and all of this is a short drive from your front porch.