the wandering chick
...Bayfield, Wisconsin
and a little kayaking excursion

Bayfield, Wisconsin is a picturesque seaside town on the southwest shore of Lake Superior. It is a town of shops, galleries, restaurants and hotels, nicely done with a large grassy park overlooking the water.

It is the town from which cruises to the Apostle Islands leave and is small enough that a stroll through the main part is easily done.

The focus of this trip to Bayfield was a two-hour kayak excursion to shoreline cliffs and caves in the area. Calm waters on the lake made the trip fun and memorable.

Those following my summer Alaska road trip will find that this was my final venture. After spending a few more days in Minnesota with my now-married sister, I traveled home where I will be for the next couple of months. (Unless the urge for a short trip somewhere nearby hits me.)

park
city park
The hub of the town is the town green overlooking the lake, where locals and tourists gather for summer concerts.
marina
residential garden
residential garden
The Rittenhouse hotel
A residential garden
The Old Rittenhouse Inn is Bayfield's first hotel.
rittenhouse porch
madeline island welcome sign
Madeline Island is the largest of the Apostle Islands and the only one with inhabitants. Its town of LaPointe is home to a little more than 200 residents in the winter, but tourists bring the summer population up to 2500. The island is 13 miles long and around 2.5 miles wide. Its main attractions are its beaches and the Big Bay State Park. Madeline Island is a 20-minute ferry ride from Bayfield.
sdenic
lily pads
beach scene
boardwalk through forest
One of the highlights of Madeline Island is Barrier Beach that runs the shoreline along with the Big Bay State Park. It sits on the eastern side of the island.
sandhill cranes
sandhill cranes
Sandhill cranes foraging through the brush at Big Bay.
kayaking
The Big Bay Sand Pit and Bog State Natural Area has a boardwalk that runs one mile out to the end of the island.
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kayaking
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The kayaking trip was two hours long and hugged the shoreline of Lake Superior near Washburn. The caves were shallow and low, making it a great experience for someone like me who had never kayaked before.

To view more Wisconsin locations, please return to the Wisconsin home page.

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kayaking
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kayaking