PLANNING YOUR Visit TO ASHLAND, BAYFIELD & APOSTLE ISLANDS

When is the best time to visit Lake Superior and the surrounding communities? Anytime is a great time to visit northern Wisconsin! Our guests often ask for suggestions for fun things to do and places to see while they are staying with us. Here are a few fun and popular things to do in our area. All these fun activities are a short drive from the The Blue Wave Inn.

GO BIKING!

Rent a cruiser bike or ebike from us at Solstice Outdoors and check out the bike trail through Ashland. Be sure to hit the Oredock for a great view of the Ashland Lighthouse.

Go hiking!

Hike to Morgan Falls and St. Peter’s Dome. A spectacular hike in the early spring for wildflowers and in the fall for amazing fall color and a vista. Scroll for more suggestions.

GO CHASING WATERFALLS

Also, a fun day trip is a trip to Cornucopia, or “Cornie.” Hike to Lost Creek Falls then stop at Ehlers Store for a fun snack and hit the beaches down by the Marina for a dip in Lake Superior’s south shore.

Visit Copper Falls State Park for a nice tour of many waterfalls.

WHERE TO EAT

Many of our local restaurants in Ashland will deliver right to the Inn.

ASHLAND AREA RESTAURANTS

The Sandbar is right downstairs and a great place to start or end your day.

Deepwater Grille & South Shore Brewery has something for everyone. Locally crafted beer, entrees, pizza and usually fresh local fish fry on Fridays. Located on Main Street in downtown Ashland.

For mom and pop pizza check out Hugo’s Pizza just a couple blocks west on the corner of US Hwy 2 and Sanborn Avenue.

Pizza Pub is also for great pizza and they deliver. It’s one of our family’s favorite pizza places.

El Tarasco, a small little Mexican place, across the street. They also do take out or La Monarca on Main Street in downtown Ashland.

WASHBURN and BAYIFLED AREA

Patsy’s for great burgers

Good Thyme for fine dining and great drinks in a big yellow hours in Washburn.

Bayfield Inn and the Rittenhouse are to longtime establishments serving great food.

Meyer’s Beach Sea Cave Hiking Trail

Late winter is a great time to visit northern Wisconsin. Although, winter may be winding down, there’s still some great fun outdoor adventures to discover in Ashland and the surrounding area. On the Bayfield peninsula, on the south shore of Lake Superior, lays a hidden gem just waiting for you to explore. The Meyer’s Beach Sea Cave Trail is a year round staff favorite.  Hiking this trail in the Apostle Island National Lakeshore round is a great way to experience the beauty of Lake Superior and the majestic brownstone sea cave formations from above the lake. More information about visiting in the winter…

You can experience these famous sea caves on foot via the hiking trail on the mainland or by boat.  To access the trailhead, you will go to Meyers Beach, 18 miles west of Bayfield and 4 miles east of Cornucopia along Highway 13. The GPS address is: 90500 Meyers Road. There is a parking area and a small fee to access the trail.

The hiking trail extends approximately 4.5 miles and is an out and back trail There is a boardwalk over the first 0.7 miles of the trail. The first sea cave overlook is about 2 miles from the trailhead. This is a rugged trail with some steep areas which can me slippery or snowy.  In late winter and early spring the trail can also be wet and muddy. Plan ahead and layer up for the hike and wear good sturdy hiking shoes or boots. Happy hiking!

Houghton Falls Hike

Houghton Falls is a great little adventure on your way to Bayfield and the Apostle Islands National Lake Shore. To get there take Hightway 13 North then just a couple miles outside of Washburn you take a right on Houghton Falls Road until you hit the trailhead on the right. This is an easy 1.3 mile hike through a gorgeous sandstone gorge, hemlock forests, rock cliffs and Echo Dells all within the Houghton Falls Natural Area.  You’ll end above Lake Superior’s shoreline at Houghton Point which is a significant point on the Lake Superior shoreline. Houghton Point gives you a great view of Lake Superior and Chequamegon Bay. Good hiking sandals, low hikers or tennis shoes will work just fine if you are stopping by in the summer. In the fall and spring boots would be ideal. The trail has walkways and is an out and back. More trail info..

Visiting Ashland… watch our feature of The Blue Wave Inn on the Milwaukee PBS show Around the Corner with John McGivern.