Destination?  -  Bayfield!

A Newsletter From Bayfield , WI

"Best Little Town On The Big Lake"
July 2005
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The Sunday night Nitty Gritty Dirt Band concert in the Big Blue Tent was fantastic.

Madeline Island produced a fine old fashioned parade the morning of the 4th as usual.

On the evening of the 4th, a huge crowd gathered early on the park grass overlooking the harbor for fireworks, while boats of every description milled about a few hundred yards out on the lake.

The City of Bayfield lit off a somewhat shorter show of fireworks than expected by the crowd, many staying to watch the distant shows from La Pointe on Madeline Island and from Ashland. 

In This Newsletter

Boat Rides & Cruises
Basswood Island
Shopping
"Riverpants"
Lighthouse Celebration

Why miss the single best attraction of this place?

And why in the world miss the eight lighthouses of the Apostle Islands?

Most images on this page are
thumbnails - please click to view in larger size.

Sand Island Light

Raspberry Island Light

1.  Cruise Lake Superior with Apostle islands Cruise Service.

2. Enjoy a Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua production - any show will do - but start with one of the "house" shows for a full appreciation of local talent and the unique history of this place.

There are so many options to explore the Apostle Islands and Chequamegon Bay - things to do and things to see - that many guests quickly decide that a return visit to Bayfield must be added to their wish lists.

Outer Island Light

Old Michigan Island Light

Departures aboard the Island Princess offer  morning, afternoon and evening  narrated voyages through the Islands.

Expect a close view the restoration progress of Raspberry Island Lighthouse and countless photo opportunities - including the Devils Island sea caves.

Devils Island Light

Three shuttle cruises each week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday) go out to the Raspberry Island Lighthouse complex and visit the tower with a Park Interpreter.

Just once a week, on Friday evenings, the Lighthouses & Sea Caves Cruise heads to the western edge of the Apostles, passing the Lights at Raspberry and Sand Islands to offer close views of the Sea Caves at Mawikwe Bay.

LaPointe Light

Basswood Island

Standing on the Bayfield City dock,  looking out toward where the sun and moon rise, is the long narrow shape of Madeline Island.

Turn a bit to your left and the first of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Islands, Basswood (abbreviated locally to "Bass") splits Chequamegon Bay into the West Channel and North Channel.

Every vessel headed to the Islands passes by Basswood Island.

The naming of Islands in the Apostles can usually be traced back to the first people who lived here. Basswood is no exception to that rule, and was likely named for the Basswood trees that once covered the island.

Like most of the Apostles, the Island was logged several times. The first sandstone quarry was here in the 1860s. And there were two farms on the island up through the 1950s.

 For more information
on Basswood Island go to
Chequamegon Bay Web.

Where is Basswood Island? 
A Map of the Apostle Islands.

Shopping.

Let us be honest now. Shopping happens on vacations.

And there is no better place to find meaningful
"stuff" to return home with than the
Keeper of the Light Nautical Gift Shop.

They are open later in the evening than most
other stores in Bayfield, and have a fabulous selection.

You can shop online too.

"Riverpants"
At Lake Superior's Big Blue Tent

For an evening of great entertainment - after a day on the Big Lake of course - motor up the hill to enjoy what is simply the  funniest show Warren Nelson has written to date.

From the longest running Oly & Lena skit ever produced, to a canoe full of Voyageurs who would rather sleep late than paddle and sing - or accept responsibility for questionable past deeds - the jokes are endless.

Toss in rousing song and music, and Irish dancing by fisher-folk  in hip waders and what results you'll go home to tell your friends about.

And you can only experience "Riverpants" this summer at the Big Blue Tent July 7, 17, 31 and August 11, 24.

Call 888-BIG-TENT
or visit
 www.bigtop.org
for tickets.

 Lighthouse Celebration

A few words to the wise.

If you are into the lighthouse thing, you will want to be here.

And if you are coming to Bayfield for the lighthouses it is real smart to make your lodging and cruise reservations early.

Because September is a wonderful time to visit Bayfield!

10th Annual
Lighthouse Celebration

Explore Islands abundant with history, natural beauty and photographic opportunity.

We'll keep our Island Lights bright for you!

Destination? Bayfield! is published by:

Apostle Islands Cruise Service,  Keeper of the Light Gift Store

Bayfield Maritime Museum  &  Sailor's Solace Cottages

We appreciate your patronage!

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Previous
Newsletters

February 2005
March 2005
April 2005
May 2005
June 2005

Editor - Destination? Bayfield

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at any time, for any reason!!!!!