• Meyers Beach Hiking Trail – As a part of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, this trail offers a good workout hiking trail that takes you up above the Lake Superior sea caves and gives you fabulous views of some of the Apostle Islands.
• Visit the Orchards & Berry Farms – During the summer months you can pick your own cherries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, juneberries, blackberries – just about any berry you can think of! Or, if you prefer, you can visit the stand to pick up a bag or basket of fresh fruit already picked for you, along with jars of jams, jellies and fresh preserves.
• Swimming! – There is nothing quite like the sensation of swimming through the clean, crisp, beautiful waters of Lake Superior. Lake Superior offers beautiful sandy beaches for all swimmers including youngsters who love to play in the sand with delicate white sand for the best of sand castle building. And what could be better than a Lake Superior sandy beach to relax on after an invigorating swim.
• Explore the Arts – Bayfield’s many art galleries and studios invite visitors to see first hand the quality work created by local painters, potters, woodworkers, weavers and metalsmiths and more. Noted as one of the best 100 artist towns in the U.S., the numerous studios and galleries have something for everyone’s taste.

Of course this is only a sampling of things you can do in Bayfield at no (or next to no) cost! One of our favorite pastimes is finding a quiet little corner somewhere – indoor or out – where one can curl up with a good book, listen to the sounds of the world around them and simply relax!

Each package is priced and booked separately.

Pinehurst Inn & Dreamcatcher Sailing Package

Enjoy a two night Bayfield stay with all Pinehurst Inn amenities plus the Dreamcatcher Afternoon Sail for two people -  a perfect way to get a sense of the Apostle Islands. This 2 hour + outing will give a great taste of sailing.  Boat leaves from Bayfield or Cornucopia.  Throw in a complimentary bottle of wine compliments of Pinehurst Inn and you’ve got a package!

• two nights lodging (including full breakfast
• Dreamcatcher Afternoon Sail for 2 people
• Complimentary bottle of wine
• All other Pinehurst Inn amenities

Rates range from $374 – $584 (includes everything except room and sales tax). Call 877-499-7651 or book online.

Pinehurst Inn & Living Adventure Kayaking Package

This two night package offers lodging in combination with the Living Adventures full day Sea Caves Trip for 2 (includes lunch).  Explore the Mainland Sea Caves with views of a number of the Apostle Islands. Enjoy your complimentary bottle of wine at the end of your day. This package includes:

• Two nights lodging (including full breakfast
• Living Adventures Sea Caves Trip for 2 (includes lunch)
• Complimentary wine
• All other Pinehurst Inn amenities

Rates range from $447 – $637 (includes everything except room and sales tax for lodging). Call 877-499-7951 or book online. This package will end the first week in September.

As the storm started yesterday, we received a call from a couple from the Twin Cities looking for a room for a few nights.While I discouraged travel, they were set on making the trip. So since their arrival, they’ve been sitting by a fire watching the storm, enjoying a few saunas, eating at Maggies, and enjoying spa services. They’ve been so happy and relaxed. A great reminder for us about what we are trying to offer here at Pinehurst Inn.

So keep Bayfield and Pinehurst Inn in mind if you’re looking to continue your winter play. With Bayfield Winter Festival happening this weekend, we’ll be offering some fun!

Of course, next weekend the Birkebeiner ski race near Hayward, WI. While we are a bit of a hike away, if you’re not looking for participate, we have plenty of skiing and snowshoe trails up in our neck of the woods. There is more snow in the forecast and the temps are looking quite comfortable.

The sun is out today, and it’s actually quite difficult to be inside writing this blog post, when I’d much rather be outside enjoying the beauty of this winter day. So, we’re going to keep it short this time. We look so forward to seeing many of you as our late blossoming winter continues.

If seeking a unique form of Bayfield relaxation at a great value, this is it! The peacefulness of Bayfield  and the Apostle Islands this time of year is beautiful. Whether seeking outdoor action (ski trails are open and in good condition!) or indoor pampering (ah, yes, Enso Day Spa is ready to provide great services!) – we can help set it up.

This special is offered through April 30, 2012. Cannot be combined with other packages. Book your midweek stay online (simply click on the package during the reservation steps) or call 877-499-7651.

Pinehurst Inn, connecting adventure, environment and personal rejuvenation. Bayfield, Wisconsin  – gateway to the Apostle Islands.

Pinehurst Inn offers packages that set the stage for adventure and our Pinehurst and Wolfsong Dog Sledding Adventure is the perfect example.

Wolfsong Dog Adventures in Mushing has operated out of Bayfield, WI since 1997. Over that time, John and Mary Thiel have built a class operation – the greatest dogs, fantastic guides, great knowledge of the area … and they’re good people. Thanks to the location by Lake Superior, our winters typically provide great snow from December through March. The trips vary in length but are consistent with great training, ability to actively participate or simply ride along.

The Pinehurst/Wolfsong Package offers the following:

• Two (2) nights lodging in available room of choice
• The Wolfsong Morning Adventure Dog Sledding Run for two (2) people
• All Pinehurst Inn amenities including sauna, common areas with fireplaces and more.

Weekend package rates range from $697 – $817 depending on room booked. Weekday package rates range from $612 – $732. Does not include sales tax and room tax on lodging.

Book online (exact pricing shows when room & package selected) or call 877-499-7651. We are happy to customize this to your needs as able.

Looking for a shorter adventure – check out the Wolfsong Afternoon Run. Call for pricing and more details.

Enjoy this feedback from our guests:

• “This was such a kick! The dogs were fantastic and the guide superb. We’re coming back again with our kids!”
• “I was nervous about being able to keep up with the dogs, but this was totally doable. I loved the dogs and it was so lovely on the trails.”

Just one more way to embrace winter while enjoying Pinehurst Inn and Bayfield.

With adventure comes risks. Sadly one of the most common destinations for kayakers, the Mainland Seacaves, has also been the site of a number of deaths. In both cases hypothermia and being ill prepared were a part of the picture. Waves at the mainland sea caves can be particularly dangerous because of the bowl-like rock cliffs that reflect and amplify waves. Two large waves can combine to form an extremely large wave.The National Park Service and Bayfield area are working to minimize these dangers.

With support from Wisconsin Coastal Management Program and the Friend of Apostle Islands, kayakers now can check wave heights online before visiting the mainland sea caves at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Using a smart phone or the Web, kayakers can check the live conditions report at www.seacaveswatch.org. The website lists the wave height for the previous six hours in 30-minute increments. The site also displays water temperature and photos of the waves at the sea caves, and it relays wind speed and direction recorded at Devil’s Island.

“We hope kayakers will use this system to make good decisions before venturing out onto the lake,” said Bob Krumenaker, superintendent of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. “We hope it will save lives.”

The rule many of us follow on Lake Superior is this: “The Lake is the Boss.” We love this grand body of water but we also recognize how dangerous it can be at times. We appreciate efforts such as this one to make the decision making just a bit easier.

Think kayaking in September! It is absolutely a perfect time of year to enjoy the paddling experience without the intensities of the summer months. Pinehurst Inn is thrilled to partner with Living Adventure on our “By Sea Kayaking Package.”

Most days, if there is any sort of wind, we are cooler than the rest of the region. But, on those days where it seems miserably muggy, there is still a solution – go swimming! There is nothing quite as refreshing as taking a dip in this beautiful lake to cool off. So, while it maybe miserably muggy everywhere else around us, we don’t mind! We’ve got this wonderful lake keeping us cool and comfortable.

Living Adventure is one of our favorite partners. Living Adventure home is located just north of Bayfield. Sitting on the shore of Lake Superior and the southern most Apostle Islands, they provide magnificent kayaking trips for visitors. Ranging from 2 hours to multiple days, their trips provide all equipment, instruction, guidance and fun. The instructors are prepared to work with first time paddlers. Education on the area, the natural history and more is woven in. Safety is key.

The most popular trip our guests take is the Sea Caves trip, a 5 hour paddle. A hallmark of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is the ancient geology noted by red sandstone cliffs and sea caves. Centuries of wave action, freezing and thawing have sculpted artful caves considered to be the most spectacular in the Great Lakes. Kayakers have the unique opportunity to paddle under arches, into vaulted chambers and into the cavern’s deepest recesses. This is truly a breathtaking experience not to be missed. The trip includes a great lunch along the way, and is provided in a safe environment with experienced guides.

Our guests return  from these kayaking outings with a smile on their face. They’ve had an adventure – an important component of a Pinehurst Inn stay. Now we can help them shape the “personal rejuvenation” component of their stay… how about an Enso Day Spa massage to round out the day?