One of the most common questions that we hear – not only from guests – but all over the place is, “What is there to do in Bayfield? Why do people come?” This is one of the easiest and most difficult questions to answer. We like to think that Bayfield has really mastered the “art of doing nothing.” But, this thought tends to scare people who in today’s world are constantly being entertained. Here are the things that Bayfield does not (and hopefully never will) have: an amusement park, water park (unless you count the lake!), fast food restaurants, and chain hotels/motels. There are many things that Bayfield is not.What are we then? We would like to consider Bayfield as a place of relaxation and respite. There are a myriad of activities for you, don’t get us wrong. Better yet, there are a variety of things you can do that won’t cost you a penny! Last month we gave you a list of things to do in Bayfield that have a cost to them – this month here’s Bayfield “on the cheap!”
- 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!
While it is still August, and there are still temps in the 80′s, the time has come to start preparing for Bayfield’s Fall harvest. Several of our neighboring orchards have reported that their early apple varieties are ready for the picking. There are reports of outstanding crops this year. We are all so very fortunate to have such an abundance of local foods in our area, and we are excited to share many of these flavors with our guests.
