Breakfast in Garden

Posts Tagged ‘Madeline Island Ferry’

So, what do people do on Madeline Island anyway?

July 15th, 2010 by Nancy Sandstrom

Madeline Island Museum

Madeline Island Museum, just a short walk from the ferry dock.

Once you have made your way across the Chequamegon Bay on the Ferry to Madeline Island many people wonder what they should do next. In a previous post we mentioned having a meal at Lotta’s Lakeside Cafe, which is of course a culinary delight including local foods and a fabulous wine list.

But there is so much more. Just a few steps from the ferry dock you’ll find the Madeline Island Museum. This small museum will show you so much about the history of Madeline Island and the Village of La Pointe. Did you know that La Pointe was founded before Bayfield? There are amazing fur trading exhibit, Ojibwe exhibits and a wonderful short film for all to watch with music provided by the performers at Big Top Chautauqua.

What’s next?

Madeline Island Town Park

The bridge over the lagoon at the Madeline Island Town Park

Why not drive or bike out to the Madeline Island Town Park? Here you will find some of the most beautiful beach on the Island. The water at the town park is generally quite shallow and perfect for the kids to play.

There is also a breathtakingly beautiful lagoon perfect for canoeing and birdwatching – there is a certain serenity and peacefulness in this area that truly takes you away from the outside world.  The other great thing about this lagoon is the warmth of the water. If you are not the type to enjoy the “refreshing” coolness of Lake Superior, try the lagoon!

There are many other wonderful places to explore on Madeline Island – the shops, the state park with its brownstone cliffs, the golf course and the restaurants. These are just a few of the things that our family loves about Madeline.  Most of all it is a great place to escape to and enjoy the history and beauty of this area that we are so very lucky to call home.

The Magic of the Madeline Island Ferry

July 8th, 2010 by Nancy Sandstrom

Located at the gateway to the Apostle Islands on the south shore of Lake Superior in Northern Wisconsin, Madeline Island Ferry Line provides passenger, bicycle and car transportation between the picturesque towns of LaPointe and Bayfield. The 25-minute trip provides spectacular views of the Lake itself and several of the 22 Apostle Islands.

As a child, my family spent part of every summer on Madeline Island. And as our girls grew up, they too experienced this magical time each summer. One of the most exciting parts of our trips was the increased anticipation as we drove onto the Madeline Island Ferry to make our voyage across the bay to Madeline Island.

Now we watch our guests come and go, most making a decision to take this same journey over to Madeline Island. And many come back expressing the same joy at this unique form of transportation.  It seems that the ferry ride is the transport to a bit of another world.

  • From the ferry, you are able to get a completely different view of Bayfield and the hills surrounding this small city – amazing in the fall!
  • Taking the ferry in the evening for a quick dinner at Lotta’s Lakeside Cafe can be amazing with the sunset over the mainland as you return to Bayfield.
  • Rough water? No fear – the captains maneuver these “boats” with amazing skill.

Madeline Island Ferry Line is also Travel Green Wisconsin certified – working on incorporating sustainable business practices that improve their bottom line. Examples include solar panels on the Ferry Terminal, use of biodegradable, vegetable based hydraulic fluids in engines and more.

Yup, taking the Madeline Island Ferry never ceases to give me joy. But then we get to Madeline Island itself….ah, there’s more to the story.

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