Things To Do In Bayfield Wisconsin: The Smallest City In Wisconsin Is Crazy Big On Personality

When visitors drive into Bayfield, visions of an east coast sea side town come to mind. Glimpses of a glistening blue Lake Superior shoreline, sailboats docked in a harbor, a hillside dotted with quaint cottages in among stately Victorian homes. Can this be Wisconsin?

Why yes, yes, this is Wisconsin. Bayfield is, in fact Wisconsin’s smallest city. Year round population of 466 (2020).

Is Bayfield WI worth visiting?

This certainly does not make Bayfield a ‘sleepy little town’ with nothing to do. In summer, the tourist traffic swells as visitors from all over come to stay in Bayfield to play and relax. There have to be lots of things to do in Bayfield Wisconsin to make this such a popular tourist destination. I would follow the crowd in saying that yes, Bayfield WI is worth visiting!

Last year, I drove through Bayfield, passing postcard worthy storefronts to hop right on the Madeline Island Ferry for a week of camping on the famous island. Mid week, I boarded that ferry for a partial day, walking around and exploring the city. As I left after my week of camping, I vowed to come back. One full afternoon was not nearly enough time to discover all of Bayfield’s charms.

Come back I did! Not only did book research for my Wisconsin Harbor Towns project prompt me to come back, I wanted to see what makes Bayfield so special. Are there some unforgettable things to do in Bayfield, Wisconsin? What are they? What about fabulous restaurants in Bayfield?

Thank you to Bayfield Chamber and Visitors Bureau for partially hosting my stay. I covered all meals myself. As always, all opinions are honest and mine alone.

This was a mission

Let’s look at my favorite things to do in Bayfield Wisconsin including some lessor known gems.

Bayfield is the starting point to the Apostle Islands, so it’s only fitting that a great first thing to do in Bayfield Wisconsin would be to take an Apostle Island Cruise. It’s an excellent introduction to the islands along with some great guides who share information about the area.

Pro Tip: Be sure and dress for the weather. Be prepared, bring sunscreen and a jacket or sweatshirt. The weather can be unpredictable on Lake Superior. It may be sunny and warm on the shore, but cool and rainy around the islands.

Bayfield’s climate makes it the perfect spot to grow fruit, and there is no shortage of farms and orchards in the area. In the summer, grab a map of the local orchards at the Bayfield Visitors Center and drive the Fruit Loop. There are 14 stops, including orchards, farms, and wineries. You can easily spend an afternoon checking them out. You can find my favorite stops here.

A lesser known place is Beaver Hollow Nature Area. This wetland area is a birdwatcher’s delight. The boardwalk makes it assessable to everyone no matter their physical abilities. When you arrive, stop at the kiosk and check out the map and information on the animals and plants you may see. It’s open all year. It’s a tranquil spot to immerse yourself in the beauty of this natural wetland area. There is no charge to visit.

Bayfield offers some incredible shopping. Rittenhouse Avenue is the principal shopping street with some shops located off that main area. There are two bookstores, Apostle Island Books and Honest Dog Books. Each has new and used books. Bookstores are always my favorite places to discover when I travel.

Honest Dog Books is one of my favorite bookstores anywhere. Packed shelves, creaky wooden floor, knowledgeable staff, and an “I can spend hours in here” bookstore vibe. Trust me, it will become a favorite of yours too. There are clothing shops, and shops with gifts. Another favorite is Stones Throw right next to Honest Dog. You can easily spend an afternoon wandering in and out of the shops.

Drive or walk on board the Madeline Island Ferry and spend the day on the largest and most inhabited of the Apostle Islands. The island definitely is worth the visit and the stargazing from the beach is a fabulous experience.

North out of Bayfield you will find the town of Red Cliff. The next two things on my list are located there.

Copper Crow Distillery has something special going on. First off, it’s the first Native American Distillery in the United States. Next they make gin and vodka from whey. What is whey? Whey is the liquid byproduct of making cheese. Once considered a waste product, it has since found all kinds of uses, including in this case, making spirits. Owner Curt Basina told me that the idea of using whey came when he attended a course with distiller Rusty Figgins. Rusty said he should do something with dairy since Curt lives in the dairy state. Math and science played a role in the development of the whey products. A part which Curt clearly enjoyed.

Copper Crow began production in 2017 and has stayed a small family run business. Curt and Linda Basina have since opened up an ultra cool tasting room (they made the tables from the lanes of a bowling alley) alongside their production rooms where they make some incredible craft cocktails featuring their small batch rum, vodkas, gins, and whiskey.

FUN FACT: While the spirits are resting in the barrels, they are getting a dose of culture from the variety of music playing in the background. Classical, rock, and everything in between. Hmmm, I couldn’t help but wonder if U2 made the playlist? 🙂

As long as you are in Red Cliff, drive over to Frog Bay Tribal National Park. The first national tribal park, Frog Bay, is untouched land. Considered a Boreal Forest, a combination of unique deciduous trees, animals, birds, wetland and undeveloped beach along Lake Superior, this is the place to experience peaceful wilderness. There is a mile long forest hiking trail with connection trail leading to the beach with the option of an easier trail by access road. Interpretive signs explain the importance of this land to the culture of the local Red Cliff community. The parking area and trailhead have restrooms. A stop here for an hour or two is good for the soul. There is no charge to take advantage of this park. Please respect the park and practice leave no trace.

With many hiking trails in and around Bayfield, there is plenty of opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. My favorite trail network is the Big Ravine Trail. Hit the Gil Larson trailhead on Washington Avenue between 2nd. and South Broad Street. You can also access the short Iron Bridge Loop Trail (I love this little picturesque walk). There are other trails within this network. Take a photo of the trail map at the trailhead for guidance.

More things to do in Bayfield Wisconsin

• Visit the Bayfield Maritime Museum
• See a show at Big Top Chautauqua (seasonal)
• Breakfast at Old Rittenhouse Inn

What about restaurants in Bayfield?

For a city the size of Bayfield, there are quite a few restaurant choices. Here are my favorites! Please visit the websites and pages for up to day open times. Many of the restaurants in and around the Bayfield area are short staffed and have limited days they are open.

Friday fish fry on The Deck at Bayfield Inn. This is what summer is all about. If you get lucky and get seated along the lakeside, you have an incredible view, but honestly, this is a fabulous spot to watch all the tourists walking around up and down Rittenhouse Avenue.

Manypenny Bistro serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s a popular place in town. I stopped for lunch and had a delicious whitefish sandwich. You HAVE to have fresh Lake Superior whitefish when you are here!

I will just flat out recommend the Big Lake Whitefish pizza at the Copper Trout. I was solo, so this was a lot for me (I had lots of leftovers to enjoy the next day) but was so worth it! They open at 4:30 and I was among about 15 people waiting for them to open their door. I would suggest calling for reservations.

Bayfield may be the smallest city in Wisconsin, but that small town charm pays off in huge ways for Bayfield. Tourism, being the biggest industry here has its advantages. There’s lots to do and see in Bayfield. It is often rated as one of the best places to visit in Wisconsin. When you visit, you’ll see why. The natural beauty, its Cape Cod style setting along the shores of Lake Superior, quaint historical architecture, and the friendliness of the locals will beckon you to return again and again.