One last Bayfield post for you folks! Yeah, it was only a four-day trip, but we did a lot and why not share it! Now, let’s get into my last little story.
You ever have those moments when you just know you and your partner are a good match? Maybe they get you the gift you’ve always wanted or you both say the same thing at the same time. I had that moment as we were driving home from Superior and I saw an old schoolhouse. I thought that it would be cool to slow down and look at it, but I didn’t say anything. But I didn’t have to – Michael was already pulling over in front of it. Talk about soulmates, right?
Anyways, we got out of the car and poked our heads in pretty cautiously. I’m all for exploring weird places, but I didn’t want to barge in just in case it was a part of someone’s property nearby or other weirdos were also taking a look around. But as we peered around the corner, we saw the coast was clear. And I was pretty shocked to find that the place wasn’t empty!
Inside, there weren’t desks or anything like that, but it was pretty full. There was an old kitchen with a very vintage fridge, a few chairs, a pool table and a very spooky piano with broken keys. Obviously, Michael had to play it. He plunked away and had a little boogie going for a minute. On our way out, we gave the old iron merry-go-round a spin. Very Are You Afraid of the Dark?
The next morning we started to get our stuff together to leave, and Michael turned to me and said, “So what if we went back to the spooky schoolhouse so I could record a song?” I know Michael and this came as a very unsurprising surprise. So we packed our bags and headed back to Cloverland (I keep wanting to call it Cloverfield because it’s spooky).
The second visit was equally spooky but with way more bugs (just setting the scene here). Michael settled in pretty quickly and belted out an entire song he had written sometime in the previous 12 hours. I don’t know how he does it.
Truthfully, the song is too scary for me, and I mean that in the best way possible.
Anyways, these are the fun things we do on our trips: bookshops, islands, lighthouses and recording songs in spooky locations. We know how to have fun!
Heading up to Bayfield, Michael and I didn’t have much of an agenda besides see lighthouses and go hiking. Well, that and visit Apostle Island Booksellers. We did minimal research on our destination, but this was one shop I knew I wanted to visit. Michael and I love books, so why not pop in?
Before we even got into Bayfield proper on our first day we stopped at Seven Ponds Winery. It’s situated in the Fruit Loop which is what locals call the string of orchards on the hills surrounding the town; I obviously love this name.
My favorite food the whole trip was a late dinner at the Fat Radish. This felt pretty serendipitous since I had my eye on the place but when we walked by previously, they weren’t set to be open for dinner during our stay. But wouldn’t you know it, when we went to peep the menu, it was open!
OK, so as we were strolling around downtown LaPointe, Michael and I saw what I assumed was the city dump. It looked like a junkyard – tents, car parts, metal sheeting. Then we got closer and realized that it was a bar. We walked in, and honestly, I can’t describe it to you; it’s a mess but in a good way. It looked like the kind of bar you’d build after getting shipwrecked on an island. But we settled in for a drink and had a good time chatting up the locals.
Last, but in no way least, I’d highly recommend the bed and breakfast where we stayed. It’s always difficult to book a place based on a few pictures and some reviews (no matter how glowing), but I’m so glad Michael and I choose this inn.
This winter, as we sat home in the midst of another snow storm, Michael and I dreamed up our third-anniversary vacation. After spending our first all the way in Jamaica (so much fun) and our second just over in Madison, we decided we’d stay closer to home but visit somewhere entirely new to us. Within an hour we booked a stay in Bayfield, Wisconsin.
I’ll get into all the charming local haunts in another post, but I wanted to dive in right away with how downright beautiful Bayfield and the Apostle Islands are. As we cruised down the hill into the town, we saw Lake Superior and Michael and I were truly in awe. Living in and growing up near Milwaukee, we are both very familiar with Lake Michigan and how it can definitely feel closer to a sea than a lake. But, honestly, from the second we got up to the shore, there was a major difference in how different Lake Superior felt. It’s massive and dark, and while the waters are churning, there’s definitely a sense of stillness around the lake. My friend told me prior to this trip that when he visited Bayfield, he felt like something was watching him. I didn’t get those vibes precisely, but there’s definitely something unique about the atmosphere.
But, I’ll be honest, what I loved the most were the lighthouses. I’ve been interested in lighthouses since I was young so indulging in a lifelong curiosity was pretty fun. We got to see the Raspberry Island and Devils Island Lights from the boat, and I really really loved it. And I loved how Michael shares my enthusiasm for them (we’re thinking about visiting again for a special tour where you get to go inside!).
After the tour, our interest in the islands was really piqued. Right after we disembarked, we turned around and got on the ferry to Madeline Island, the biggest of the Apostle Islands (and the only one with any inhabitants). We poked around in La Pointe, the village on the island, for a little bit before we made our way over to Big Bay State Park for some hiking.
This felt a lot like Cave Point County Park (for you Door County folks), but ten times bigger and a hundred times more serene. Michael and I spent a lot of time just listening to the waves and the loons. It was a good place to meditate or at least have a few moments of introspection. But it wasn’t the only state park we were visiting on this trip.
Also on this little jog, I got to see two more lighthouses – Wisconsin Point (in Superior) and Duluth Harbor North Breakwater Lights. That’s four lighthouses in one trip. Pretty darn good.
A lot of good stuff is happening around these parts. Michael and I just hit up the Brewhouse Inn & Suites, had our anniversary and are set to help a handful of loved ones celebrate their weddings in the upcoming weeks. To kick off wedding season, we headed all the way to Montego Bay, Jamaica to see our pals Joe and Mara tie the knot. It was, of course, beautiful.
Magazine Street had by far my favorite eats of the whole trip, however I’m no authority because 1) we only spent three nights in NOLA and 2) I hate seafood (I know). All I’m saying is that I had a great roast beef po’ boy and a tasty new beer at