This was a great little biking island with such beautiful scenery as you ride the coast of the island. Roads were pretty clean and lane nice size. The state park was free to bikers but the trail turned to gravel. We didn't explore any further but I wonder if there weren't more paved trails in there. We left the park and continued around the island before stopping for drinks at Tom's Burned Downed Cafe. Nice shops with some locally made items.
It was a gray and rainy day but we took the ferry from Bayfield to Madeline Island and spent the afternoon investigating the island, hiking in Town Park along the lakefront, and strolling through the little town. It was an enjoyable relaxing day. The island is beautiful, but it her than the parks and golf course there is not much to do there if you spend more than a few hours.
My first time to Madeline was wonderful. The island is quietly beautiful and so welcoming. Something magical seemed to happen as we crossed the water on the ferry. I attended the Madeline Island Fall Wellness Yoga Retreat lead by Amy Annis. Our weekend was awe inspiring, empowering, loving, self-motivating and left me full of gratitude. So many wonderful women. The scent of falling leaves, crisp autumn air, walks through the parks, the thunderous crashing waves, all that YOGA and the variety of delicious food left our senses very happy! Thank you, Amy. I had a wonderful time. Highly recommend it.
I love this Island, it's quiet yet very exciting with all the sights and sounds of paradise! Go there looking for an abundance of nature, to meet wonderful people, to drink and eat plentiful, and to simply get away from the daily grind. The beaches are stellar, outdooor activities abound during the summer months. Visitors are always able to find a lively crowd of Wisconsin caliber fun.....nature, beer n shots lol. The winter brings a much more quiet existence, and driving across the Ice Road in the winter can't be missed!Trip Advisor's rental sight, Flipkey.com offers an option for the more frugal traveler, totally recommend!
Madeline Island is an incredibly beautiful and peaceful slice of Wisconsin ! A great golf course, eclectic bars and very nice eateries are par for the course. We biked around the entire island and the scenery and magnificent vistas were well worth the effort to get there.
There is LOTS to do here if you are open to a lovely non-urban experience. A few examples: Very nice small museum, beautiful camping sites, bike riding, hiking, kayaking, even a very pretty golf course. This is NOT a busy attraction filled urban area so it won't be for everyone. But if you are ready for this kind of place, you will love it.
Such a wonderful place. We just took the ferry over and walked around the town. Visited the Bell street gallery, the library, Nebraska Row, and finished off with drinks at the Burned Down Bar,
I think it is the only place on the island so it is the BEST place to rent mopeds. The price was high, higher than other places we have visited but it ultimately seemed 'worth' it. We spent our time blasting around the island, through the parks,and would probably go again. We of course took the ferry across from Bayfield brought our car but did not need it.
My wife & I stayed on the island for three nights. Thus was our first visit to the island and in fact first trip to the apostle islands area. We spent one day at the state park. Some easy flat hikes. The beach area was much longer than I expected. Next time we'll arrange to rent some kayaks as the beach area cove was very calm. We spent our second full day walking and relaxing at a private beach area at grants peak. Virtually had an extended beach all to ourselves. Great place to read a book. Nightlife on the island, for us at least, was going out to dinner at the Pub and the Beach Club, then stopping by Toms burned down cafe for a couple beers and take in the atmosphere of this "gotta see it to believe it" establishment. Again, after three nights, time to move on.
We are outdoors people, so this is our kind of place. We have visited a number of times and stayed on the island about five different times. I never get tired of riding the ferry - even when it has been quite choppy. The state park has excellent rocky shoreline trails. The town park on the north side of Big Bay is also a calm, great, spot. Several other good places to hike. A couple of good places to eat. A decent coffee shop. A truly hippie/funky/cool tavern. Of course, Lake Superior. A slowdown vibe. Heck, this would be heaven on earth if there was a good trout stream to fly fish on the island, but hey, those are over on the mainland.