Our Trip Of Lakes and Leaves: Apostle Islands, Madeline Island, and Bayfield, Wisconsin

After finally arriving at our first Great Lake, we continue on around the lakes and come close to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, ferry over to Madeline Island, and tour Bayfield, Wisconsin during their annual Apple Festival.

**Sunrise over Basswood and Madeline Islands**

After leaving our campground at Herbster, we continued on the Great Lakes Circle Tour toward the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. The Islands are not vehicle accessible so require a boat to reach them (islands…get it?). We did visit the National Lakeshore’s main visitor center in the city of Bayfield, WI in the old Bayfield Courthouse Building. It was closed due to COVID, but the building was picturesque.

**Apostle Island National Lakeshore Visitor Center, Bayfield, Wisconsin**

The next morning we took the ferry over to Madeline Island, landing at the city of La Pointe. We took a quick walking tour to do a bit of sight-seeing. The town was fairly quiet as it was early and the tourist season was winding down.

**A popular watering hole on the Island called Tom’s Burned Down Cafe…unfortunately closed**

After wandering around the fairly closed town, seeing the artifacts of a busy summer tourist season, we had coffee and a bit of food at a small shop near the ferry.

**From the gazebo in the La Point harbor**

We had watched the dark clouds slowly roll across the lake most of the morning, and they cut loose just before noon. We took shelter in a gazebo overlooking the harbor and watched the rain. It didn’t last long and we could ride the ferry back to Bayfield sitting on the upper deck.

**Approaching Bayfield from Madeline Island**

From the ferry we noticed much activity in the city. Unbeknownst to us, it was the annual Apple Festival in Bayfield, and the parade was in progress, although almost over. We did capture a quick shot of the Bayfield high school marching band near the end of the parade route.

We strolled the streets and vendors lining them, but got tired of the crowds and walked uphill away from the harbor and the commotion. The crowds lessened, mostly local folks going back to their cars parked up out of the festival area. The trees were beautiful and some of the architecture was amazing.