What's in Bayfield?

Standing at the second floor lookout from Bayfield Inn, winter or summer, it's the geography that has

so obviously shaped the history of this place.  An abundant and spiritual center for Native Americans, these protected bays by the Apostle Islands have served as great trade routes by the French and English, as well as for shipping. Along with these great movements in history comes the culture of maritime history, fur trading structures, and the many historical lighthouses that dot the craggy edges

of islands and cliffs around La Pointe County.  For this, Bayfield is an easy entry into the past, and about as rugged yet beautiful landscape as there is on any American shoreline, maybe not quite as

high or complex as the Northern Californian highway one route, but dotted by more islands and surrounded by an essential body of water.  Inland, low-lying mountains, such as Mt. Ashwabay, offer the great variety of sightseeing and recreation simultaneously, as you might downhill or cross country ski or, if prepared, fat tire back through seven miles of winter-long groomed trails.

Sailing in summer, ice-caving in winter, Apple Fest in Summer, dog-sledding in winter, Bayfield is as close a version of Colorado that the midwesterner is going to find within a fair-range drive.  Off in the distance, Stockton Island, one of the small Apostles, which makes the unusual claim to harbor more bears per square foot than any other place on earth.  That strange mystery to think that the paddler in summer might pass by the bobbing head of a brown bear swirls in among the same images as hovering over the seventy foot hull of a sunken schooner, so close you could learn over and touch a topmast pole.