Bayfield

Part way through our trip we switched locations.  Bayfield is a town right on Lake Superior by the Apostle Islands.  While we were there we stayed at Lucy's Place, the only bed & breakfast that allows children.  It was really nice--not super fancy, but comfortable.  The couple who own it have other jobs too.  The wife owns a quilt shop and the husband owns an apple orchard.  There were some lovely quilts hanging throughout the house.

We walked around the town and checked out a few of the shops including a Scandinavian Import store and Monkey Business.

The B & B had a couple of friendly huskies that the girls enjoyed.

On our full day we took a ferry over to Madeline Island.  It is the only Apostle Island that is not part of the Apostle Islands National Park.  There are people that live on it year round.  For a few weeks each winter the kids take a windsled taxi when the ferry can't get through to get to school in Bayfield.  Kids younger than fourth grade go to school on the island.

The younger two and hubby rode rental bikes to Big Bay State Park on the far side of the island.

Along the way they saw this.

The beach was lovely and the water isn't very deep until you are out pretty far. The next time we go, we'll probably take our car over on the ferry so that we can all easily go the the park.

The oldest and I didn't want to make the roughly thirteen mile bike ride to the park and back so we hung out at a small beach within walking distance of the ferry.

There were some ducks that were so tame that I followed them with the camera a bit.

In the evening our family was the sole participant of the Lighthearted Walking Tour of Bayfield.  It was really interesting to hear some of the history including how the cows used to have the run of the town and how the doctor's daughters used to watch out for him from a window when he had to make a call to Madeline Island.

There are some lovely old homes.  These are both now Inns.

This woman was our tour guide who pretended to be Nellie Tate, the pharmacist's wife, who lived in the late 1800's. 

The best part of staying at the B and B was having breakfast on the outdoor porch.  We had lots of fresh berries along with waffles one morning and an egg bake the next.  We're also on the lookout at our local co-op for the raspberry apple cider from the orchard.  It was fabulous. 

On our last day of vacation we took a hike over some semi-rough muddy terrain to see sea caves.  We do not have any good pictures of them since I do not stand too close for too long next to an unfenced cliff.  Here is a picture of some kayakers below.

This is Meyers Beach near the sea caves.  It was beautiful and pristine.  There were a few people there besides us, but not many.  I'm sure we'll be back.