For over a decade, one of my favorite places to visit has been Madeline Island. An Ex girlfriend of mine took me there when we were 18. I've been back probably around twenty times. Some trips lasting a couple days, some trips only a couple days apart. I've even managed to live there for a couple months during 2006. The Island and I have history. Aside from being a favorite place to visit, it forever has a special place in my heart.
The Island is nestled in northern Wisconsin in Lake Superior, a part of the Apostle Islands chain. Getting there has always been easy for me. From the Chicago suburbs it's roughly 450 miles north. I remember printing MapQuest directions the first couple times. After that, my adventurous side said, "hey, lets fly blind!" I would request off work, pack my car, and head north. Turns out all roads north from Chicago lead to the Island! It probably helped to know a couple towns to aim for. GPS is everywhere now, so you don't have to risk driving a 100 miles west for no reason.
You might be asking, how do you drive to an Island? Well, you drive to Bayfield, Wisconsin. It's right on Lake Superior but connected to mainland. From there you will have to take the ferry. There are a couple boats running every half hour during the summer. You can pay to cross as a pedestrian, or with your car. I suggest buying a round trip ticket. You feel kind of like an idiot when you realize you only have enough money for the ferry, or gas money to get home. Ohh the memories of being young and dumb with money. Non the less, really, buy the round trip ticket.
A picture from the last time I took the ferry boat to the Island. Looking back at mainland, thinking "see ya..."
A picture from the last time I left the Island on the ferry. Looking back hoping I'd be back soon.
If you ask me there are two 'best times' to visit the Island. When It's packed with people for 4th of July weekend, or when it's mostly down to the 200 year round residents for the winter from late October on. It's a completely different place depending on the time of year.
During the summer, it's all party and you meet a whole lot of people from all over the country, and some from overseas. You're bound to meet a couple year round Islanders, which is good if you come back once all the tourists leave.
I want to tell you about all my favorite places, but there is something to be said about just showing up and discovering. I'll tell you only about a couple that you would stumble over anyway. If you end up on the Island, make sure to come back to this post and tell me about places you've found on your own!
One of the main attractions is Toms Burned Down Cafe. It's a bar that sort of explains what it is with it's name. It burned down. Twice. I guess no one wanted to rebuild it, so they just put a circus type tent over the floor and said screw walls, windows and doors. Last time I was there, an old Cadillac was holding up one of the corners. Not sure who the building inspector is, but pretty sure he drinks for free at Toms. I have over 200 pictures of this bar, only because there are hundreds of hand painted signs and hand made art decorating almost every inch of the place.
Even the floors have stuff to look at!
A wagon with garbage/recycling cans out back.
Another bar I must mention is Buds Island Oasis. The story about this place: Bud is just a dude. Bud has a lot of friends come over to his house everyday and drink his beer. Bud gets beer license. Bud builds a bar in his screened in porch. Bud puts five or six cans of different beer on a shelf and charges like a buck fifty. When someone new walks in, he points behind him and says "here is my menu." Whatever cans are up on the shelf, he has cold in the fridges. Also, if you ask where the bathroom is, he will point you in the direction of his bathroom.
He's a cool guy who has lived on the Island most of his life. His other favorite hobby is to make videos of the animals of the Island. Through out the decades he has amassed some awesome footage. If you say you heard about this video, he will play it for you. I like the part with the fox. Most of it is from his backyard, which I am always jealous of. It backs up onto the woods, and sitting at his bar I've often seen a deer come by and check us out.
One cool thing about Bud is he will bribe you with beers to learn. He has business cards with all the names of the surrounding Islands on the back. If you can memorize them all on your trip and rattle them off successfully you will get a free beer, a stamp on your hand, and one of the biggest feelings of accomplishment you can ever get from getting a free beer and a stamp.
Here is proof that I at one point had them memorized.
It turns out I'm only going to describe for you two of my favorite places to drink. I'm not even a big drinker, if you can believe that. Aside from boozing it up there is actually plenty more to do on this 13 mile long Island. There are countless good spots to go swimming. There is camping, tent and RV with hookups. There are cliffs to jump from, varying from about 6 feet to over 20 feet. There is a golf course as well, but it is the only activity I can't tell you much about. People seem to think the course is decent. Oh, and scooter rental, I have not rented the scooters. People seem to have fun exploring the island on them though.
There are a handful of restaurants you can get breakfast lunch or dinner at. At The Beach Club you can get lunch and drinks and either eat inside, or out on the docks. All the businesses are owned by good hard working people. I've never once felt like leaving a bad review. There is not a single place I would advise someone not to go to. All are mom and pop type of places. Sorry, you will have to do without fast food while you're there.
One of the strangest things is how tropical the island feels. It's not that it has constant reminders, or tacky 'island life' type things all over the place. Maybe it's just your brain saying, "hey we're on an island!" Most of my days up there are spent in swimming shorts because I'm in and out of the water constantly. Sometimes I remember that I'm way up north at the tip of Wisconsin, just below Canada, and it feels like a glitch in the matrix.
Through out the years I've brought a handful of people up to the island. Always one at a time. I just noticed it one time and then stuck to it. I introduce them to the locals, try to show them a good time, take them to countless favorite spots. All have said, "I now see why you stayed up here for two months." Word for word. Made me feel like I was a good host.
If you're still reading, I'm glad. In a way, I brought you to the Island, and this time I took more than one person with me. If you live in the mid-western USA and have never been, I highly recommend heading up on a three day weekend. There is so much that I have not covered in this blog. I'm sure that just like me, you will also find about twenty favorite spots up there.
I think tomorrow I'll put in for time off work for the week of the 4th of July next year. Hope to see you up there!