Spend a Winter Weekend in Bayifeld, Wisconsin

When we moved back from Montana to Minnesota my mom and I were looking to have a girls weekend. Somewhere we could drive but was a little different than going to the Twin Cities or up to Duluth. We decided to make a road trip to Bayfield, Wisconsin for the weekend. So Adyala, my mom and I hit the road and went on a little adventure.

How to Get to Bayfield: 

The easiest way to get to Bayfield is by car. You’re going to want to explore the area, surrounding towns, and Medline Island. 

Duluth, MN to Bayfield: 1 hour and 40 minutes

Twin Cities, MN to Bayfield: 4 hours

Madison, WI to Bayfield: 5 ½ hours

I’ve been to Bayfield a handful of times but always in the summer, I’ve never been able to experience it in the winter and I’m so glad I was able to. From the charming winter streets to the lack of hustle and bustle and a slow weekend away. 

Here’s how we spent our weekend: 

STAY:

We stayed at the Seagull Motel in Bayfield. We stayed at Baywest their newest addition, in the Hideaway with a living room, kitchen, and bathroom. It was everything we needed for our weekend away and had plenty of space for all of us. 

Seagull Bay has 32 units total between the Motel & Baywest. Depending on the unit you’re booking the rooms can sleep between one and six guests so they have plenty of options no matter your party size. 

One thing I love about the properties is that you can see the love Mollie and her family are putting into renovating the spaces to be able to continue hosting families and making memories for years to come. You can read all about the renovations here.

EAT & DRINK:

While we were there, we did most of our cooking in the unit, because we did have a full kitchen and we love slowing down and making meals as a family, but here’s a few places we did check out:

Coffee: Rain, shine snow, or sleet when you visit Bayfield you have to stop at Wonderstate Coffee. You will be welcomed into the cutest space with plenty of seating and a view of the water just down the road. I always get the salted caramel latte, but they have plenty of amazing drink and pastry options. 

Food: While we didn’t have a chance to stop, the top place that was recommended to us for eats was Manypenny Bistro. From breakfast to dinner they have you covered! 

Brews: After a day of exploring the town we made our way over to Adventure Brewing Company. They had a fire going outside or you can sit inside. I’m not picky when it comes to brewery beers, but my mom is a light-no hop kind of gal, they were so helpful and offered her tasters to find just the right beer. Due to their rotating taps, they don’t have it anymore but just ask and they’ll be happy to help you find the right fit! 

SHOP: While not everything is open in the winter there are still plenty of shops to stroll through, get warm, and make pick up a fun new find or two. Part of the adventure is strolling into the shops and seeing what unique gems you can find. My favorite of them all was... 

Apostle Island Booksellers: Right across the street from Wonderstate is the cutest little bookstore for strolling and finding a new gem for your library. While I didn’t bring anything new home, I did pick up a few new books for Adayla. 

EXPLORE:  

Walk: Walk from town and down to the shoreline and take in the views. Bonus if you brave the cold for sunrise or sunset. On a clear day, you can get some spectacular colors both in the morning and at night. 

Drive: If you’re looking for a true Wisconsin/Midwest adventure- try driving the ice road in the winter. When Lake Superior freezes, spanning 1.9 miles between Bayfield and Madeline Island this is the only time you’re able to drive (bike or skate) yourself to the island. The rest of the year you have to take the ferry. 

Fun Fact: This ice road is the only one to officially show up on a state map. 

While you can find a great getaway all winter, a great weekend to book a weekend is March 3-5 of 2023. That’s the weekend of Bayfield’s Winter Fest. Check out all the information here. 

Have you ever been to Bayfield, Wisconsin? 

@taylorjohildreth Located with Lake Superior views and right outside of town Seagull Bay is the perfect homebase for yoir Bayfield weekend. #wisconsin #wintervacay #GenshinImpact34 #FastTwitchContest ♬ Get Hyper Real™ - MAC Cosmetics