If you’re planning to visit campus this summer—and we believe you really should—you will want to plan for extra days to check out the region. After all, people travel from around the world to kayak, sail, and hike the Apostle Islands. Here’s our top picks of things to do.

1. Get on the Water

Campus is located blocks from Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world, and also close to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, which consists of twenty-one islands and miles of shoreline at the northern tip of Wisconsin. You can explore the shoreline or the islands in a variety of ways. Depending on where, how far, and how fast you want to go, choose your mode of transportation—kayak, sailboat, or paddleboard. 5–32 minutes from campus.

2. Take In a Show Under a Tent

The Big Top Chautauqua is a canvas tent on Mt. Ashwabay—a ski hill in winter and home to the best entertainment in the Midwest in summer—that seats eight hundred or so. Big Top brings shows every weekend in summer—a combination of big acts, up-and-coming bands, and house shows. 30 minutes from campus.

3. Hang at the Beach

This region is known for its long stretches of white, sandy beaches. Pack your bathing suit and a picnic and spend sunrise, sunset, or anytime in between at one of the dozen beaches within an hour of campus.

4. Hike

Take a sunrise or sunset walk along the lakeshore in Ashland or take one of the many hikes in the region. Here’s three to get you started.

Copper Falls State Park

Copper Falls is stunning and the walking trail exquisite, plus there’s a great picnic area and historic buildings near the parking lot. The trail winds around and over two bridges, providing different perspectives of the Bad River and its tributary the Tylers Forks flowing through a gorge and over stunning waterfalls. Located 30 miles south of campus, just north of Mellen.

Potato River Falls

This one is off the beaten path. In fact, it’s located down a gravel road with a spare sign to guide, but it’s worth the exploration. Located next to Gurney, 30 miles east of campus, there are hiking trails to the upper falls and the lower falls. In summer, people play in the pools below the falls. But in all seasons, the hike down and up is worth the cardio workout.

Houghton Falls, Washburn

Houghton Falls has become a rite of passage for students. It is a gorgeous, flat, easy hike that follows waterfalls and rock formations all the way to Lake Superior. Take your swim gear—you’ll likely want it. 20 minutes from campus.

5. Visit Madeline Island

Take a fifteen-minute ferry trip from Bayfield to Madeline Island. If you’re on foot, you can tour the Madeline Island Museum, have a drink at Tom’s Burned Down Café (yes, it’s as interesting as it sounds), eat dinner, and check out the galleries. Or you can bike, hike, swim, and find plenty more to do. 32 minutes from campus to catch the ferry.

6. Tour Stockton Island

This is an experience you will not forget. Take the Apostle Islands Cruises shuttle to Stockton Island for the day (or for more if you’re up for camping and have the time). The shuttle will drop you off in the morning and pick you up at the end of the day. In the meantime, you can hike the Tombolo Trail and play on the beach at Julian Bay, an incredible Caribbean experience in the middle of the coldest freshwater lake in the world. 30 minutes from campus to catch the shuttle.

7. Eat Lake Superior Fish

Friday night fish fry is a staple in Wisconsin, but Lake Superior is something special. There is no reason for frozen and from-far-way-cod here. Instead, settle in for fresh-caught freshwater lake trout, whitefish, or herring, if it’s in season. Here are a few favorites:

• The Second Street Bistro in downtown Ashland has fresh fish on the menu for lunch and dinner—and they know how to make it special.
• Patsy’s Bar and Grill in Washburn offers a classic Wisconsin fish fry with fresh whitefish from Bodin’s fisheries.
• The Fat Radish in Washburn has fresh fish on the menu and has become a favorite spot for Friday night fish.