Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Recreation
Mopeds and mountain bikes are the most popular way to take in the island. To the right of
the ferry landing in the large blue building are mopeds for rent. Five minutes on you'll find
kayaks for rent.
The Robert Trent Jones-designed course of the
Madeline Island Golf Course
(498 Old
FortRd.,LaPointe,715/747-212)isagem,knownforlakevistasanddoublegreens;reser-
vations are most likely a necessity in summer.
Vans for two-hour
island tours
generally greet the Madeline Island Ferry.
Besides Big Bay State Park, the island has
Big Bay Town Park,
seven miles out of La
Pointe and north of the state park. Campsites are available, none reservable. Rates are $15
per site.
Accommodations
You will spend more than $100 (definitely in summer). For that kind of moolah, consider
a little splurge for the luxury accommodations at
M
The Inn on Madeline Island
(715/
747-6315 or 800/822-6315,
www.madisland.com
, $125-500). The inn is actually a mind-
numbing, island-wide assemblage of lakefront properties of all sorts: cabins in the woods,
golf course cottages, and some apartments and condos downtown. Truly, this is the one
place in Wisconsin where you can say, lingering in the sybaritic digs of a bayview cottage,
you've “escaped.”
Food
Expect a lack of pretentiousness in the fare on the island. It's simple and straightforward,
but good. You want nouvelle cuisine? Minneapolis is to the south.
That said, a casually comfy bistro,
Cafe Seiche
(corner of Main St. and Middle Rd.,
715/747-2033), comes darned close to something special. Expect fresh, local ingredients, a
daringmenu—pepito-crusted whitefish, ginger-poached tofu—andacharming, freshatmo-
sphere.
Then, something out of left field but wholly appropriate for the island's laid-back ethos:
Out of the smoldering ruins of an erstwhile island café has arisen
M
Tom's Burned Down
Cafe
(715/747-6100). Part open-air pub, part art gallery, part retreat from the real world,
mostly make-it-up-as-you-go-and-have-fun, you never know what's available here—but
don't miss it.
