Apostle Islands Honeymoon
The secluded natural beauty of these
forested freshwater islands is what interests most couples who honeymoon
in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. But the islands offer a lot
more to explore, including historic lighthouses and shipwrecks. And if
exploring a pristine island wilderness sounds appealing but camping on
your honeymoon doesn't, then make one of Madeline Island's cozy rental
cottages or bed & breakfasts your nightly retreat.
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The Apostle Islands are a
collection of islands in Lake Superior just off Wisconsin's north shore.
The islands' main attraction is their natural beauty: a mix of
old-growth forests, colorful beaches, and sandstone cliffs,
sea caves, and rock formations. It's all protected by the National Park Service as part
of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. The park service also
preserves numerous sites of historic interest on the islands, including
"the nation's finest collection of historic lighthouses," and provides
interpretive programs during the summer.
Madeline Island is the largest of the
Apostle Islands, and the only one on which commercial development is
allowed. Accessible by car ferry, hovercraft, or ice road
(depending on the season), the island's 200-some residents cater to
tourists with about a dozen places to dine and numerous rental cottages,
inns, and bed & breakfasts (see link below for a full listing). Several charter companies offer tours of
the islands; you can even go dogsledding or explore the islands' many
shipwrecks.
Other Islands of the Great Lakes
honeymoon ideas:
Accommodations in the Apostle Islands range
from primitive camping to elegant bed & breakfasts and rental cottages.
Camping permits for the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore cost $15; the
permit is good for up to 14 days. (Campsites are assigned when you reserve
your permit; make reservations as early as possible, because the permits
sell quickly.) Nicer hotel room run about $100, while nice rental
cottages—some with private beaches—range from $150 - $350 per night for
two. Ferry rates to Madeline Island in 2004 were about $8 per person and $20
per car.
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The Apostle Islands offer many camping
opportunities and miles and miles of hiking trails. Here are some other
things to do that you might not have expected to find in the Apostle
Islands; many of these activities are based on Madeline Island:
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Boating: A number of
companies rent canoes, kayaks, power boats, and sailboats.
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Golfing: You can golf at the
18-hole Madeline Island Golf Club, which dubs itself "the St.
Andrews of the north."
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Sea kayaking adventures: A
number of outfitters offer guided sea kayaking trips to explore the
islands' lighthouses, sandstone cliffs and caves, and
turn-of-the-century steamship wrecks.
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Cruise tours: If kayaking is
a little too close to the water for comfort, consider chartering a
private sailboat for a sunset or full-day cruise among the islands.
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Fun on the beach: If it's
sandy beaches and swimming you're looking for, you can find both in
the Apostle Islands—although most people consider Lake Superior to
be warm enough for swimming only from late June through early
September.
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Keeper of the Light Lighthouse
Celebration: This three-week celebration, held every September,
features cruises and tours of all the islands' seven historic
lighthouses.
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The Apostle
Islands: Kayaking an Inland Sea
Rick Wright and Sarah Ohmann recount
their Apostle Islands kayaking/camping adventure. Even if you don't want
to kayak the Apostle Islands, their well-written story offers a good
glimpse of what the islands are like. Along the way they paddle into
caves at the base of one island's cliffs, explore a lighthouse, discover
a complex of abandoned old cottages, and recount some of the lore of the
islands. Pictures and a good map included.
Apostle Islands National
Lakeshore (National Park Service)
The National Park Service site for the
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Click on the "In Depth" link to open
a more straightforward guide to the park.
Madeline Island Chamber
of Commerce
Madeline Island is the largest of the
Apostle Islands (14 miles long and 3 miles wide), and the only one that
is commercially developed. The population of the island is about 200
during the off-season, but balloons to several thousand when summer
residents return. This is the site for information about the island and
its services.
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Restaurants/taverns: Lists about a dozen establishments ranging
from the upscale Wild Rice Restaurant to the more casual Tom's
Burned Down Cafe, which features live music and an art gallery.
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Lodging:
More than a dozen places to stay on Madeline Island and nearby
towns.
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Entertainment: This page lists several places to go for live
music, most notably the Madeline Island Music Camp.
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Attractions:
Featuring a walking tour, historical museum, and heritage center.
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Recreation/charters: Charter sailboats and fishing boats; guided
adventure tours (see shipwrecks and sea caves, for instance);
Madeline Island Golf Club; cruises and tours.
Madeline Island Ferry Line
Passenger, bike, and car ferry to Madeline Island.
Dogsledding on
Madeline Island
Ryder Dogsledding offers dogsledding
trips through the island's woods or over frozen Lake Superior. Rates at
the time of this writing (Dec 18, 2003) ran $488 for a one-day trip,
including two nights at the Island Inn, or $937 for an overnight camping
trip (one night camping, two days dogsledding, one night at the Island
Inn).
Adventures in
Perspective
Offers guided half-day, full-day, and
overnight tours of the islands by sea kayak for reasonable rates.
Big Bay State Park on Madeline Island
Wisconsin's Big Bay State Park on
Madeline Island offers beautiful sandstone bluffs and caves, a 1.5-mile
sand beach, fishing, and nine miles of nature trails.
Keeper of the Light
Lighthouse Celebration
The official page for this annual
September tour of the Apostle islands' historic lighthouses.
Madeline
Island Historical Museum
Explore the history of Madeline Island
and the region through exhibits, historic buildings, and interpretive
programs. Also a good place to find out about other historic sites in
the Apostle Islands.
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Creative Honeymoon Ideas receives a
small portion of sales made via these links. (Full disclosure)
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Apostle Islands: A Guide to Apostle
Islands National Lakeshore
This is the National Park Service's guide to the Apostle
Islands National Lakeshore; includes an overview of the natural
and cultural history of the islands, and offers suggestions for
what to see and do. |
Your honeymoon story
Have you done this trip (whether on
your honeymoon or other travel)? We'd love to hear about your experience
so we can share it with others . . . just
drop us a line.
Last Updated:
March 4, 2004 |
