The Northwest Region
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Once untamed, this region is the stuff of folklore and fact, made famous by the lyrics of Gordon Lightfoot's song, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” Today, visitors are drawn to the haunting beauty of Lake Superior, in many ways still untamed.
In the far north, the Apostle Islands, 22 in all with a corresponding 12-mile stretch of shoreline and sea caves, are incredibly scenic, swept with lighthouses and shipwreck remnants. Sailing and kayaking are nearly mandatory for outdoor enthusiasts. So is searching out the state's most spectacular waterfalls.
When the snow falls, the siren sings her song for those who love cross country skiing and snowshoeing throughout the region.
If you've come this far north, you must experience Big Top Chautaqua in Bayfield. Most every night during the balmy summer months, Big Top presents original historical musical theatre and contemporary entertainment under the big tent overlooking Lake Superior.
Heading south, you'll land in Hayward, a community with loads of northwoods charm. Hayward plays host to the world renowned Birkebeiner cross-country ski race and the annual Lumberjack World Championships. For fishing lovers, there's the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum in the shape of a jaw-dropping 143-foot-long, 41-foot-tall musky, full of fishing history and memorabilia, perfect for an area chock full of pristine lakes.
Osceola, a quaint historic town on the beautiful St. Croix River, offers railway tours from spring through autumn.
Continuing south, the locals in River Falls call it a “Dream Town” and why not -- after all, it's been rated one of the best small cities in the United States. On any given summer evening, trout anglers can be spotted wading in the nearby Kinnickinnic River, one of the Midwest's few naturally sustaining trout fisheries.
At the confluence of the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers in the Chippewa Valley, a site first seen by French fur traders in the late 1700s, sits the city of Eau Claire. Visitors are treated to that same scenic beauty, now from the vantage point of winding bike trails and area golf courses.
We asked our innkeepers to update you on 'what to do' in their area:
Bayfield. Relaxation on the really big lake. Kayak, sail, cruise, beach walk. Combine adventure, environment & personal rejuvenation among the Apostle Islands. Escape the chaos. from: Pinehurst Inn
Cities within the Northwest region:
Events within the Northwest region:
Ice Age Trail | |
| Event City: Birchwood Event Details: hike or snowshoe the Ice Age Trail. | Event Dates: Feb 12, 2010 to Dec 31, 2014 Event Time: Daily Event Contact Phone: 800-227-0046 Event Web Site: www.iceagetrail.org |
American Birkiebeiner | |
| Event City: Hayward Event Details: largest cross country ski race in Wisconsin | Event Dates: Feb 12, 2010 to Dec 31, 2014 Event Contact Phone: 1-800-usa-brke Event Web Site: www.birkie.com |
Christie Mountain | |
| Event City: Birchwood Event Details: Fall Color lifts. This is ideal for fall color tours.Snow tubing, down hill skiing, cross country skiing | Event Dates: Feb 12, 2010 to Dec 31, 2014 Event Time: winter/daily Event Contact Phone: 1715-868-7800 Event Web Site: www.christiemountain.com |
Tuscobia Trail | |
| Event City: Birchwood Event Details: Venture onto the Tuscobia snowmobile trail. Many miles through the Great Northwoods. Sled from lake to lake. | Event Dates: Dec 11, 2010 to Dec 16, 2014 Event Time: Daily Event Contact Phone: 715-354-3494 Event Web Site: www.cobblestonebb.com |
