And let’s be clear: Even the most poetic note about riding a ferry from the mainland to La Pointe, the only town on Madeline Island, also known as the “Place of the Golden Flickers”-well, it can’t hold a candle to experiencing the surprising thrill and literal chill of the real thing. The postcards don’t exude the scents of pine or apple cider or sun-baked fish guts-all of which have their season-or the press of people during the annual apple festival each fall. The problem with postcards sent from Bayfield is that scenic images can’t fully convey the region’s charms-the sun rays pinging over the slumbering leviathans known as the Apostle Islands, the sound of a kayaker’s paddle slapping the waves in a sea cave, the civilizing effect of a round of croquet under the lighthouse on Raspberry Island, or the pleasure of spending an afternoon on the sandy crescent-shaped beach at Big Bay State Park on Madeline Island. The best places to stay, sights to see, and food to eat this summer, plus where to find award-winning golf courses, great sailing, top beaches, wilderness hiking, and more!

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