5 fall getaways in Wisconsin from Bayfield to Door County
Wisconsin's preciously short summers are packed with trips to the beach and the lake, swimming and soaking up the water and sun.
But as the warm-weather months slip into fall, the focus of getaways shifts from lakes to leaves as autumn's brilliant display provides a colorful backdrop for exploring Wisconsin.
It's the second busiest travel season for the state, according to Kristina Levan, a public relations coordinator for the Wisconsin Department of Tourism.
And while popular summer destinations like Door County are equally as busy in autumn, she said, many travelers are most interested in specific things to do in various areas. That includes unique ways to see fall colors, from zip-line tours to vintage train rides.
"Once you take that fall train ride, I think people like to do that every year," she said.
A few options: the East Troy Electric Railroad, which chugs from its depot in East Troy to the Elegant Farmer in Mukwonago where visitors can also pick apples, pumpkins and enjoy other fall treats.
In North Freedom, the Mid-Continent Railway Museum offers fall color rides aboard historic railcars on weekends throughout September and October.
There's also the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway, which has rides on weekends in September and October; trips through the Dells with the Riverside & Great Northern Railway on weekends through Oct. 30; and sightseeing and dinner trains from the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad in Trego.
But don't let the end of the line be the end of your fall exploring. Here are five other spots to get away to this autumn.
Bayfield
Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands draw hordes of visitors to the Bayfield peninsula in the summer, but come fall it's the little apple that brings more than 50,000 people to this quaint northern Wisconsin town.
For more than half a century, the Bayfield Apple Festival, Oct. 7-9, has been drawing crowds that come for apples and all related goodies — tortes and pies, sundaes and cider — from more than 200 vendors, winery and orchard tours, a grand parade, live music and more.
All of it is set against the gorgeous backdrop of Bayfield and the lake, which still offers much to do in fall.
No trip to the area would be complete without visiting the Apostles. Apostle Island Cruises offers three-hour boat tours of the 22-island archipelago through Oct. 23. The Grand Tour passes by Devils Island — home to the world-famous sandstone sea caves — as well as the 1863 Raspberry Island lighthouse, the "Showplace of the Apostle Islands." The oranges and reds of the forested islands are a colorful match to the orange-red sandstone along its shores.
Hop on the Madeline Island ferry for a trip to the only permanently inhabited Apostle. Hike along the shore at Big Bay State Park, then fill up on seasonal fare at Cafe Seiche in La Pointe.
Back on the mainland, fuel your getaway with coffee and pastries from Wonderstate Coffee; sandwiches, salads and burgers from The Deck at the Bayfield Inn, which offers views of the harbor from a second-story deck; and a five-course dinner at the Landmark Restaurant in the Old Rittenhouse Inn.
The elegant bed and breakfast offers lodging in three historical homes including two Queen Anne Victorians with stunning lake views.
For more to see and do in Bayfield, call (715) 779-3335 or see bayfield.org.
Door County
Door County's busy summer travel season can only be rivaled by the crowds that descend when colors are at their peak.
But the tourist traffic is worth dealing with for the charming harbor towns, dozens of parks and trails, miles of orchards and forested backroads, wineries and restaurants, and plenty of shopping. Add in a festival nearly every weekend and it's easy to see why the peninsula is such a popular fall destination.
Peninsula State Park in Fish Creek is the crown jewel of Door County's natural attractions, with miles of hiking and biking trails along forested bluffs on Green Bay, hundreds of campsites, a beach with kayak and other watercraft rentals, a nearly 150-year-old lighthouse, and an accessible observation tower with an 850-foot canopy walk.
Rent a bike at Nor Door Sport & Cyclery or Edge of Park Rentals, both outside the park entrance, for a ride inside or on the rustic roads crisscrossing the county.
If the crowds at Peninsula are too much — it is the state's second most popular park — head north or east for a quieter experience.
Ellison Bluff County Park, accessible via Porcupine Bay Road off Highway 42 north of Sister Bay, and Door Bluff Headlands County Park, farther north off Garrett Bay Road, are rustic but beautiful, with trails running along towering limestone cliffs.
Newport State Park, on Door County's quieter east side, is Wisconsin's only wilderness park. Thirty miles of hiking trails wind along 11 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline through evergreens, hardwoods, wetlands and meadows.
Keep going north and take two ferry rides to get to Rock Island State Park, a 912-acre island open only to foot traffic. The 5.2-mile Thordarson loop trail winds completely around the island's mostly wooded shoreline, sometimes lined by rocky bluffs and broken up by the state's oldest lighthouse and impressive stone structures built by the island's former owner, Icelandic immigrant and inventor Chester Thordarson. Note that the Karfi ferry from Washington Island to Rock Island operates only through the second Monday in October.
An added bonus for a trip to the peninsula's northern tip: a drive down one of the most scenic (and photographed) roads in Wisconsin. As Highway 42 approaches Northport, it zigs and zags a handful of times in a short distance, creating a display that's even more mesmerizing when framed by the colors of fall.
Door County's sights are not just for seeing — they're also for consuming.
The peninsula is famous for its cherries, and although they typically ripen in July, the fruit continues to provide tasty treats through the year. Stop by Seaquist Orchards in Sister Bay for everything from cherry juice and jams to salsa and syrups. The orchard also has more than a dozen apple varieties.
Orchard Country Winery & Market in Fish Creek has been turning its cherries into wine since 1985. Today it produces a variety of other fruit wines as well, including apple, raspberry and pear, plus more traditional white and red grape wines. Visitors can also pick six varieties of apples straight from the orchard in September and October.
Those famous cherries also make their way into pies found at another Door County staple: fish boils. The dinners are as much about the preparation as the actual food, with boil masters preparing the fish in a giant kettle outside. Try the White Gull Inn or Pelletier's in Fish Creek, or the Old Post Office Restaurant in Ephraim.
If the restaurant takes reservations, make one — the fish boils are extra popular on fall weekends.
For more on things to do in Door County, call (920) 743-4456 or see doorcounty.com.
Lake Geneva
In the 19th century the beer and business barons of Chicago made Lake Geneva their summer playground, building magnificent mansions along the town's shimmering lake. Many still stand today, framed by mature trees that put on a dazzling display every fall.
And they're not completely out of reach for those with more shallow pockets. Anybody can go for a walk on the 21-mile lakeshore path, which circles the lake through the backyards of those million-dollar mansions.
Visitors can also catch glimpses of the homes, and learn about their history, on boat cruises with the Lake Geneva Cruise Line.
Among the tour offerings is one with a stop and guided tour at Black Point Estate, the one-time summer home of Conrad Seipp, owner of a large Chicago brewery at the turn of the 20th century. The Queen Anne-style mansion was built in 1888 and is now owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society.
To step even more into the shoes of a baron, stop by the Baker House, an 1885 Queen Anne mansion turned luxury inn and restaurant. Grab a period hat from the hallway to wear while sipping a cocktail and sharing a small plate on the mansion's veranda or parlor, both featuring views of Geneva Lake.
Here's one thing the barons didn't have: a zip-line adventure with Lake Geneva Ziplines & Adventures. The two-hour Canopy Tour includes trips on nine zip-lines and a race down dual 1,200-foot lines. The grounds also include 12 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails for exploring.
As a popular vacation destination, the Lake Geneva area has its share of resorts. But perhaps none offers more to do than the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa. In addition to elegant rooms and suites, the AAA Four Diamond resort offers three restaurants, two golf courses, a spa, hiking and mountain biking paths (including bike rentals) and a disc golf course.
Come October, downtown Lake Geneva goes full fall mode during Oktoberfest. The festival, Oct. 7-9, includes German music, food, beer, pony rides, games and more at Flat Iron Park.
For more to see and do in Lake Geneva, call (800) 345-1020 or see visitlakegeneva.com.
Wausau
Wausau is one of those spots that's easy to overlook in the rush to get to destinations farther north. Don't. Even driving through the city is beautiful in the fall, with the Wisconsin River framed by heavily forested hills. Get off the highway and into the city, and more sights await.
One of Wisconsin's top ski destinations, Granite Peak Ski Area puts its ski lifts to good use in fall. Leaf peepers can ride the resort's chair lifts to the top of Rib Mountain for stunning views of the changing leaves.
The ski area is tucked into Rib Mountain State Park, which offers more than 13 miles of hiking trails, including 8 miles of accessible trail. A 60-foot observation tower at the top of 1,924-foot Rib Mountain provides another spot for taking in views of the area and the Wisconsin River.
South of Wausau, Nine Mile Recreation Area has nearly 5,000 acres of public land for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Find parking and access to the area — part of the Nine Mile County Forest — on Red Bud Road, south of County Highway N (S. Mountain Road). Mountain bike and horse trails are open through Oct. 15 and passes are required for riders age 12 and up.
For a look at dramatic rock formations and tumbling cascades, head to the Dells of the Eau Claire Park in a narrow gorge along the Eau Claire River east of Wausau. A variety of hardwoods, including sugar maple and yellow birch, add to the beauty in fall. Hiking trails, including a segment of the Ice Age Trail, wind along both sides of the river.
Downtown Wausau, take a stroll along the paved River Edge Parkway, which follows the Wisconsin River 1.5 miles from Oak Island Park north past the city's Whitewater Park and to Barker Island.
Or you can stroll through tanks brewing Oktoberfests, bocks and stouts at Bull Falls Brewery.
Grab dinner and a brew from Red Eye Brewing Company or the Great Dane, both of which offer filling pub fare alongside Wisconsin-made beers.
Wisconsin's Great River Road
Fall drives are the perfect way to take in the season's beauty. For one of the best in the state, head west to Wisconsin's segment of the Great River Road. Green steamboat signs mark the National Scenic Byway, which mostly follows Highway 35 on its 250-mile route along the Mississippi River from Prescott, near the Twin Cities, to Kieler, at the Illinois border.
The river and its bluffs, most blanketed in hardwoods, provide a stunning backdrop for a drive, with dozens of small towns along the way offering plenty of worthy diversions.
If you start your trip in Prescott, pass Maiden Rock about 30 miles south and stop at the town's namesake, a 400-foot, blocky limestone bluff protected as part of a state natural area. The bluff serves as both a subject and vantage point for terrific fall photos. Look for peregrine falcons (a state endangered species) and other raptors, including bald eagles, soaring on the thermals.
Cider is an appropriate fall drink, so take a short diversion off the highway to sample a few hard offerings from Maiden Rock Apples, Winery & Cidery.
The winery is part of the Great River Road Wine Trail, which includes eight wineries along the road in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. Another worth a visit: the 2013 Wisconsin Grape Growers Association Winery of the Year, Danzinger Vineyards, which serves up superb wines and views from the bluffs above Alma.
Just to the south, the Swedish town of Stockholm boasts a handful of shops, galleries and restaurants, including the Stockholm Pie & General Store and its dozen daily pie offerings.
Continue the food binge at the historic Trempealeau Hotel and Restaurant with its famous walnut burger and other locally sourced fare. The restaurant often has live music on weekends and also offers simple and affordable rooms in its 1871 building along the Mississippi.
In La Crosse, let someone else do the driving and get a different view of the road and the bluffs: from the river. Hop aboard a replica paddlewheel boat, the La Crosse Queen, for a sightseeing cruise or a handful of dinner cruises.
Finish your trip with a Wisconsin staple: beer. Tiny Potosi rallied in 2000 to revive the town's old brewery (the fifth largest in the country at its peak) and in 2004 lured the National Brewery Museum to the new complex. Sip a Potosi Brewing Co. Oktoberfest on the brewery's patio before perusing the brewing memorabilia in the museum inside.
For more on the Wisconsin Great River Road, see wigrr.com.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 5 fall getaways in Wisconsin from Bayfield to Door County
