Bayfield Hotels - things to do and attractions
Things to Do in Bayfield: Bayfield Hotels travel guide on the best things to do in Bayfield. We’ve got all the best attractions listed with reviews. Have a look below for more details on Bayfield Attractions, restaurants, nightlife, bars, clubs, events and shopping.
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Top things to do and Attractions in Bayfield:
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Believe it or not – you probably do, but there are 5 towns or cities called Bayfield – they are in the USA and in Canada. We have hotels in all – so we have Bayfield covered, at Bayfield Hotels.
Bayfield in the USA is a Statutory Town in La Plata County, Colorado, United States. The population was 1,549 at the 2000 census. It is also a city in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 611 at the 2000 census.
In Canada, there are 3 Bayfields – Bayfield (Abhainn Beag) is a community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located in Antigonish County. Bayfield in Onatario, is a community located within the Municipality of Bluewater, Ontario, Canada on the eastern shore of Lake Huron, situated at the mouth of Bayfield River. It was founded in 1832 by Carel Lodewijk, Baron van Tuyll van Serooskerken, a Dutch nobleman, who had purchased large real estate holdings in the area. It was named for noted Great Lakes surveyor and British naval officer Admiral Henry Wolsey Bayfield; who personally selected the site for the community. Finally, Bayfield in New Brunswick.
Our top recommendations:
Bayfield Wisconsin:
Finding things to do in Bayfield isn’t difficult. Every time we visit we discover something new. We had visited Bayfield many times before we discovered there was a hiking trail (see hiking trail photos) underneath the historic Iron Bridge constructed in 1912 by Wausau Iron Works.
One of our favorite stops is Hauser’s Superior View Farm for apples, berries, flowers, preserves, and their excellent offerings in apple and berry wines.
On a clear day you can see the Apostle Islands From the top of Hauser’s hay loft.
Orchard Touring
Hauser’s is one of many farms and orchards in the Bayfield area with retail shops and open for tours. The high country orchard tour also offers a number of scenic vistas of the area.
Bayfield Golf Courses
Apostle Highlands Golf Course is one the most scenic of all Lake Superior golf courses. Other nearby golf courses include Madeline Island Golf Course and Chequamegon Bay Golf Club
The Bayfield Fall Scarecrow Festival runs from mid-September to Mid-October
Bayfield, Ontario:
Bayfield, is a community located within the Municipality of Bluewater, Ontario Canada on the shore of Lake Huron, situated at the mouth of Bayfield River. It was founded in 1834 by Baron de Tuyll. Bayfield is a beautiful little village with a population of 900 in the winter and 2500 in the summer due to tourism.
Known for its beauty and small town life makes Bayfield an excellent escape from the city. Situated right on the lake with an amazing sunset , Bayfield has 3 marinas that accept transient boaters.
Traditions. As a small community Bayfield has many yearly tradtions that include the Bayfield fair in August and is best known for Christmas in Bayfield which takes place the second weekend in November, along with the lighting of the trees in the revitalized Clan Gregor Square.
Bayfield, a small historic village on the shore of Lake Huron, combines the old fashioned charm of a quaint country town with modern day amenities. MacLean’s Magazine described Bayfield as “Paradise Found”, while Harrowsmith Country Life magazine votes Bayfield “one of the 10 prettiest towns in Canada”.
Bayfield Hotels - Great food - chicken and rice
For well over a century, Bayfield has been a favorite destination for travelers and holidayers. Arriving by water or land, visitors continue to be attracted by the beautiful scenery, fine sandy beaches, four seasons of outdoor sports, excellent shopping, dining and accommodations.
Having briefly visited Bayfield a couple of years previous, we decided to revisit the area for a longer stay and try a new experience at the same time – staying in our first bed and breakfast. We planned our trip around the Labour Day weekend, arriving early Sunday afternoon. First stop, Pioneer Park overlooking the beaches of Lake Huron. Neither the park nor the beaches were overly busy.
Plush Golden Sandy Beach
From Pioneer Park we descend the five flights of wooden stairs to the nearly empty beach below. The sand is golden, plush and very clean. A couple hundred feet offshore, there appears to be a large rock jutting out of the water. On closer look, it’s actually the bow of an old sunken ship. I imagine this must be a popular destination for scuba divers. This IS a lovely beach.
Off in the distance, a few families are enjoying the warm waves lapping over the edge of the beach. Small kids run in and out of the water. A few people are sunbathing. There are virtually miles of beach shoreline and it amazes me that there are so few people here. Though the water is a huge attraction in Bayfield, it seems few come here to actually swim in the water. In fact, we forgot to pack our own bathing suits. Nonetheless, Carole, my wife, takes off her shoes and strolls along the water’s edge as we make our way to the Bayfield marina.
Best Kept Secret
Here, at the marina, we get an inkling of why Bayfield is so popular. Habour Lights Marina, located on the north side of Bayfield river, is known locally as the best kept secret on Lake Huron with it’s beautiful sunsets, sandy beaches and private, grassy docking areas. There are actually two marinas here, the private Habour Lights Marina on the north side of Bayfield River, and the larger, public Bayfield Marina on the south side of the river. Bayfield Marina is the largest pleasure craft harbour on the Canadian side of Lake Huron. This is the main access point for the many Americans that visit each year.
The harbour is busy. Boats of every size and description continually come and go. Sea-doos race around the beach. And sailors socialize with each other, particularly in the more private sections of Habour Lights. At the end of the dock, the older locals relax with a fishing rod while some kids dive into the water on the beach side.
At the end of the dock we stop awhile and watch the activity. Looks like everyone is having great fun. Makes me kind of wish I didn’t care about how old I was so I could join them. But common sense prevails and we just wander down to the docks to check out the luxury yachts like we could actually afford one ourselves.
Once back in the Jeep, we head for the center of town, Clan Gregor Square and Main Street. Bayfield has the rare distinction for being one of the few Ontario towns actually built according to a formal plan. Guelph and Goderich are the only other two. The village is built around Clan Gregor Square, now a beautiful shaded park, from which the streets radiate like the spokes of a wheel.
Under a Canopy of Mature Shade Trees
One of these spokes is Heritage Main Street, a broad boulevard connecting the square with the harbour. The street is lined with historic buildings, like The Albion Hotel and The Little Inn, restored to their Victorian elegance. Under a canopy of mature shade trees, holidayers stroll the boulevard, shop or browse the many trendy stores, dine in fine restaurants or sip a drink on the patio of a historic pub. Not surprisingly, Main Street is always busy.
Bayfield’s history began in the 1830s when Baron de Tuyll, on the advise of a young Royal Navy lieutenant named Henry Wolsey Bayfield, purchased 3,000 acres along the Huron Tract. The area seemed like a natural centre for future commerce, but the harbour wasn’t a commercial success and the railway never came. Bayfield was incorporated as a village in 1876, but lost its village status in 1927, reverting to a police village in Stanley Township. Not until 1965 did it again regain its village status. Since then it has grown to become a favourite holiday spot for people looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Not just from southwestern Ontario or Michigan, but from all over the globe.
A complete history of Bayfield can be found in the Village Archives building attached to the local library right on Main Street.
Fine Restaurants… Pricey Menus
Like most visitors to historic Main Street, we parked the Jeep and strolled up and down the boulevard, darting into and out of shops, reading the pricey menus posted out front of the many fine restaurants, planning our agenda as we went along.
The Albion Hotel and Tavern, originally built in the 1840s, is the first building at the top of Main Street. Next door is another history building, the Admiral Bayfield, which is now a tavern and restaurant. Today, the Admiral is hosting a corn-on-the-cob eating contest at 4:00 pm. Sounds like a fun event. Later in the evening, a young, talented blues guitarist named Chris Chown will be performing here as well. We plan to come back for both events.
Further down the street we pop into Marten Arts Gallery of contemporary Canadian fine art. As the saying goes, “I may not know art”, but I know expensive. All the art pieces are genuinely beautiful, though outside my price range. This doesn’t seem to be a problem for many of the patrons. Of all the shops, Marten Arts Gallery perhaps generates the most interest.
The other end of the street is anchored by the Bayfield General Store and The Little Inn, both lovely historic buildings. On July 14th, 1853, the General Store was purchased from Baron de Tuyll and completed in 1855 by Donald Fraser, Bayfield’s first postmaster. The original façade of this Georgian brick structure still remains. Over the years, the build has served as a millinery, apothecary, doctor’s office, ice cream parlor, grocery store and post office. As with most heritage buildings in the village, this type of historic info is found on a plaque attached to an outside wall.
The Little Inn has been in continuous operation since it was built in 1862. Originally, it was called “The Commercial”, then “The Lakeview” before becoming “The Little Inn”. The decorative verandah was added in 1903, torn down in 1950, but since restored to its original glory.
Renown Red Pump Restaurant
The Red Pump Restaurant has been serving fine cuisine on Main Street for the last twenty-five years. Originally a residence, and flour and feed store owned by John Whiddon in 1881. By 1902 evolved into a grocery store and from 1922-1943 it was a barber and beauty shop. Now, the Red Pump Restaurant offers gourmet dining and fine wines in an antique filled dining room or on the patio under the stars. The business has grown to include exquisite gifts and three bed and breakfast suites. Of course, everything here is expensive. The Red Pump B&B Suites start at $325.00 a night. If you’re looking for convenience, The Red Pump is the place. More economical and just as fine accommodations are available just five minutes away in Varna. More on that later.
In Archie’s clothing shop I did the tourist thing and purchased a Bayfield tee shirt. There’s actually a good selection of sweats and tees not found elsewhere. And just down the street, Carole purchased a pair of earrings at one of the Boardwalk stores. A couple of little mementos to remember our adventure.
We finished off our tour of the boulevard by grabbing an ice cream at one of the parlors along the street, visiting a lawn ornament store called Shared Time, a chocolate shop called Sugar and Spice, and the Turner Art Gallery. There are so many shopping choices here that everyone is sure to find a unique treasure of their own.
Haven of Peace and Tranquility Found
At about 4:30 in the afternoon, we decide to check out our accommodations just a few minutes drive east of Bayfield in Varna. We had never stayed in a bed and breakfast, so for this adventure we decided to give it a try. Magnolia Manor is a historic Georgian manor built in 1870 on a 100-acre farm. Remodeled in 1923, the estate became a focal point for the war effort and church fundraisers. Up until the 1960′s, hundreds of guests enjoyed the various garden parties, socials and open-air concerts held on the property.
In 1992, Magnolia Manor, a haven of peace and tranquility nestled in a 3-acre southern plantation style setting, opened as a bed and breakfast. Guests are encouraged to discover the secret garden, swim in the outdoor secluded pool or simply relax under the shady weeping willow or magnificent Magnolia tree.
Our reservations are for the “Rose Garden” room, tastefully furnished with antiques and white wicker. The room features a queen size bed and a 3-piece ensuite bath and shower. There are three other quests rooms, a bright sunroom at the front of the manor where guests can enjoy a complimentary beverage, and a great ‘sitting’ room with a 12-foot ceiling, original chandeliers and a massive fieldstone fireplace.
Charming and Helpful Host
As expected, our host, Carol, is both charming and helpful. She met us at the door when we arrived, gave us a brief history of the manor, showed us around the house and led us to our charming room. My wife, Carole, immediately loved the manor, our room and the landscape. Knowing her love of gardens, there was a bit of planning on my part to ensure our first visit to a B&B was an enjoyable one.
We retired to our room to rest for about an hour before heading back to Bayfield for dinner. Our host, Carol, told us about the Harbour Fest celebration going on at the Marina all afternoon and evening. We decide to check it out on the way back to town. Arriving at the marina, we see the crowd gathered on the small island in the middle of the marina. Jerry Renolds is performing classic rock and country tunes. The music is okay but not great. The band appears to be made up of local musicians, and I guess they are all patrons of the marina. Everyone seems to know each other and all appear to be having a good time. We stick around for a half hour or so and them head back to Main Street for dinner.
Earlier, we planned on dinner at the Albion Hotel. We should have made reservations, but manage to get in without them. There are a number of great specials. I settle on a tomato basil soup, chicken and ribs (not too original). Carole predictably has shrimp pasta with wine. The food is very good and affordable. The Albion is a restored 1840s hotel, which maintains much of its original charm. All the furnishings are antique and don’t match, but that’s part of the charm.
Cold Beer and Hot Blues
Following dinner we go next door for cold beer. Chris Chown is the entertainment for the night and we stick around for the first set. We first saw Chris Chown about 6 years ago when he was about 18 years old. At that time he was a hot, upcoming blues guitarist in the vain of Stevie Ray Vaughan. It’s good to see he has moved away from trying to be another Stevie Ray Vaughan, but in the process seems to have gotten a little complacent in his playing. Still a great player, just doesn’t seem to be on fire as he once was. And he had some problems with the equipment. Still, we had an enjoyable time. Blues is a style that lends itself to being crude.
In the morning, Carol served an incredible breakfast. We started with a delicious blueberry parfait with peaches. The main course featured English muffins with poached eggs covered in a sweet mushroom sauce. Topped off with juice, and coffee or tea. A great gourmet breakfast, and from the comments in the guestbook, every morning is a different delight. After breakfast, we head back to Bayfield for another quick tour around town before heading off home.
Looking for a romantic getaway and something a little different, I’d certainly recommend Bayfield and a stay at the magnificent Magnolia Manor.
Bayfield, Nova Scotia:
If you are heading on Highway 104 towards Cape Breton through Truro from Halifax or Moncton or the Prince Edward Island ferry then Antigonish makes a pleasant stop. Pronounced ‘An-A-Gun-Ish’, this is a quiet town with a 125 year old University, St. Francis Xavier that attracts students from across Canada.
The annual Scottish Highland games held in mid-July are well known and there are often events behind held by or at the University.
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United States:
o Bayfield, Colorado, a town
o Bayfield, Wisconsin, a city
o Bayfield County, Wisconsin
o Bayfield (town), Wisconsin
Canada:
o Bayfield, New Brunswick, a town
o Bayfield, Nova Scotia, a village
o Bayfield, Ontario, a village
o Bayfield River in Ontario
