If you are interested in Apostle Island kayaking, this is the place to go! Troy, and his family-run…read morebusiness provided everything we needed to feel safe and confident. The views! The laughs! My family will be making this our annual trip. It was a beautiful experience. Thank you Rustic Mukwa Den.

We booked a sea caves kayak tour with Rustic Makwa over Labor Day weekend, and my experience could…read morehave definitely been better. The good - Our guide was excellent - he showed great care in talking about safety while on land, he was patient with the people on the tour who were new to kayaking, and he made sure to lead us to all the sea caves and point out great pictures spots without making the tour feel rushed. The experience on the water was good, and the beauty of the sea caves is just breathtaking. The bad - The communication prior to the start of the tour. We arrived at Meyers Beach around 15 minutes before our 3 PM tour (per the instructions in the confirmation email), and we did not see anyone there associated with Rustic Makwa. Time passes until 2:55, and we still do not see anyone. I check my email: nothing. I eventually call the phone number on the email, and I am assured the guide is "on his way, will be there shortly after 3". We waited until about 3:10, and nobody had arrived. I call the number again and am told that the guide will be there by 3:20. We wait until 3:30, and I text the number: I am told the guide is close by. Finally, around 3:40, just as we are about to leave, our guide finally arrived. Apparently, the guide was waiting for the winds to die down a bit before starting the tour - hence the delay. While I appreciated the tour's commitment to safety, the lack of communication was disheartening. There were only three groups on our tour. The time it would have taken to update us on the tour's current conditions/status (via email/text/phone call) would not have taken long. I understand the weather is unpredictable, and it isn't easy to make the call sometimes on whether or not tours can safely be conducted. However, providing information and updates (without having me chase the information down) would have allowed us to better use our limited time in Bayfield by not having us wait in the parking lot area for almost an hour.

The only way to get from Bayfield to Madeline Island so you gotta make the most of it!! As a first…read moretimer, I had more enthusiasm round 1 as opposed to round 5. Upon entry, you can purchase your ticket directly on the dock in either a 1-way or round trip. If you're good with keeping a ticketed piece of paper, you can attempt the round trip if you need to come back. Otherwise, we didn't like the idea that our ticket could get lost so we always did a 1-way. Vehicles of all kinds load onto the ferry with an extremely efficient staff and then magic happens as you are transported in about 20 minutes. Dogs are welcomed on the ferry along with bikes, scooters and walk-ons. Our lesson learned was that we didn't need to take our vehicle everywhere and the next time we visit, we plan to do a lot more commuting via foot. In addition, it's way cheaper to travel without a vehicle. There is a ferry schedule posted online and lots of hard copy handouts around town. Once the ferry is going across Lake Superior, if you can exit the car (sometimes you can't depending on how tight parking is), you can walk up the steps to the observation deck or stand near your vehicle. I like that there's a variety of ways to travel and I imagine locals see this is just another bus or train route like any other means of transportation. Contrary, visitors will always be in awe as it's not something you see everyday. Shout out to the staff and operations as the ferry was always on time, on schedule and staff were kind. We had beautiful weather in late September / early October so the air and colors were poppin'. Thank you!!

Way too costly. For what you experience on the other side. Hardly any shops on the island. Looks…read morelike a tornado had been through and no businesses recovered after that. I guess if you want a drink it's good but for us non drinkers there was a fudge store that was double the price more than Bayfield. (That you do not need a feet for)

We went on a 5 hour tour with the captain, Marlin. He was very informative and good natured. He…read morereally turned the experience into an extraordinary experience. the scenery was gorgeous!

We had a fantastic time. There was a small group of us, and…read morethat's cause it was the end of the 2nd week of October. We got to actually sail the ship and enjoy being 'sailors.' I think our sailor/tour guide's name was Matt and he deserves recognition. He takes great photos. The cost was worth it for me because of the experience, and the small group size. This does cost more than the Apostle Islands Tour, but it's almost like a private sailing session. I would advise sunscreen due to exposure, even if you're not white. We were fortunate that autumn had a late ending, until the start of the 3rd week of October. Peak colors and perfect weather.

We had a stunning 2h tour with our guide and owner or part owner (?) Mason. Paddling in these caves…read moreis so much fun. I was unsure to book with this company as they had no reviews on yelp. Apparently he went on his own after the prior business split up last year. He only takes groups of up to six people which makes the tour so much more private. He explains really well the facts about the area and is easy going. I can fully recommend him and his new company.

Kayaked out to the sea caves yesterday and had a fabulous day!! Jared was our guide and he provided…read moretop-notch service before, during, and after the tour! Highly recommend taking a paddle with this company if you're in the area!

Had a wonderful trip our first time sea kayaking, would definitely do it again! Jared was a…read morefantastic guide, and enjoyed the experience of a small operator vs a big group. The sea caves are gorgeous and other-worldly. Highly recommend!

Howl is one of those boutiques that makes wandering Bayfield even more enjoyable!…read more The shop has a great vibe and selection of clothing, outdoor gear, and accessories. I visited during the colder months and was impressed by how much well-chosen winter gear they had--cozy layers, warm accessories, and practical pieces that still look stylish. I ended up leaving with a warm winter hat!

Wow, hard to believe no one has reviewed Howl yet…read more We visited Bayfield over Labor Day, staying at a B&B down the road. Before leaving Minneapolis, we booked a half-day yacht cruise for Saturday morning, which turned out to be lovely. The reason I mention the cruise is that our captain also owns Howl (as well as the Howl Adventure Center just south of town). We stopped into the retail store the following morning as we dodged raindrops, enjoying a chat with the captain and his family. I would characterize the clothing and equipment on the shelf here (as well as the Adventure Center) as "upper end" although insufficient to completely supply many an outdoor trek. That said, the equipment on sale was interesting, reasonably priced, not overly "touristy" (although there were some items geared to the visiting tourist). As an aging backpacker, it was very difficult to not pick up a few items, but I've vowed not to buy more "stuff" until I get my knees replaced! I did succumb to a few bicycling accessories at the Adventure Center, however! Howl Clothing is right downtown, just a block away from the docks and right across the street from the Bayfield Inn. It's worth stopping in to browse, and we will use their sailing services when next we visit during the summer.

We had a great time on a private sailing charter for our group of 6. They happily accommodated our…read moretwo kids and taught our 3-year-old to steer the boat (which he loved!). They were very flexible when it looked like bad weather on our scheduled date and accommodated us another time when the sun and wind were more favorable. Our captain, Dusty, was wonderful. I would highly recommend them!

Abe was absolutely the best host and captain - friendly, professional, and a wealth of knowledge…read moreabout the area and islands with great suggestions to match our schedule!

The business I'm reviewing at this location is called Howl Downtown. It apparently used to be…read morecalled Wolfsong Wear according to the Yelp listing. This being an outdoorsy town, owing to its proximity to the Apostles, this store is a natural presence. They have plenty of clothing fit for the area and activities. They're practically a kayaking outfitter, but will also set you up with their own guided sailing tour of the islands. Aside from clothes and kayaking gear, there are bags, stickers, shoes, camping accessories, and a ton of those popular wooden signs with cute, ironic, and sometimes motivational sayings on them. Prices were on the high side, though not surprisingly so. There was only one woman working who seemed a bit overwhelmed. It didn't help that my own confusion about what Adventure Club Brewing was left her equally confused and frustrated. In any case, if you're living that nature life, stop by here.

My wife and I started buying Wolfsong wear long ago. We've attended Bayfield' Apple Fest for the…read morepast 28 years. I bought their jacket about 15 years ago and it still looks like new. Recently the zipper broke. I called Wolfsong and they fixed it with even a heavier zipper than before! It's very rare these days to find a company that makes such high quality wear and backs it with personal, higher than expected customer service. Their clothing seems expensive but after wearing my jacket for the past 15 years, I think it was really a tremendous deal.