Without a doubt, fall in Bayfield, Wisconsin, is one of the best times to visit us at Seagull Bay.

The crisp air, vibrant colors, and earthy smells of fallen leaves are just a few reasons why September and October are two of my favorite months.

Bayfield truly shines this time of year. 

As the busyness of summer wanes, fall leaves a little more room to wander. Time slows down and there’s less pressure to fit everything into one day. 

Our guests seem to feel it, too. They’re content to let the day unfold however it wants to. 

They still spend days on Lake Superior, wander the downtown shops, hike miles of wooded trails, and visit Bayfield’s famous apple orchards and fruit farms. 

Fall is harvest season, after all, and we always recommend making time for Bayfield’s historic family-owned orchards.

Not just for its fruit, jams, and pies, either. Over the past several years, a few of Bayfield’s fruit farms have found a new way to share what they grow: by pouring it into your glass.

Today, I’m sharing a few places that connect you to Bayfield’s history, agriculture, and local families one glass at a time.

Explore Bayfield’s Family-Owned Orchards and Fruit Farms 

Bayfield has a looong farming history on Wisconsin’s northernmost peninsula. Apples, green beans, and all kinds of berries have grown on Bayfield’s hillsides. 

These family-owned farms have weathered plenty of changes over the years. And they’ve continued to find new ways to grow, harvest, and share the fruit Bayfield is famous for.

You can still visit for pick-your-own and pre-picked apples, cherries, blueberries, and other seasonal favorites. But now, you can taste some of that harvest in your glass, too.

Hauser’s Superior View Farm and Apfelhaus Cidery 

Hauser’s is rooted in more than 100 years of family history. The fifth-generation farm dates back to 1908, with some of its heirloom apple trees still standing today. Apfelhaus Cidery takes that history a step further. They grow, pick, press, and ferment the fruit right on the farm before pouring it into your glass in the taproom.

There’s something pretty cool about drinking a hard cider made from apples grown just outside the door while overlooking Lake Superior. Plus, its iconic 1928 Sears Roebuck Barn and the *Superior* view from the hayloft are just a few things our guests love when visiting Hauser’s.

Bayfield Winery and Blue Ox Cidery

Continue around Bayfield’s Fruit Loop, and you’ll find another fruit farm with roots dating back to the 1920s. Bayfield Winery and Blue Ox Cidery was originally a traditional orchard owned by the Betzold family. While it’s changed hands over the years, the original apple trees planted by the Betzolds remain. Today, the farm is also growing and experimenting with crops like grapes and hazelnuts.

Current owners Phil and Jen originally came from the Twin Cities, but their story may sound familiar to anyone who has dreamed about trading city life for a different pace. For them, that dream included owning a family business.

Since 2012, Phil and Jen have expanded their list of wines and hard ciders, all made from fruit grown on the farm. If you visit early enough in the fall, you may even catch the tail end of their summer concert series. Grab a glass, find a spot overlooking the orchard, and listen to local musicians while you sip.

Highland Valley Farm and Pikes Creek Winery

The Dale family settled here in 1977, bringing their knowledge of beekeeping and honey. Here in Bayfield, they were introduced to raspberries and eventually established the first commercial production of winter-hardy blueberries in northern Wisconsin. Over the years, the farm continued to evolve, adding red and black currants and maple syrup.

Now in its second generation, the Dale family is sharing something that was once reserved for their own family dinners and celebrations: homemade wine. Their dry wines are made with fruit grown right on the farm. You’ll also find a couple of sweeter berry wines and sparkling ciders.

Of course, Bayfield’s fruit farms and orchards aren’t the only places pouring something local.

Trade the Cider and Wine for a Local Beer

There’s always been an entrepreneurial spirit on the Bayfield Peninsula. Over the years, people have made their living here as commercial fishermen, farmers, loggers, shop owners, and plenty of other things. Today, that same make-it-yourself spirit shows up in our local breweries.

Clipper Brewing Company

Located above Bodin’s Fish House, Clipper Brewing Company is owned and operated by members of the Bodin family. 

Since the late 1800s, the Bodin family has made its mark throughout Chequamegon Bay. Their story includes fish camps on Long Island, a family homestead in the Town of Bayview, a sporting goods shop in Ashland, and The Fish House in Bayfield. So maybe it’s no surprise that another generation has channeled that entrepreneurial spirit into brewing beer.

Clipper is open seasonally from May through October. Grab a microbrew like Roger That IPA and bump elbows with other cheery folks at the handcrafted bar, designed in the shape of a fishing boat’s bow.

Adventure Club Brewing

In a way, Adventure Club Brewing feels like the brewery version of Seagull Bay’s outdoorsy vibe. Located on the same property as Howl Adventure Center, it’s an easy place to settle in at a picnic table after a day of hiking or biking.

Owner and brewer Matthew Gerdts also shares a similar story to ours. He left the city—in his case, Madison—and his job at One Barrel Brewing to start a brewery of his own. Matt is a creative guy, and you can see that in the beers he brews. Grab a cold beer, soak up the sun, and order The Loaded Tots from the Superior Taco Truck if they’re still serving for the season. 

And if beer isn’t your thing, we almost always recommend this next place to our out-of-town friends and guests.

Finish Your Tasting Tour at Copper Crow Distillery

By now, you’ve gotten a taste of what’s grown, fermented, and brewed around Bayfield, along with the stories of the families behind it all. Copper Crow offers one more way to experience what people here are creating.

Copper Crow Distillery is owned and operated by Kurt and Linda Basina, members of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. They established Copper Crow in 2017 as the first Native American-owned distillery in the United States. Since then, they’ve crafted 13 different award-winning spirits.

Using local and regional ingredients, they handcraft small batches of whiskey, rum, vodka, and apple brandy, all inspired by the place they call home.

Pull up a stool and order one of their handcrafted cocktails, or find a seat around one of the outdoor fire pits. Better yet, finish off a fun weekend with one of their Bloody Marys.

And remember, there’s no reason to squeeze all these stops into one afternoon. Around here, we’re big fans of slowing down and making a weekend out of it.

Plan a Long Weekend and Explore Bayfield, Wisconsin

When people think about visiting Bayfield, they naturally think about Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands.

I do, too! 

And like I shared in my last blog, I’m usually wishing summer would hang on a little longer. But once the cooler weather arrives, some of my favorite places to explore are away from the shoreline.

They’re up County J, tucked among the family-owned orchards and farms, next to a bike shop, above a fish house, or a few miles north of town. 

It’s meeting the people who’ve cared for this place for generations and others just starting to make their mark. That’s part of what makes exploring Bayfield, Wisconsin, so special.

It’s the connection to the land and the people who live here. It’s what makes Bayfield feel like more than a destination. It feels like home.

And that’s how we want you to feel when you stay with us at Seagull Bay. 

Stay a few nights. Spend a day on Lake Superior and another exploring the orchards and tasting rooms. Then come back to Seagull Bay at the end of the day and decide where you’re going tomorrow.

Come explore Bayfield, Wisconsin, and find your stay at Seagull Bay.

Your memories with a view!

Mollie, Isaac, Axel, Ridge, and Banks

QUICK LINKS:

Apfelhaus Cidery – Hauser’s Superior View Farm

Bayfield Winery and Blue Ox Cider 

Highland Valley Farm

Brewery & Food Truck – Howl Adventure Center | Bayfield, WI 

Copper Crow Distillery