I've been wanting to go to the Apostle Islands for years mainly to get my National Park stamp. However it is actually closer to go to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan or Indiana Dunes National Park in Indiana than Bayfield in Wisconsin. However since we were going to the Upper Peninsula I figured swinging by Bayfield on our way to Superior was probably our best chance.
Apostle Islands is a group of 22 islands off the shores of Bayfield and Ashland counties. 21 one of them are owned by the National Park Service. Madeline Island, the only one inhabited year round, is not.
We debated doing a Apostle Island Boat Tour or going to Madeline Island. We decided the boat tour was the better option for us. We felt there was not a lot for us to do on Madeline Island but we will eventually get there.
There are several boat tours through Apostle Island Cruise which is ran in part with the National Park Service. Various tours of various lengths run from the end of May to Mid October. Not all tours run every day but the Grand Tour offers at least 2 tours daily. Some tours will deliver you to an island to camp.
We went with the Grand Tour which is 2.5-3 hours and is $63/adult. We went with the first tour of the day with a 10 am departure. We arrived at the dock around 9 and there were already people in line Seating is first come first serve.
We chose to sit up on the top deck near the front of the boat in a row for 2 people. Knowing what I know now, I would rather sit slightly back and share a row so I'm not looking across the boat at some of the islands.
The Grand Tour lets you see 21 of the 22 islands. Some only from a distance. However they do get close to some of the destinations on various islands.
We saw the fishing village on Manitou Island where National Park Rangers are there to educate you if you go ashore.
The Grand Tour is the only tour that gets you close to the sea caves. These sea caves are on one of the northern islands and are not the same sea caves that are the famous ice caves which are closer to the mainland. These sea caves are large enough to kayak through.
We saw 2 lighthouses.. The Michigan Island Lighthouse
and the Raspberry Island Lighthouse.
It was a very good cruise. We even saw another eagle.
Our captain was very knowledge and made sure you saw all the sites regardless of what side of the boat you were on. He always circled back to get a good view of the fishing village or lighthouse.
The Grand Tour is definitely worth the money. I would love to take a lighthouse tour or the fishing village tour sometime.
If you are up in the Apostle Islands in the summer I would definitely recommend checking out an Apostle Island Cruise Tour.
