Ashland Wisconsin Lake Home and Cabin Living

Ashland Wisconsin

Lake Superior's Home Town

If you consider it from a certain perspective, Ashland, Wisconsin, has a very cosmopolitan and international past. Four different European countries have laid claim to Ashland and the land around her: Spain, France, England and the United States. In addition, eight Native American nations have lived in the area.

When Columbus sailed the ocean blue, the Ojibwe tribe thrived on Superior's blue shores. In 1659, French fur traders reached in the area and made it the first European settlement in what is now Wisconsin. But it wasn't until 1854 that Asaph Whittlesey built his 10x14 foot cabin in what is now the city of Ashland. By the late 1800s, Ashland was a boom town, a major Lake Superior port, grown rich on logging and ore. Logging and mining both petered out, however, and by the mid 20^th century, Ashland was officially an economically depressed area. But times have changed again, and Ashland is once more revitalized. Now neither the boom town, nor the quietly desperate place of poverty, Ashland is reborn as something comfortably in the middle. Her citizens like to call her “Lake Superior's Hometown.”

Sitting on the Dock by the Bay

Sitting at the head of sheltered Chequamegon Bay on Wisconsin's Lake Superior Shore, this city of about 9,000 people is rich in natural beauty on both Lake and land. The bay is one of the premier windsurfing destinations for the upper Midwest. Although slightly warmer than some other areas of the Great Lake, you will definitely want your wetsuit out on the water. Another unique aspect of Chequamegon is that, unlike much of Superior, the sheltered waters of the bay offer plenty of stable ice in the winter for ice fishing. Fishing, winter or summer, is well worth it with 14 species of game fish, including great lakes salmon and trout.

Ashland's harbor boasts one of the largest concrete structures in the world: the giant ore dock, once used by the railroad to load iron into Lake Superior's freighters. In addition, the city supports a 142 slip marina, offering full amenities.

Like Bayfield to the north and west, Ashland is also a convenient place from which to explore the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Take a cruise on the Apostle Islands Cruise Service, or charter a boat from one of the nearby Marinas. Or just drive up to the mainland part of the Park on the Bayfield peninsula, and explore from there.

Between the bay, the islands and local streams, you can paddle, fish, sail, windsurf, swim, scuba and photograph to your heart's content.

Ashland borders Lake Superior on the North, the Bad River Indian Reservation to the east and the Chequamegon National forest to the west and south. That makes it one of those very special areas, which will always be protected from excessive development and urban sprawl. It also makes Ashland an ideal home-base for those who love the outdoors. The Chequamegon national forest contains a stunning one and a half million acres of trees, streams, lakes, rolling hills and wildlife. If there is something you want to do outside, chances are you can do it near Ashland. Hiking trails, trout streams, bike paths, ATV and dirt bike areas, are all almost as numerous as the whitetail deer in the forest.  Speaking of wildlife, don't surprised if you see bear, otter, moose, wolf, pine marten, or other more exotic-seeming species, in addition to the deer, turkey, pheasant, hawks and raccoons you might normally expect.

If you tire of the outdoors, as unlikely as that seems, there is also plenty to do in Ashland itself. The citizens are proud of their history and heritage. Nine public murals offer a sort of town-and-history tour in the classic brick-front downtown district. The city offers several fine dining establishments, as well as chain restaurants and local eateries. The numerous shops of the downtown area make a nice change from the cold sterility of modern malls.

If you are looking for a place to stay while you explore, Ashland has no lack. There are the usual national chain hotels and motels in place: Super 8, Best Western and so on. But you can also stay in places that will make your trip special and memorable. Numerous cottages, cabins and condos are available for rent on a daily or weekly basis. A few resorts are scattered around the area as well. One of the most unique places to spend the night is the Hotel Chequamegon, which sits right on the bay, overlooking the harbor. The in-house restaurant there, Molly Cooper's, offers a waterfront dining experience.

Surrounded by water and public land, filled with unique opportunities for recreation on both, Ashland is a place well worth a visit, and perhaps also worth considering as an area for a vacation or retirement home.