Escape to fall splendor at Wisconsin’s smallest city

Everyone has a yearning at one time or another to escape to another world.
Judy and I did that recently to mark our 53rd wedding anniversary by taking a two-day trip to Bayfield, Wis.
Bayfield, located in the northwest part of the state, is often called the smallest city in Wisconsin. Its population is listed at 487. Bayfield's climate is tempered by its proximity to Lake Superior and is protected by rolling hills.
Bayfield is located about 85 miles straight east of Duluth and it is harbored on one of the Great Lakes, Lake Superior.
We have made the trip about five times before but not recently. It has not changed much, except being stifled somewhat by the coronavirus. Some of the downtown shops are closed and many others have curtailed their hours.
We always made the trip the weekend (late September) before Apple Fest, which draws over 50,000 people. This year, we made the trip the weekend of what should have been Apple Fest. The celebration was cancelled because of COVID-19.
Even though COVID has had its effects on tourism in general throughout the world, Bayfield remained a popular landing place for many people. One of the big draws to Bayfield has been its apples and berries.
Orchard owners said the apple crop this fall is outstanding. "We have been busier than ever," remarked one orchard owner. "Just look at the trees, they are still loaded with apples," the owner continued.
Our first stop after checking in at the Seagull Bay Motel on Lake Superior was to pick up some information at the Bayfield Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center. An updated map was given to us, showing locations and hours of the 15 apple orchards in the Bayfield area.
Prior to reaching Bayfield, we learned that one of our favorite shops, the Candy Shop, was closed permanently because the owners had retired.
We always patronized the Candy Shop to buy wine bread. Since it was now closed, what do we do? We found out from the chamber that there was an apple orchard that featured wine breads. Yeah!
We then made a quick trip to Hillcrest Orchards to pick up some wine bread. Right across the street was Apple Hill Orchard, which specializes in raising apples and making caramel apples.
I have always loved caramel apples and Apple Hill makes the best. The former owner is still making them and the weekend before we visited, she made 800 caramel apples. Wow!
One of the most active orchards on the Bayfield map is located at Erickson's Orchards & Country Store. Enter the store and find lots of "knick-knacks." Go further into the store and find an entrance to the back room where apples are being graded and made ready for sale.
Behind a glass partition, you will find three women making fresh apple pies. Their artwork in making pie crusts is amazing.
 
We also visited Hauser's Superior View Farm, which featured varieties of apples and berries. Hauser's had wines, too.
In addition to the four orchards I have mentioned, jot down names of these orchards: Bayfield Apple Company; Blue Vista Farm; Garage Mahal Orchards; Good Earth Gardens; Highland Valley Farm; Homestead Gardens; North Wind Organic Farm; Rabideaux"s Orchard; Rocky Acres Berry Farm; Sunset Valley Orchard and The Apple Branch Shoppe and Weber Orchards.
When we weren't making rounds to the apple orchards, we tried out a few restaurants. Our favorite was Gruenke's. I had a mushroom and Swiss burger one night and we tried a vegetable omelette for breakfast.
We also spent some time relaxing in our motel room, able to glance out our deck and see the beautiful Lake Superior.
Only a few good fall weekends remain. If you don't make the trip this year, put it on your calendar for the fall of 2021.