Explore Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
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At a Glance
What You'll Learn
- Ride the ferry to Madeline Island to explore Big Bay State Park with its pristine barrier beach and boardwalk.
- Delve into the history of shipwrecks near the Apostle Islands in an expert presentation by the retired director of the Lake Superior Maritime Visitors Center.
- Hear some great tales of how the locals survived in the early years in this beautiful but sometimes harsh environment.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Activity note: Hotel check-in available from 4:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon: Program Registration: 4:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the lobby to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived.
Dinner: At the inn.
Evening: Orientation: 7:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will learn from a series of local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach [or bus] unless noted otherwise. We will have meals at the inn unless otherwise specified. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity note: Walking up to 1 mile throughout the day; periods of standing up to 1 hour at the Coast Guard Station.
Breakfast: In the inn’s meeting room with a gorgeous view of the public pier on Lake Superior, Madeline Island, and the sunrise.
Morning: A retired National Park Service historian will join us at the hotel to present the history of the Apostle Islands and the Bayfield area including the early encounters between Native Americans, explorers, missionaries, and fur trappers. After a short break, we’ll gather for a second lecture, this time on the construction of the famed Apostle Islands lighthouses.
Lunch: At the inn, we’ll have a light lunch.
Afternoon: Next, we will hear about the various types of natural life found in the Apostle Islands. There are many significant aspects to the Apostle Islands, but one thing that makes them important is that the islands are shaped and isolated by Lake Superior, and they sustain rare communities, habitats, and species of plants and animals… everything from A to Z. This presentation provides an overview of the Apostle Islands' natural resources. We will then take a walk up the hill to see the town with our Group Leader and visit the historic National Park Service Building. The rest of the afternoon will be free for independent exploration of this quaint lakeside town.
Dinner: At the inn.
Evening: Tonight we will hear a lecture from the director of the Indigenous Cultures Center on the Native Americans in the Apostle Islands area.
Activity note: Walking up to 1 mile throughout the day; sidewalks and flat terrain. Getting on/off a boat; ride is about 2.5 hours.
Breakfast: At the inn.
Morning: We will begin with a short walk to the nearby dock where we will set out on a study cruise narrated by the captain of the boat. As we see historic lighthouses and get close-up views of the sea caves, we will learn about their history, legendary shipwrecks that happened in the area, and that native marine wildlife. Twenty-two islands make up the Apostle Islands, and it is host to one of the four National Lakeshores in the United States.
Lunch: At the inn, we’ll have a light lunch.
Afternoon: At the inn, a retired director of the Lake Superior Maritime Visitors Center/Army Corps of Engineers in Duluth, Minnesota will give a presentation about shipwrecks among the Apostle Islands. We will see images and hear stories about some of the many ships that went down in and around the Apostle Islands, further emphasizing the importance of the Coast Guard.
Dinner: At the inn.
Evening: We will make our way on foot to the Bayfield Heritage Museum for a private experience.
Activity note: Walking up to 1 mile throughout the day; periods of standing up to 1 hour each. Getting on/off the ferry; ride is about 1/2 hour. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 30 miles roundtrip; approximately 2 hours.
Breakfast: Inn buffet.
Morning: We will transfer via motorcoach to take the ferry to Madeline Island and, once on the island, we will visit the Madeline Island Museum for a presentation on the fur trade given by a local expert. The rustic museum, an amalgamation of several different structures, includes the only remaining building from the American Fur Company. It tells the story of the Ojibwe people who lived in this area for centuries, and exhibits explorer and fur trade artifacts. From there, we will head out on foot to Big Bay City Park where we will walk along the pristine sandy barrier beach.
Lunch: At Big Bay City Park, we will have boxed lunches.
Afternoon: On a narrated field trip by motorcoach around the island, we will learn from a local expert about the renowned extreme winter weather in this area of Wisconsin on Lake Superior. We’ll talk about how the folks who live here get along when it’s so cold, and how they enjoy the mild summers. As we go, we’ll make various stops including visits to an artisan shop and a church. We’ll then catch the ferry and return to the inn.
Dinner: At the inn. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends.
Evening: We’ll then have a special presentation at the inn given by a local expert about “The House That Sank.” A comical story stemming from a can-do attitude in the very cold winter of 1977, “The House That Sank” received attention from everyone – including the LA Times and folk singers alike – after it (and the truck hauling it) broke through the ice on the way across Lake Superior. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity note: Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast: At the inn.
Morning: Our final session of the program will wrap up with two short lectures on the ways in which the people of the Apostle Islands and surrounding region made their living in the challenging Lake Superior environment – fishing, logging, farming, and more – followed by a closer examination of women’s lives on the islands.
Lunch: Before departure, we will have boxed lunches available to take with us. This concludes our program.
Afternoon: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!