Food scene
Delicious breakfast pastries, desserts, breads, and salads/sandwiches to go.
7 locals recommend
Ashland Baking Co
212 Chapple AveDelicious breakfast pastries, desserts, breads, and salads/sandwiches to go.
More than just coffee--delicious breakfasts and lunches. Always has art from local artists on the wall. In a beautiful old building.
11 locals recommend
Black Cat Coffeehouse
211 Chapple AveMore than just coffee--delicious breakfasts and lunches. Always has art from local artists on the wall. In a beautiful old building.
Indoor and outdoor seating with spectacular views of the lake--right on the bicycle path and next to the artesian spring. Coffee, drinks, sandwiches, and salads.
Blue Wave Inn & Sandbar Restaurant
2521 Lake Shore Dr WIndoor and outdoor seating with spectacular views of the lake--right on the bicycle path and next to the artesian spring. Coffee, drinks, sandwiches, and salads.
More than just groceries--they have a deli with soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps, hot lunches, smoothies, freshly-baked cookies, etc.
20 locals recommend
Chequamegon Food Co-Op
700 Main St WMore than just groceries--they have a deli with soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps, hot lunches, smoothies, freshly-baked cookies, etc.
River Rock Inn & Bait Shop
1200 Lake Shore Dr WFreshly-caught local fish, smoked fish.
Local brew-pub, maker of South Shore beers--has three distinct dining areas: The Alley is more with casual pizza, burgers, wings, sports on TV, etc.; the Deep Water Grille has nicer entreés; and the bar in the middle lets you order from either menu. They also deliver. The Alley has seating on an outdoor balcony with a view of the Lake.
16 locals recommend
Deep Water Grille
808 Main St WLocal brew-pub, maker of South Shore beers--has three distinct dining areas: The Alley is more with casual pizza, burgers, wings, sports on TV, etc.; the Deep Water Grille has nicer entreés; and the bar in the middle lets you order from either menu. They also deliver. The Alley has seating on an outdoor balcony with a view of the Lake.
Small and quiet atmosphere with chef-prepared entreés and a Friday fish-fry.
7 locals recommend
Second Street Bistro
201 Main St ESmall and quiet atmosphere with chef-prepared entreés and a Friday fish-fry.
Views of the Lake; more options than just burgers--they have sandwiches, salads, pizza, wraps, salad bar, and ice cream. Has delicious deep-fried cheese curds.
The Burger Barn
519 Main St WViews of the Lake; more options than just burgers--they have sandwiches, salads, pizza, wraps, salad bar, and ice cream. Has delicious deep-fried cheese curds.
Outdoor recreation gear and clothing
Bicycles for rent (including fat-bikes). Also, they're very skilled at maintenance, should you need help with your bike. And, if you like hot sauce, one of their employees sells his delicious home-made hot sauces out of the store.
Bay City Cycles
412 Main St WBicycles for rent (including fat-bikes). Also, they're very skilled at maintenance, should you need help with your bike. And, if you like hot sauce, one of their employees sells his delicious home-made hot sauces out of the store.
Rents SUPs, sit-on-top kayaks, bikes, Nordic skis, and snowshoes. Also has a good selection of outdoor gear and clothing for sale as well as locally-made jewelry, mugs, etc.
6 locals recommend
Solstice Outdoors
2521 Lake Shore Dr WRents SUPs, sit-on-top kayaks, bikes, Nordic skis, and snowshoes. Also has a good selection of outdoor gear and clothing for sale as well as locally-made jewelry, mugs, etc.
Moores On Main
505 Main St WOutdoor clothing, shoes, gloves, hats, etc.
Anglers All
2803 Lake Shore Dr EAll sorts of fishing supplies.
Unique shopping
Solstice
400 Main St WMain Street store with women's clothing, accessories, handbags, jewelry.
Carries any games that don't require electricity. They'll let you test-play games in their store, and they have used toys for cheap.
Play Unplugged
307 Main St WCarries any games that don't require electricity. They'll let you test-play games in their store, and they have used toys for cheap.
Est. in 1888, it's the oldest store in Ashland and has a variety of gifts, children's toys, jewelry, handbags. etc.
New England Store
518 Main St WEst. in 1888, it's the oldest store in Ashland and has a variety of gifts, children's toys, jewelry, handbags. etc.
High-quality second-hand store with all proceeds benefiting the local animal shelter. Furnishings, antiques, art, books.
The Shelter Shop
218 4th Ave WHigh-quality second-hand store with all proceeds benefiting the local animal shelter. Furnishings, antiques, art, books.
Ashland's only bookstore has a super knowledgeable owner, a good selection of books, legos, and educational toys.
Spinster Books
313 Main St WAshland's only bookstore has a super knowledgeable owner, a good selection of books, legos, and educational toys.
Personal Wellness
Kathryn Roman LMT Nature's Honey Therapeutic Massage
522 3rd Ave EIt's easy to book a massage on her website.
If you need a quick adjustment, you can stop in without an appointment. It's "pay-what-you-can"--you just drop money in a box. Your first time visiting, he would prefer that you call before dropping in so he can schedule a few minutes to meet with you to explain his business model. But after the first visit, you can drop in unannounced. Check his Facebook page for hours--they differ every week.
Hyopponen Family Chiropractic
601 Lake Shore Dr WIf you need a quick adjustment, you can stop in without an appointment. It's "pay-what-you-can"--you just drop money in a box. Your first time visiting, he would prefer that you call before dropping in so he can schedule a few minutes to meet with you to explain his business model. But after the first visit, you can drop in unannounced. Check his Facebook page for hours--they differ every week.
A full calendar of yoga and meditation classes. You can register and pay on the website.
Washburn Meditation Center
325 Washington AveA full calendar of yoga and meditation classes. You can register and pay on the website.
Classes in Barre, Pound, Yoga, Rowing, HIIT, PiYo, Spin, StrongBoard, and more. Drop-in classes for $9.
Ignite Fitness Studio
206 Main St WClasses in Barre, Pound, Yoga, Rowing, HIIT, PiYo, Spin, StrongBoard, and more. Drop-in classes for $9.
Things to do when the weather is bad
More than just books--computer access, printing, free WiFi, kids story hours, laptops and iPads available, scanning, faxing, etc.
Vaughn Library
502 Main St WMore than just books--computer access, printing, free WiFi, kids story hours, laptops and iPads available, scanning, faxing, etc.
Exhibits--both permanent and rotating--as well as a theater where they will play any of their films for you on request (assuming there's not another event in the theater), observation tower, interpretive trails, and gift shop.
22 locals recommend
Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center
29270 Co Hwy GExhibits--both permanent and rotating--as well as a theater where they will play any of their films for you on request (assuming there's not another event in the theater), observation tower, interpretive trails, and gift shop.
Ashland Historial Museum
216 Main St WPhotos and artifacts from Ashland's history.
Small bouldering wall and game room (may be closed due to COVID--call ahead)
BRETTING COMMUNITY CENTER
400 4th Ave WSmall bouldering wall and game room (may be closed due to COVID--call ahead)
The main screen (there are six) is an a beautiful historic theater with newly restored plaster, arched stage, velvet curtains, etc. Tuesdays movies are $5 and include free popcorn.
Bay Theater
420 Main St WThe main screen (there are six) is an a beautiful historic theater with newly restored plaster, arched stage, velvet curtains, etc. Tuesdays movies are $5 and include free popcorn.
Northland has frequent events (concerts, lectures, films, etc.) that are open to the public. Check their online calendar: https://www.northland.edu/calendar/
Northland College
1411 Ellis Ave SNorthland has frequent events (concerts, lectures, films, etc.) that are open to the public. Check their online calendar: https://www.northland.edu/calendar/
Traveler advice
Don't miss
Ashland's paved bicycle trail gives great views
Join the trail from Main Street through the tunnel that goes under Highway 2 behind City Hall. The trail follows the lakefront before dipping into the wetlands of Prentice Park, looping back through town, snaking through some woodlands, and emerging back on the lakefront where you can ride out onto the ore dock for a view back at town. There's also an off-road bicycle trail that connects Ashland to Washburn. Maps are here: https://www.visitashland.com/plan-your-visit/recreation/biking/
Don't miss
Artesian spring water
Fill your water bottles from one of the artesian springs. The most accessible one is in a drive-up shelter at Maslowski Beach. There are hike-up springs as well in Prentice Park. The water is delicious and flows year-round. Some of the springs in Prentice Park have watercress growing.
Don't miss
Best spots to watch the sunset
Sunsets are spectacular in Ashland from the marina, the ore dock, the bridge over the wetland in Prentice Park, and the swim pier at Bayview Park.
Don't miss
Best places to swim
Bayview park has a swim pier with a diving board and the AmericInn has "Splashland," a small indoor waterpark with slides and a sauna. If you're up for a 20-minute drive, Bayview Beach north of Washburn on Highway 13 is the most picturesque beach.
Don't miss
Best hikes
There are lots of places to hike nearby, but some of our favorites are Houghton Falls, Long Lake, St. Peter's Dome and Morgan Falls, Lost Creek Falls, and the Big Ravine and Gil Larson Trails. Here is more info on the trails in Bayfield County: https://www.visitashland.com/files/ashlandwashburnbikemap.pdf, and here is info on St. Peter's Dome and Morgan Falls: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/cnnf/recarea/?recid=27749
Don't miss
Historic murals
Info about each of the murals, along with a map is here: https://www.visitashland.com/mural-list/ June through August you can take a guided tour of the murals on Ashland's "Hometown Trolley" https://www.travelwisconsin.com/tours/ashland-mural-trolley-tours-318965