3 small towns for a summer getaway in Wisconsin

The biggest and loudest among us tend to reap the most attention in life, but you know the time-honored adages: Good things come in small packages, and still waters run deep.

Don’t discount the smaller communities of Wisconsin when planning a summer getaway. From the “A” list are a trio of options that make the grade because of character, charisma and captivating reasons to stay for the day, an overnight or longer.

Algoma

Kewaunee County, population 3,167, visitalgomawi.com

We love Door County for good reason but sometimes are in such a hurry to get there that we wear blinders en route. Such a shame, because Algoma is a pretty, walkable place to land.

The community on the shore of Lake Michigan tells its history through a dozen colorful murals on the outside of buildings. Stroll Crescent Beach and the half-mile boardwalk to see the town beacon, Pierhead Lighthouse, known as “Our Lady in Red.”

Downtown is the state’s oldest licensed winery, von Stiehl, whose outdoor terrace faces the lake. Inside are underground tunnels as old as the Civil War, and next door (in an average-sized but converted garage) is Ahnapee Brewery, named after a Civil War vet and long-ago brewer.

Pack a bicycle: Along the 48-mile Ahnapee State Trail is a 15-mile link between Algoma and Sturgeon Bay. Or board a fishing charter, for a chance to reel in salmon or trout. No luck? Take home smoked fillets from Bearcat’s Fish House.

An easy walk to the beach is Hotel Stebbins, in an 1857 building. Order gourmet fare at Skaliwag’s, which looks like a dive bar outside. And for a unique boutique, check out Tina Marie’s, literally stuffed with fancy gowns and accessories.

Coming up: End a Thursday in July and August with free music from 6 to 9 p.m. at Heritage Park on Lake Michigan, near the city marina. Watch the day fade to the sound of pumped-up polka, rootsy bluegrass or classic rock.

In the neighborhood: Our Lady of Good Help, less than 20 miles west, is the only U.S. location of Virgin Mary sightings acknowledged by the Vatican. That makes the 1859 apparition site, flanked by farmland, a place of pilgrimage for people from around the world. Open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. 

Alma

Buffalo County, population 781, explorealma.com

About 250 miles of the 10-state Great River Road snakes along Highway 35, following the Mississippi River at Wisconsin’s western border. One of the more intriguing riverside hamlets is Alma, where much of town is a National Historic District.

For a panoramic view of the area, go to the bluff-top patio of Danzinger Vineyards, whose specialty is sweet wines that have won international awards. Another good perch is at Buena Vista Park, 500 feet above the river. Get there by walking switchbacks uphill from downtown, or just drive up.

Lots of weathered riverfront towns are awash with charm and history, but only this one has a professionally curated museum of ancient arms and armor. The many artifacts at Castlerock Museum are a retired judge’s personal collection.

Near Lock and Dam No. 4 on the river is Great Alma Fishing Float, a floating dock that began seasonal operation 70 years ago. Pay a flat fee to fish all day, or just pay for a quick water shuttle to check it out.

Slow-smoked meats and potato pancakes earn raves at Pier 4 Café, about as close to the river and railroad tracks as you can get. Overnight rates at classy Blue Door Inn include a wine reception and breakfast in a long-ago blacksmith shop. A cluster of boutiques stock local art and handicrafts.

Coming up: Immigrants from Switzerland settled Alma, so whoop it up at Swiss Heritage Days, July 26-27. Expect yodelers and alp horn players. Dine on Swiss cheese and Sachertorte. Enter the Steinstossen to see how far you can heave a 20-pound rock.

In the neighborhood: Take a pretty little drive on weekends to a farm where pizzas – made with close-to-home ingredients – bake in a stone oven. Western Wisconsin is a hotspot for such field-to-fork connections. Within 15 miles of Alma: The Stone Barn, to the northwest, and Suncrest Gardens, to the southeast.

Ashland

Ashland and Bayfield counties, population 8,216, visitashland.com

Near the top of Wisconsin, on Chequamegon Bay, is a quiet oasis for lovers of nature and silent sports. Inside the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, just west of the city limits, are backstories and dioramas about local and lake history. Some reach back to the Ice Age. Add marsh and woodland scenery from the five-story observation tower of the 180-acre campus.

Unlike moody Lake Superior, Ashland’s bay is more dependably gracious for kayaking, wind surfing and standup paddle-boarding. A 10-mile waterfront trail for biking and jogging leads to Tri-County Corridor, which connects to the city of Superior, 60 miles northwest.

Find Maslowski Beach or Prentice Park and fill an empty milk jug or two with artesian well water. Notice the pride and heritage represented in 18 outdoor murals, all within eight downtown blocks; take a guided tour via trolley or explore on your own.

Stay at Hotel Chequamegon, on a spot where lodging has faced the bay since 1877, or retreat to the Inn at Timber Cove, a 20-acre inland estate where breakfast is delivered to all four private cottages.

Local vendors for food and art matter at Black Cat Coffeehouse, where vegan fare is an option. In the oven at Ashland Baking Company are European-style breads, filled croissants, baklava, tarts and more.

Coming up: Family-friendly fun rules at Bay Days, July 19-21. Expect tests of strength, speed and talent. That includes babies crawling on land and dogs jumping into water, plus contests for pie eating and cardboard-boat floating. Much happens along the shoreline, morning into night.

In the neighborhood: Get acquainted with the vast Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. That might mean a wilderness immersion, or at least dipping into it with a day of fishing or hiking. Within the forest’s Great Divide District are 70-foot-tall Morgan Falls and a panoramic overlook at St. Peter’s Dome, for starters.