Ashland is at the top of Wisconsin, stretched out along Lake Superior's Chequamegon Bay. Located at the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 2 and Wisconsin Hwy. 13 just over an hour east of the Twin Ports of Superior, Wisconsin and Duluth, Minnesota, Ashland is perched as the major commercial center for the surrounding area. Though relatively small (7,800 in 2019), Ashland and the surrounding area are home to a vibrant community of thinkers, artists, musicians, and alternative farmers, due in part to the presence of environmental science leader Northland College.
Understand
[edit]Prior to European settlers, the area was home to eight native American nations. French fur traders first made contact with the area in 1659, and they established the first house in Wisconsin by settlers along Maslowski Beach. The city began to industrialize by the 1870s and the first area railroads were constructed by 1877. The population peaked at 13,000 residents before continuously declining to around 7900.
Get in
[edit]
The major routes to the city include:
US Route 2 comes into Ashland from the west and leads to Iron River, WI, and Superior. Eastbound, US 2 heads east towards Ironwood and Iron River, MI.
US Route 63 ends outside of Ashland at US 2, and connects travelers south towards Grand View and Hayward.
WIS 13 enters Ashland from the south after passing through Mellen and Park Falls, and heads north towards Washburn and Bayfield before ultimately travelling along the Lake Superior coast towards the city of Superior.
Other routes that approach Ashland include:
WIS 112 is an L-shaped highway running from WIS 13 near Marengo, and ending at both US 2 and WIS 13 along the bayfront in Ashland.
WIS 118 is a short connector highway between US 63 and WIS 112.
WIS 137 (signed as Alt. US 2/WIS 13) is a highway running between US 2 and WIS 112 near Ashland. This highway serves as the alternate route for US 2 and WIS 13 when the highway along the bayfront is closed.
Get around
[edit]Of course, if you're coming to Ashland from out of town, you'll have your own vehicle with you, but remember your walking shoes, a bicycle, or maybe a pair of roller blades. Ashland has a four-mile-long paved Lake Walk that is dog-friendly and a good vantage for sunsets. The rest of the town in easily accessible by foot or human-powered vehicle as well.
See
[edit]1 Ashland Ore Dock. The Soo Line Ore Dock formerly stood over Ashland's harbor. Today, visitors can walk out to the very tip over where the docks used to be.
2 Mural Walk. The many murals that Ashland's artists have painted on the side of landmark buildings can be found within the city.
3 Lake Superior - The biggest freshwater lake by surface area in the world has decent bayfronts that can be accessible at Bayview and Memorial parks
4 Maslowski Beach Artesian Well. Site of the first house in Wisconsin built by white European settlers and home to a colorful Artesian Well.
5 Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, 29270 Co Hwy G. Visitor center off the highway with a museum on local maritime and area history 
Do
[edit]Ashland is a gateway to year-round outdoor recreation. There's inland and Great Lakes fishing and boating, hunting, hiking, cross-country and downhill skiing, snowmobiling and dog sledding, and more seasonal festivals in the area than you can shake a stick at.
1 Bay Theatre, 420½ W Main St, ☏ +1 715 682-3555. 6 screens, shows 7 days a week with matinees on Saturday and Sunday.
Buy
[edit]
The city government has been working with local merchants for the last decade to revitalize Main Street businesses, and there are positive steps forward. Many interesting small boutiques crowd shoulder to shoulder along West Main. East Main street is still behind in the aesthetic department, but may take the cake for utility with a hardware store, electronics shop, several restaurants, and more bars than you can shake a stick at.
Eat
[edit]- 1 2nd Street Bistro, 201 E Main St, ☏ +1 715 682-6444. Serving fresh, local fish; bacon & burgers from the Sixth Street Market; organic salad greens; and featuring live local musicians on Wednesday and Saturday nights. Supports local family farms to enhance their seasonal menus. Also displays works of local artists on its walls. Famous for their incredible sweet potato fries - they're out-of-this-world. Also has a good selection of craft beers, including a wide variety of New Glarus brews (including Spotted Cow, Fat Squirrel, and Organic Revolution).
- 2 Black Cat Coffeehouse, 211 Chapple Ave, ☏ +1 715 682-3680. A locally-owned coffee shop and restaurant featuring fair trade certified coffees, chais, and teas, as well as a diverse food menu. Great vibe and atmosphere, and THE place to catch up on area happenings and gossip. Good selection of books and board games available for whiling the time away as well. Certainly a favorite of the Northland College community.
- 3 Deepwater Grille & South Shore Brewery, 808 W Main St, ☏ +1 715 682-4200. Located in the historic LC Wilmarth building, and home to two restaurants, three bars, a second-floor outdoor patio open during the summer months and overlooking Chequamegon Bay, and a large list of their own on-site brewed beverages. Extensive menu featuring everything from Raspberry Chicken to South Shore Stew to Brewery Malt-Crusted Pork Tenderloin. South Shore Brewery beers available include Red Lager, Cream Ale, American Pale Ale, Honey Pilsner, Belgian Trippel, and Maple Amber. Other popular beers produced throughout the year include Nut Brown Ale and Rhodes Scholar Stout.
- 4 Frankie's Pizza, 1315 E Lake Shore Dr, ☏ +1 715 682-9980. 4PM daily. Eat in or take out available. If you're looking for a gut-busting delight of goodness-soaked pizza and a few classic arcade games, this family-owned beloved area icon is your place. Walk it off afterward on Ashland's lakeshore path, located just behind the restaurant.
- 5 Pizza Pub, 1402 Lake Shore Dr, ☏ +1 715 682-6641. M-Th 11AM-11PM, F Sa 11AM-midnight. Free Delivery. Great homemade pizza and appetizers. Also has banquet room available.
- 6 Copper Pasty, 417 Main St W, ☏ +1 715 292-6267. Tu-Sa 9:30AM-6PM, M 9AM-2PM. Upper Peninsula themed restaurant serving delicious pasties.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Blue Room Bar, 1104 Lake Shore Dr E..
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Crest Motel, Hwy 2 - 13 & Sanborn Ave., ☏ +1 715 682-6603. Single story, modest, drive-up rooms, free wi-fi, view of lake, family owned, moderately priced.
- 2 Cobblestone Inn & Suites, 818 Main St W, ☏ +1 715-682-5066. Check-in: 3pm, check-out: 11am.
- 3 Hotel Chequamegon, 101 Lake Shore Dr, toll-free: +1-800-946-5555. Beautifully restored, continental breakfast, free wi-fi, small pool, small exercise room, whirlpool. Located downtown on the lake.
Campgrounds
[edit]The city of Ashland has 2 campgrounds. These campgrounds are on a first come first serve basis.
- Kreher Park, toll-free: +1-800-284-9484. Located on Lake Superior, this is an RV only campsite. Kreher Park has bathrooms, showers, water & electricity hook-ups and a pumping station. RV fees $20 per night.
- Prentice Park, toll-free: +1-800-284-9484. Offers tent camping as well as pop-up camp sites. Prentice Park has restrooms, electricity hook-up and an artesian well. $15 for pop-ups and $10 for tents.
Go next
[edit]- Superior, located 58 miles to the west, is on Lake Superior's western end, and offers more maritime history, especially with bordering the larger city of Duluth.
- Hayward is a popular fishing destination about 57 miles southwest of Ashland. The city is also a gateway to the Chequamegon portion of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
- Like Hayward, Park Falls is also a gateway to the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, being 50 miles south of Ashland.
- The two cities of Washburn and Bayfield lie on the scenic Bayfield Peninsula in neighboring Bayfield County, and are gateways to the Apostle Islands.
- Ironwood & Gogebic Range to the east offer skiing and hiking opportunities on US 2. Lake Gogebic, is not that far away from Ironwood.
- Porcupine Mountains is located outside of Ironwood, specifically northwest of Michigan highway M-64.
- Houghton, the largest city on the Keweenaw Peninsula, is located 145 miles away by road, and is a gateway to the scenic peninsula.
| Routes through Ashland |
| Duluth ← Superior ← | W  E
|
→ Ironwood → Iron Mountain |
| END ← | N  S
|
→ Hayward → Spooner |
| Superior ← Washburn ← | N  S
|
→ Park Falls → Medford |