Great Escapes 2008: Madeline Island

LODGING
At Big Bay Town Park, camping is available on a first-come first-served basis with pit toilets, but no running water. At Big Bay State Park (reservations are recommended), you’ll find electric sites, shower facilities, and interpretative programs.

Cottages, condos, inns, and hotels provide lodging throughout the island. All are posted on the Chamber of Commerce website. Know that prices vary and many accommodations are private homes–some lovely, others dodgy. Before you book, be sure to talk to the owner or agent and ask to see photos of interiors (shots solely of sunsets and sailboats are a dead giveaway). The price goes up with proximity to the lake and town. Also, be clear as to how far from the ferry you’re willing to go. The north end is remote (a good fifteen miles out)–for some too far away, for others just right. The Inn on Madeline Island, adjacent to the marina, has the most inventory (cottages, condominiums, hotel rooms) and is perhaps the best place to start. Brittany Cottages, up the road, is a waterfront estate with five cottages, beach access, and a main lodge.