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Ashland Chamber Mission Statement
Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce Mission Statement
Simply put: We “sell” Ashland!
We do this through:
- Sponsoring special events and promotions designed to emphasize the diverse recreational, educational and tourism opportunities in our area.
- Supporting a solid, diversified economic base – one that ensures a healthy business climate and prosperous, progressive community.
- Collaborating with public and private sectors aimed at improving the quality of life in the Ashland area.
Are you interested in learing more membership to the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce? Click here for more information or call our office at 715-682-2500.
New Chamber Members in 2015
Welcome to our new 2015 Ashland Chamber Members!
Adventure Vacations – Boat & Kayak Tours
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
Blue Wave Coffeehouse & Eatery
Catherine Lange Communications
Express Employment Professionals
Legendary Waters Resort & Casino
Top o’ the Morn Resort & Campground
If you are interested in joining the Ashland Chamber, look over our membership information, give us a call at 715-682-2500 or email us at ashchamb@centurytel.net.
Welcome to Ashland!
Ashland and Chequamegon Bay in the Fall means “Spectacular Color”, Fall Fishing, Waterfalls, Hiking, Biking, and Social Distancing “Naturally”!
Ashland is Wisconsin’s Historic Mural Capital with over 20 murals depicting our past and present! Click on the link for a Self-Guided Mural Walk and enjoy beautiful Art and Architecture as you browse the beautiful downtown and Ashland Area.
Shopping: Ashland’s Historic Downtown is an 8-block district and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 100% of the businesses in the district are locally owned and operated. Enjoy frozen yogurt at Kravin, to homemade Chocolates at Gabriele’s to fabulous whole foods at the Food Co-op, to yummy home bakery at the Ashland Baking Company and fun retail experiences from The Red Bicycle re-purposed goods to the New England Store, (the oldest retail store in Ashland) to Home Expressions where you’ll find a cool loft on the second floor. Our businesses love visitors and will welcome you with a smile! As you browse our many gift, clothing, sporting and specialty shops, you’ll find everything from local delicacies and gourmet delights, to outdoor gear, vintage clothing and fine art. Searching for that perfect gift for someone special? You’ll discover so many intriguing possibilities as you stroll through Ashland’s historic Main Street district.
Fall Events, Red Clay Classic, Stock Car Races, AppleFest, in Bayfield and the Boston Qualifying Memorial Medical Center WhistleStop Marathon/Half-Marathon in Ashland.
Dining in Ashland: Aside from the fast-food restaurants, our dining establishments in Ashland are all locally owned and operated, and each offer a unique venue! Find fresh Whitefish (our fish of choice on the bay) at River Rock Inn & Bait Shop and capture a selfie in front of the Smallmouth Bass! They also have delicious smoked fish from Chequamegon bay!
Ashland’s Waterfront is chock-full of parks and beaches. Maslowski on the west end marks the start of our waterfront trail that meanders throughout Ashland. The waterfront trail even includes a tunnel that connects the waterfront to the downtown. The tunnel is located at Pearson Plaza Park. The Waterfront trail is a 10-mile loop that is mostly paved. Enjoy biking, walking, inline skating, running, or simply stroll through our city and enjoy the fabulous fall color and fall air. You can access the waterfront trail at Maslowski Beach, 6th Avenue Beach, Ashland Marina, Best Western/Hotel Chequamegon, Kreher Park, Bayview Park, and Culver’s on the waterfront. The 5th Street Corridor is the continuance of the trail on the cityside and has easy access all through the town.
The Oredock is located on the Waterfront near Kreher Park. The Dock jets out nearly ¼ of a mile to the “Diamonds”. The Oredock is a great place to walk, fish, or picnic. You can access the Oredock off the waterfront trail, or there is a very small parking lot located on St. Claire Street.
Prentice Park on the East end of Ashland is a great place to take the kids to play on the playground or simply walk through the trails in the park. Journey on the boardwalk that runs adjacent to the Fish Creek Slough. You are sure to see waterfowl and wildlife in this protected area of the bay. You’ll also find an Artesian well in Prentice Park continuously flowing with natural spring artesian water from Lake Superior. You may have to wait 6ft in line, because the locals “LOVE” the water from the wells in Ashland! Other wells are located at Maslowski Beach, the Blue Wave Inn, and behind Angler’s All.
Enjoy the Beautiful new pier at Bayview Park located on the east end of town. The Pier is handicapped accessible and a beautiful spot to enjoy the fall color and wave activity on Chequamegon Bay!
Central Railyard Park is in the center of town on the 5th street corridor. The corridor is an abandoned “rails to trails” project that continues the waterfront trail throughout the city of Ashland. Make sure to stop at the 950 Decapod located by the Railyard Park. When steam operations were concluded in 1954, the engine was retired and in 1956 the 950 was donated to the City of Ashland and was moved to its present location in 1987 at the time of the original Soo Line Depot restoration project.
There is no better place to watch a sunset over Chequamegon Bay than in Ashland. Ashland offers a diverse inventory of lodging properties from Chains to Mom & Pops to Cottages. Whether you want a pool or a patio, we have you covered!
Discover the fall charm of Wisconsin’s Northwoods with a visit to Ashland and the Chequamegon Bay as fall transforms the woods and terrain into a spectacular, warm, rustic, palette of striking beauty!
Ashland, the heart and soul of Chequamegon Bay, encourages visitors to enjoy and explore all that Lake Superior country has to offer. Click here to download the 2021 Ashland County Activity & Visitor Guide or here to have a Visitor Guide mailed to you. Find YOURSELF next to the water in Ashland!
(Photos on this website are provided by Monroe Photography.)
Summer Travel Itineraries
Chequamegon Bay has so much to offer! Here are a few suggested trips to consider:
Trip 1:
- Breakfast
- Take a walk down Ashland’s Historic Main Street, view our great murals and browse our quaint shops. Pack a lunch and travel south on State Hwy. 13 for 3o minutes and hike Copper Falls State Park. Here you can take a short or long hike to view the waterfalls. For those who can’t move as far, the biggest falls are just a few feet away from the parking lot. For those who want a little more adventure, take the 3-mile route around the falls and enjoy the outdoors.
- Travel back to Ashland for dinner with a view of Lake Superior and after dinner take a walk along our waterfront trail.
Trip 2:
- Breakfast
- Travel 2 and 1/4 miles west of Ashland to the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center off U.S. Hwy. 2. View the exhibits inside the center, take a look out from the tower and then a quick walk along the boardwalk to enjoy nature.
- Lunch
- Then travel 10 miles north on Hwy. 13 and hike Houghton Falls. This is a nice walk through the woods ending with a view of Lake Superior. There are no waterfalls here, but if you remember the “Land of the Lost” TV show, this is like a blast from the past. Rock formations and nature. You could pack a lunch and once you hit the lake there is a big rock to sit on and enjoy your meal.
- Dinner
- Enjoy the great music of Big Top Chautuaqua!
Trip 3:
- Breakfast
- Travel to Madeline Island – take a ferry ride to the island and bring or rent bikes, mopeds or take your car. Madeline Island offers Big Bay State Park with a beautiful beach and a wonderful town park.
- On your way back to Ashland, stop in Bayfield for a visit.
- Dinner
Trip 4:
- Breakfast
- Rent a kayak and kayak the estuary on the west side of Ashland.
- Pack a lunch and travel to Morgan Falls and St. Peter’s Dome. Here you can view a waterfall and then hike 1 and 3/4 miles to the top of St. Peter’s Dome and eat your lunch with a breathtaking view of the Penokee Mountains. Travel the 1 and 3/4 miles back to your car and return to Ashland.
- Relax with dinner and watch the sunset over Lake Superior,
Fall Travel Itineraries
We know the Chequamegon Bay has so much to offer that we have put together some suggested Travel Itineraries to help you make the most of your visit.
Sample Itinerary #1: Designed for motorcycle riders, traveling in late summer/early fall
Day 1
• Continental breakfast at the hotel
• Stop at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center and ride to Iron River
• Ride the area
• Stop at Star Liquor and have drinks at the hotel
Day 2
• Take the Madeline Island Ferry over to Madeline Island have lunch and tour Big Bay State Park or canoe at the County Park
• Evening at Big Top Chautauqua
Day 3
• Breakfast at Black Cat Coffeehouse
• Ride the “Horn” – Cornucopia
• Lunch
• Ride
• Dinner
• Watch the sun set over Chequamegon Bay
Sample Itinerary #2: Designed for single, active traveler, visiting in the fall
Day 1
• Stay at Bayview Motel
• Breakfast at Breakwater Café
• Shop and explore historic downtown/murals
• Lunch at the New China Restaurant
• Take a lakefront walk/5 mi plaques
• Dinner at Deep Water Grille
• Relax in room
Day 2
• Breakfast at the Black Cat Coffeehouse
• Hike at Morgan Falls and St. Peter’s Dome with a packed lunch from Tap Roots Coffee Shop
• Walk the waterfront at sunset
Dinner at Ashland Family Restaurant
Day 3
• Head to Madeline Island with a packed lunch from Sixth Street Market
• Bike to Big Bay State Park, use a rented kayak
• Dinner at Explorer’s Point
Sample Itinerary #3: Designed for two runners from Sheboygan traveling in the fall prior to the CenturyLink Whistleshop Marathon
Friday
• Stop at the Chamber office for course map
• Take the mural tour
• Check into the Super 8 Motel
• Shop on Main Street
• Visit the Benoit Cheese Factory
• Fish fry at the Avalon Bar
Saturday
• Breakfast at hotel
• Run the 5th Street Corridor
• Orchard tour in Bayfield
• Have lunch on Madeline Island at Lotta’s Café
• Bike around the island
• Have dinner at the Deep Water Grille and hang out at the South Shore Brewery
Sunday
• Stop at the Sixth Street Market for brats to take home
• Stop at Morgan Falls and St. Peter’s Dome before heading home
• Have lunch at The Green Lantern in Glidden
Sample Itinerary #4: Designed for four females from the Twin Cities, in their mid-30s, using their smartphones to plan trip in November for Chick-uamegon Race and shopping for food for Thanksgiving
Thursday
• Check in at Hotel Chequamegon
• Dinner and drinks at Molly Cooper’s Lounge
Friday
• Breakfast at Delta Diner
• Shop in Ashland, then drive to Washburn
• Lunch at Dalou’s Bistro in Washburn
• Drive back to Ashland for spa treatments at Escape by the Lake
• Fish fry at The Platter
• Dine in room
Saturday
• Run the Chick-uamegon Race wearing bling bought in town
• Main Street shopping following the race
• Lunch at Black Cat Coffeehouse
• Dinner at Second Street Bistro with music to follow
Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce
Strategic Planning Session Notes
February 7, 2014
New Chamber Members 2014
Welcome to our new 2014 Ashland Chamber Members
Living Life Home Health Care LLC
Madeline Island Historical Museum
If you are interested in joining the Ashland Chamber, look over our membership information or give us a call at 715-682-2500 or email us at ashchamb@centurytel.net.
Check out the Business-Friendly section of our website for more business-related information.