Eric Kodner CRS, ABR, e-PRO, CLHMS, Madeline Island Real Estate Wisconsin

The Madeline Island Museum, founded in 1958, will celebrate its 50th anniversary on June 22. The celebration will include the opening of a special anniversary exhibit and a rededication ceremony

The Museum, in downtown La Pointe, Wisconsin, is operated by the Wisconsin Historical Society. Pioneer history buffs Leo & Bella Capser and Hamilton Ross Jr. played a major role in the creation of the Museum, with help from Island archeology hobbyist named Al Galazen.

The Museum is located on Colonel Woods Avenue, just a short distance from the Madeline Island Ferry landing. Tickets are $7.00 ($3.50 for ages 5 to 17), with senior citizens and students paying $6.00. A ticket package for families of four is available for just $19.00.

Here's the results of a fairly un-scientific survey about visitor traffic aboard the Madeline Island Ferry Line last night.

A friend sent me results of his survey, in which he counted the number of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois license plates aboard the "Bayfield" on the 9 p.m. run to Madeline Island. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

The count results:

14 vehicles with Minnesota license plates

4 vehicles with Wisconsin license plates

1 vehicle with Illinois license plates

How's that for accuracy?

Well, the results are in keeping with my assumption that the majority of summer visitors to Madeline Island come from Minnesota and, in particular, the Twin Cities metro area.

On June eighth, there will be a series of bargains available to Madeline Island visitors. On that day, the Madeline Island Ferry Line will be offering its "Free Passenger Day" (vehicles are excluded from the discount).

And on the same day, both the Madeline Island Historical Museum in downtown La Pointe and Big Bay State Park will be offering free admission. The State Park will also provide free shuttle service from 9:15 a.m. until 5:15 p.m. on June 8. The Historical Museum's "Visitor Appreciation Day" is an annual favorite with tourists and visitors.

Across the water, the Apostle Highlands Golf Course in Bayfield, Wisconsin is hosting a couples tournament on the eighth, in connection with the ongoing "Bayfield in Bloom" celebration.

According to the news services, the Federal Government estimates that twelve per cent of Americans plan to spend their "economic stimulus" rebates on vacation travel.

The local television news reported this eveing that the average gasoline cost will be about $58 round trip for someone in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota) to vacation in Duluth. That's about five dollars more than last summer.

So I'd estimate it would cost a little over $60 for the same Twin Cities resident to make the round trip to Bayfield, Wisconsin for the ferry journey to Madeline Island. That's not as bad as I thought.

My "pitch" here would be to encourage you to come to Madeline Island this summer. Don't let a few extra dollars keep you away! And if you do, let me know you're coming and stop by my office. I'll do my best to help you make your visit as enjoyable (and affordable) as I can. Maybe I can even save you a few bucks by giving you tips on where to eat or shop. I know my way around the Island and I can help!

Enjoying Madeline Island doesn't have to be expensive. You can camp here, take a lighthouse tour, visit a few of the Apostle Islands, ride the ferry and hit the local restaurants without breaking the bank. Big Bay Town Park has some of the nicest beaches on Madeline Island and it's free to enjoy! Campsites there are inexpensive too.

Last summer, a couple arrived at my office late one evening in June. They had reserved a campsite, but couldn't find any firewood. I went out behind the office and returned with a small bundle of cut oak for them. They offered me five bucks, but I just told them to keep it and have a good evening. They weren't buying real estate and I figured I'd never see them again. There was no sales pitch and no ulterior motive. I just wanted them to enjoy themselves.

A couple weeks after that happened, I received a very nice thank-you card in the mail from them.

I'm not the only person on the Island who will be glad to help you. Come visit and give us a chance to show you what a beautiful place this is!

As part of the ongoing "Bayfield in Bloom" celebration, this weekend brings art gallery openings, orchard tours and more springtime shop openings.

Bayfield County Garden & Orchard tours begin at 10 a.m. and run until 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 24. Participants may pick up an orchard map at the Bayfield Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, located at 42 S. Broad street. The map is also available online at http://www.bayfield.org

Erickson's Orchard Store opens this weekend as well. The Erickson Orchard Country Store will be open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., with a special twenty per cent discount (minimum $20 purchase).

Discounts will also be available this weekend at Eckel's Pottery Gallery and the Austin Miller Studio & Gallery, on the outskirts of town. And Donalee Designs will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Remember, the annual "Free Ferry Passenger Day" (vehicles excluded from free passage offer) offered by the Madeline Island Ferry Line is coming soon! This year's "Free Passenger Day" is scheduled for Sunday, June 8..don't miss it!