At a distance of 350 miles, Ashland is just about as far away from Milwaukee as you can get without leaving the state. It'll take you a good six-or-so-hour drive to get there, but the drive is gorgeous in any season and the trip gives you a good opportunity to take in the vast expanse of Wisconsin.

Seated on the shores of Chequamegon Bay, Ashland is a port on Wisconsin's other bordering Great Lake, Superior. The city itself is on the small side with a population of just over 8,000, but once downtown, you hardly feel small-town.

Main Street is a bustling stretch of restaurants, shops, museums and businesses. One of the first things tourist notice are eight outdoor murals painted on the sides of old brick and brownstone buildings. Each one beautifully depicts scenes -- pioneers and Native American chiefs, lumberjacks and townspeople -- from the area's early settlement days.

About town

Ashland is home to Northland College, a small liberal arts college with a strong focus on environmentalism. The school is one of only five members of the collegiate Eco League, a national consortium dedicated to environmental learning and the active pursuit of environmental studies.

The eco-conscious student body and staff add to the earth-friendly vibe of Ashland and its environmental activism.

The Ashland Historical Society Museum, 509 W. Main St., is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday in winter and on Saturdays in summer. It's free to the public.

Eat and drink

For any craft beer lover, a stop at Deep Water Grill and South Shore Brewery, 808 W. Main St., is in order. The restaurant offers up Lake Superior's finest whitefish, as well as steaks, chicken and vegetarian fare. The brewery is nationally known for its Rhoads' Scholar Stout, Belgian Style Saison and Herbal Cream Ale.

Be sure to stroll slowly down Chapple Avenue, which is locally referred to as "Wheat Street." Ashland Baking Company, 212 Chapple Ave., is a decadent artisan bakery, Black Cat Coffeehouse, 211 Chapple Ave., uses all organic ingredients to make delicious dishes and coffee drinks and next door at the Chequamegon Food Co-op, 215 Chapple Ave., you'll find a thriving natural alternative to the mega food marts in the area.

Where to stay

If B&Bs are you favorite way to stay, there are two to chose from in Ashland: Inn at Timber Cove, 1319 Sanborn Ave., (715) 682-9600, and Second Wind Country Inn, 30475 Carlson Rd., (715) 682-1000. The Hotel Chequamegon, 101 Lake Shore Dr. W., is a historic masterpiece overlooking the water.

The natural thing to do

Although Bayfield is the tourist town commonly associated with jaunts to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Ashland is only about a half-hour drive to the Bayfield-La Pointe ferry that takes you across the bay.

The 530,647-acre Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is within Ashland County and is a great place for outdoor recreation, including camping, hiking, fishing, cross country skiing and snowmobiling.

The area is also known for its scenic waterfalls, including the 80- to 100-ft. Morgan Falls, which drops into a tributary of Morgan Creek. It's a short five-minute walk to the falls, but continue on the trails for a longer uphill hike.