Wisconsin Cities Selected As 2 Of The Most Charming In The Region

By definition, the word charming describes something extremely pleasing or delightful. This could be used to describe a wide variety of things such as a person, a restaurant, a park, and more.

It can also describe a city, and who wouldn't want to live somewhere charming? One would assume that a charming city would be a friendly place filled with scenic views, natural beauty, and a relaxing small-town vibe.

Of course, there are charming places to be found throughout the United States, but where should you call home if you want to live in Wisconsin? A  study was done recently to find the 8 most charming towns in the Great Lakes Region and Wisconsin and you have options.

2 Wisconsin Cities Selected Among The Most Charming In The Great Lakes Region

WorldAtlas notes that the Great Lakes region is a massive chain of five freshwater lakes that include Lake Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario.

The five lakes were created from glaciers that melted over 14,000 years ago, and all drain into the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence Seaway.

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One would expect to find many charming towns in an area such as this, all offering rich history and lakeside attractions. With that in mind, WorldAtlas set out to find the 8 most charming locations within the Great Lakes Region, and the following 2 Wisconsin towns made the list.

Ashland, Wisconsin

Ashland is a port town in Ashland and Bayfield Counties, with a 2022 population of under 8,000.

It sits on Lake Superior, at the mouth of Chequamegon Bay. WorldAtlas says the city is known as "The Historic Art Mural of Wisconsin."  It made their list in part because of a "cozy" walkable downtown area that features public art, historic murals, and a tunnel with mosaic art.

They add that Ashland also contains many historic brownstone structures, including City Hall, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Ashland is also home to South Shore Brewery and several wineries just 5 miles from the downtown area.

Bayfield, Wisconsin

Bayfield, Wisconsin, rests on the shores of Lake Superior, with a population of 584 at the 2020 census. This makes it the city with the smallest population in Wisconsin. The Apostle Islands, a group of 22 islands in Lake Superior, are located off the Bayfield Peninsula.

WorldAtlas boasts that Bayfield has a deep maritime history, which can be explored at the Bayfield Maritime Museum. Popular attractions include a historic downtown area that is "an artsy and fun place to walk around" with local shops and art galleries.

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The Bayfield Artists Guild features work from around 20 local artists, sculptures, and pottery. There's also the annual Big Top Chautauqua, a fun and festive music festival held every summer.

In this study, only Ohio fared better than Wisconsin by having 3 cities make the list.

You can see all 8 cities through the button above.