The city of Ashland is like one huge park where people can live, work and play. Prentice Park is the largest of Ashland's 12 parks, about 100 acres. It is a natural habitat for migrating birds and a nesting ground for mute swans. It provides a deer yard, hiking trails, artesian wells, picnic area, children's playground and tent camping. The Tri-County Recreation Trail begins here and winds through Fish Creek slough.

Boaters may use the boat landing at Kreher Park. There are other landings off of Highway 2. An Apostle Island Cruise service is also available nearby.

Tern Island is off the shores of Bayview Park on Highway 2. This island produces 62 percent of the common tern in the Lake Superior region. Sadly the species is endangered.

Chequamegon Bay on Lake Superior offers 14 species of game fish, boat landings, docks and beaches. Wind surfers claim that Maslowski Beach is one of the best in the Midwest.

The Chequamegon National Forest, with its 845,000 acres, offers recreational and learning opportunities. Some activities that people enjoy are camping, running, hiking, boating, nature study, water skiing, picnicking, hunting, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, bird watching and photography.

The Port of Ashland Marina is a protected bay where people will spend a day cruising, sailing and fishing. With more than 140 slips - 48 of which were brand new in 1999 - the pristine facilities continue to grow. Facilities include washrooms with showers, fuel and pumpout, water, electricity, the marina office and ship store, and a dock attendant. The Apostle Islands can be accessed here. The historic downtown district is just minutes from the marina where visitors may slip into an inviting shop or stop for refreshment.

Although skiing, snowmobiling, fishing, swimming, boating and hiking are extremely popular here, there are numerous other recreational alternatives. The Ashland Chequamegon Bay Golf Course is one excellent example.estled among trees and rolling terrain and overlooking the bay, this course offers an 18-hole golfing experience for all skill levels.

Golfers are welcome to stop by at the full-service shop or for refreshments at the 19th hole. Available as well are club rentals, a new fleet of power carts, practice range, putting green, and professional lessons. Also, first-rate tennis courts are located near the clubhouse and are free to golfers and their families.

A point of interest is the locomotive, built in 1900 by the Baldwin Locomotive Company. At the time, it was the largest locomotive in the world and remains the only Decapod ever built. It is now located near the depot.

The WhistleStop Marathon & Half Marathon and WhistleStop Festival is presented by the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce and is held on the second weekend in October every year. The festival kicks off Friday with a Pasta Feed and Lake Superior Fish Boil inside the heated festival tent located in front of the Bay Area Civic Center in the center of Ashland.

Saturday afternoon the post-race party begins with a jazz group, followed by entertainment on the center stage in the festival tent. The annual Blues & Brews Festival takes place Saturday evening. Enjoy sampling scores of microbrews while listening to the blues sounds of a high-energy band performing for the evening.

The WhistleStop Marathon/Half Marathon takes place Saturday on the Tri-County Corridor (an abandoned rail bed) from Iron River to Ashland. The view is picturesque at this time of year, with the fall colors peaking and starting to fall on the ground.

Other races available for your choosing during the weekend are a two-mile prediction run on Friday and the "Cruisin the Corridor 5 & 10 K Race" held on the corridor Saturday along with the marathon. For the toddler aged 2 to 4, there is a "Little Engine That Could" toddler run on Saturday inside the Bay Area Civic Center. Everyone is a winner in the toddler run.

Call the Ashland Chamber for more information at (800) 284-9484.

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