Turn into the driveway at Purple Waves, and you'll know immediately why you came: the stunning view of Lake Superior. The lake has many moods, and you’ll see them all from the deck and through the windows at Purple Waves—with no trees to get in the way. This charming two-bedroom mid-century ranch home has everything you need for a cozy stay. If it’s happening on Lake Superior, you can see it from Purple Waves.
Interaction Your host runs Bark Point Ventures, a vacation rental management & concierge company that specializes in properties on Lake Superior's South Shore. She lives nearby and is available 24/7 to assist her guests. Our passion is ensuring guests experience the magic of what we feel is one of the most amazing places in the world.
The South Shore Area The South Shore is truly a place to get away from it all, but not so far from modern conveniences that getting food and gas feel like a chore. The guest book contains tips on all the incredible outdoor activities, local arts, and places to get groceries, dine out, grab a drink, etc. This is truly a year-round destination, whether you enjoy outdoor activities, local cuisine, art, or simply the company of friends & family in one of the most beautiful locations in the northern U.S.
The home is just a few minutes from the center of Port Wing, which has an awesome coffee shop, two bar/restaurants, a convenience store that sells smoked fish, and a marina. Bayfield is about 45 minutes away, as is Washburn (where you'll find the closest big grocery store). Ashland is about 50 minutes away (which has a natural foods co-op, Wal-Mart, and wider range of shops). Superior & Duluth are about an hour away.
From brilliant winter light over icy water, to glassy calm summer sunsets, to the gales of November: you can see every one of Lake Superior’s moods at Purple Waves. And it’s not just water out there: see the sunrise light up the North Shore, watch for migrating birds, or look out for ships.
Purple Waves is a cozy ranch-style home with two bedrooms, one bath, and a full kitchen. The ranch floorpan, with bedrooms at one end and everything on a single level, is pure Midcentury, and you’ll find period details throughout the home, like sliding closet doors and white ceiling tiles.
Come in the front door and past the entryway, and right away you’ll see Lake Superior through big picture windows and a sliding glass door in the common room. With an easy chair and sofa facing the water, this space is optimized for lake watching; you’ll even find a pair of binoculars ready for you! There’s also a big-screen TV in the common area.
There are two bedrooms, front and back. The front bedroom has a king bed & a tranquil, airy feel, with a south-facing window that catches the morning light for a gentle wakeup call. The back bedroom has a queen bed & feels tucked away and cozy. It has a small window with a view of the lake—and, when it’s warm enough to leave it open, a soothing soundtrack of waves to lift you off to sleep. Note: the living room has a futon couch - this is really only suitable for the kiddos, so we welcome up to 4 adults and 2 children to enjoy the cabin.
The kitchen features new appliances: fridge, stove, microwave, dishwasher, and toaster. We love the details here, from the backsplash and the butcher block countertops to the stainless range hood. Central island with bar seating for two. There’s also a Keurig and a pot for drip coffee. We stock the house with coffee from Lake Wind Coffee just down the road in Port Wing, and we’re happy to provide you with locally produced food—meats, vegetables and more—to cook up a South Shore feast!
You’ll find the dining nook at one end of the common area. Even here there are great views out to the lake, and in the other direction, a view of the afternoon sun filtering through spruce trees. The table seats six, and we know you’ll love the resin inlay in the shape of Lake Superior.
The bathroom features a full-size tub with shower head. It’s clean and bright, and it gets nice soothing light in the morning for a calming start to the day.
Our favorite thing about Purple Waves is that you don’t have to stay inside to see the lake! Walk through the sliding door and you’ll step out onto a deck with two Adirondack chairs that are just begging you to sit for a bit and listen to the waves. There’s also a screen porch for bug-free views during the summer, and for a bit of shelter in chillier weather. Plus, the house sits on nearly three acres of land, so there’s plenty of room to spread out outside!
Purple Waves is perched on a high bank, about twenty feet above the water, so it commands a fine view across the lake and over to the north shore. Because the bank is so steep, there is no direct access to the water, but the beaches in Port Wing are just five minutes down the road, and they’re some of the best in the area.
Transit Info Due to the lack of public transportation and the distance between towns/amenities, a car is pretty much essential. But, on the plus side, traffic is not a concept we have up here!
This home is dog friendly: While we make a considerable effort to clean up pet hair between guests, there may still be a few stray hairs in the home. Seasonal bugs/pests can be expected
Add dates for prices
Amenities
Kitchen
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Parking available
Lake view
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Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
Frequently asked questions
Is Purple Waves | Mid-Century Home Steps to the Lake pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total).
How much does it cost to stay at Purple Waves | Mid-Century Home Steps to the Lake?
As of 26 Mar 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Purple Waves | Mid-Century Home Steps to the Lake on 5 May 2026 start from AU$351, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Purple Waves | Mid-Century Home Steps to the Lake?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Purple Waves | Mid-Century Home Steps to the Lake?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Purple Waves | Mid-Century Home Steps to the Lake?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Purple Waves | Mid-Century Home Steps to the Lake located?
Situated on the waterfront, this cabin is 0.1 mi (0.2 km) from Lake Superior and 2.9 mi (4.6 km) from Bibon Lake. Twin Falls Park and Boreal Forest are also within 6 miles (10 km).
Reviews
9.6
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We had an amazing stay by Lake Superior, it was very relaxing and the property was perfect! The property was very dog friendly with lots of area to walk and explore.
The property was basically what we expected. The beds were comfortable. The living room was spacious. The kitchen was functional. One bedroom had a bit of an odor. And we did have some issues with ants. Still, we really enjoyed our stay. The view is phenomenal!
Cassandra W.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Verified
6/10 Okay
C M.
3 Aug 2025
Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Fantastic view. Close to Port Wing. Newer appliances. Spacious home. The ants were a real bummer but if they can solve that problem (and a couple of sticky doors) we would stay again. Very attentive host as well.
C M.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Aug 2025
Doors have already been fixed. The ants can be a nuisance for sure, but they come and go seasonally here and at many properties in our rural space, we do our best to manage these and are sorry they so greatly impacted your stay.
Everything was great and probably better than the listing. We cooked several melas and the kitchen had everything we needed, well stocked!The sunsets, wildlife and hiking were the highlights.Thanks for everything Purple Shores!
Christi T.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 27 May 2025
We are pleased to hear you enjoyed your stay, we are glad you were able to feel right at home :)
Purple Waves was everything the listing detailed and more! It was clean, comfortable, had a beautiful lakefront view, and was pet friendly! The kitchen was stocked with pots, pans, utensils etc needed to cook or BBQ. They provided plenty of towels for both humans and pets as well as extra bedding and plenty of blankets. Highly recommend!
Victoria M.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 9 Apr 2025
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience at Purple Waves, we are so happy you and your pupper had a lovely time!
The cabin is everything as described! Kitchen is well stocked. If you like to cook you’ll want to bring your own spices and oils otherwise it has all the pans and utensils you’ll need. Very comfortable beds. No unpleasant surprises at all!
Gorgeous location to explore the South Shore. Beds were comfortable and kitchen very usable for cooking for a family. We enjoyed the local goods that the host offered to source for us from local farmers. Outdoor grill was great and lots of chairs are available to enjoy the view. Plenty of blankets and linens too. Note there is no washer/dryer for longer stays. Its a wonderful place!
We had a beautiful weekend at the cabin. The cabin is in a great location for exploring Bayfield County or relaxing overlooking Lake Superior. The cabin is well updated, clean and has all needed amenities. We made a quick drive into Duluth for a date night and also explored east to Bayfield. We tried some locally sourced products provided by the owner and it was super nice to support local farmers. There is a super cute coffee shop in Port Wing that provides coffee for the house and is worth checking out for an afternoon cappuccino. We will definitely visit again.
Purple Waves is a comfortable and well appointed house to get away from it all. A huge window overlooks the lake, It's a mesmerizing show moment to moment as the light and weather shift throughout the day. We stayed the second week of April and the area was quiet and empty -- quite peaceful.Everything is as described in the property listing. A big plus is the house guide notebook which is very detailed and contains local attractions and amenities. The section on local hikes is particularly well done. Communication with our host was excellent. We were very happy with our choice of Purple Waves.
Lynne M.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Apr 2025
We are so happy you found the guidebook helpful, we have spent a lot of time trying to make sure we get all the "good stuff" in there. Thank you for coming!
Incredible view and a pleasantly uncluttered place to enjoy some downtime. The home is dated, but that is part of the charm. Within driving distance to Bayfield and other locations to get something to eat or explore. The owner can facilitate locally sourced foods to be in the fridge when you arrive, removing some of the need to forage since it's right there already. Basic kitchen tools are present and a propane grill. A nice clean place to stay with an incredible view -the waters and sky constantly change. The only issue we had were the not-so-comfy beds, but we might be picky? Not sure, but besides that this place is fantastic.
Roy K.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 5 June 2025
Thanks for sharing your feedback, and we are sorry to hear you did not find the beds to your liking. We know how important it is to get a good night's sleep, but i do think it is a bit tricky because everyone seems to want a little something different when it comes to mattresses. We are glad you found most everything else to your satisfaction. The sky is magnificent here :)