Things to do / Travel Guide
Surrounded by four of the five Great Lakes, Michigan actually consists of two peninsulas: the upper peninsula (“U.P”) and the lower peninsula (“L.P”), which is also known as “the mitten” because of its shape. Both the Northern part of the lower peninsula and the entire upper peninsula has severe winters, which are very long and very cold. However, that being said, this means plenty of powder and long seasons from as early as mid-November through April. Good thing this state comes with its own built-in mitten, because in Michigan you need as many layers as you can get while enjoying the local winter sports!
Skiing in and around the Western Upper Peninsula (U.P)
Known as “Big Snow Country,” the Western Upper Peninsula is located on the shores of Lake Superior, and offers hundreds of miles of the stuff, suitable for just about any winter sport invented. Groomed snowmobile, ski, snowboard, snowshoe, and cross-country tracks are available to the many visitors to the area each season.
Olympic medalists and history buffs must make a stop over at the Copper Peak Ski Flying Hill, the only ski flying facility in the Western Hemisphere which, while not currently in use, has recorded jumps of up to 158 meters!
For some actual powder and mogul skiing, visitors should swing towards Indianhead Ski Resort, located in Wakefield, which is home to the largest NASTAR racing program in the Midwest. There are 29 trails stemming down from the 1,935 foot summit spread over 220 acres of pure snow. 13 of their slopes offer advanced riders the opportunity to truly spread their wings and explore every nook and cranny. Snowboarders will love the two terrain parks. One is progressive, while the other is advanced, with steeper jumps and more rails. Indianhead's halfpipe is an Olympic qualifying 300 feet long, and is groomed weekly, if not nightly.
Also offering plenty of trails is Big Powderhorn Mountain which claims to be “like nowhere else in the Midwest!” and visitors are sure to wholeheartedly support that claim. An average of 200 plus inches of white stuff blankets Big Powderhorn's 250 acres and 33 slopes. Be sure to dress warmly because it's very cold here. Featuring priority grooming, beginner and intermediate trails receive nightly maintenance, while advanced slopes are mostly left alone so as to have a chance to build up natural moguls and thicker snow through which to plow. Two terrain parks with rails, jibs, and spines keep snowboarders occupied all day long, with a kicking sound system to help the creativity flow.
Porcupine Mountain primarily caters to the more intermediate and expert levels on their 15 trails and 320 acres, but beginners do have a small section of the mountain to themselves for brushing up and honing their skills. Blackjack Mountain may be more a appropriate choice, however, for beginners and families as they have less pitch and flatter terrain than the other mountains in the area. Whitecap Mountain Ski Resort covers all levels on their combination of 3 mountains and 36 trails, with something available for riders of all styles and skills.
Over 13 different cross-country skiing facilities are located in the Western Upper Peninsula. Most are free of charge, but some ask for small donations to help upkeep the extensive network of groomed loops and trail systems. Cross-country highlights include the ABR Trails, which encompass 40km groomed for skating and striding, as well as back country areas that cover an immense 600 acres. The same Porcupine Mountain that has alpine slopes also has crossover appeal to the cross-country crowd with 42km of regularly groomed trails and two warming huts along the way.
Lodging and apres activities can be found onsite at most of the resorts in the form of hotel style rooms or condos. Hurley, one of the closest towns, has been a 5 time winner of Snowgoer's Magazine national ranking of “#1 in Nightlife.” There are multiple hotels, B&Bs, and private rentals available for any type of lodging desired. You can try out the Anton-Walsh B&B, or choose to enjoy the accommodations of the Big Powderhorn Bavarian style village facilities. Forty different and distinct restaurants, cafes, and eateries exist for your dining pleasures, including the Iron Horse or the Branding Iron Steakhouse for mouth-watering steaks. Just be sure to bundle up, settle in, eat well, and have sweet dreams – you're in the Upper Peninsula now!
Skiing in and around Bay Harbor
Luxury is the key word for guests in the Bay Harbor area. This is evident both on and off the slopes. As the “Shining Star of Northern Michigan,” guests flock to the area's three major ski resorts to test out the latest equipment, grind in one of the 6 terrain parks with some of the best tricks around, and get a taste of fresh Michigan air, while taking advantage of the long season from November to April.
Sister mountains Boyne and Boyne Highlands combine to offer one of the largest acreaged ski areas in the Bay Harbor area bordering Lake Michigan. 846 acres sprawl over these two summits which can be jointly accessed on a single interchangeable ski pass giving you the skier more distance for your dollar. Rated consistently as #1 in snowmaking by SKI Magazine, the Boyne Resorts are committed to winter sports and make sure there is always enough powder to go around for everyone. Boyne Mountain offers a selection of 50 trails, with 30 acres dedicated to beginners. Snowboarders get their vibes from the 5 progression and professional parks set up just for them. There is a halfpipe and a 700 foot superpipe groomed nightly to keep it sharp. Local and pro competitions are held monthly, so get in on the action! Boyne Highlands offers skiers yet another 50 trails, though only 16 acres (still no small number) is designed with beginners in mind. Intermediate riders will be in their element here, as many of the slopes cater to this skill level set. The half and quarterpipes share their digs with Boyne's terrain parks.
Despite the funny name, Nub's Nob is dearly adored by residents and visitors alike, as evidenced by SKI Magazine's #1 rating of Midwest Ski Resorts and Terrain Park by their readers' poll in 2007. Beginner through expert glade and off-piste skiing and riding are available on any of Nub's Nob's 53 trails. Their terrain park, which is filled to the brim with banked turns, rails, jumps, a halfpipe, and a superpipe which are groomed nightly, is sure to keep boarders edges sharp and give riders a thrill all day and night long.
Cross country skiers have a multitude of loops and trails available to them. Boyne Mountain has 35km set aside for this sport, while Boyne Highland dedicates another 45km, making for an impressive all around resort, no matter the equipment. Even Nub's Nob gets into the action, with 20km of groomed and nightly set trails.
Upscale sleeping quarters are available at the Inn at Bay Harbor, with full kitchens in every room. Some present living rooms as well as fireplaces. This is sophistication at a high level! The nearby town of Petoskey is less pricey but has quite a few offerings to its credit, with over 15 hotels, cottages, and private rentals, allowing you to spend a ski vacation without going bankrupt. Hungry? Inhale the aroma of the Galley Gourmet Espresso Café, with their loose leaf teas, highbrow espressos, handmade ice cream, and delectable pastries. For a taste of the local watering hole, grab a seat on the barstool at Knot...Just a Bar which features a menu of sandwiches, burgers, oysters and clams, and soups and salads. The live music isn't so bad either! There are plenty of other great local choices, so take a meander around the area to discover local flair and national chain favorites.
Skiing in and around Traverse City
One of the main, and also among the largest, cities in Northern Michigan, Traverse City has a double meaning to its name when it comes to ski season. No stranger to trekking, skiers and riders will live in pure winter pleasure when visiting this area and its ski resort offerings.
Crystal Mountain prides itself on keeping it all in the family, both by ski area ownership and in its dedication to the families who visit. 45 trails spread out over an expansive 1500 acres, means there's plenty of terrain - so no one gets bored quickly. 27 of those trails are lit up at night so the fun doesn't stop as soon as the sun sets. SKI Magazine has previously rated Crystal Mountain a #1 Resort destination, a distinction commonly shared by many of the Michigan ski areas, and it's no conundrum why. Crystal Mountain keeps meticulous care of its beginner ski hills and terrain park, while intermediate to advance riders are invited to tear it up on the slopes or on the 480 foot halfpipe, rails, and boxes in their second terrain park.
For an all inclusive resort experience, Shanty Creek Ski Resort is a specialist in the Traverse City area. Actually consisting of 3 resorts with lodging connected by 2 mountains, each mountain and resort has a different vibe. Schuss Mountain has 37 trails, appropriate to all skill levels, while Summit Mountain, with its fewer 10 trails, focuses more on the intermediate to advanced levels. There are a grand total of 3 terrain parks to make sure all riders get their time in the air, and not in long queues for each feature, unless, of course, they just want to watch!
Don't forget to check out the 40km of beginner and black diamond cross-country trails at Crystal Mountain which are groomed for both traditional skiing and skating.
Visitors to the Traverse City area have access to over 20 acclaimed wineries, a vibrant downtown with over 150 unique shopping centers and boutiques, lots of culture, and superb nightlife. Much of this is thanks to the large influx of artists and musicians that call this area home. There are 20 B&Bs alone in the area, such as the Neahtawanta Inn, which features a sunken fieldstone fireplace, vegetarian breakfasts, and yoga classes for guests. But perhaps one of the 3 historic inns, or 70 hotels and motels will catch your fancy, such as, for example, the Great Wolf Lodge with its 5 restaurants and indoor water park open all year round. Speaking of restaurants, whimsically named Latta-Dah has fantastic specialty coffees and a wide array of sandwiches, soups, and salads for when you get hungry. In general, there are no shortage of eclectic foods and fusion restaurants here to suit the tastes of any palate and stop stomach growling almost as fast as it starts.
Lake effect generated snow is a powerful winter force in Northern Michigan, and the state certainly has no problem keeping the weather nice and cold, paving the way for a long winter ski season. Luxury resorts and first rate ski centers are quite common here. A SKI Magazine #1 rating isn't easy to achieve, yet Northern Michigan takes the award annually. Come see why for yourself this season. You have nothing to lose and a whole lot to gain.
Ski Resorts in Great Lakes, Traverse City, Upper Peninsula, Mackinac Island, Northern Michigan
Skiing
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