The winter season in Northern Michigan is full of things to do. There is plenty of snow to explore and snug spots for settling in. Whether you head to Traverse City or Petoskey, you’ll find the magic mix in one of these Northern Michigan winter vacation getaways. Pack your hat and a pair of gloves, and hit the road for a relaxing and fun February weekend!
This article was originally published in the February 2016 issue of Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine.
10 Ways to Cozy Up to Snow
1. A sleigh ride and historic inn stay really are as romantic as they sound at The Terrace Inn in Bay View/Petoskey. Hear the horses give their bells a shake as they clip-clop on the hushed and winding streets. Book a king whirlpool suite with electric fireplace, and enjoy the free Belgian waffles or omelets included in your stay. (Sleigh rides Saturdays only; rooms anytime.) From $129. theterraceinn.com
2. Pair a snowshoe outing and wilderness log cabin on the river at Barotha Lodge on the Pere Marquette River in Walhalla, Michigan. Cabin choices include a one-room riverfront log beauty with fireplace (perfect for two) and nine-room lodge with a pool table that’s great for the gang. Add a Thursday or Sunday night to your weekend stay for a true getaway—and to score 30 percent off the last night. barothylodge.com
3. A spa room ready with chocolates and champagne is part of the Romantic Getaway deal offered weekdays at Stafford’s Crooked River Lodge, in Alanson. Starting at $179 for two, the deal offers breakfast, a dinner voucher for two at Stafford’s Pier and snowshoes to help you explore the nature trails. staffords.com
4. Gather up your special someone for the 1-Night Do Not Disturb Weekend in a Tower room at the Grand Traverse Resort. Dinner, breakfast, discount on spa treatments and all the gazing at the wintry Lake Michigan panorama out the window that your hearts’ desire. $179 per person. grandtraverseresort.com
5. Go moose-spotting on a winter horseback trail ride at Wildridge Riding Stables in Paradise. Next day, strap on snowshoes to see the gushing waterfalls at nearby Tahquamenon Falls State Park. The park offers a guided snowshoe hike Feb. 7, but you can go by yourself any time; horseback riding’s by appointment; and cozy cabin options are plentiful. www.explorem123.com
6. Settle into the winery inn at Chateau Grand Traverse on Traverse City’s Old Mission Peninsula midweek. Your room (with a free bottle of wine waiting) is just a short walk from the remodeled tasting room. Über bonus: the second night is free. cgtwines.com
7. Gaze at Lake Michigan’s vibrant blue from The Homestead Resort’s waterfront condos, in Glen Arbor. Ice skating mitten-in-mitten on the frozen village pond is a romantic moment tough to beat. www.thehomesteadresort.com
8. A stay at a wilderness bed and breakfast, Lake ’N’ Pines Lodge on Lake Dubonnet, near Interlochen, combines your desire for solitude with a perfectly compatible desire to be pampered. Go all out and book the 900-square-foot suite with private sauna and Jacuzzi—and ask for room service. lakenpineslodge.com
9. Let the love of a rush inspire an adventure to Negaunee (just west of Marquette), where you can fly down an Olympic luge (training offered) on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons. Make it the centerpiece of a getaway to a region where snowshoe and cross-country ski trails abound. Book the entire Negaunee Union Station Depot (vrbo.com/423919), which for around $200 a night sleeps eight and comes with a sauna. www.upluge.org
10. A ski resort stay and small-town stroll can both be part of a getaway at Shanty Creek, where rooms at the Lakeview Hotel at Summit Mountain come with fireplaces, and suites overlook the ski slope. The tiny burg of Bellaire is just down the hill and hosts the destination brewpub Short’s Brewing, cute Moka cafe and inventive shopping. shantycreek.com
More Northern Michigan Winter Vacation Ideas
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Northern Michigan Skiing With or Without the Kids
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Northern Michigan Winter Festivals to Get You Moving
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Northern Michigan Snowmobile Trails, Rentals, and Hubs
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