While many visitors travel to Michigan to experience the lakes, beaches, and scenery the state has to offer during the summer months, it also provides a beautiful landscape for winter activities throughout the winter.
Here’s a list of five places to visit in Michigan during the winter season, and what kind of activities you can partake in while you’re there.
Bay Harbor
Bay Harbor is located along Lake Michigan’s Little Traverse Bay between Petoskey and Charlevoix.
The community is known for its upscale shopping and waterfront dining and is located between Boyne Mountain and The Highlands for those interested in skiing.
Guests can stay at the Inn at Bay Harbor, which offers cozy rooms overlooking the water.
Snowshoeing, snowmobiling, sledding, ice skating and more outdoor activities are offered throughout the area during the winter months as well.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Pictured Rocks provides a breathtaking view for visitors in the summer and winter months.
The typical outdoor winter activities of snowshoeing, skiing and snowmobiling are favorites among visitors, but ice climbing and ice viewing have also become popular in the area.
The ice usually starts to form in mid-December and lasts through April, according to the National Park Service.
For more information on the best areas to view frozen waterfalls, and to learn about guided tours for ice climbing, visit here.
Traverse City
Traverse City is popular during the summer months for a variety of activities, including visiting its wineries and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, but visitors can still experience those in the wintertime too.
Guests can go sledding down the Dune Climb, snowshoe through the trails, rent fat-tire bikes, and take wine and beer tours. You can sit in yurts or igloos at some wineries and breweries during the winter.
The city also has a vibrant downtown area where people can shop at a variety of small businesses.
For more on the winter fun that Traverse City has to offer, visit here.
Sault Ste. Marie
Sault Ste. Marie in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is another popular winter destination, especially for snowmobilers.
According to the city’s website, it was settled as early as 1668, making it the oldest city in Michigan, and one of the oldest in the country.
The Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge connects the city to the Ontario city with the same name, since they are separated by the St. Mary’s River. You can also find the Soo Locks in this area of the river.
The area provides the perfect setting for winter activities, whether you’re into cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, want to travel almost 40 mph down Minneapolis Hill while sledding or tubing or have the opportunity to snowmobile on one of many trails.
Speaking of snowmobiling, visitors can watch the best snowmobile riders compete in the Soo International-500 Snowmobile Race. This is happening on Feb. 1 this year, but events are already happening.
Keweenaw Peninsula
If you’re looking for a destination with a lot of snow, somewhere in the Keweenaw Peninsula is for you. Every year, more than 270 inches of lake-effect snow cover the area, according to the Visit Keweenaw website.
There are over 230 miles of snowmobile trails, where people can ride along Lake Superior, on mountain ridges and more.
Visitors can also find popular ski resorts in the Keweenaw, including Mount Bohemia Ski Resort and Mont Ripley.
The state’s northernmost community, Copper Harbor, is located in the peninsula. Here, guests can stay at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, which is a historic wilderness resort that was built in 1934, according to the state’s website. The resort trail can be used for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
These are just five of the many great winter destinations Michigan offers. You can find more trip ideas on the state’s website.
