Weekend Escapes

Three NoMi winter destinations

By Deb Dent | Jan. 14, 2023

Ready to be transported to another place, even if you’re only a 30-minute drive from home? We are, which is why we took a look at three Up North properties that make you feel like you’re worlds away.

A Cozy Cabin in the Woods: Beaver Creek Properties

Located within Benjamin’s Beaver Creek Resort in Gaylord, this quiet hideout offers fully furnished log cabin condominiums for your winter retreat. Some cabins are set right on the edge of a golf course, while others offer a more secluded and private setting, tucked away among the trees.

Christiana Haight, property reservationist, shares, “[A] great thing about our properties is that they are all located within the same private neighborhood. For large groups or family reunions, oftentimes families will rent a string of homes next door to one another so everyone can be together for their trip but still have their own space.”

They offer homes that can accommodate up to 16 guests, along with some smaller options that work well for a cozy couple’s getaway.

While staying with Beaver Creek, you have full access to an indoor pool, a hot tub, a steam spa/sauna, and on-site snowmobile rentals, so you can explore the beautiful wintry trails right from your front door. You may also want to consider taking the short 20-minute drive to Wolverine to experience the serene waters of the Sturgeon River on a guided winter rafting trip.

If you’re looking for more winter activity options, you’re only 15 minutes from Treetops Resort, and downtown Gaylord is just a few miles down the road.

Learn more at gogaylord.com.

An Alpine Chalet: Boyne Mountain

For great slopes sans the plane ride, Boyne Mountain, one of the largest ski resorts in the state, is a perfect option. Settled within the village of Boyne Falls, Boyne offers 63 runs spread over 415 skiable acres, making it a great choice for both beginners and advanced skiers.

Beyond that, they offer many winter recreation activities such as zipline adventures, fat tire snow biking, winter horseback riding, and even outdoor swimming. And if enjoying the snow from the inside looking out is more your thing, they also have a spa and an indoor waterpark. Plus, there’s the new SkyBridge Michigan suspension bridge for a bird’s-eye view of the ski hill action.

Events abound, and coming in February is their Samuel Adams Wicked Air & Après, the biggest ski and snowboarding show in the Midwest, complete with libations and fireworks.

For lodging, Boyne offers nearly 400 units spread between nine hotels, condos, and cabins. One of the more popular options is the new Chalet Edelweiss (pcitured), a 35-room boutique hotel with European flair. It is a true ski-in and ski-out establishment, as the chalet is surrounded by snow on all sides. (They do offer a Chalet Valet, so that guests can have their luggage delivered directly to their doorstep.) Through Jan. 20, you can catch their Edelweiss Enchantment special by booking a king room at the chalet for $100 off.

Learn more at boynemountain.com.

A Beachside Hotel: Harbor Lights Resort

This summertime hotspot is hard to book in the warmer months, but still supplies a gorgeous setting along Lake Michigan in Frankfort during the winter.

The resort offers a variety of room types, and we recommend leveling up to a condominium, which gives you bay views and beachfront access. (From some, you can see the Frankfort North Breakwater Lighthouse!) Many have fireplaces or whirlpool tubs plus full kitchens, so you can snuggle up with your special someone and never have to leave the room. You can also enjoy the resort’s indoor pool, hot tub, and other amenities.

Just a short walk or drive from the resort along the main stretch of downtown are many local restaurants and shops that stay open year-round. Co-owner Janis Campbell says, “Charming Frankfort seems even more quaint—and quiet—in the winter months when the beach town is yours to explore without the hustle and bustle of thousands of summer visitors.”

A favorite for guests is Stormcloud Brewing Company, which boasts good food and craft beer, live music on weekends, and a wintertime curling league. (In January and February, curling lessons are also available.) Frankfort also has a great independent bookshop, aptly named The Bookstore, and is home to the beautifully restored 1920’s Garden Theater, which features first-run movies plus indie and foreign films.

Best of all, you’re only a short drive from the south end of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the myriad of small towns tucked throughout Benzie County.

Learn more at harborlightsresort.com.