Frolic in the Snow!

There’s no need to hide indoors on cold weather days. Many activities are unique to the snow and cold temperatures, so take the time to enjoy them.

One of the activities synonymous with snow and winter is skiing. As a family our tendencies for vacation fun ran toward warm temperatures and sandy beaches, but there is something to be said about enjoying nature’s winter wonderland. With the decision to take our first trip Northward bound we did some research on places that were not too far away, but had enough activities that all age groups could enjoy them.

Talking with friends, experienced in outdoor adventures, they directed us to one of their favorite Midwest ski destinations…Boyne, Michigan. The area has two resorts that accommodate the outdoor minded Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands. With a big family logistics is a priority. We called the resort, which hosts many properties and found they were very helpful. This trip was last minute, but they found lodging for our family without having to purchase 2 hotel rooms. The area boasts cabins that are truly a home away from home. Plus each ski resort had its own Snow Sport Academy to help those that were new to the sports.

The Lodging at Boyne Mountain vs Boyne Highlands vs Bay Harbor

After doing research and checking prices, we found that finding lodging in Bay Harbor would work out for our family best. Even though there was a short drive to get to the ski resort, Bay Harbor is located in between Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands. Plus there was the added incentive of the pricing on the lodging being less expensive, and housing a family of six is not always easy when it comes to finding a room that would fit all of us. We chose Lakeside Cottages, mainly because the Cottages at Crooked Tree were booked, but our friends were staying there and we were able to see what those cottages were like. Both locations are run by the Bay Harbor Inn Resort. Features that we liked about both locations:

• Clean Facilities
• Spacious Floor Plan
• TV with HDMI hook-up so that we could hook up our portable player
• Close proximity to shops and restaurants
• Helpful staff
• Location in relation to the Ski Resorts
• Nearby Town with right amount of shops and restaurants

Notable Restaurants & Shops

• Knot Just a Bar Restaurant – a wide variety on their menu with moderate prices. They have the creamiest Seafood Chowder on their menu that really hits the spot on a cold day

Boyne Mountain

[flagallery gid=1 name="Gallery" skin=lightgrey]We chose to spend our time at Boyne Mountain since we were told that they had more greens for beginners. If you are new to skiing or snowboarding make sure you sign up for lessons, it is a MUST. We tried snowboarding our first day there. It is not a sport for everyone, and the learning curve is steep, but I heard once you learn how to snowboard it can be lots of fun. Be ready to be on your behind more than you are upright. Only one of the six liked snowboarding, and after the first day no one was too thrilled about repeating our outdoor adventure. Our sense of adventure did not keep us from returning to the resort.

The second day at the mountain we tried our hand at skiing. One of our children was still having a bit of difficulty getting used to the sport and was almost ready to give up, when her ski instructor gave her a pep talk and encouraged her to keep trying. After a break, we were back on the slopes and by the end of the day we were all skiing with less effort. They had lessons for all ages. Our six year old was promoted to a level 3 skier by the end of our trip.

Tips

• Sign up for lessons if you are a new to snowboarding or skiing, you will know pretty quickly which one you like better
• Give the sport a chance, once you get the hang of the sport it can be lots of fun
• No need to buy equipment, if you take lessons then it is included for you to use the day
• Bring warm weather gear. If you get cold you will be miserable. The must haves are:
  • Good pair of ski gloves
  • Goggles
  • Snow Pants, you will be on your rear a lot
  • Cold Weather Under Armour or something similar
  • Wool Socks, the best we have found is the Smart Wool brand
  • If you are not in to spending a whole lot of money for lunch then you can bring your own cooler, but the portions are big enough at the lodge restaurant to share with another person