In Michigan, February means prime-time winter sporting. The snowfall is fresh and frequent, making for fun-packed family days on the slopes that you’ll never want to end.
Luckily, our home state has some of the best outdoor winter sport resorts as you travel up the peninsula, perfect for a family road trip. From adrenaline-pumping slopes to tranquil snowshoeing hikes, these winter sport spots have options for the whole family — and are only hours away from Metro Detroit.
Three Northern Michigan mountains form an easy triangle of stops, allowing families to choose one as a home base, or turn the drive into a multi-stop winter adventure.
With snow conditions in full swing, pack up the SUV, load the skis onto the rack and whisk the family away for a winter sports road trip through Crystal Mountain, Boyne Mountain and Gaylord.
Crystal Mountain – Thompsonville, MI
The slopes of Crystal Mountain lie just west of Thompsonville, a four-and-a-half hour drive from Detroit. Crystal Mountain Resort is the main attraction here, with classics like skiing and snowboarding, along with family-friendly activities like snowshoeing, ice skating and fat tire biking. For downtime between outdoor activities, there is a spa, a walkable Art Park and shopping and dining options onsite.
While the resort is the largest attraction in the area, families can seek out Thompsonville’s rivers and streams and community-loved restaurants for a change of scenery. Consider lodging just 30 minutes away on the lakeside for beautiful winter views of Lake Michigan.
Boyne Mountain – Boyne Falls, MI
Boyne Falls is home to Boyne Mountain Resort, about two hours from Crystal Mountain and four hours from Detroit. The resort’s slopes stretch across 415 acres, including other winter activities like snow tubing, SNO-GO biking and horseback riding across snowy trails.
Boyne Mountain Resort recently opened its Iglu bar, a gathering space designed as a family-friendly apres-ski experience. For families looking to explore outside the resort after a long day on the slopes, Downtown Boyne City is a 15-minute drive away. Stroll through the restaurants and shops on Main Street before ending at the Lake Charlevoix lakefront.
Gaylord, MI
Directly southeast of Boyne Mountain is Gaylord, a wonderland of winter sports and small town charm. This town is four hours from Detroit and has two great options for skiing and snowboarding: Treetops Resort and Otsego Resort. Additional winter sports in Gaylord are snow tubing, snowmobiling and winter rafting through the icy waters of the Sturgeon River.
Apart from traversing the slopes, there are many other family activities in Gaylord to try. Downtown Gaylord has shops and restaurants dressed up in Swiss-style architecture, and there are plenty of nearby lodging options to choose from. To bring things back to the great outdoors, visit Elk View Park to see the town’s resident herd of Elk.
This content is sponsored by Southeast Michigan Ford Dealers. Visit buyfordnow.com. Find more articles like this at Metro Parent’s Ultimate Family Road Trip Guide.
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