Three ski resorts, Boyne Highlands, Boyne Mountain and Nub’s Nob, grace the Petoskey Area and offer more than 160 runs between them. From fantastic beginner areas to black diamond excitement, if you want to ski or board, this is the place to be in Michigan. But the fun doesn’t stop when you take a break from the action, and there’s plenty to do if you don’t ski at all.
Avalanche Bay Indoor Water Park
The biggest (and best!) indoor waterpark in Michigan is located at Boyne Mountain Resort in Boyne Falls. Adrenalin-pumping fun like the Big Couloir serves up the steepest drop you’ll find at a waterpark, while the Lazy River Adventure is laid back and fit for the family. A dozen rides in balmy 84 degree temperatures, combined with terrific food service, Fritz’s Snow Fort, an engaging kids’ area where art projects are created, and a super cool arcade means everyone is happy.
One of the newest attractions in the Petoskey Area is a state-of-the-art movie theater right on the main street, aptly called Main Street, in downtown Harbor Springs. Not your ordinary cinema, the Lyric Theatre offers three screening rooms that seat 22, 39 and 195. New movies, classics, documentaries and kid-friendly family favorites are shown and feature amazing sound quality and cushy chairs that will make you want to stay straight through the next showing. Added bonuses include reasonable prices for the movies and the munchies (organic popcorn with REAL butter!), plus the option for grownups to enjoy an adult beverage while watching the flick. Saturday family favorite movies are only 25¢, while Wednesday classics are just $2.00. The theatre is within walking distance of several dining options so you can park once and enjoy the whole evening.
Nearly a dozen wineries have popped up throughout the Petoskey Area in the last few years, giving you a delightful variety of red, white, fruit and even maple wines. Particularly this time of year, chances are you will meet the owners themselves as they tell you the virtues of their particular blends. Time it right and you may be able to take part in a Wine & Paint event where a very patient artist will lead you through the ins and outs of painting your own masterpiece while sipping on a glass or two of wine. If you’re traveling with the family, that works, too, since a couple of the wineries afford family-friendly activities like snowshoeing, coloring and s’mores making.
Okay, so technically shopping and dining are two different things, but they do seem to go hand and hand so I’ll present them that way. Check out the downtowns and other specialty shops within the Petoskey Area and you’ll find an interesting array of unique items. Whether you want to window shop or power shop, you won’t be disappointed in the clothing stores, gift shops, galleries and other locally owned treasure troves. When hunger takes over the need for fabulous buys, you’ll find plenty of options for couples or families. The romance of Sage at the Odawa Casino may capture your attention or maybe you’ll stay right at Boyne Highlands, Nub’s Nob or Boyne Mountain and grab a quick bite. In Boyne City, just six miles from the ski resort, two new tap rooms and a brewery have opened in the last year, expanding the menu options in this lakeside town. And Harbor Springs has gone through a growth spurt in the culinary department, too, with the addition of several new eateries including the Paper Station, right in the heart of town.
Boyne Highlands Resort and Boyne Mountain Resort tout their Zipline Adventures as “an all thrills, no skills activity for adventure seekers of all ages.” Choose from a 2.5-hour adventure encompassing several ropes, or the shorter option twin-zip when time won’t allow for the full-blown experience. Either way, it’s an exhilarating undertaking and you will love soaring over the snow-covered resorts. Take a deep breath and go whizzing down the lines, smiling all the way – you’ll be glad you did!
Fun in the Petoskey Area isn’t just going downhill – it’s all around. Come see for yourself. We’ve got a room and good times waiting for you.
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About the author
Diane Dakins is passionate about all the lakeside communities that comprise the Petoskey Area of northern Michigan: Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Bay Harbor and Boyne City. As assistant director of the Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau, she has “been there – seen that” when it comes to virtually every area attraction. Her blogs give potential visitors the scoop on planning a northern Michigan vacation.