Welcoming on average 200 inches of snow yearly, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula turns into the ultimate winter wonderland when winter is welcomed into the state. This top-notch winter destination offers thousands of miles of groomed trails for snowmobiling, fat tire biking, cross country skiing, and more. Here are 48-hours to spend up north this winter.
Day 1
Pick the Best Place to Stay
The best place to start your winter adventures is right over the Mackinac Bridge. Your homeport of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula awaits you in St. Ignace. Here you will find a wide variety of hotels, motels, Bed & Breakfasts, cabins, and more places to stay fit for all adventurers. Start your winter adventure by dropping your bags at the accommodations of your choice before beginning your U.P. trip. Check out these winter hotels that are open year around.
Hit The Fat Tire Biking Trails
St. Ignace is ideally located just a short drive to the Upper Peninsula’s top spots to fat tire bike. The St. Ignace to Trout Lake Trail is a 26-mile trail that runs almost entirely through the scenic Hiawatha National Forest and runs along an abandoned rail corridor. Find this trailhead in the Little Bear East Arena Park on Marquette Street.
Warm Up with A Famous Pastie
When in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the one thing you must try is a pastie. Located in downtown St. Ignace – Lehto’s Pasties has been serving the area since 1947 and is one of the Original Famous Pasty Shops in Michigan’s U.P.
Lace-Up Your Ice Skates
Nothing screams wintertime like putting your ice skates on and slide up and down the ice rink. Little Bear East Arena is open between October and March, and this facility and event center offers ice skate rentals and open skate. The City of St. Ignace offers an outdoor rink maintained on Morgan Bay’s ice in the downtown area if you love the great outdoors and colder weather.
Day 2
Start Your Day off Right at Harbor Hope Coffee
Begin your final day of adventuring by filling up on breakfast favorites and a hot cup of joe. From the moment you walk into the door, you will be greeted promptly with a smiling face and Yooper hospitality. You’ll especially want to try their Michigan maple coffee. https://harborhopecoffee.org/
Experience the Frozen Falls at Tahquamenon
Gas up the car to head about 70-miles north to experience the ultimate winter wonderland. Tahquamenon Falls State Park makes up over 50,000 acres of the Eastern Upper Peninsula and is an all-season playground. This state park offices miles of groomed and maintained hiking’s, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobile trails. One of the best experiences in the Upper Peninsula is to see the Upper and Lower Falls.
Head to the Soo for Snow Tubing
Roughly 40-miles north on the scenic I-75 lies between St. Ignace and Sault Ste Marie. Channel your inner child and feel the wind hit your face by tubing down one of the seven tubing runs at the Sault Seal Recreation area. If you’re not a fan of tubing, feel free to hit the ski and snowboarding hill near the tubing hills.
Enjoy a Hearty Meal at the Village Inn
A go-to favorite for locals and travelers alike due to their home-cooked meals and two great happy hours. The Village Inn offers a wide variety of entrees and appetizers to curb even the hungriest of adventurers. After your meal, bundle back up and head right outside to catch a peek at the Wawatam Lighthouse on the Lake. The Lighthouse in the wintertime is not to be missed.
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