01 · For the ones who set two alarmsFirst chair, last light.
Two days built around the lift schedule and not much else. You will be tired in the good way.
- Friday night
Check in at Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa, lay the gear out like a crime scene, and eat at the Deer Lake Pub at The Inn at Boyne Falls.
- Saturday
Coffee at Biscotti's Cafe, then Boyne Mountain from first chair. Lunch is whatever the lodge has and you will not care.
- Saturday night
Schnitz Mountain Bar for the post-mortem on every run. Early bed. Nobody is sorry.
- Sunday
Trade the skis for fat bikes or skinny skis at Wildwood Preserve, then Stiggs Brewery & Kitchen in Boyne City before the drive home.
The Boyne City & Boyne Falls edition →Read “Her First Black Diamond” →
02 · For two people and one fireplaceSlow down, Saugatuck.
An art town in its off-season, when the galleries have time to talk and the dunes are empty.
- Friday night
Wickwood Inn, then dinner at The Southerner. Walk back the long way.
- Saturday
Coffee at Uncommon Coffee Roasters, then snowshoes at Saugatuck Dunes State Park. Afternoon at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts.
- Saturday night
Bowdie's Chophouse, then one more at the Douglas Pub & Barrel Room.
- Sunday
Late breakfast at Everyday People Café, and the old schoolhouse at the Saugatuck-Douglas History Center on the way out.
The Saugatuck & Douglas edition →Read “Love, on a Slight Incline” →
03 · For a family where the kids are in chargeChristmas, with the volume up.
A town that never quite takes the decorations down, a covered bridge to run across, and chicken dinner by the platter.
- Friday night
Bavarian Inn Lodge. Dinner at the Bavarian Inn Restaurant, served family-style, which is the only style that works.
- Saturday
Bronner's Christmas Wonderland until someone needs a snack, then skating at the Frankenmuth Ice Rink in Zehnder Park.
- Saturday night
Zehnder's of Frankenmuth for more chicken than seems legal. Bed by nine, theoretically.
- Sunday
Creation Coffee, a run across the Holz Brücke covered bridge, then home with everyone asleep by the second exit.
The Frankenmuth edition →Read “The Snow Day Economy” →
04 · For the ones who've earned a good hotelTraverse City, unhurried.
Wine country in winter, a long lunch, an easy trail and a warm room at the end of it.
- Friday night
Check in at the Park Place Hotel. Dinner at Trattoria Stella in the old asylum at the Grand Traverse Commons.
- Saturday
Coffee at Higher Grounds Trading Co., an easy snowshoe around the Commons, then a slow drive up Old Mission Peninsula for the tasting rooms.
- Saturday night
The Cooks' House. Book it before you book the room.
- Sunday
Mundos Roasting & Co., a walk down Front Street, and lunch at Farm Club on the way out of town.
The Traverse City edition →Read “Sixty-Four Is a Fine Age to Start” →
05 · For the ones who start at tenDetroit, after dark.
Jazz in a room that hasn't changed its mind since 1935, a distillery, and a market in the morning if you make it.
- Friday night
Check in at The Siren Hotel. Selden Standard for dinner, then a booked set at Cliff Bell's.
- Saturday
Anthology Coffee, Eastern Market, and an afternoon at the Detroit Institute of Arts to be quiet in.
- Saturday night
Skating at The Rink at Campus Martius, then the Detroit City Distillery tasting room and Sugar House.
- Sunday
A Belle Isle walk to clear the head, then Slows Bar BQ in Corktown.
The Detroit edition →Read “The Saturday Escape Committee” →
06 · For the ones who want the big lakeLake Superior, on purpose.
Frozen waterfalls, ice you can walk under, and a harbour town with good beer at the end of it.
- Friday night
Roam Inn in Munising, and dinner at Falling Rock Cafe & Bookstore.
- Saturday
Snowshoe to Miners Falls in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Go with a guide if you want the ice.
- Saturday night
Drive the shore to Marquette. Landmark Inn, then the Vierling and a nightcap at Ore Dock Brewing Co.
- Sunday
Velodrome Coffee Company, a winter walk around Presque Isle Park, and the long way home.
The Munising & Marquette edition →Read “The Lake Made This” →
07 · For six friends and one cabinUp north, all of us.
A trout river, miles of ski trails, and a taproom big enough for the whole group.
- Friday night
Cabins at McGuire's Resort. A long table at Paddle Hard Brewing.
- Saturday
Bee's Bakery & Cafe, then cross-country skis at Hanson Hills Recreation Area. Someone will go fishing on the Au Sable whether anyone joins them or not.
- Saturday night
Spike's Keg o' North for the burger, then back to the cabin for cards.
- Sunday
Ray'als Tavern & Restaurant for breakfast, then everyone home with someone else's hat.
The Grayling edition →Read “The Weekend Nobody Planned” →
08 · For one person and a cameraLeelanau, alone.
Dunes nobody is climbing, a fishing village iced in, and a tavern stool that knows how to keep a secret.
- Friday night
The Mill Glen Arbor guest rooms, and supper at Art's Tavern.
- Saturday
Coffee at Leelanau Coffee Roasting Co., then snowshoes up Alligator Hill. Afternoon at the frozen Dune Climb with the light going sideways.
- Saturday night
Ice volcanoes at Empire Beach Park if the lake made any, then Joe's Friendly Tavern in Empire.
- Sunday
Leland: the iced-in docks of Fishtown, and a Leland Blue hunt on Van's Beach. Lunch at The Riverside Inn.
The Glen Arbor, Empire & Leland edition →Read “The Quiet We Came For” →
Every place here comes from our town research. Hours change in winter, so call ahead, and book the dinners that need booking.
