Michigan Bucket List: Winter Edition
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About the Show
On this episode, Chuck Gaidica is joined by Nick Nerbonne, Media, Digital and Industry Relations Director for Travel Michigan. Together, they discuss Michigan destinations to check out this winter.
In this episode of A Healthier Michigan Podcast, we explore:
- Michigan winter destinations to add to your bucket list
- Summer destinations that are worth checking out in the winter
- Destinations that are off the beaten path
- Indoor destinations to visit if you're not of fan of cold weather
Transcript
Chuck Gaidica:
Some people love it, others not so much, but everyone has feelings about winter in Michigan. We're here with some fun ideas of how to make it a little more exciting and fun. I'll tell you what, we've got a lot of great stuff for you. This is A Healthier Michigan Podcast, episode 146. Coming up, we discuss Michigan destinations to check out in Michigan this winter.
Some people love it, others not so much, but everyone has feelings about winter in Michigan. We're here with some fun ideas of how to make it a little more exciting and fun. I'll tell you what, we've got a lot of great stuff for you. This is A Healthier Michigan Podcast, episode 146. Coming up, we discuss Michigan destinations to check out in Michigan this winter.
Welcome to A Healthier Michigan Podcast. It's a podcast that's dedicated to navigating how we can all improve our health and wellbeing through small, healthy habits we can start implementing right now. I'm your host, Chuck Gaidica, and every other week, we'll sit down with a certified expert and we discuss topics that cover nutrition, fitness and a lot more. I think so many of our ideas fit right in this space, because here comes winter, comes around about the same time every year, so here it comes again.
On this episode, we're talking about Michigan outdoors, as we discover some winter destinations, get encouraged to participate in the outdoors, and things that you can add to your bucket list. With me today is Media, Digital and Industry Relations Director for Travel Michigan, Nick Nerbonne. Good to see you, Nick.
Nick Nerbonne:
Chuck, great to be here. Appreciate you having me.
Chuck Gaidica:
Oh yeah, sure thing. I know you've been at this a long time, talking about sharing travel, community ideas, where we can go, fair weather, foul weather, warm, hot. It's been a great career for you. But there are some people that look at Michigan, and to be fair, I bet you they're not in the state, but 2022 Thrillist ranked Michigan third, and they said, these are their words, how miserable, that's third, of how miserable the winters are here.
I think if we put a little asterisk there, without being inauthentic, the idea is "Yeah, it gets cold. Yes, we get winter, we get ice, we get snow." Some people go, "Hey, see in the spring," and they just hunker down. But you're here to encourage all of us that, even so that that's the case for some, we can uncover a lot of greatness in Michigan winters, right?
Nick Nerbonne:
Well, I think first of all, that Thrillist article is actually a retread of an article from a few years prior. They did republish. It seems to resurface each year, towards the beginning of the winter, and people start talking about it, and so forth. It actually provides us with an opportunity, because, yes, there are things about winter that, yeah, if you're wearing shorts and flip-flops, and you go out to shovel your driveway, or go for a walk, not going to be comfortable.
Chuck Gaidica:
Yeah.
Nick Nerbonne:
But there are many ways to enjoy winter across the state of Michigan. We would counter that Michigan, because of the lake-effect snow, and the wonderful opportunities we have to enjoy it, we are one of the best places to enjoy winter.
Chuck Gaidica:
Right, I would agree. I think we're also, this, whether it's late fall, or early spring when we get our breaks, and even sometimes in the winter. Because I've seen sailboats out on Lake St. Clair, when I've been passing by there, right at Christmas, when it's a warm winter, we in Michigan will tend to still go out and wash our cars with shorts and flip-flops when the weather gets cold. It's just we're acclimated to the idea that that's okay for us in this state.
Nick Nerbonne:
Well, yeah, that's one thing that you probably probably will agree with, that every spring when we see that first 48 or 52 degrees sunny day, there's people out sunbathing.
Chuck Gaidica:
Yeah, yeah.
Nick Nerbonne:
We're hardy folks, here in Michigan.
Chuck Gaidica:
When you think of winter for yourself, are you a cold weather fan, personally?
Nick Nerbonne:
Yes. I love to ski. I love to be outside. I also love to snowshoe, cross country ski, even go on hikes along the Great Lakes. I lived in Traverse City for many years, and up in that area there's all kinds of winter recreation opportunities. So yes, I was born and raised in a skiing family. My parents are from Traverse City. They learned to ski through the Learn to Ski programs when they were kids.
I was fortunate to grow up in a family that found ways to go enjoy winter as a family. I think that's one thing that is important for folks to realize is that skiing and winter activities are truly the best family activities during the winter. There's an old saying, the family that skis together stays together, and you've heard that variation on other things. But if you think about teenage kids, when I was a teenager, that was something I still definitely would do with my parents, and still have it be cool, was go on a ski vacation.
Chuck Gaidica:
Yeah, that's really interesting. I have to admit, I've got some lightweight snowshoes, aluminum type. That is one of the biggest workouts. A lot of our episodes are about fitness, and mindfulness, and calming your life. And when you get outside on a peaceful snow filled day, it may not be actively snowing, whether it's cross country, downhill. Downhill a little faster, obviously, a different kind of spirit. But that snowshoe thing? I'll tell you, Nick, that is an awesome workout. You will sweat like nuts if you go for any distance.
Nick Nerbonne:
Well, snowshoeing, we could do an entire podcast episode, Chuck, about snowshoeing. I tell you what, it's something people ask me all the time, "Well, I know you're a big skier, you must love winter, but how can I do it? What is there for me to do if I go to Boyne Highlands, or Boyne Mountain, or if I go to Crystal or somewhere like that, what can I do? Snowshoeing is a great answer, because it gets people into the outdoors to do an activity that is fun, that you can do with friends, you can do with families, and it removes the barrier of the learning curve. When you want to be a downhill skier, that takes some practice. We recommend getting professional instruction, going out and doing it safely, and learning how to do it. But with snowshoeing, you can rent a pair, or borrow a pair, or even buy a pair relatively inexpensively, click your boots into them, and get out there and enjoy a beautiful setting, like a trail.
In Michigan, we have the metro park system in Detroit. There are all kinds of wonderful places to snowshoe when it snows down in southeast Michigan. And of course, across northern Michigan, the Upper Peninsula, going on a trail you normally would go hiking on, but doing it with snowshoes, is a wonderful way to see these places. But I think my last point here, it is great exercise, and when you snowshoe don't overdress. I see people all the time, who are not experienced. They come out with three coats on, and hats on, all kinds of stuff. In a half mile beyond the trail, they're starting to take their coat off, because you are burning calories, and it does provide great exercise.
Chuck Gaidica:
Well, and you've got a great point there. Part of the title is Walk. So if you've walked, and you're tired, you can either take the shoes off and hit a trail that's been cleared off for you, or take another trail back. You can stop walking, turn around and go back. This isn't like you've gone out 50 miles, and you've got to now go, "Oh, how do I get back?" You've mentioned some great places that are also great travel destinations in the summer and fair weather. What are some of those same destinations people might not think about when it comes to winter?
Nick Nerbonne:
Well, a lot of times when you talk about winter recreation, up north is synonymous with opportunities there. But I always like to point out that there are great places. I mentioned the Metro Park system in southeast Michigan, but for those who are looking to ski and snowboard, get out to a winter resort to take advantage of those activities. There are great destinations all over the state, like down in southwest Michigan, even as far down as Swiss Valley that's down by the Indiana border. There's Bittersweet and Cannonsburg in the Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids area.
There are destinations to go out and do fun things. In Lansing, the Hawk Island tubing activity, and snow tubing by the way is such a fantastic thing. A lot of the major resorts up north, like the Boyne Resorts and Shanty Creek, they've added tubing hills. The family can do that together, friends can do it. And again, there's not the barrier of learning how to do this skilled activity. You can go out and enjoy those fun activities. But when we talk about destinations, if you look at Gaylord, for example, with Otsego Resort and Treetops, those are known summer destinations, Treetops in the Gaylord Golf Mecca, with some of the best golf courses in the country. You can go there, and they've got downhill skiing, they've got wonderful snowshoeing, cross country skiing.
Then, of course, in Harbor Springs area, on Highlands and Nub's Nob, an area you're familiar with, Chuck, some of the best skiing in the lower peninsula. But the UP, which when you talk about any kind of recreation, the UP is filled with wonderful opportunities to get out and enjoy the beautiful scenery we have in Michigan.
Chuck Gaidica:
Well, that's a great point. Winter does add its own questions about making sure you're safe, if you're venturing out. But going to the UP, and even in the winter, going to look at some of those waterfalls, or frozen falls, however long into the season you waited, what an awesome walk. I've never done that in the winter, but I've done it multiple times in the warmer weather.
Nick Nerbonne:
We just spoke with a park ranger at Tahquamenon Falls, and I tell you, the way that they described what the falls looks like in the wintertime, I'm planning a visit, honestly. When you have the second-largest waterfall east of the Mississippi by volume, second to Niagara Falls in the upper Tahquamenon Falls, and then you combine that with the temperatures in the UP, and the fresh snow on the trees, this is a visual that anyone can really enjoy. It is absolutely beautiful, and I can't wait to go explore that on foot, or snowshoes, depending on what the snow is like at that time.
Chuck Gaidica:
You gave us some suggestions for locations. Are there any places that are truly off the beaten path, little destinations, mom-and-pop, something that's a little different that you can recommend?
Nick Nerbonne:
Well, I've got to mention Mount Bohemia. Mount Bohemia-
Chuck Gaidica:
Wait a minute, wait a minute. I'm Bohemian. That's crazy. I didn't even know there was a Mount Bohemia.
Nick Nerbonne:
Mount Bohemia is a truly unique destination, not just within Michigan, but in the country. It is on the Keweenaw Peninsula, at the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula, near Copper Harbor. We're talking like the northernmost point in the state, north of a lot of Canada, and it's bordered on three sides by Lake Superior. This narrow peninsula, the Keweenaw comes out into Lake Superior, and it's stunningly beautiful 365 days a year. But because of that location, no matter which direction the wind blows, the lake-effect snow falls.
You've probably seen the big snow stake they have in Houghton that measures the annual snow fall. That thing's over 200, most years, and it's been over 300 before. We're talking about snow levels that approach things like in Colorado or Utah, where 250 to 350 inches of snow per year. There is legitimate powder skiing. We ski powder in the lower peninsula too, but not quite with the frequency they do up there. At Mount Bohemia, it's got 900 vertical feet of drop. This is the highest vertical drop in the Midwest. It's got very long runs, and challenging runs. That's something that a lot of folks are aware of, but maybe haven't visited, because it is a little bit of a drive.
Chuck Gaidica:
Yeah.
Nick Nerbonne:
But for expert skiers, and I wouldn't recommend it for a family, or a beginner, because they don't groom, they don't have a lot of green runs. This is an advanced mountain. But for expert skiers, this rivals western terrain. Maybe not quite to the extent and the length, but it is western style skiing, with deep powder and wonderful views.
Chuck Gaidica:
Wow. You've talked about these snow amounts, so I've got to go back to being a weather geek here, for just a minute. The other side of the coin, for winter, is there are people who are aching for deep snow, for a lot of snow. You mentioned numbers that, when you say them, I think they sometimes, even for me over the years, they fly by. So in Metro Detroit, if we get 44, 48 inches of snow, that's an average. When you're talking about people who are aching for powder and snow, if they're hunters, they know it by osmosis. If you're a skier, you get it. But when you say that there's a place in the UP that's getting this year, 280 inches of snow will be their season, you can find snow without driving four states. You can stay in our state.
The other thing that's interesting, I see these forecasts come out that are nationally oriented, and this year, well, the winter could be a little mild. I just want to let everybody know that when we hear the word mild, that does not mean it's so warm there's not snow. As a matter of fact, if it is just a little milder winter, that means the lakes are wide open, they're not frozen, which means even more lake effects snow, just with average cold temperatures. We've got to be cautious when we hear these forecasts, and try to make plans way out, because mild does not mean less snow, and it doesn't mean it's not cold.
Nick Nerbonne:
Well, it's interesting, you want to talk about weather geeks. I remember I took a meteorology class in college, and we had one class sessions, specifically about lake-effect snow, and I was in the front row just loving that, because lake-effect snow, to me, is beautiful. The process by which that happens in Michigan is truly unique, and we benefit from it. The Great Lakes regulate our climate. They help us have a little bit longer growing season, some of our Midwestern neighbors, but it also gives us the wonderful winter recreation we can take advantage of.
Chuck Gaidica:
Yeah, no question about that. For some who are thinking they've got small kids, they're not quite at that family level for skiing yet, what about indoor destinations? Because a lot of places are still there for us, that you benefit from winter being outside and seeing the beautiful scenery, but yet you go inside to have fun too.
Nick Nerbonne:
Well, there's a couple of options here, Chuck. I think, first of all, I'd mentioned a destination like Boyne Mountain. You've got the Mountain Grand Lodge, they've got the Avalanche Mountain waterpark right there. It's an indoor waterpark. If there are members of the family that don't want to get out on the slopes, they can go enjoy the waterpark. There's also a full service spa at Boyne Mountain. There's those types of experiences, well, the mountain's right next door. If another member of the family, or two, want to go out and go ski while the other folks are enjoying these other amenities, they can do that.
We also like to always talk about, travel can often be a great time to learn. In Michigan, we have so many wonderful museums, like the Henry Ford, that is a national destination. People travel into Michigan to visit the Henry Ford Museum of Innovation to learn about the history of all kinds of transportation, of all kinds of different innovation. The Kalamazoo Air Zoo, if you've never heard of the Air Zoo, it's an incredible collection of aircraft and aerospace, and there's hands-on experiences where you can sit inside and feel what it's like to be in a space shuttle. There's all kinds of really interesting things to happen. I think looking for those types of experiences, we are filled, in Pier Michigan, with those indoor experiences too.
Chuck Gaidica:
Yeah, there's no question about that. What's nice is that they can be just a gas tank away, if that. It's not like it's a super expense in terms of travel. When you think, you've already said you're a skier, so maybe there's a bias to my next question, but when you think of an ideal winter getaway, what do you think that means?
Nick Nerbonne:
Well, I love to have a place that has a fireplace.
Chuck Gaidica:
Yeah.
Nick Nerbonne:
I think I had a friend one time, and she got ahold of me and said, "Look, I'm writing an article about the best fireplaces at ski resorts," and so I was happy to share some thoughts. I mentioned Otsego Resort. It was a private club in Gaylord for many years, for decades. About six or seven years ago, it opened up to the public, so it's now anyone can come and ski there. They've got a place called the River Cabin. It has one of those classic round fireplaces, so people can gather around the fire, and it's in the center. Then you can go indoors, sit around the fire, and when you get done with your hot chocolate, you can go outside.
They get, in Gaylord, lots of lake-effect snow, so ski some wonderful terrain. They also do snowshoe hikes along the headwaters of the Sturgeon River, in this valley up there. I'm telling you, just give those types of things a chance. If you're not a winter person, quote/unquote, go do something like that, where you're doing something with snowshoe, where you burn calories, and stay warmer, and sit around the fire. That's the ideal winter getaway from me, is plenty of snow, plenty of opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere, as well as the activities.
Chuck Gaidica:
Well, I don't have my fire on right now, but I've got a hot cup of coffee, so I'm with you. I think being around a fireplace, even when people are coming and going from skiing, to find your spot where it's a little quieter near the fireplace, and just read a book. I mean simply just chill, forgive the pun, but it really is a great thing. Psychologically, just being near a fire, that's why they sell. You can go on TV, and you can watch a crackling fire. There's something about it that really calms our spirit. It's very interesting.
Nick Nerbonne:
Yeah, the fireplace is so fun. There's a farmhouse, that's a family farmhouse, and we had Christmas there one time many years ago. My great aunt, my grandmother's sister, they had no fireplace, and she bought, on VHS tape, a fire, and she played it on the TV near the Christmas tree. I'm telling you, you could almost feel the warmth coming off of it, but it does feel like it warms you up inside.
Chuck Gaidica:
Just a few years ago, they were building a coffee place near my house, and I saw them doing it, and they're putting in this fireplace. It was in the rough construction stage, so I just walked in. I just wanted to see what it was going to look like before it became the coffee place. I'm standing there, and the carpenters, and the electricians, and everybody's there, and the guy walks up to me and I said, "This is a fireplace insert. It's an electric fireplace." He said, "Yeah, but can I tell you a secret? We're instructed, all across Michigan, to never make it work and put out heat."
Nick Nerbonne:
Yeah. Right.
Chuck Gaidica:
"Because the place is too small, and if we let it heat up the place, people will leave. We want them to sit down with a cup of coffee and buy a donut or whatever." I said, "Well, that's really interesting." He said, "It's purely psychological. We've actually seen people walk up to the fake fireplace, there's no heat, and do this with their hands and like, oh, man." So yeah, we like those, don't we?
Nick Nerbonne:
Yeah. I think, again, it just creates that atmosphere. The places that incorporate it, whether it's a small coffee shop like that, or whether it's a large resort, let's make everyone feel comfortable, and then want to return.
Chuck Gaidica:
Well, you talked about Traverse City. I'll tell you something that I enjoy with my wife, Susan, is the stroll. Is in the winter, I think Traverse City, anytime, rivals places in America, but in the winter, you could superimpose yourself to veil in your mind. You could say it's like the mountains of the Carolinas, near Asheville. I think walking in the winter, grabbing a hot cocoa or something, and just going shopping, maybe before the holidays or after, doesn't matter, is just a wonderful place to stroll, and then find a place to grab some lunch to warm up near a fireplace.
Nick Nerbonne:
Well, I know that downtown Traverse City is familiar to a lot of folks, but having lived there for a number of years, supporting the local businesses downtown, and the independent shops. Just one quick example, one year I was home from college, and I went into a little gift shop down there, called the Americana Collection, and as I pull out my credit card, the person says, "Oh, Nerbonne, are you related to Doris?" And I'm like, "Yeah, my grandmother." That kind of experience, where you're truly supporting a local business, and you feel like you belong there, if you're visiting Traverse City, go down and see those shops. Go grab a cup of coffee. There's like four coffee shops right downtown, wonderful restaurants also, like Amical and Poppycocks.
Go down and enjoy, make a weekend out of it. Travel up there to get some holiday shopping done. See the tree lighting, they've got the big Christmas tree downtown. There's so many different opportunities to enjoy a Traverse City in the winter. But one quick addition on that, Chuck, have you ever thought about snowshoeing through a vineyard? Because there's an opportunity, out on Old Mission Peninsula, where they have a guided snowshoe trip. You get taken by shuttle to Brys Estate Winery, then you snowshoe through three vineyards, down to the Jolly Pumpkin Brewery, out there on Grand Travers Bay, and that is a ton of fun and very beautiful.
Chuck Gaidica:
I've never given that angle any thought at all. That's pretty wild. That sounds like a great afternoon. As you continue to think about this, people are obviously looking for places to go, but even in this high-tech world, we're a little confused as to where to go for the best way to get information on hidden gems, the ones that are staring us right in the face. Where would you suggest we go to check for finding the best places this winter?
Nick Nerbonne:
Well, we always say your trip begins at michigan.org. That is truly what we recommend, michigan.org/winter takes you directly to articles about different activities. It connects you with our partners across the state, that have their own tourism websites. Like if you wanted to learn about Escanaba, or Sault Ste. Marie, or Gaylord, you can find links to those tourism partners to find out what's happening. If there's unique events, like if Santa's coming on town on a sleigh ride, there's all kinds of different things to happen, or snowshoeing, or skiing, or whatever the activities are in the areas. Go to michigan.org/winter, and that's a great place to start.
Chuck Gaidica:
Every time you say something, I get a visual, or I just heard sleigh bells in my head.
Nick Nerbonne:
Yes.
Chuck Gaidica:
What another great thing, with your family, leading up to the holidays, is to get on a sleigh, ride out somewhere. It's just a perfect trip. Well, Nick, as we wrap things up, give us some takeaways, from your point of view, about what we should all be considering this winter, not waiting for another one. What can we think about?
Nick Nerbonne:
Well, first of all, winter is beautiful. We definitely, if we have somewhere to be, we've got to drive a distance, and we have to drive through snow. Yes, it is challenging. Slow down, have good snow tires, make sure you're prepared and be safe. Whether you're going skiing on vacation or whether you're going to work, it's always important to travel safely in the winter, for sure. We want you to arrive safely so you can enjoy that winter, but try something new this year.
I think our conversation about snowshoeing is a wonderful example. Find someone that has snowshoe before, or maybe who hasn't, find a place that rents them. There's a lot of folks that make rentals available for snowshoeing. Go out and explore. Do something like, "Here's a trail I enjoyed hiking during the fall," go snowshoe it during the winter, some healthy exercise, and enjoy the beautiful scenery, and try something new this winter.
Chuck Gaidica:
Well, Nick Nerbonne, it's good to see you again, and you are way more than an expert on travel that's representing someone. This is in your blood, and it's really cool to catch up with you again. Thanks.
Nick Nerbonne:
Yeah, it's been wonderful, Chuck. Thanks again for the opportunity.
Chuck Gaidica:
Oh, sure thing. Nick is a Media, Digital and Industry Relations Director for Travel Michigan, and we sure are glad that he was with us today. As we continue to get through the next couple of months, think about this, getting outside. We want to thank you for listening to A Healthier Michigan Podcast, brought to you by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. If you like the show, you want to know more, you can check us out. You can go to YouTube now for videos. You can go to our newly refreshed website. It's ahealthiermichigan.org/podcast.
You can leave us reviews or ratings on Apple Podcast or Spotify, and you can always follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, and get new episodes if you want to take them with you on that walk, or that snowshoe, or cross country ski. You can take new episodes on your smartphone or tablet, and be sure to hit subscribe on the Apple Podcast, or Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. I'm Chuck Gaidica, be well.
