11 Winter Favorites I Can’t Recommend Enough in the Petoskey Area
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The Petoskey Area is the ultimate destination for family fun in the winter! This scenic corner of Northern Michigan is packed with can’t-miss spots for cozy indoor days and outdoor winter activities. Try your hand at a game of Krazy Darts at Northern Lights Recreation or laugh like a kid again as you slide down the tubing hill at Pond Hill Farm. Indulge in local beers, wine, cookies, and fudge. The adventures are endless!
There’s a reason my family keeps coming back to the Petoskey Area in the winter! These are my top picks, including classics we love to revisit and new favorites we just discovered this season.
Thank you to the Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau for partnering with us to share the best winter adventures in the region!
Northern Lights Recreation | Harbor Springs
Northern Lights Recreation is the perfect spot to get out some energy and refuel after a road trip to the Petoskey Area. Toddlers and teens will equally love playing a game of Krazy Darts while you listen to live music or watch your favorite team on one of the many big screens.
Louie’s Bar & Sports Grill is conveniently located inside Northern Lights. Grab a cold beverage and some nachos before heading over to the bowling alley, arcade, and laser tag for more late-night fun. Too frigid outside? This is the place to be for indoor fun!
Pond Hill Farm | Harbor Springs
Pond Hill Farm is a must anytime of year, but it’s especially dreamy in the winter. They have lots of yummy local beer and wine on tap for the adults and fun sodas and fancy hot cocoas for the kids and kids at heart. The free tubing hill and gnome house hunt is fun for families and a great way to get some energy out!
Feeling cold? Grab a board game and warm up over a wood-fired pizza and cheesy bread. This is a great spot to grab lunch or brunch and be sure to check the website for local music and happenings. This is a family favorite!
Downtown Harbor Springs
Don’t sleep on downtown Harbor Springs! It’s so adorable, they’ve actually put up a live Christmas Cam for the Hallmark Channel before.
The Rocking Horse Toy Store
The Rocking Horse Toy Store is such a fun shop to wander with the kids. You’ll discover lots of unique toys and treasures you can’t find anywhere else. My favorite aisle was full of puzzles, sticker books, learn to draw books, and a creative magnetic drawing board.
Tom’s Mom’s Cookies
Don’t leave Harbor Springs without stopping in to Tom’s Mom’s Cookies. The oatmeal butterscotch is next level! You’ll definitely want to grab a dozen to share with your friends back home.
Ephraim Shay Works Museum | Harbor Springs
Pop in to the Ephraim Shay Works Museum while you’re in Harbor Springs for a little history lesson and some hands-on fun. Located in a historical octagon-shaped house, this interactive museum will surprise you with various STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) activities.
Learn about mechanical engineering using belts, pulleys, and gears or create art on huge interactive screens. It’s perfect for kids of all ages!
Did you know? Ephraim Shay was a Michigan inventor, engineer, and merchant, best known for creating the Shay locomotive, a rugged engine built to haul logs through rough forests. He designed and built the Shay Hexagon House himself, which now houses the museum!
Nub’s Nob | photo by Jessica Bassett
Nub’s Nob | photo by Jessica Bassett
Nub’s Nob | photo by Jessica Bassett
Nub’s Nob | Harbor Springs
Nub’s Nob is known for two things: having the best snow and the best curly fries! They also have one of the best mini terrain parks in Michigan, and wait for it…it’s FREE! If you’re a beginner, you can ride the purple beginner chair at Nub’s Nob for absolutely FREE.
There’s lots of great terrain to explore all over the mountain, whether you’re a first-timer or an expert. And make sure you check out Pintail Peak for some spectacular views of Little Traverse Bay!
Need a break? No worries! Kick your boots up next to one of the fire pits on the huge deck and chill out with your favorite cocktail in the Winter Garden just outside the Nub’s Pub. Nub’s is known for having some great local live music and chill apres ski vibes.
The Highlands | Harbor Springs
The Highlands at Harbor Springs is the place to be when Michigan weather decides to throw us a curveball. Stay warm and comfy on the luxurious Camelot 6 chair. There is a bubble to protect you from wind and rain, and it gets better…heated seats! As the kids say, “it’s SICK!” The Highlands is also home to 435 skiable acres, the most in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, and the longest ski run “Lois Lane to North Peak Pass”.
There’s typically a DJ spinning tunes somewhere around the Main Lodge if you’re up for it, or end your day with dinner at Slopeside Lounge and warm up with yummy chicken pot pie topped with a mitten-shaped puff pastry. You won’t regret it!
Inn at Bay Harbor | Bay Harbor
The Inn at Bay Harbor is the ideal location for a weekend getaway to the Petoskey Area. You will feel completely relaxed and spoiled by their staff and the accommodations. Take in views of Lake Michigan’s Little Traverse Bay while you chill in the outdoor hot tub or ice skate under the stars. Plus, you don’t want to miss breakfast in The Sagamore Room or the complimentary chocolate chip cookies at the front desk…so yummy!
Breakfast on-site in The Sagamore Room is quite the experience. The foodies in your group will love this gorgeous spot. I highly recommend the smashed avocado toast, the make-your-own omelette, and the blueberry streusel pancakes. Did I mention there’s a bacon board to share? Need I say more! Plus, you’ll enjoy beautiful views of the bay while you sip your morning coffee. Pure bliss!
Boyne Mountain Resort | Boyne Falls
Boyne Mountain is full of vibes and adventure on and off the slopes. Home to the largest chairlift in Michigan, the Disciples 8 means there’s always room for the whole fam to ride! When your legs get tired, you can stop in The Eagles Nest at the top of the mountain and warm up over lunch and a giant game of Jenga. And now, you can even apres in style at the Midwest’s first-ever snow fort bar, Iglu. The fun is endless!
SkyBridge Michigan
Plus, the whole Mountain comes alive at night when the Sky Bridge is completely lit up with thousands of colorful lights for their Lights in the Sky installment. Not only is it incredible to walk over, but it’s also pretty sweet to ski under, too.
Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark
Ready for a break from the cold weather? Head to Boyne Mountain’s Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark, where it’s 84° all year round. Your family will have a blast racing down the slides and floating down the lazy river. Don’t be surprised if it’s dinner time and nobody wants to leave. Not a problem, just fuel up with chicken tenders & nachos from the snack shack or the Apres Ski Pub before you ride some more waves on the indoor surf simulator. You can’t NOT have fun here!
Bear River Valley Recreation Area | Petoskey
If you’re a nature lover, make sure you check out Bear River Valley Recreation Area. Located right near Downtown Petoskey, this beautiful park is home to some gorgeous rapids that feed right into the Bay. Hike along the paved river path out to the light beacon at Bayfront Park for some fresh air and gorgeous scenery.
Downtown Petoskey’s Gaslight District
Looking to do a little shopping or grab a bite to eat? Check out some of the local shops and restaurants in Downtown Petoskey.
Grandpa Shorter’s Gifts
Grandpa Shorter’s Gifts has a little bit of everything: toys, home goods, games, Petoskey stones, jewelry, fun vintage art, boots, clothing, and lots of Michigan-made items. I dare you to try to go in there and not leave with something.
Luci & Carl’s Candy Cabin
And wait, there’s more…an underground candy store! Walk down the steps in Grandpa Shorter’s and you’ll enter a real-life candy land. Luci & Carl’s Candy Cabin has everything from your favorite candy cigarettes as a kid to pickle-flavored cotton candy. This is the perfect place to pick things out for a fun candy challenge or use them for rewards throughout the weekend. It’s a must-visit for all ages!
Roast & Toast
Need some caffeine? Check out Roast & Toast in Downtown Petoskey. While they are known for their fabulous coffee, you can also grab a yummy smoothie on the go or stop in for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Kilwins Chocolate Kitchen | Petoskey
Satisfy your sweet tooth and get a tour of everyone’s favorite chocolate factory over at the Kilwins location at 1050 Bay View Road in Petoskey. Did I mention this free self-guided tour includes samples of ice cream and fudge? This is a great place to grab something sweet for all the special people in your life, or maybe something to snack on for the ride home.
Don’t Miss the Petoskey Area in the Winter
Don’t miss the opportunity to have some major fun in the Petoskey Area this winter. There are so many great indoor and outdoor activities to explore, and you definitely won’t go hungry with all the amazing local eateries. The Petoskey Area truly has something for everyone, making it a premier family destination.