This winter, my husband and I braved 8 hours of driving in a severe blizzard (1/10 do not recommend) to drive up to Boyne Mountain in Michigan for the weekend. We had an amazing time so I wanted to share my experience and give a rough travel itinerary for anyone looking to visit themselves.
Where To Stay
At Boyne Mountain, there is a main lodge that’s connected to the main ski and snowboard area. I was impressed that the lodge had a cafe, nice restaurant, a full spa, fitness center, waterpark, arcade, indoor/outdoor pool AND hot tubs. Making it perfect for families to visit with young kids too; there is really something for everyone.
Friends of ours booked a nearby Airbnb which was very cute and cozy, but if we went back I thought it would be good to stay at the resort itself; split the cost of a room for 4 and double the rooms if we did a big group of 8 again. We also stayed in Boyne City which meant we had to drive around 10 minutes to get to Boyne Mountain each day.
Day 1: Day Skiing & Dinner Out
On our first full day after driving in the night before, we decided to jump right into skiing. The process was pretty smooth since we booked online ahead of time so I recommend doing the same. You go in to get your Go Card to scan at the lifts and then get all your equipment if you’re renting like we did.
We don’t ski enough yet to warrant buying skis, so renting is def. the best financial option for most people. I tend to get skis that are shorter for my height which makes it easier to turn. If you are not familiar with skiing, or related sports like water skiing or wakeboarding, I highly recommend taking a training class before going down a trail. Learn the basics!
The trails at Boyne Mountain vary in difficulty a lot. The whole right side of the mountain when facing it from the main resort area is seemingly dedicated to easier trails (green-level) that wind through the forest area. On the left side, you’ll see trails that are more difficult (black diamond and double black diamond). I’m more of a “enjoy the ride” green trail type of guy and my husband likes the blue and black diamond trails. Before getting on the mountain, I recommend reviewing a map of it so you’ll know where you are when getting on and off lifts. There are also maps at the top of the hill around some lifts.
After a full day of skiing, we decided to head out and have a little “family dinner” at a local restaurant. There are a couple in Boyne City but we decided on Stiggs Brewery & Kitchen which had some great food! I would say the brisket chili was my favorite item on the menu so I highly recommend getting it.
Day 2: Spa Day & Night Skiing
For our second day, we wanted to relax first at the spa located in the main lodge. If you forgot a bathing suit, there are some for low prices available at the store next to the spa (they are not the most flattering, but they get the job done!). We all bought the 3-hour pass which gave us access to all spa and gym facilities including the ones mentioned above in addition to a fancy indoor hot tub, steam room, dry sauna, and relaxing tea lounge. Being outside in the hot tubs during a blizzard made it feel like we were visiting the Blue Lagoon in Iceland.
After some needed relaxing, we picked up two large B.C. Pizzas on the way home (they even had dairy-free cheese which was great for me and another friend in the group). We chilled out at the AirBnB which had a very cozy room with a fire, got dressed for night skiing and then headed back to the mountain. The lines were definitely shorter for night skiing (which lift tickets are discounted for) so you can go down more trails in a shorter time. The trails are also pretty well lit.
We then cheers-ed around a warm fire (there are a couple of open bonfire pits spread out around the main lodge) before heading back and then headed home in the am after a very fun trip which you can watch my recap of here:
@ryanredoute Honestly, Boyne is a great winter vacation for any michigander to truly enjoy the season. I also gave an easy itinerary for ya. 😁 #michigantravel #michiganders #boynemountain #michigan
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