Spend Thanksgiving in Northern Michigan
This Thanksgiving take advantage of the extra time off school and work, and spend it with your family in beautiful Northern Michigan. Relax while someone else makes dinner and cleans up. Walk off that big meal with a hike along the lake or spend the day skiing, weather permitting. You can even swim and stay warm and cozy at an indoor water park. On Black Friday, find unique Christmas gifts for everyone on your list at the small boutiques, galleries and gift shops you’ll find in Northern Michigan’s lakeside towns.
Stafford’s Bay View Inn, Petoskey
The Bay View Inn’s graceful Victorian charm will make your family feel at home this Thanksgiving. Built in 1886, it’s the perfect setting to get away from busy, modern life and relax with loved ones in a place that takes you back to a time when life moved a little slower.
For dinner you’ll enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving Buffet with a chef carved turkey and all the trimmings as well as pumpkin pie. Black Friday you’ll want to shop downtown Petoskey for one-of-a-kind gifts, and don’t miss the Stafford Holiday Parade on Saturday, when Santa comes to town. Children can meet with Santa after the parade at The Perry Hotel, another Stafford’s property.
If you’re looking for an active Thanksgiving holiday, Boyne Mountain is the place to go. They have activities for the entire family throughout the long weekend. Fritz’ Adventure Camp will keep the kids busy as well as the indoor water park and arcade. Try out the zipline, and if the weather cooperates skiing, snowboarding and sleigh rides will also be available. Everett’s restaurant at the resort will serve a Thanksgiving Buffet, or you can have your meal prepared and delivered right to your resort accommodations. Special packages are available for the holiday weekend.
Great Wolf Lodge, Traverse City
If you have lots of kids to keep entertained this Thanksgiving, bring the family to Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City. Your accommodations will include all-day passes to the indoor water park, which is sure to burn off any extra energy produced by too many cookies and slices of pie at dinner. Parents can lounge poolside while the kids play, and the lodge buffet will take care of cooking, serving and cleaning up all that turkey. You’ll find lots of places to shop in Downtown Traverse City on Black Friday, as well as at the Grand Traverse Mall. They also have special packages available for the holiday weekend.
If you really want to go north this Thanksgiving, head to the Upper Peninsula and Ski Brule in Iron River. You’ll have a very good chance of finding snow for some Thanksgiving skiing. A complete turkey dinner will be served in the lodge. If shopping isn’t your thing, you won’t have to worry about any Black Friday crowds or traffic up there. They have a variety of discount package available as well as several different condos, chalets and lodge rooms to choose from for overnight accommodations.
