You may wonder what to do in Michigan during the cold winter months. Thick snowfalls set the scene for all kinds of outdoor activities. Skiing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing are all popular activities. If they aren’t your jam, you can also stay inside in the warmth and watch movies or play games.
Visit a casino
Why not try visiting a casino in the winter months? Playing slots or table games can be so immersive that the cold weather will be the last thing on your mind. You won’t have to leave for a meal either; most casinos offer casual snacks as well as full-service restaurants where you can enjoy a gourmet meal. Casinos also offer entertainment in the evenings. At Michigan’s Gun Lake Casino, you can watch live artists and stand-up comedians. If you can’t travel to the casino, you can also play online casino games at Play Gun Lake from your home.
Watch snowmobile racing
At Sault Ste. Marie winter is the time when the world’s largest snowmobile race occurs. Many snowmobiles go round and round the 1-mile track at great speed. This is an exciting event to watch. It may just give you the urge to try out snowmobiling yourself on one of many Michigan trails.
See blue ice at Grand Haven State Park
At Grand Haven State Park in Michigan, you can see a weather phenomenon unique to Michigan. Blue ice refers to the huge ice chunks that emit a blue hue on the shoreline of the Great Lakes. When ice forms without air bubbles, the light passes through without interference and creates the hue. You can also enjoy walking along the shoreline to the pier and lighthouse. The views of Lake Michigan in winter are quite stunning.
Go on a cross-country ski trail
One of the winter activities in Michigan is to go on a cross-country ski trail. You can do this at the Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park. It has the longest-lighted trail in the Midwest. A big draw in the winter is the huge luge truck you can climb aboard to speed downhill at nearly 30 mph. You can also learn how to luge under the lights in special nightly sessions or skate through the forest on a lighted quarter-mile skating path.
Watch TV
You don’t have to go out into the cold weather to enjoy yourself in winter. The Hallmark channel ratings have surpassed major news network ratings. It seems as though viewers are watching TV for fun rather than to see relentless political coverage and negativity. You can choose to watch some heartwarming and uplifting family content.
Try out some ice fishing
On a frozen lake, you can fish in places where it normally isn’t possible. All you need to do is to create a hole in the thick ice. There are classes where you can learn about ice fishing techniques, how to rig your rod etc. It is also important to learn safety tips so you won’t fall through thin ice. One lake with solid ice where you can catch fish like walleye is Lake Gogebic in the Upper Peninsula.
Join a snowshoe hike
There are various snowshoe hikes led by guides that take place throughout Michigan in winter. One of these occurs at the Porkies Winter Sports Complex in February. It starts at the ski hill entrance in the early evening and follows the Lake Superior trail which is lit by the lights of kerosene lanterns. Walkers and skiers are also welcome on the one-mile loop trail.