Particularly for Midwestern families looking for a complete resort experience, Michigan's Boyne Mountain offers a more affordable alternative to flying out West. At just 500 vertical feet, Boyne makes the most of its modest topography. The 2005 opening of the base area's Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa, along with the adjacent Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark, elevated the resort to another level in terms of the guest experience. The hotel's family atmosphere with faux Swiss and Austrian decor has a slight Disney-esque tone.
As such, there is a reason why Disney World and Boyne Mountain for that matter are so popular with families. Entertainment and amenities are always close at hand.
After a day of skiing, a family can leave their equipment at a free ski check just outside the hotel, change into swimsuits in their room, and never need to go back outside for an indoor waterpark visit. At 88,000-square-feet, Avalanche Bay is the largest indoor waterpark in Michigan.
Skiers explore 415 skiable acres
The skiing and snowboarding, nonetheless, are still the main attractions at Boyne Mountain. Sophisticated snowmaking provides good coverage for the 415-acre area that generally receives under 150 inches of natural snow each winter. When the natural snow has filled in however, a few off-piste delights can be found. In particular, the unnamed glades just off the top of the Superbowl chairlift can give a decent taste of skiing in the West on much bigger mountains.
While Boyne does have a few short, steep shots such as Nose Dive and Devil's Dive, beginners have even more options. "If I have kids with me, I like Disciples," said Cary Adgate, a former Olympian with lifelong ties to the ski area. "It about traffic. It’s a little longer trek to get back there, but there’s less traffic. It’s more of a relaxed pace and you can do what you want to and you’re not worried about what any one else is doing and with kids with you, you’re not rushed."
Thanks to 12 chairlifts, including the world's first six-person lift installed in 1992, Boyne usually has the lift capacity to handle the weekend rush without long liftlines. During non-holiday weeks, lines are definitely not an issue.
"If I lived downstate and I had to chose between three weekends and doing a whole week up here, I’d go for the week every time, because you really get your choice of everything," Adgate said. "I just like midweek because you get the run of the place. It’s like having your own private ski area."
The lift tickets at Boyne Mountain are also good at Boyne Highlands Resort about a 30-minute drive to the north. Both Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands offer night skiing on Wednesdays through Saturdays. Boyne Mountain is located 250 miles from Detroit, 340 miles from Chicago, and 405 miles from Cleveland.
(Disclosure: Travel accommodations were provided during visit to Boyne Mountain.)
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