Michigan Winter Activities to Plan for Now

A Michigan winter is on the way, and pretty much everyone in the U.S. will see some changes in their weather when December hits. Sure, a few areas, such as Florida and California, never have to deal with snow and ice, but pretty much anywhere else, you'll notice it getting a bit chillier at night and bringing on that cozy winter feeling. Winter is the perfect season for a bevy of activities that just seem better and more fun in the months of December, January and February. Embrace the season and start making plans now to enjoy it.

Northern Michigan is obviously known for its great skiing. According to Pure Michigan, "The Great Lakes State’s famed lake effect snow arrives in abundance, making Michigan second in the nation in the number of ski areas." Some of the state's most popular downhill ski resorts include Boyne Mountain Resort, Highlands Resort at Harbor Springs, Crystal Mountain,  Cannonsburg Ski Area and more.

Another unique activity in Michigan is seeing frozen waterfalls. Yes, it's really a think. Michigan's Upper Peninsula has beautiful frozen waterfalls, including the ones at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Ice skating is another great way to enjoy the season. In downtown Detroit, go to Campus Martius, which becomes a festive skating rink in the winter months. While you're there, check out Detroit's famous Christmas tree and listen to holiday music while you can. Contact me with your favorite winter activities.

Have you ever wondered what constitutes a real winter storm? According to Winter Storm Facts, "A severe winter storm is a storm that drops four or more inches of snow during a 12-hour period, or six or more inches during a 24-hour span." They also notes that, "All winter storms are accompanied by low temperatures and blowing snow which can severely reduce visibility."

If you think you've been in cold weather, think again. According to Great Wolf, "The coldest temperature recorded in the U.S. is 70 degrees below zero, measured at Rogers Pass, Montana, on Jan. 20, 1954." Also, if you're looking to get away from the cold, they note that, "The season’s hottest temperatures are in Miami, Florida where nearly every winter day reaches at least 60 degrees."

Also, if you've ever heard thunder during a snowstorm, it was probably "thundersnow." According to Mental Floss, thundersnow is "a rare winter weather phenomenon that’s most common near lakes. "When columns of warm air rise from the ground and form turbulent storm clouds in the sky in the winter, there’s potential for thundersnow."

Summer always brings a bevy of vacation options, some more exotic than others. But, you don't have to travel far or do something major to have a great vacation. There are many fun and affordable staycation ideas that can give you a memorable vacation memory by just staying close to home.

So, what exactly is the definition of a staycation? It's pretty self-explanatory, but according to the Oxford Dictionary, it's "a vacation spent in one's home country rather than abroad, or one spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions. Similarly, Merriam-Webster says it's, "a vacation spent at home or nearby." I think it's a stretch to call any vacation that's spent in your home country a staycation. That would mean that someone living in Michigan who travels to California for a vacation is really having a "staycation." It makes much more sense to define a staycation as a vacation where you literally stay at home or do something fun in your local area. Thankfully, there are a plethora of great staycation ideas out there.

Plenty of cities have "be a tourist in your own town" activities promoted by their local city tourist bureaus, which are perfect for a staycation. Really, staycations have been around forever, but they increased in popularity during the pandemic, when people actually weren't allowed to travel abroad. Still, even after the pandemic, the staycation is going strong. According to an international study by tourism and hospitality experts in the U.S. and China, the "staycation phenomenon" that started during the pandemic is still very popular and likely to stay as a new normal. The study, dubbed "Customer Preferences for Staycation Package Attributes," is published online in the International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. It researched the local staycation preferences of Chinese tourists, as well as staycation information from the U.S., Netherlands and Indonesia.

I love a good staycation. It can be stressful to plan a huge trip to squeeze into your time off. By the time you get everything packed, do all the flight stuff and get to your hotel, you might just feel like resting for the short while that you're at your destination. What's more, you can often find so many great places close to home that you've never experienced before. I've had so many great staycations where I ventured to a part of town or the state that I had never been before, and those are among my favorite vacation memories. In that spirit, here are some fun and affordable staycation ideas. Send me your ideas, too.

Have a vacation in your living room or bedroom. Make it a movie-watching marathon. Watch a string of your favorite guilty-pleasure movies or binge-watch a brand new series. Either way, it'll be cozy and comfy.

If you have a state or national park nearby, use your vacation time to go adventuring. Being at a local park can offer some breathtaking scenery, especially in the summer. Have a picnic out there, too. If you don't have a state or national park close by, try a local park.

Nearly every town has a local museum or art gallery. Perhaps you've never really had the time to visit your local museum or art spot. Use your vacation time to explore those local spots, and you might find a new favorite place.

If you've driven by that new hotel for a while and wondered what it's like inside, why not book it for a night? You don't have to be traveling to say at a hotel, Airbnb or local bed-and-breakfast. It can make for an exciting adventure right in your backyard.

Using vacation time to plan a big party for friends is a good use of that time. Instead of traveling around the world, bring to world to you. Invite lots of your good friends, and spend some of the cash you would have on a vacation for your party. It'll be the party of the year. Make that decade.

Pamper yourself. Maybe you think having a spa day is too much of a luxury, but if you're saving money by not taking a big trip, why not use that money for a spa day? It's not just for ladies, either. Guys can book a spa day for a variety of services. It'll make for a day of bliss.