Winter Weekend in Beulah, MIchigan

There is truly nothing like the magic of Northern Michigan. While many people flock up north in the summer, there is so much to see and explore in the snowy season (and without the crowds!) Whether you're looking to hit the slopes, have a drink in a tent or igloo, or simply snuggle up in a cozy Airbnb for the weekend, you'll find it in Beulah, Michigan. 

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Where to stay

We had the coziest winter weekend getaway at The Daisy - a newly renovated cottage in the heart of Beulah. It was the perfect location for all of our adventures including walking distance to the many shops, restaurants, and breweries in downtown Beulah (and Crystal Lake in the summer) and just short drive from Crystal Mountain, Frankfort, and Sleeping Bear Dunes. Once you step foot inside you may never want to leave though. Every room of The Daisy is designed with chic decor and amazing attention to detail. And the best part is the home sleeps up to 10 guests with three bedrooms and a fully stocked kitchen and dining area making it a great place to stay for families or groups of friends. Check out their full listing on Airbnb.

Disclaimer: We were hosted for two nights by The Daisy. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Where to eat/drink

If there’s one thing our recent getaway to Beulah had, it was amazing places to eat and drink. I’ve rounded up a list of our favorites for you to check out:

Five Shores Brewery - a lively taproom located in downtown Beulah. They have beer as well as wine, mead, cider, and seltzer on tap. I tried to the Currant Events mead which was a mix of honey, black currants & blueberries. Make sure to snap a photo with their rainbow trout mural on the side of the tap room. 

St. Ambrose Cellars - book an igloo or grab a drink inside their rustic tasting room. You can mix and match anything on the menu to build your own flight. Be sure to try their signature mead or the Sparkle Beach which is their best selling white wine with bubbles and glitter. They also have wood-fired pizza and other pub style food available on site and live music on the weekends. 

Storm Cloud Brewery - the original taproom is located in downtown Frankfort and the Parkview taproom is open seasonly with a larger outdoor beer garden. We have been here a handful of times and it keeps us coming back for more. Pair your Belgian-style ale with their signature Thai One On pizza with shrimp and Thai curry sauce. 

Iron Fish Distillery - book a tent in their winter Basecamp or dine indoors. You can reserve one of their tents online for 90 minutes (Fun fact: each one is named after fish found in northern Michigan lakes and rivers) and enjoy hand crafted cocktails and wood-fired pizza.I had the Martha’s Mule paired with the creamy spinach and bacon dip and Iron Field pizza with elk sausage - yum! The tents are also heated and we were plenty warm.

Birch and Maple - located in downtown Frankfort we stopped in for brunch on Sunday morning before we headed out of town. This eatery overlooks the Betsie Bay and serves up craft cocktails with modern dishes. The food was delicious and they had unique specials in addition to brunch classics like the breakfast burrito and strawberries and cream French toast. 

Where to Play

One of the main reasons for our trip up north was to ski at Crystal Mountain for the first time. With 58 trails and 8 lifts there are runs here for all skill levels. You can purchase your tickets online in advance and stop at one of their convenient pick up stations to grab your RFID card on the way in and hit the slopes. 

Crystal Mountain was located only a short drive from The Daisy home so we got there early in the morning and skied all day. There are multiple restaurants and bars on site to grab lunch or dinner. We ended our night with a sunset Surrey ride around the property. The ride is around 20 minutes and comes with complimentary hot chocolate. 

Point Betsie Lighthouse - The lighthouse is technically closed in the winter but you can park along the road and access it via the beach. Honestly I think this is one lighthouse that may be prettier in the winter. It's a quick stop but definitely worth the views. 

Aracdia Inspiration Point - Another quick stop for amazing views is located just off the side of the road along M22. One of the best parts of winter travel is that you're likely to have it all to yourself. A short set of stairs will take you up to stunning views of Lake Michigan. 

Muskegon Luge - Since we were driving home along the lakeshore we decided to stop at Muskegon Luge for one last winter adventure. The winter sports park is home to one of only four luge tracks in the US and offers Learn to Luge classes where participants can race down the track reaching speeds of up to 30 mph. You can also skate through the pines on their ice skating trail and snowshoe and cross country ski on miles of groomed trails.