From downhill and cross-country skiing to fat-tire biking, snowshoeing, ice skating, and more, there’s plenty of powder for every outdoor activity this year.
And guess what? Not only does going down the slopes or hiking up a frozen dune give you a full-body workout, but being out in the white stuff is really good for the gray matter between your ears, too.
There are lots of ways to cure cabin fever this winter in the Traverse City area. For example, there are nearly 60 downhill ski runs and 25 kilometers of cross-country ski trails at Crystal Mountain. Along the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore are thousands of acres for snowshoeing, plus epic sledding down the iconic Dune Climb in Glen Arbor. The Grand Traverse Commons Natural Area has several trails perfect for fat tire biking through the snow.
Ways to Relax Indoors in the Traverse City Area
Of course, outdoor recreation doesn’t have the corner on winter wellness. There also are lots of indoor options in the Traverse City area for taking care of your mental health.
At the Delamar, you can unwind in guest rooms flooded with natural light through floor-to-ceiling windows that offer spectacular views of Grand Traverse Bay. The hotel’s Yen Yoga + Fitness studios host dozens of classes each week. There’s a 24-hour fitness center with a full range of workout equipment including Peloton bikes as well as an indoor swimming pool, whirlpool, and sauna.
There’s even an outdoor pool that’s heated to a steamy 93 degrees and surrounded by cozy cabanas that you can reserve for an uber-relaxing experience.
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa offers extensive wellness amenities including a 100,000-square-foot health club with a weight room, fitness studio, indoor tennis and pickleball courts, multiple indoor pools, and a water playground for the kids and adults-only hot tubs. The spa itself offers a comprehensive menu of treatments from massages to facials, manicures, pedicures, hair care, and more.
Meanwhile, at Crystal Mountain, the resort’s state-of-the-art Peak Fitness Center offers wellness classes such as water aerobics and different kinds of yoga that focus on enhancing your flexibility and strength.
At Crystal Spa, you can find infrared saunas to sweat out toxins, eucalyptus steam rooms to clear any seasonal congestion, and a Vichy shower to soothe tense muscles. You also can sign up for a deep-tissue massage or even just sip hot tea in the resort’s Relaxation Lounge.
More suggestions for winter wellness in our region:
- Take the kids to Great Wolf Lodge or lounge the day away at one of the many other indoor swimming pools in the Traverse City area.
- Snowshoe through the Michigan Legacy Art Park, which features more than 50 mind-expanding outdoor sculptures in a peaceful 30-acre forest preserve.
- Sip ice wine on a Traverse City wine tour and maybe even cross-country ski through a tranquil vineyard.
- Pop into a National Writers Series live event and be inspired by some of the country’s most beloved authors.
- Encounter thought-provoking works of art on exhibit at the Dennos Museum Center.
- Make your way through the snow and back in time to explore the historic nostalgia of the Great Lakes lighthouses.
- Browse the shelves for health and wellness titles at Higher Self Bookstore in downtown Traverse City.
