This is the time of year where our snowbirds leave and winter enthusiasts arrive. Snowbirds are the locals that spend the summer months in the area and then leave to warmer areas, like Florida, when the snow comes. The snowbirds see the snow as grueling with shorter days ahead, heavy snowfall, and below freezing temperatures. But for the winter enthusiast folks – they see it as early morning fluffy snow, thrilling rides, outdoor activities and a time for hot meals and warm cozy drinks. Are you a snowbird or a winter enthusiast?
If you are a winter enthusiast you might enjoy some of the following activities during the winter time in the EUP (Eastern Upper Peninsula).
Snowmobile: Have you been snowmobiling before? Snowmobiling is undoubtedly the most thrilling activity for the winter enthusiast. If you haven’t been on the trails before, first you’ll want to book your stay by visiting the Bay Mills Resort and Casino website. Second, you will want to make sure you get your State of Michigan-Snowmobile Trail Permit before hitting the trails. Then plan your adventure by checking out the trail conditions with the Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association Facebook Page Facebook Page! Here is my favorite way to spend my day on the trails. First my fellow snowmobilers all meet up and depart from Bay Mills parking lot and start our adventure by heading up through Plantation Road to take the trail northeast to Mission Hill for a scenic route. Once you are there, you will be welcomed with a breathtaking view, (if you haven’t already lost your breath on the trail), of Lake Superior. During my adventure we took plenty of pit stops along the way, to relax, unplug and take in the world around us while enjoying each other’s company. From there, we hop back on the sleds and take the trails leading us to the Brimley Grade also known as the “Old Grade” and follow the trail to go to Strong’s tavern, which may take a while depending on how many stops your group takes. Once you arrive at Strong’s Tavern, you will be amused with the atmosphere of other Winter Enthusiasts who are also taking on their own adventure through the winter wonderland of the Upper Peninsula. Then cruise around the trails with that feeling of adrenaline pumping through your body while the crisp air skims your nose. Once you start to get hungry, head to the Back Bay Grill and Games to warm up with the best French Onion Soup in the Yoop! After dinner head to the gaming floor for an electrifying atmosphere! Now it’s time to wind down in one of the hotel rooms with a jacuzzi and cozy up to get ready for my next day of riding! Each group has their own route, but remember that all trails lead to Bay Mills Resort and Casino.
Snowshoe & Cross Country Skiing: When staying at Bay Mills or anywhere in the Brimley area you will want to check out the snowshoe and cross country ski
trail at the Wild Bluff Golf Course. I personally used snowshoes because I have never gone skiing before. My two other friends and I started on the mission to complete the 4.5 mile path. We parked right at the Wild Bluff, got our snow gear on, and took off on our hike! We started out by being met with a hill that literally took my breath away! If you’re in-shape, it shouldn’t be a problem. Once we made it up the steep hill, we were met with beautiful views of Lake Superior, which was a must see and was 100% worth the struggle getting up the hill. While on our hike we heard some cracks from the woods and we saw a fawn and a doe from a distance. I mean, they don’t call it Wild Bluff for nothing… but we made it back to the car alive and well, it was definitely a must do! Each of the paths are groomed daily with access seven days a week. The 1 mile and 4.5 mile paths are single walking paths up and down hills. My friend brought their dog, but it had to remain on a leash at all times. Both paths are marked with directional signage or you can always view the walking map, attached below or at Bay Mills Resort and Casino Website and BayMillsCasino Facebook Page.
Comedy Club: If you don’t love the snow, but you are visiting the area during a winter weekend, you can spend your time laughing on the Bay every FRIYAY from January through April at Comedy Club! Grab some friends or family 18+, it’s a great atmosphere. My friends and I typically go every week! Comedy Club is just $5 at the door. Doors open at 7:30pm with showtime at 8pm. Comedy Club has a cash bar, and jello shots on special every Friday. I recommend getting the tray of jello shots for your table, remember you gotta be 21 😉 Comedy Club line-up can be found at Bay Mills Resort and Casino Website. When the show ends, join me and my friends on the casino floor!
Sault Seal Recreation Area: Another outdoor activity that is fun to do with friends and family of all ages is tubing, and sledding. If you are looking to participate in the fun, check out the hills at the Sault Seal Recreation Area located at 2601 Minneapolis St. (East of M-129) click here, Sault Seal Recreation Area Directions. There are seven hills to choose from with different slopes and speeds for everyone’s liking! The 1,000 foot runs have lights for nighttime use. When I went tubing my personal favorite slope was hill 7, with a fast bumpy ride! Perfect way to end your winter nights! Family and individual seasonal passes are available for purchase. If you are looking for Sault Seal Recreation Area Group Reservations, click the link and follow the directions.
Ice fishing: One fellow angler and winter enthusiast I work with, Jen Corbiere, gave me the inside scoop when it comes to ice fishing. Jen said she typically uses the stick-built shack that they tow on the ice either by a snowmobile or 4-wheeler. A lucky spot on the ice is then selected and holes are drilled with an ice auger (ice cutting tool). The shack is then placed over top of the holes either by pushing by hand or towed with a machine. The holes will then need to be scooped out to remove any excess ice shaving caused by drilling. Some anglers use a portable shack that is assembled on the ice and the same basic concept is executed. Jen said that there are several techniques to ice fish. For example there is jigging, bobber or tip-up and many more. Jigging is when a hook is tipped with a minnow that is then held at all times while lifting and dropping to attract the fish. Bobbers is a method in which a bobber or float suspends the bait at a predetermined depth in the water column. A tip-up method is where a bait is suspended by a device and signals when a fish bites often by a flag being triggered. All anglers prefer a different technique to get their catch of the day! During the ice fishing season many anglers are targeting walleye, pike, perch, or sometimes whitefish. Most anglers head out early in the morning and spend all day on the Bay because different fish species are actively feeding at different times. Before heading out on the Bay, Don’t forget to purchase your Michigan DNR eLicense or you can purchase at Four Season (906) 248-8282.
Jen Corbiere created a Fish-O-Meter that she personally made and takes with her to put in the shacks to know if a fish is a keeper or not!
International I-500 Snowmobile Race: One of my favorite events is the International I-500 Snowmobile Race, commonly known as the “I-500”. This annual event is every February in Sault Ste. Marie. The week-long activities kick-off on Sunday with mini kids snowmobile races. Monday, they open the mile-long track for public skating. Tuesday is Bud Clark Day, with vintage sleds that are 30 years or older, competing in races. Wednesday, riders begin the grueling process of attempting to qualify for the I-500 race. Thursday are time trials and the final round of qualifying for the I-500. If you are looking for some evening fun, check out the annual Pub Crawl at the local drinking establishments. Don’t forget to purchase your Pub Crawl shirt beforehand! On Friday is the Miss International I-500 pageant during the evening. This takes place off property. While that is taking place the I-500 officials work overtime to get the 1 mile track ready for the race. Saturday is race day! The race starts at 10am with doors open at 8am. The race gives an adrenaline rush for drivers, team members, and a thrill for spectors. It is the longest and largest snowmobile race with 500 laps on a mile long track with the average race being 8 hours. Each year the track is built with water tankers that deposit 1,800,000 gallons of water on the track over the course of three weeks – creates a layer of ice that is 12-18 inches thick. Each team typically has three drivers and is stacked with crew members who are busy in the pit during the race. The pit is in the middle of the track where drivers can make a pit stop during the race. The pit is protected by 10 feet walls and 20 feet from the track, to create that barrier for safety for team members in the pit. Each year, the race committee, officials and team members strive to make the race as safe as possible. Spectators travel from all over to watch this exciting race. It is definitely a must see!
Hockey Rinks: If you are looking to go ice skating in the area, there are a few local ice rinks. My favorite is in Brimley, because it’s an outdoor rink open to the public and is run voluntarily by a local family. There are many other local indoor/outdoor rinks located in Pickford and Sault Ste. Marie. The Pickford ice rink is indoors and is open 8am-11pm with family skating times available. In Sault Ste. Marie, the Big Bear Community Recreation Center, home to Sault Area High School Blue Devil hockey team, has two indoor rinks that offer open skating times and skate rentals. The Pullar Community building center, which is home to many hockey teams, also offers public skating times. The Kaine’s rink located on Easterday Avenue is the second city-owned ice rink in Sault Ste. Marie. This ice rink plays host to youth and adult hockey leagues throughout the winter. Lastly, the Taffy Abel Arena, which is home to the Lake Superior State University hockey team with many known Laker Alums on display. These hockey rinks are all home to the claimed phrase “Original Hockey Town, USA”.