Up North Staycation Deals for Winter 2026

Why go anywhere else?

When you want to get away from daily life and enjoy a little winter fun, you don’t have to drive too far. These northern Michigan resorts and hotels have the amenities and the discounts for a snowy staycation.

Crystal Mountain

12500 Crystal Mountain Dr., Thompsonville | (855) 995-5146, crystalmountain.com

Highlights: Crystal Mountain (pictured) continues to evolve according to its master plan, with thoughtful updates and expansions. Winter guests can stay right in the heart of the village in the upgraded Hamlet Hotel, or choose from bungalows, townhomes, and cozy cottages. In between downhill runs and shredding the terrain parks, check out the trails for cross-country, fat-tire bikes, and snowshoes. New this year is indoor golf with two high-tech TrackMan simulators.

Deals: Discounts up to 25 percent on select dates make staycations an attractive mid-winter option. (And youngsters six and under stay, ski, and enjoy breakfast free—two kids per paying adult.) Get in on lift ticket discounts on select days, including Sunday Funday from 1pm-6pm; Woo-Hoo Wednesdays for discounted open-to-close lift tickets; and Z93 Nights with great music plus discounts on lift tickets and rentals from 5pm-9pm. Plus, seniors get 10 percent off on lodging, and current military personnel and veterans will realize a wide variety of savings ranging up to 50 percent off for weekday skiing and cross-country day passes.

Boyne Mountain Resort

1 Boyne Mountain Rd, Boyne Falls | (855) 688-7024, boynemountain.com

Highlights: You don’t have to be a skier or boarder to get some big air: Stroll across SkyBridge Michigan, the world’s longest timber frame suspension bridge, by day for a birds-eye view of the ski action below, and come back at night when Skybridge glows with 150,000 lights. On the far side, visit the new family-friendly Iglu bar, an icy grotto inspired by the igloos found in European resorts and crafted just for Boyne by international experts.

Deals: Book two nights midweek and enjoy 20 percent off, or book a three-night trip at a 30 percent discount. Boyne’s Splash & Stay plan includes a discount up to 45 percent off at Avalanche Bay, with full-day passes starting at just $30. P.S. Locals feel the love at Avalanche Bay every Thursday night for just $20.

Otsego Resort

696 M-32 East, Gaylord | (989) 732-5181, otsegoclub.com 

Highlights: Ski and board on 32 runs, two graduated terrain parks, and expanded glades, or choose to cross-country on 6.5 miles of dedicated trails through the Sturgeon River Valley. Join the Winter Wine Walk on Feb. 7, with curated wine stations and warming fires while you walk to the Beaver Dam on the Sturgeon River. Or bring your valentine to Murder Mystery Dinner, on Feb. 14, with a curated buffet, characters, and intrigue.

Deals: The Stay and Ski package on Wednesdays and Thursdays is only $83.35 per person/double occupancy, per day, for lodging and lift tickets. Plus, check out Wednesday and Thursday Bump Days with $20 skiing and boarding plus $20 rentals and half-off deals on apps, wine, cocktails, and beers at the award-winning Duck Blind Grill.

Treetops Resort

3962 Wilkinson Rd., Gaylord | (989) 732-6711, treetops.com

Highlights: Treetops thinks of itself as a basecamp for winter fun, and with 27 runs among 1,500 acres of snow-covered terrain, guests will find options for beginner to mid-level skills. Choose full-service dining at Legends on the Hill; slopeside snacks, sandwich baskets, and sweet treats at the Halfway Café; and classic and inventive mixology at the recently renovated Bar 81, in a partnership with Iron Fish Distillery.

Deals: The Ultimate Stay and Ski package includes two nights lodging, daily breakfast, and dinner vouchers. Add-ons include lift tickets, extreme tubing, snowshoeing, and sleigh rides. Check the rates for the Weekend Stay Getaway, including discounted lift-ticket option. Romantics can choose the Serenity Weekend Package, with one night standard hotel accommodation, spa pedicure and massage, plus access to pool, hot tubs, and fitness center. Or go big with the Lucky You Two! Package with one night lodging, in-room amenity, and one-hour couples massage.

Shanty Creek Resort

5780 Shanty Creek Rd, Bellaire | (866) 695-5010, shantycreek.com

Highlights: The Shanty Creek collection of villages spans over 5,500 acres for a singular winter experience. Choose from four winter settings, each with its own vibe: Summit, (the original Shanty Creek), Cedar River, Schuss, and Hawk’s Eye. Ski and board, or skate, snowshoe, fat-tire bike, and cross-country ski on dedicated trails. Resort-wide transportation moves guests here and there, and the shuttle to downtown Bellaire is for off-piste excursions.

Deals: Try the updated Lakeview Hotel, the original mid-century modern lodge for a two-night stay with 50 percent off daily lift tickets. Check out Super Sunday's program at Schuss Mt., with lift ticket, rental equipment, and beginner group lesson for just $60. Thank You Thursdays are for current military and veterans, educators, emergency personnel, and service industry employees, with $46 lift tickets and $46 rentals, or $22 night lift tickets and $33 night rentals. And Wednesday KHQ Ski Nights broadcasts from the slopes of Schuss, with $22 lift tickets and $33 rentals.

The Homestead Resort

1 Wood Ridge Road, Glen Arbor | (231) 244-1521, thehomesteadresort.com

Highlights: Those who love the resort during warmer seasons will love the cozy vibe during a snowy weekend. Stunning views of Lake Michigan, Glen Lake, and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore add to the winter wonderland with skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and cross-country on its slopes and trails. Stop by the village of Glen Arbor for the Feb. 19 chili cook-off, or enjoy or ice fishing, conditions permitting.

Deals: Winter packages include lodging and lift tickets (minimum two-night stay). Super Seniors (80+) ski free, as do children five and under.

The Terrace Inn and 1911 Restaurant

1549 Glendale St., Petoskey | (231) 347-2410, theterraceinn.com

Highlights: This stunning inn, completed in 1911, glows with over a century of careful stewardship. Upgrades enhance the guest experience without altering the inn’s historical significance, and the common areas retain their Victorian charm, like the 1911 Restaurant, home of artisanal dishes. The Inn sits within the Bay View cottage community, founded in 1875 by Michigan Methodists and now listed as a National Historic Landmark. It’s an easy drive to Harbor Springs and ski destinations Nubs Nob and The Highlands.

Deals: Book early and save 25 percent for all stays Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. And if marriage is in the works, check out the Elopement Package, witnesses included.

Grand Traverse Resort and Spa

100 Grand Traverse Village Blvd. Acme | (231)-534-6000, grandtraverseresort.com

Highlights: You would have to travel well beyond Traverse City to find the soaring panorama found atop Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, so book a stay and get ready to be wowed, not just by the views, but by the amenities and the stylish comfort.

Deals: The Valentine’s Day Package includes a two-night stay, $200 in resort credit, a voucher for a glass of champagne at Aerie Restaurant & Lounge, and a late check-out (Feb. 12-16, and Feb. 20-22). The Stay Your Way package offers big savings on two nights of lodging plus a $250 credit good for spa, dining, shopping, and winter golf lessons. Winter spa packages are offered at attractive rates, and Wine Down Wednesdays feature 25 percent off spa services and 25 percent off a glass of wine or mocktail.

A Few More Deals

Winery lovers, book a two-night stay Sunday through Thursday at The Inn at Black Star Farms in Suttons Bay and enjoy 50 percent off your second night when you use promo code BOGO at checkout through April 30.

Veterans, active duty military, and first responders can get 50 percent off a midweek visit at Old Mission Peninsula’s Chateau Chantal November through April. A complimentary breakfast and coupons for wine tasting are included.

And mark your calendars for the TC Comedy Fest (April 15-20), when you’ll find lodging deals at the Sleep Inn & Suites Bay View and Pointes North Beachfront Resort; and the Fresh Coast Film Festival: TC Edition (April 30-May 4), with a 20 percent off rate at the Baywatch Resort.

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