From Jurassic Park to Hemingway: Northern Michigan’s Skiable Feast

Jan. 8, 2016

Are you a skier? A foodie? Perhaps a bit of an adventurer? Then you’ll love this day trek offered by Gaylord’s Treetops Resort combining all of the above, plus a snippet of some unusual northern Michigan history.

IT ALL STARTS WITH SKIS

Developed by Treetops’ General Manager Barry Owens, the creator of several fun culinary jaunts for Treetops guests, the Skiable Feast (name borrowed from the Hemingway novel “A Moveable Feast”) covers six kilometers of cross-country ski trails, placing five gourmet food and beverage break stations along the way, in coordination with Treetops’ director of food and beverage, Gabe Bober. A sampling of the foods offered includes a Western scramble bake, Greek yogurts, fresh gumbo, pan-fried cod sliders, balsamic tortellini salad, Michigan cheeses and assorted gourmet desserts.

“The first station is on our main property, where you’ll also pick up your equipment if you need to rent,” explained Jessica Kane, Treetops’ catering and conference services manager and one of the Skiable Feast trail guides. “It takes about four to five hours for the entire trek, which includes time for hanging out and costs $89, which covers all food and beverages and your trail pass.”

After station one, the Treetops shuttle takes you on a 20-minute ride to another part of the resort a half-dozen miles north, where you’ll ski through four more delicious food stations before the shuttle takes you back to the main property at the end of your adventure.

FOOD WITH A VIEW

The “other part of the resort,” for Skiable Feast purposes, is actually a little known part of Treetops and one surrounded by local legend: the site of the former Project Nature, an ‘80s-era wildlife tourist attraction that once housed several hundred exotic animals.

“A developer tried to run a full park there, with wildlife movies and trams taking people on tours,” Kane explained. “It was like a safari or Jurassic Park kind of thing, with all different kinds of animals — even giraffes — Photos plus by an Greyscale overlook Group with a restaurant and a gift shop.”

It went out of business after only a year and has been shuttered for decades, but Treetops uses the buildings as markers for the different food stations. Skiers can still enjoy great views of the Sturgeon River Valley, plus the remainder of the varied property where Project Nature was housed, which includes hardwood forests and cedar swamps.

“The spot where the restaurant used to be is particularly cool,” Kane said. “You, of course, can’t go into the building any more, but you get to take off your skis and take a break there, to enjoy the views and a campfire that we’ll have prepared.”

OR HITCH A RIDE

If skiing for your supper seems like too much work, Treetops has another culinary trek you might enjoy. The Wilderness Sleigh Ride Dinners ($119 per person) are a particularly fun distraction in the wintertime lull, full of camaraderie, scenic views and only a little effort on your part.

“For those, you arrive via shuttle to find a campfire and hot drinks, and then you embark on a half-hour sleigh ride,” Kane explained. “You’ll sit in a rustic wilderness cabin for a four course meal, and then travel back.” Whichever adventure you choose, these are both unique ways to enjoy food and the great northern outdoors, all organized by Treetops so you can worry less and just have a great time.

“We get a good mix of beginner and expert skiers for the Skiable Feast events, so it’s fun to watch everyone there,” Kane said. “And the challenging parts of either of these treks are hardly noticeable because you’re having so much fun with the food and drinks!”

To make your reservations for Treetops Resort’s Skiable Feast and/or Wilderness Sleigh Ride Dinners (Jan. 16 through Mar. 12; only eight dates available), visit Treetops.com or call (866) 348-5249.