If you live in Michigan, it’s safe to say with COVID-19 and the extensive quarantine and closure of a lot of our businesses, we have been feeling a little cooped up in our homes and dying for a little getaway. Well, you’re in luck, valentine’s day is just around the corner and I have 5 places for your romantic getaway.
As I mentioned before, COVID-19 has resulted in a very locked up state of Michigan, BUT that doesn’t mean you should just door dash olive garden to your door and sit on the couch and watch the notebook for valentine’s day!
Yes, a lot of destinations in Michigan may be closed or restricting certain services as well as the number of people who RSVP or can get entry, but don’t jump to conclusions and rule out all the possibilities of getting out of your house for a little bit!
Let’s jump right into this list of 5 places to have your romantic getaway
Number 1 - If you can afford to take a nice road trip for a few days with a car that can handle the snow in Michigan, make a visit to Marquette, Michigan. Located in the upper peninsula, Marquette is the largest city in the U.P located on the shores of lake superior and is considered to be one of the best vacation spots in the winter time. If you’re a winter sports fan, take a trip on the snow bike route, go ice climbing, hit some of their many slopes on Marquette mountain, maybe try out speed sliding down the lucy hill luge track, or just going on a nice nature hike. Marquette is known for getting upwards of 150 inches of snow a year so don’t forget your boots.
If you’re not one to get chilly doing winter sports, Marquette is full of amazing views that are truly one of a kind. Bundle up and take a stroll to see what this beautiful city has to offer.
With COVID-19 creating hesitation in some destinations it’s crucial to support these local businesses as safe as you can knowing they are following the necessary precautions to ensure a sanitary visit. Book your room at one of their finer hotels and get the room service you deserve or hideout in a cabin or bed and breakfast that suits your getaway plans best.
Number 2- if you’re wanting to stay in the lower peninsula, plan a weekend getaway to Petoskey or Charlevoix. Take your skis and snowboards to Boyne highlands, Boyne mountain or nubs nob. Pack your ice skates and make a trip to Petoskey winter sports park or the avalanche mountain preserve.
Book a few nights at Petoskey, Harbor Springs or bay views most historic hotels that offer an incredible up north experience with breathtaking views. One of the highest rated romantic getaways near Petoskey is the inn at bay harbor where they say clocks and watches are forgotten. You might want to check out their romance packages before they’re sold out!
Number 3 - A little farther south, you’ll stumble across a place called glen arbor, numerous sources have described glen arbor as that feeling you have as a kid shaking your first snow globe and thinking, wherever that is, I want to be there, and glen arbor is just that and more. Glen arbor’s downtown not only has amazing sites, the little town gets some serious traffic throughout the year. Depending on restrictions, make a visit to glen arbor’s new addition called M22, taste a few wines and stumble over to the infamous cherry republic to get some chocolate covered cherries. After that you can head back to your room at one of the most desirable waterfront hotels.
Number 4 - considered to be the top Michigan winter getaway destination. Can you guess it? That’s right traverse city. Get amazing views of snowy lake Michigan at the grand traverse bay, and enjoy the festive feeling of the downtown atmosphere full of great craft beer and wine destinations that are regularly open during the winter months. There’s truly an endless amount of activities you can do from hiking the nearby sleeping bear dune, taking your snowmobiles and skis out and simply exploring the local shops, breweries and cafes.
Just to further support how great a getaway is in a Traverse city, I have taken one myself with my girlfriend, and made it extremely budget friendly during the holiday season. We stayed at the west bay beach resort right on Lake Michigan and it was under $100 a night. and it was well worth it for the money spent, and it was near all the amazing local shops and restaurants.
After taking a stroll around the town, we found ourselves walking into the firefly restaurant which is on the corner of rivers edge drive and Cass street. It was easily one of the best restaurants we have ever been to and the atmosphere was unlike any other. So if you’re ever out that way, be sure to make a visit, I heard they have done more amazing renovations to the place since I've been there.
And number 5 - this isn’t a particular destination, but rather an idea you should heavily consider, and that is simply renting out an Airbnb for the weekend somewhere you have never been before, planning an awesome homemade meal and creating a memorable experience that is a little more budget friendly than taking long road trips out to heavily desired destinations. Do a coin toss, point somewhere on the map in the state with your eyes closed, packed clothes for a few days and just run away and have an experience that is much deserved.
Thank you for reading my 5 recommendations for a romantic getaway, if you’ve been to any amazing places within the state that I haven't mentioned that are fit for a romantic getaway, throw those destinations in the comments! It’s time to make a memorable getaway today.
If you liked this blog/video, you'll love the second part of this series:
Cheers,
Andrew
Andrew McManamon is a Michigan REALTOR® with Signature Sotheby’s International Realty and provides real estate services to Buyers, Sellers and Investors throughout SE Michigan including Livingston County, Oakland County, Washtenaw County, Genesee County & beyond. Andrew has become one of the rising stars of Michigan real estate agents. Prior to his real estate career Andrew was responsible for managing a senior living facility in Brighton, Michigan as a dining supervisor and an activities assistant. Andrew’s passion to help people is unlike any other, and he continues to strive to be best resource he can be. Andrew graduated from Cleary University in Howell, Michigan with a double major and currently resides in White Lake, Michigan.