Why I Love Winter Activities in Central Michigan
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Mick Haley grew up in Harrison in Central Michigan. When he left to attend Michigan State University, he thought he’d never move back to the middle of the state. But time in bigger cities and age have changed his opinion and now he says he can’t imagine ever leaving, citing peace, quiet and dark skies as the things that make him appreciate his hometown and the bountiful winter activities in Central Michigan.
Haley, manager of Snow Snake Ski & Golf resort, loves and embraces winter in the Midwest and looks forward to the few short months of cold and snow as much as most people do the few short months of sun in the summer.
Below he shares why there’s no place like Central Michigan in the wintertime:
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Have you always loved winter, or did you gain an appreciation of it as you got older?
I loved playing outside as a kid, but I didn’t really get into skiing until I was an adult. But I always loved building snow forts and going sledding every day at recess. Growing up here, you either learn to love winter or it’s tough.
Why do you love working at Snow Snake?
Mick Haley
It’s affordable, particularly compared to lift ticket prices in popular ski towns. It’s super accessible.
Snow Snake is probably the most affordable way to get into skiing or snowboarding. We’re just an excellent place for beginners as well as having something for everyone. We have programs to teach beginners or better the skills of intermediate skiers and snowboarders.
We are known for instruction here and if someone is interested, we can give them all the confidence to really allow them to have fun with the sports of skiing and snowboarding. We also have snow tubing. We have unique runs that don’t just go straight down the hill, and you don’t have to go down one tuber at a time. We have lifts for people to get back up the hill.
People have a blast because there’s no skill involved. You just sit down and enjoy the ride. You don’t need to have 10,000 feet of mountain to have fun.
The smiles that you have out there are the same smiles you’re going to have here. It’s a really good time and for a lot less money.
What else do you love about winter in Central Michigan?
I already mentioned the quiet is one of the reasons why I love it here overall, but especially in wintertime, the quiet is just so different. The snow has this dampening effect. You can go outside and just the stillness of winter is really one of the big things that I enjoy about it. There are different views with no leaves on the trees and different wildlife about.
What’s your advice for someone skeptical about Michigan winters?
You just have to embrace it. There are so many different things to do that we can only do for a few short months a year. It is such a short window that you get to go out and enjoy skiing. It’s such a short window to enjoy your ice fishing. It’s a tiny window that we fit a lot of really good things into. If you embrace winter, it can be a lot of fun.
What are your favorite winter festivals?
Houghton Lake, just north of here, is Michigan’s largest inland lake. And every winter they have Tip Up Town and it really does turn into a real city out there. It’s a big deal. Frankenmuth has the Snowfest. Harrison has the Frostbite Festival where we set up a golf course on Budd Lake. It’s played with tennis balls, and the holes are actually cut into the ice. We like to get creative in the winter.
“Don’t be scared of winter. Get a lesson. Get the confidence. Once you have that, you’ll be addicted.”
Mick Haley
Where do you go for a warm dinner or drink in a cozy environment?
Clare has such a cute downtown that has loads of nice places to grab food or a drink. I like the historic Doherty Hotel. It’s been around for 100 years and is super popular at St. Patrick’s Day. The “World Famous” Cops and Donuts is headquartered in Clare, as well.
Is there anything else you love to do outside in the winter?
Snow Snake’s neighbor just across the freeway is Mid-Michigan College and they have a really good mountain biking trail system. They hold a couple of big races and are open for fat tire biking in the winter.
What is your advice for someone skeptical about being able to enjoy winter in Central Michigan?
Don’t be scared of winter. Get a lesson. Get the confidence. Once you have that, you’ll be addicted. These can become lifelong sports. They’ll stick with you and you’ll find yourself planning your year around the things you want to do in the wintertime. And dress warmly! There’s a lot of fun to be had out there.