Winter in the Midwest is undoubtedly one of the worst things you can experience. The cold is bitter and the Polar Vortex has made it worse. I love the snow but we never seem to get it with any kind of consistency and no longer have access to open fields for snowmobiling or hills for sledding. Thankfully, there’s a place called Michigan.

Michigan is gorgeous in the summer and gorgeous in the winter. Kim and I love snowboarding and make it a point to go every year. Last year, we had the pleasure of staying a week in Telluride. This year was a much tighter budget, but still a lot of fun. To celebrate two years of being together, my birthday along with Valentine’s Day, we drove up to Boyne Highlands for a day on the slopes.

We’ve experienced most ski options in lower Michigan, but this was our first time at Boyne. It did not disappoint. It has significantly more runs and lifts compared to Bittersweet or Caberfae or even Crystal. It has some runs that could *possibly* actually qualify as black diamonds, though it’s about a 5 second trip down them. We spent a solid 8 hours and were able to bounce around enough to keep us entertained the whole time. They easily have the best lodge dining I’ve come across. One of the biggest selling points is that a lift ticket to Boyne Highlands is also transferable to Boyne Mountain about 30 minutes away. If you happen to have a full day and get bored at one, pack up and hit the other. We were limited on time and not able to do it, but it was a great time nonetheless.

Side note: We made a stop at Kilwin’s on the way home for dessert before dinner. Lots of options, totally delicious.

While I love my GoPro, I have a hard time taking it out because I prefer to just ride and enjoy the snow. Check out a quick video of the experience.