Looking for a true winter getaway? Art aficionado Anna Heineman recently traveled north to Ironwood, Michigan, for a weekend of snow, skis, and soup. 
For a cozy and romantic adventure, take a trek north to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. In Ironwood, you'll find 600 acres of cross-country ski trails, where you can wind among the birch trees, pines and hemlocks, and glide over rolling hills and along rivers. The trails support classic and skate cross-country skiers, as well as those with novice and advanced skills.
Lodging ranges from the luxurious Hilltop House, which is has a knotty-pine interior and 18-foot ceilings, to rustic cabins with no electricity. The three-bedroom Hilltop House holds a family or a group of friends comfortably. Cook dinner in the enormous kitchen, or take a Jacuzzi soak after a loop or two around the trails.
For those who want a cheaper, rustic adventure, woodstove-heated
cabins are available starting at $40 (US) a
night. These quaint homes lack running water or electricity, but provide a cozy
ambience when tasty soup is heated by fire and eaten by candlelight. Even the outhouse in the back has its charm – despite the frozen seat.
Unquestionably, the Active Backwoods Retreat (ABR) trails provide an affordable and peaceful vacation for those who like to play outdoors. The snow that falls on Ironwood seems almost to come from a child’s imagination, as the six-sided perfect flakes fall quietly, yet pile up quickly on birch branches and pine needles. This winter bliss makes for perfect skiing. The North Woods truly are a marvel of the Midwest and are definitely worth the visit.
Want more fireside vacations before the snow turns to slush? Check out this West Virginia ski resort or brave an evening of night skiing.
Photos: Anna Heineman
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