My city of residence, Chicago, is highly acclaimed for a lot of things. Whether it’s being by the beautiful Lake Michigan, tall skyscrapers, stunning architecture or a happening food scene. But it is notorious for its brutal winters.
Late December 2020, my husband and I wanted to get out of town for a laidback vacation. As if winters in Chicago weren’t enough, we decided to travel to an even colder place (I’d blame that on our adventurous spirit :)). We drove to Traverse City in Northern Michigan region and spent a few days there, taking it easy. The drive takes about 5 hours and was quite scenic, as a lot of areas had gotten quite a bit of snow already. In this post, I want to share about two highlights for me from our vacation.
Outdoor Dining
How do you get creative with outdoor dining in the middle of a pandemic and when it’s freezing cold outside? You construct igloos, of course! Hop Lot Brewing Co. did a great job at this and this was the perfect way to maintain social distancing and yet, enjoy outdoor dining, without freezing!
Each of the igloos permitted a party of no more than 6, and had a heater inside for additional warmth. The ordering experience was seamless, and contact-free. You can simply order from your phone, by scanning a QR code inside the igloo. Once ready, a notification pops up on the phone, and you pick it up from the food pick-up station, just a few steps away. The drinks are brought to you and kept on the table, just outside of your igloo, for contact-free service. Each party can book the igloo for 1 hour only, so as to allow other guests to experience it as well. Reservations are recommended. There are also some fire-pits around, in case one wanted to enjoy the ambience for longer. As the sun went down, the whole igloo dining experience felt very special, with some amazing food, drinks, the fairy lights outside and fresh snow on the ground.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
The most note-worthy attraction close to Traverse City, is the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The park covers a 35-mile long stretch of Lake Michigan’s coastline, as well as some islands. It’s a popular camping destination and is well-known for its Dune Climb. The dune climb is accessible by foot, and should take no more than an hour and a half to hike up the dunes and reach the tranquil blue expanse of Lake Michigan. Or you can stick to the main dune and sled down the hill. It’s a popular winter and summer destination for tourists.
Here are some photos I took from our hike up the dunes. The view from the top of the dunes was breath-taking!
Have you had any great experiences with outdoor dining or hikes in nature during last year? Do tell below!
Alas, guests could reserve the igloo for an hour only.
Was it warm enough inside?
Thanks for sharing your experience with us.