Shanty Creek Resort is loved by skiers and golfers alike. This four-season northern lower Michigan resort provides a scenic setting for getaways for any time of year. Winter visitors enjoy access to two mountains primed for Michigan skiing, while the rest of the year, visitors can visit their choice of four golf courses. All year, you'll find a variety of dining options, three villages, and a spa, where you can turn a visit to the Shanty Creek ski lodge into a full-fledged vacation.

When conditions turns cold and the snow begins to fall, visitors make good on their plans for some Shanty Creek skiing. Shanty Creek Resort seems tailor-made for outdoor adventure. Here, you'll find 49 ski runs spread over two mountains and a 450-foot vertical drop. These twin peaks receive an average of 200 inches of snow, much of this due to the lake-effect controlled by Lake Michigan not far the west. Most of the 300 skiable acres are covered by the snowmaking equipment, which ensures great conditions no mater what the forecast. Shanty Creek is typically open for 100 to 110 days of skiing each season.

The diverse terrain makes the experience of Shanty Creek skiing something people of all levels can enjoy. Nearly 40 percent of the runs are rated for beginners, with 28 percent rated for intermediate levels. Of the remaining trails, 31 percent of the trails are for advanced levels. The final 2 percent are just for experts. Younger visitors and the more mild at heart can still experience the fun of the tubing park. On the north face of Schuss Mountain, the tubing hill offers fives lanes of cold-weather fun.

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When looking into Shanty Creek skiing, some visitors will be seeking Nordic skiing. More than eighteen miles of groomed trails wind through the Michigan hardwood forests, suited both for long and short glides. Every February, Shanty Creek Resort hosts one of the premier Nordic skiing events in the Midwest, the White Pine Stampede. Rounding out the wintersports options, the terrain parks attract the attention of both beginning and expert snowboarders.

When you're not spending time in the great outdoors, you can spend time enjoying the warm and toasty side of the resort. You'll find a Shanty Creek ski lodge nestled among the three ski villages, home to various lodging options and things to do. You might feel like you're visiting a European village on the slopes on the Alps. Cedar River Village, on Schuss Mountain by the tubing hill, is one option for overnight stays with 85 top-flight luxury condos. Summit Village, which overlooks beautiful Lake Bellaire, is home to a lush hotel and fine-dining restaurant. The third, Schuss Village, lies at the foot of the mountain where condos and villas overlook one of the golf courses.

No matter where you're staying, a free shuttle can take you anywhere you want to go—since the resort stretches over 4,500 acres, it would be difficult to take it all in on foot. You also could enjoy this free transportation to downtown Bellaire, located on the east side of Grand Traverse Bay, northeast of Traverse CIty, to enjoy its shops and restaurants. A variety of stay-and-play packages include overnight stays at the Shanty Creek ski lodge or one of the condos, along with everything else you need to enjoy a vacation. In the winter, the packages include lift tickets and rentals, which summertime packages can include greens fees and golf carts. In all seasons, you can add time to relax at the chic spa, located at the hotel in Summit Village.