[Dave Wojo]

Hello!

Next week I plan on taking my 17 year old son skiing at Boyne Mountain/Highlands. This will be our first time going there. Folks that have been skiing there, do you have any tips, tricks, opinions, or advice?

Here is a bit of a description of our experience levels, in case it helps in providing a response. My son is far closer to a "pro" than I am. Through skiing with the ski club at his school and the couple times he's gone with me he's been skiing close to 20 times. This will be just my third time snow skiing, with my first time being just two years ago at the ripe old age of 43. I was fortunate enough to pick it up pretty readily. I chalk that up to my being an avid water skier. I was pleasantly surprised at how much translated over.

We're really looking forward to spending the day together, and to skiing on some new slopes. We'll likely be going in the middle of the week, with hopes of smaller crowds. Thanks in advance to all!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

[mofromcheboygankalamazoo]

Originally Posted by Dave Wojo

Hello!

Next week I plan on taking my 17 year old son skiing at Boyne Mountain/Highlands. This will be our first time going there. Folks that have been skiing there, do you have any tips, tricks, opinions, or advice?

Here is a bit of a description of our experience levels, in case it helps in providing a response. My son is far closer to a "pro" than I am. Through skiing with the ski club at his school and the couple times he's gone with me he's been skiing close to 20 times. This will be just my third time snow skiing, with my first time being just two years ago at the ripe old age of 43. I was fortunate enough to pick it up pretty readily. I chalk that up to my being an avid water skier. I was pleasantly surprised at how much translated over.

We're really looking forward to spending the day together, and to skiing on some new slopes. We'll likely be going in the middle of the week, with hopes of smaller crowds. Thanks in advance to all!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Personally, I'd choose to go to Nub's Nob directly across from Boyne Highlands...but Boyne Highlands is a close second. Both of them have great runs...and trails. I like the atmosphere better at Nubs and yeah the overall experience. But I am picky.....Where have you skiied before? These are northern Michigan Hills......great for the region, but totally different from out west...or farther north....

[Dave Wojo]

Originally Posted by mofromcheboygankalamazoo

Personally, I'd choose to go to Nub's Nob directly across from Boyne Highlands...but Boyne Highlands is a close second. Both of them have great runs...and trails. I like the atmosphere better at Nubs and yeah the overall experience. But I am picky.....Where have you skiied before? These are northern Michigan Hills......great for the region, but totally different from out west...or farther north....

They've got to be better than the hills in central Ohio. That's the only skiing we've done, so our expectations should be in line.

[Dave Wojo]

Just checked out the site for Nub's Nob. Their rates are even a few bucks cheaper. Would you be willing to elaborate on what you prefer there to Boyne Mountain or Highlands? Thanks for your original response, by the way.

[Perferator]

Originally Posted by Dave Wojo

Just checked out the site for Nub's Nob. Their rates are even a few bucks cheaper. Would you be willing to elaborate on what you prefer there to Boyne Mountain or Highlands? Thanks for your original response, by the way.

My reasons for choosing Nub's over Highlands when growing up just 3mi down the road from there was easy. I liked going skiing without it being a fashion show. Nubs has crazy challenging hills but I cant comment on that since I've not been skiing in a long time, the quickest vertical drop you will find. Nub's had a more local flavor than did the Highlands....but that's just my and others opinion. Both places are excellent, fun times granted you get there and not have to fight long lift lines.

Hope you have a great time!

[Dave Wojo]

Thanks much for the info. We're going to give Nub's Nob a shot. Partly because of the info you all provided, but mainly because my son really wants to go there. Not because he has any knowledge of either location. Nope. He wants to because he feels that saying he went skiing at "Nub's Nob" makes for a better story to tell his friends. Teenagers.

[Perferator]

Originally Posted by Dave Wojo

Thanks much for the info. We're going to give Nub's Nob a shot. Partly because of the info you all provided, but mainly because my son really wants to go there. Not because he has any knowledge of either location. Nope. He wants to because he feels that saying he went skiing at "Nub's Nob" makes for a better story to tell his friends. Teenagers.

It is the teen hangout ya know.

[ImaMichigander]

As a Michigander who grew up skiing at the likes of Pine Knob in Clarkston and Alpine Valley in Highland, I love the bigger hills up at Boyne. I used to love Sugarloaf too, but sadly that's closed now.

I live in OH now, in Findlay. Having been to ski in Mansfield and taking a quick look at Bellefountaine, I think that you'll do fine at Boyne or otherwise. Just stay to the slopes that are rated to your ability, until you feel more comfortable!

As you are driving, you'll pass some great opportunities to stop. Frankenmuth is great for the family style chicken dinners! There are two restaurants, that are said to share a kitchen but we like The Bavarian Inn much better!

There is also a truck stop at the Frankenmuth/Birch Run exit called Tony's. It is a truck stop that has MAMMOTH portions! With a teenaged son, that might hit the spot!

There is a micro-brewery in Gaylord, which is where you'll probably exit 75 to start cutting over to Boyne, called Big BUck Brewery. We like that a lot too. Gaylord might be your last reasonably close stop for groceries if you want snacks and such in your room. The Kroger there is really a nice one. And it even has a Starbucks!!!

If you are at Boyne Mountain, the village will have most of what you need right there. There are a few restaurants that are better than decent, but a little pricey-- and yet so convenient, how can you pass them up?

There is also snow tubing at the Mountain and that is a HOOT! Different from Mansfield-- as they have winding shoots that whip you around at the end!

Have so much fun! If you are like us, as soon as you kit the car on the way home, you'll be trying to figure out when you can get back next!!! We'll be there in the next month or so!

[Perferator]

Originally Posted by ImaMichigander

As a Michigander who grew up skiing at the likes of Pine Knob in Clarkston and Alpine Valley in Highland, I love the bigger hills up at Boyne. I used to love Sugarloaf too, but sadly that's closed now.

I live in OH now, in Findlay. Having been to ski in Mansfield and taking a quick look at Bellefountaine, I think that you'll do fine at Boyne or otherwise. Just stay to the slopes that are rated to your ability, until you feel more comfortable!

As you are driving, you'll pass some great opportunities to stop. Frankenmuth is great for the family style chicken dinners! There are two restaurants, that are said to share a kitchen but we like The Bavarian Inn much better!

There is also a truck stop at the Frankenmuth/Birch Run exit called Tony's. It is a truck stop that has MAMMOTH portions! With a teenaged son, that might hit the spot!

There is a micro-brewery in Gaylord, which is where you'll probably exit 75 to start cutting over to Boyne, called Big BUck Brewery. We like that a lot too. Gaylord might be your last reasonably close stop for groceries if you want snacks and such in your room. The Kroger there is really a nice one. And it even has a Starbucks!!!

If you are at Boyne Mountain, the village will have most of what you need right there. There are a few restaurants that are better than decent, but a little pricey-- and yet so convenient, how can you pass them up?

There is also snow tubing at the Mountain and that is a HOOT! Different from Mansfield-- as they have winding shoots that whip you around at the end!

Have so much fun! If you are like us, as soon as you kit the car on the way home, you'll be trying to figure out when you can get back next!!! We'll be there in the next month or so!

The Mountainside Grill across from the gas station has a delicious fish fry on friday nights and pretty good breakfasts in the morning. We live in Boyne City and that is one of our favorite stops.

[Dave Wojo]

Originally Posted by ImaMichigander

As a Michigander who grew up skiing at the likes of Pine Knob in Clarkston and Alpine Valley in Highland, I love the bigger hills up at Boyne. I used to love Sugarloaf too, but sadly that's closed now.

I live in OH now, in Findlay. Having been to ski in Mansfield and taking a quick look at Bellefountaine, I think that you'll do fine at Boyne or otherwise. Just stay to the slopes that are rated to your ability, until you feel more comfortable!

As you are driving, you'll pass some great opportunities to stop. Frankenmuth is great for the family style chicken dinners! There are two restaurants, that are said to share a kitchen but we like The Bavarian Inn much better!

There is also a truck stop at the Frankenmuth/Birch Run exit called Tony's. It is a truck stop that has MAMMOTH portions! With a teenaged son, that might hit the spot!

There is a micro-brewery in Gaylord, which is where you'll probably exit 75 to start cutting over to Boyne, called Big BUck Brewery. We like that a lot too. Gaylord might be your last reasonably close stop for groceries if you want snacks and such in your room. The Kroger there is really a nice one. And it even has a Starbucks!!!

If you are at Boyne Mountain, the village will have most of what you need right there. There are a few restaurants that are better than decent, but a little pricey-- and yet so convenient, how can you pass them up?

There is also snow tubing at the Mountain and that is a HOOT! Different from Mansfield-- as they have winding shoots that whip you around at the end!

Have so much fun! If you are like us, as soon as you kit the car on the way home, you'll be trying to figure out when you can get back next!!! We'll be there in the next month or so!

Thanks much for the tips, especially the food stops along the way. We're actually already up north. We drove up to our place in Ocqueoc on Sunday. We're heading over to Nub's Nob tomorrow. We'll be making the drive up from Ohio on a pretty regular basis between now and when we move up here in July. Those food stops will come in handy.