With more snow on the horizon you might be dreaming of a warm weather getaway right about now, but have you considered a winter weekend here in Michigan? I recently spent a long weekend at Hotel Walloon, and truly experienced a perfect winter getaway. Located in Walloon Lake (between Petoskey, Boyne City, Harbor Springs, Charlevoix, Traverse City and Mackinaw), Hotel Walloon is roughly a three hour drive from Grand Rapids. Which is pretty amazing for a weekend away right? Whether you’re looking to vacation with your family, group of friends or significant other this winter Hotel Walloon is a spectacular weekend getaway.
Accommodations
The first thing I noticed when walking through the entrance of Hotel Walloon was the attention to detail. The rich history of this hotel paired with modern and comfortable updates is something I truly love about Hotel Walloon. During our stay we enjoyed a Lakeside One Bedroom Suite that had a spacious sitting area and beautiful views of Walloon Lake. Again, the attention to detail in the rooms with heated marble floors in the bathroom and the most comfortable bed made our stay so enjoyable. Each night they offer turndown service with an update on tomorrow’s weather and classical music playing on the in-room Amazon Echo. It’s these types of amenities and great customer service that truly enhance a weekend getaway.
Again, the attention to detail is stunning throughout the hotel and especially in my favorite Michigan room (seen below). Everything in this room (except the chandelier) is from Michigan – so cool! Cory and I loved sitting in this room playing cards with a glass of wine from the bar. They also have a wide selection of board games, movies to watch, or books to read that you can barrow. As a guest of the hotel you can also enjoy breakfast items each morning, mid-day snacks in the afternoon, hors d’oeuvres in the evening along with a cash bar and desserts at night. How awesome is that? Cory and I really enjoyed relaxing in our room each morning after grabbing breakfast and coffee (they have the most amazing coffee machine) downstairs.
Activities
If you’re visiting Hotel Walloon during the winter months there are so many great activities that everyone can enjoy. I think Cory and I loved the year-round outdoor heated spa the most during our weekend winter getaway. After a cold morning cross-country skiing this was the perfect way to warm up. Speaking of skiing, Tommy’s Walloon is right next door to Hotel Walloon and offers guests winter sports rentals like skating, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. The customer service they provided was awesome for a newbie skier like myself. They assisted us with the skis, boots and a map for the trails nearby which was very helpful.
If staying indoors is more your thing there are plenty of options. Hotel Walloon has a billiards room that’s awesome for playing with friends or other hotel guests. The hotel also offers a fitness center that’s great for fitting in your workout while on vacation. Also, as I mentioned above they have a wide variety of books or board games to enjoy.
Barrel-Back Restaurant
Located next door to Hotel Walloon (right above Tommy’s Walloon) is a casual dining restaurant for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Barrel Back Restaurant offers stunning views of the lake, a cozy fireplace (which I really loved) and incredible food. Trust me, on a cold winter night this place is great option for dinner with something for everyone to enjoy. With a wide variety of appetizers, salads, pizzas, sandwiches, pastas and more you really can’t go wrong with anything you order. Also, make sure you check out their specials like mimosa Saturdays, sushi Sundays, and live music during the week.
Cory loved the extensive beer list featuring many options from Michigan. He chose (and really liked) the Perrin Brewing Barrel Back Reserve that was aged in bourbon barrels. I enjoyed a crisp glass of chardonnay that paired perfectly with this wood fire salmon. With seasonal vegetables, wholegrain spätzle and brown-butter sage this salmon dish was absolutely amazing. Cory ordered the maple smoked beef brisket served with a smoked potato salad and a honey bourbon glaze. Trust me he was obsessed with the flavor of the honey bourbon glaze and how tender the meat was. We truly can’t wait to come back here again!
Things to Do Near Hotel Walloon
There are plenty of things to do near Hotel Walloon during the winter months. With Petoskey, Boyne City and Harbor Springs being a short drive away here are some of my recommendations:
If you like skiing or snowboarding – Nubs Nob, Boyne Highlands and Boyne Mountain are located very close to Hotel Walloon.
If you enjoy beer – check out Beards Brewery or Petoskey Brewing Company. Cory and I went to Beards Brewery for lunch and loved the food and beer.
If you love chocolate – did you know Kilwins originally opened in Petoskey? You can take a tour of Kilwins and learn more here.
If you’re hungry – there are so many incredible places to dine or grab a snack near Hotel Walloon. Here are some of my favorites Chandler’s (great for a date night), Cafe Santé, Julienne Tomatoes (perfect for lunch), Roast & Toast, and Tom’s Mom’s Cookies (the best).
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Hotel Walloon but all opinions here are my own. Also a thank you to Barrel Back Restaurant for providing an amazing dinner. Thank you for supporting the sponsors who allow me to continue to create content on The GR Guide.
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