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Attractions in: Otsego County, Michigan

Location: Northern Michigan
Average Snowfall: 90 - 120 inches
Fall Color Season: Late September - Early October

Michigan Attractions

Apline Village of Gaylord, known to Michiganders as "The Ski Capital of Michigan"

Visitors to the area can take advantage of a variety of local attractions, picturesque scenery and the charming downtown shopping district. Shoppers will enjoy browsing through the unique stores clustered along Main Street, while appreciating the small-town atmosphere of this growing community.

Whether strolling through shops to browse at a leisurely pace, or bustling through them on a mission, shoppers will take pleasure in Gaylord's downtown shopping district.

Under the glow of new lamp posts and along tree-lined streets, Alpine Village shoppers will discover distinctive shops filled with unique merchandise and proprietors eager to please.

While shopping downtown among the Swiss storefronts and spires is a treat anytime, it's especially inviting during the holiday season, when Christmas lights illuminate the shops, snow glistens on the trees and yule tide music flows from outdoor speakers, filling the city streets.

Snowmobiling

Located in the center of Northern Lower Michigan's Snow Belt, the Gaylord area averages over 180 inches of the white stuff annually. Surrounded by rolling hills, thousand of acres of unspoiled forests and numerous winter activities, Gaylord is quickly emerging as a preferred winter destination.

The newest trail from Gaylord to Indian River is being touted the crown jewel of snowmobile trails in northern Michigan. The trail runs along an abandoned railroad corridor, crosses the Sturgeon River and winds through some of the most spectacular scenery in northern Michigan.

Local businesses put out the welcome mat for snowmobilers. In most cases, snowmobilers can ride from the door of the lodging facility to the trail. Both in-town motels and area resorts welcome snowmobilers and provide trail connectors that allow uninterrupted travel in many directions. Some of the most popular rides are south to Kalkaska along the Blue Bear Trail, west to East Jordan via the scenic Jordan Valley Trail, east to Lewiston along the popular North Branch Trail and as far north as the Mackinac Bridge along the Indian River Trail.

Galylord is also host to the Apline Festival with parades, yodeling contests and Swiss ands

Call of the Wild Wildlife Museum

The wildlife museum features a wide variety of animals, habitats, and activities.

Jimmy Jukebox Family Center

Family fun for everyone! While you're playing our arcade style games enjoy a Jet's pizza.

The Otsego County Sportsplex

A place where kids and grownups can swim in an Olympic-size pool or rent a pair of skates and take to the ice for "wintertime" fun, even as the sidewalks are sizzling outside.

The Otsego County Park offers plenty of fun in the sun activities:

The Park also features 80 wooded campsites with fire pits & full electric. Showers and Flush/Fill station available.

Big resort area with beaches and watersport facilities

Home to Michigan's wild elk herd, which roams Pigeon River State Forest

Abundant trout streams including the north branch of the AuSable, the Black, Pigeon, Sturgeon and Manistee Rivers

Gaylord Golf

Elk Ridge

Another Jerry Mathews's creation is the award winning Elk Ridge Golf Club located on the eastern outskirts of the Mecca. This is a big rolling course with elevation changes, magnificent stands of red and white pine trees, wetland and streams, with tough undulating greens.

Black Forest and Wilderness Valley

The Best in Gaylord Golf Rolling through 400 acres of lush Northern Michigan woods is the nationally acclaimed Black Forest golf course. Designed by the hottest architect in the game, Tom Doak, Black Forest features spectacular holes that are a feast for the eyes and a challenge for the game.

Black Bear Golf Club

Located 45 minutes shy of the Mackinac Bridge, Black Bear Golf Club is home to some of the most unique terrain in Northern Michigan. With four set of tees, both men and women will thoroughly enjoy the fun and challenges that await them. SPECIAL: Black Bear Golf Club is giving rentalbug customers a discount. Click here to see special rates!

Black Lake Golf Club

Northern Michigan's newest golf jewel is Black Lake Golf Club, designed by acclaimed architect Rees Jones, who is renowned for his classic style and unsurpassed quality. Jones found a welcoming canvas on 300 acres of the Walter and May Reuther UAW Family Education Center with mature forests, wetlands and sandy soil, which are a designer's delight.

Garland Golf Resort

There is only one word that can accurately describe the golf at Michigan's Garland Resort - DAZZLING! With four of the most beautiful and spectacular championship golf courses in the nation, Garland offers a golfing experience that is unparalleled in the state of Michigan. The natural backdrop of 3,500 acres of unspoiled wilderness provides a setting that is unmatched among U.S. golf resorts.

Gaylord Country Club

The scenic layout of Gaylord Country Club's 18 holes will offer golfers of all levels an exciting round of traditional golf. Gaylord Country Club features a classic style design with gently rolling fairways, minimal hazards, and some of the best greens found in Northern Michigan.

Lakes of the North Deer Run Golf Course

The headwaters of the Manistee River form a beautiful backdrop for Deer Run, an 18-hole championship golf course. The front nine, designed by architect William Newcomb, features challenging bunkers on every hole except the third - which has a pond that only stretches from tee to green. The back nine also provides an enjoyable up North golf experience requiring accuracy amidst the pine and hardwood.

The Loon

The Loon was opened in 1994 and quickly earned acclaims from all levels of golfers that played this beautiful golf course. The Loon Golf Club has generous landing areas, gently rolling fairways, large greens and award winning design that brings golfers back time and time again. When you add the vistas and superb conditions you can see what "Friendly Championship Golf" is all about.

Otsego Club

A classic parkland layout with some great views of the Pigeon River Valley, The Classic offers a very playable and fun round of golf with some of the best greens found in Northern Michigan.

Treetops Resort

Treetops special features distinguish it as one of Michigan's finest four-season resorts. Perched high over the Pigeon River Valley, this modern Alpine gateway offers an incomparable view of one of northern lower Michigan's most stunning landscapes - an undulating terrain with thick stands of hardwoods and pines.

Cities you can visit in Otsego County, Michigan

Bagley Township, Charlton Township, Chester Township, Corwith Township, Dover Township, Elmira Township, Gaylord, Hayes Township, Johannesburg, Livingston Township, Otsego Lake Township, Vanderbilt, Waters


One of our vacation rentals in Otsego County

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