If you are living in Michigan, you know the winters are long, snowy, and often gray. In my opinion, the best way to get through a winter season is to romanticize the season and stay busy with exciting winter activities. Keep reading for a list of winter activity ideas to consider in West Michigan.

Ice Skating

Ice skating is always a fun winter date or family event. There are a couple places you can go ice skating in West Michigan. If you are looking for an outdoor skating rink, there is one in Holland and Grand Rapids. The ice skating rink in Holland is new as of winter 2025. The Holland Ice Park is located downtown Holland. They offer 90-minute ice skating sessions for $10 each with skate rentals included. They also offer reservations if you and a group want to try curling, a sport where you slide discs/stones on ice toward a target range. The curling reservation price varies depending on the day of the week. For more information on the Holland Ice Park and for making reservations, visit their website.

In downtown Grand Rapids, you can go ice skating at Rosa Parks Circle. Rosa Parks Circle Ice Rink also offers 90-minute ice skating sessions, but the cost here is $3 for a child and $6 for an adult with skate rentals included. To make reservations, check out their website.

Skiing or Snowboarding

Whether you are a seasoned pro or interested in trying skiing or snowboarding for the first time this winter, there are couple ski resorts located in West Michigan. Bittersweet Ski Resort is located in Otsego, Michigan. Bittersweet was where I first learned to ski and snowboard. The ski resort offers several beginner-friendly hills and slopes. The picture above was taken at Bittersweet. Another option is Caberfae Peaks Ski & Golf Resort. This spot is a bit more luxurious with a nice lodge and even an outdoor heated pool, hot tub, and firepit. This activity definitely makes for a full day adventure!

Cannonsburg Tubing

To keep the winter sports going, consider tubing this winter. Cannonsburg Ski Area in Belmont, Michigan offers downhill snow tubing. This winter activity is safe for the whole family, and they have moving conveyer belts that you stand on to get back up the hill which is convenient. For prices and reservations, click this link for their website.

Sledding

Whether you have a hill behind your house or a sledding venue near your city, a day of sledding is a fun memory to look back on. As a Holland, Michigan native, Van Raalte Hill was the place to go. Grab your family members or a group of friends, and hit the sledding hill!

Go Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing is a less common winter activity that is fun to try! I recommend snowshoeing in Saugatuck, Michigan. You can rent snow shoes from Landsharks downtown. From there, you can bundle up and head to Saugatuck Dunes to trek some of their trails.

Ice Fishing

Ice fishing is another fun winter activity to engage in or try for the very first time. Of course, with this activity, you need some people with experience. In Holland, the Outdoor Discovery Center hosts days for the public to go try their hand at ice fishing with all materials provided. Check their website for more information and prices.

Cross Country Skiing

If the idea of downhill skiing frightens you or you are just looking for a fun and active date idea, consider cross country skiing. There are several companies scattered around Michigan that provide rentals and recommend trails for cross country skiing. For example, Pigeon Creek Park and Hemlock Crossing are two places you could consider. For more information on rentals, top trails for cross country skiing, and prices, check out Pure Michigan’s blog.

Find Special Holiday Events

I always enjoy finding special holiday events that the small Michigan towns are hosting. There are countless free events to attend, so fill up your calendar with fun and festive outings. For example, the Night of Lights parade is one great option downtown Holland. This festive parade is a great way to kick off the holidays with your loved ones! It often takes place during the week at the end of November or early December, so be sure to google the Night of Lights parade and put it in your calendar each year. Another option is heading to Saugatuck, Michigan to enjoy some New Year’s Eve fireworks. The fireworks display fills up the sky over the Kalamazoo River and is a fun way to ring in the New Year.

Walk Downtown Holland

Downtown Holland is lit up and festive in the winter. The roads and sidewalks are heated as well so you don’t have to worry about trudging through snow or slipping on ice. Enjoy a slow day exploring quaint boutiques, finding a new coffee shop or restaurant, and supporting local businesses.

Try a Festive Drink at Various Coffee Shops

Sometimes starting a new short tradition is enough to give me something to look forward to. The winter season can be long and depressing for me at times, so having something to look forward to is important for my mental health. An idea that could be fun for you, is trying hot cocoa or festive lattes at various coffee shops. Maybe this would be a solo activity or you could find a partner to start this activity with once a week or however often you are available. You could even go the extra mile, and rate the different drinks and coffee shops on taste, atmosphere, and service.

My all time favorite coffee shop is Uncommon Grounds in Saugatuck. Other coffee shops I like in West Michigan include Lemonjellos, The 205 Coffee Bar, Biggby, and Foxtail Coffee Co in Holland and the Madcap Coffee Company in Grand Rapids.

Conclusion

I hope the winter season brings special and unique memories for you this year! What a blessing to experience the four seasons even if you do need to plan a winter warm-up vacation.

Thanks for stopping by! Cheers to taking advantage of each day and season and making connections around the world. To read my other blog posts, head to the destinations tab on my website.