Mount Bohemia
Vital Stats 260 skiable acres; 900 vertical feet; 270 annual inches; 45 trails, 70 percent gladed; 2 lifts.Tickets: $38 (all ages).
Lodging Bohemia's eight trailside cabins each sleep four and rent for $99 a night. Camping costs $20 per tent per night, a fee that includes use of the mountain's activity building for showers and cooking (888-937-2411; mtbohemia.com). If your lodging tastes are more conventional, you'll want to stay in one of the larger towns nearby: Houghton, Hancock or Calumet. A list of area hotels and motels is available on Mount Bohemia's website, or contact the Keweenaw Peninsula Chamber of Commerce (800-338-7982; keweenaw.org) or the Keweenaw Convention and Visitor's Bureau (906-337-4579; keweenaw.info).
Dining The Library Restaurant & Brew Pub in Houghton serves fresh fish and micro-brews (906-487-5882). The Ambassador in Houghton is home to the peninsula's best pizza (906-482-5054). The Michigan House in Calumet is the place for ribs and chicken wings (906-337-1910). Gino's in Hancock has great homemade ravioli (906-482-3020). For a local delicacy, drop into one of the many shops that sell pasties-pie-like turnovers traditionally filled with seasoned meat and rutabagas.
Après-Ski The Downtowner is a student hangout in Houghton (906-482-7305). Watch the games at the Bleachers Sports Bar in Hancock (906-482-9104). To quench your thirst fast, head for the Four Seasons at Lac La Belle, five minutes from the Mount Bohemia parking lot (906-289-4188).
Don't Miss The Michigan Tech University Winter Carnival in Houghton takes place the last week of January through the first week of February. Highlights include giant ice sculptures, fireworks and a townwide party with both official and un-official activities (mtu.edu/carnival). At other times of the year, a visit to the new Keweenaw Brewing Company tap room in the center of downtown Houghton is a fun diversion (906-482-5596).
Bail Out Nearby family skiing: Novices and intermediates should head to Mont Ripley in Houghton (906-487-2340) or the Porcupine Mountains in Ontoagon (906-885-5275). For more information: skithekeweenaw.com.
Getting There Mount Bohemia is near Lac La Belle (approximately 39 miles north of Houghton/Hancock). Take U.S. 41 North out of Hancock; drive approximately 35 miles to the Lac La Belle turn; turn right and continue four miles to the ski area. Mesaba Airlines (a Northwest Airlink affiliate) provides four commercial flights departing daily from Minneapolis and Detroit (906-482-3660; nwa.com).
Information Mount Bohemia: 888-937-241; mtbohemia.com; skithekeweenaw.com
FEBRUARY 2005
