Gaylord is the perfect home base for exploring Northern Michigan. We’ve visited Gaylord in both fall and winter, and each trip has been a completely different experience. Whether you’re looking for outdoor recreation, beautiful scenery, or a convenient location to explore Northern Michigan, Gaylord is a destination that’s worth adding to your itinerary.
Quick Facts
- 📍Location: Otsego County, Northern Michigan
- ⏱️Recommended Stay: 2 -3 Days
- 👨👩👧👦 Great For: Families, outdoor enthusiasts, couples, and road trippers
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: Year-round (summer for lakes, hiking, and golf; winter for skiing and snow activities)
Visitor Tips
- 🚗 Use Gaylord as your base. It’s an easy drive to many Northern Michigan attractions while offering plenty of restaurants, shopping, and hotels.
- 📅 Book lodging early. Hotels can fill up during ski season, fall colors, and busy summer weekends.
- 🍂 Pack layers. Northern Michigan weather can change quickly, even during summer.
Our Gaylord Adventures
❄️ Treetops Resort
Although Treetops Resort is well known for its skiing and golf courses, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. From horse-drawn sleigh rides and cozy winter activities to championship golf and scenic views in the warmer months, the resort offers year-round fun. We aren’t skiers ourselves, but we found our favorite winter activity here—Extreme Snow Tubing.
⏱️Time Needed: 1.5 – 3 hours
⭐Why I Recommend It
Our family loves snow tubing, and Treetops Resort has been our favorite place to do it. We found the runs to be longer and more exciting than other tubing hills we’ve visited, making it a winter adventure we’d happily return for again and again.
Visitor Tips
- 🎟️Reserve your tubing time online in advance. Popular time slots can fill up quickly, especially on weekends and holidays.
- ⏰ Arrive 15–20 minutes early to check in and get ready for your tubing session
- 💲Tubing costs $35 per person for a one-hour session.
- 🧤 Dress warmly. Waterproof gloves, snow pants, and winter boots will make your experience much more comfortable.
- 👨👩👧 Children must meet the height requirements to ride.
🍁 SkyBridge Michigan
Fall is one of our favorite times to visit Northern Michigan, and SkyBridge Michigan was the perfect place to take in the changing colors. After a scenic chairlift ride to the top of Boyne Mountain, we walked across the world’s longest timber-towered suspension bridge while taking in incredible views of the colorful forests below.
⏱️Time Needed: 1 – 2 Hours
⭐ Why I Recommend It
Some places leave a lasting impression long after you leave, and SkyBridge Michigan was one of them. The panoramic views, brilliant fall colors, and peaceful mountain setting made us slow down and simply enjoy the moment. As we drove away, we couldn’t stop talking about how nice it would be to leave the city behind and live somewhere like Gaylord.
Visitor Tips
- 🎟️ Buy tickets online in advance, especially during fall color season.
- ⏱️ Arrive early or about an hour before sunset. Afternoon lines can be 2+ hours during peak fall weekends.
- 💲Tickets start at $25 per person ($30 during peak fall color season).
- ♿ Strollers and wheelchairs are not permitted on the bridge.
- 👟 Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll do some walking before and after the bridge.
- 🌤️ Check the weather. Wind, fog, or rain can affect the experience and visibility.