Last Chance Skiing - Schuss Michigan

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LANSING, Mich., March 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Don't put away those snappy ski outfits and equipment yet -- Michigan slopes and trails are still open and ready for the entire family. Choose from more than 40 ski destinations before the robins feather their nests. Michigan is lauded by Ski magazine as the top Midwest ski destination, so wax up, rev up and schuss to your heart's content. For ski and other snow sport and travel information, and to order the free 2006 Michigan Travel Idea magazine, go to http://www.michigan.org/.

Michigan's "Mitt"

Michigan's Lower Peninsula offers several choices to get in another winter holiday with family and friends from deluxe resorts to value plus ski areas. Head for Harbor Springs to reach Boyne Highlands Resort, offering deluxe hotel rooms, condos, cottages and a booming recreational and nightlife, all in the relaxed setting of an English Country Estate.

Imagine meandering through hundreds of acres of mature hardwoods, mountain streams and majestic snow covered pines while exercising your body and rejuvenating your soul at Boyne Mountain Resort in Boyne Falls. The resort features over 35km of groomed and track set trails, through some of the best terrain in the nation.

Crystal Mountain, located in Thompsonville, 28 miles southwest of Traverse
City, was ranked as the #1 ski resort in the Midwest by Ski magazine (2005
Top 60 Resort Guide). Crystal also received #1 in Lodging, #1 in Dining
and #2 in Family Programs honors as well.

Other Lower Peninsula Michigan ski destinations include...Garland Resort
in Lewiston 85 miles east of Traverse City. Hanson Hill Recreation Area -
a complete 1000-acre winter/summer sports park in Grayling. Nub's Nob in
Harbor Springs includes 248 acres of skiing on 49 slopes with a 427'
vertical drop. Family oriented Swiss Valley Ski Area in Jones has 11 runs,
2 quads, 1 triple and 4 rope tows for a separate beginner's area. Timber
Ridge is located on 60 beautiful naturally wooded acres in Southwest
Michigan and just 15 miles northwest of Kalamazoo.

Upper Peninsula Adventures

Point the compass north by northwest to experience Upper Peninsula slopes and trails. Skiers will get plenty of cool thrills at Mt. Bohemia, Lac La Belle, with the state's tallest vertical drop of 900 feet overlooking Michigan's longest run of 9,240 feet. Located in the in the Keweenaw Peninsula, Mt. Bohemia also offers triple black diamond runs for expert skiers.

The Keweenaw Peninsula is also the home of Mont Ripley that boasts 90 groomed trails, and a 420-foot vertical drop ski area on 173 acres, Mont Ripley offers winter adventures for all levels of skiers.

Ski the Porkies! There's plenty to see and do at the Porcupine Mountains Ski Area. The Porkies are home to one of the first alpine ski areas in the Midwest as well as some of the most scenic Nordic ski trails in the entire Great Lakes region.

Head for Big Snow Country in the Western end of the Upper Peninsula to make reservations at Indianhead Mountain, Blackjack or Big Powderhorn resorts. Buy a Hill Hopper ticket to ski all three resorts just minutes apart from each other.

Other Upper Peninsula ski destinations to choose from...

* Pine Mountain - Located in Iron Mountain, this popular family resort offers many amenities and skiing for all levels - dubbed the home of ski jumping.

* Norway Mountain - Beginner and intermediate terrain park areas have been added to the existing challenges of expert runs, mogul fields, a halfpipe and more.

* Ski Brule - New tubing park, 30 acre snowboard Terrain Park, 17 runs in Iron River. Known for the longest ski season in the Midwest. First to open and last to close!

* Marquette Mountain - New 65 acres of backcountry glade skiing; 22 runs, 638-foot vertical drop and three new super quarterpipes. The city of Marquette offers many restaurants and fun shopping.

Michigan - Birthplace of Organized Skiing

The U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame and Museum, located in Ishpeming, is the birthplace of organized skiing in the United States. Along with housing the Hall of Fame and Museum, the building includes a theater, library, gift shop, offices and plenty of storage space for archive material and collections.

Read all about Michigan winter sports and travel destinations by visiting http://www.michigan.org/; order the free 2006 Michigan Travel Idea magazine at http://www.michigan.org/, or call toll free at 888-78-GREAT. The magazine is also available at 13 Michigan Welcome Centers across the state.

Travel Michigan, a division of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, is the State of Michigan's official agency for the promotion of tourism. Travel Michigan markets the state's tourism industry and provides valuable visitor information. For Michigan travel news and updates, go to http://www.michigan.org/.

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