12 Unique Winter Things to Do in West Michigan (2023)

FAQs

What is there to do on the west side of Michigan in the winter? ›

When you visit Lake Michigan's beautiful beaches and trails in winter, you'll see them in a whole new light. Try snow hiking, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing on quiet trails, or get your heart pumping with some snowmobiling, downhill skiing or snowboarding.

The Grand Haven Area is a year-round destination with plenty of outdoor activities to keep you busy this winter: skiing, downhill or cross-country, ice skating, snowshoeing and sledding, just to name a few. Area parks are full of groomed and ungroomed trails to explore. Park restrooms are open.

Quotes. C. R. Snider, National Weather Service Meteorologist in Ann Arbor, Michigan, said on January 30, 1978: The most extensive and very nearly the most severe blizzard in Michigan history raged January 26, 1978 and into part of Friday January 27.

Lake Superior is the world's largest freshwater lake by area (31,700 mi2 /82,100 km2). It is also the coldest and deepest of the Great Lakes, with a maximum depth of 406 meters (1,332 feet). By most measures, it is the healthiest of all the Great Lakes.

The Grand Haven area is famous for its soft-sand beaches , picturesque lighthouse, and musical fountain which plays nightly from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

For Non-residents, it's $9 per day pass or $33 for an annual pass. There is limited free street parking available on Harbor Drive.

Today's Grand Haven sea temperature is 47 °F.

The Coldest Place in Michigan (-51°!)

Vanderbilt, Michigan, is a small town located in the northern part of the state. On February 9, 1934, temperatures dropped to a record low of -51°F. This temperature remains the coldest ever recorded in Michigan to this day.

Is Michigan one of the coldest state? ›

The coldest states in the US are Alaska, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Montana, Maine, Wisconsin, Idaho, Vermont, and Michigan. Alaska is the coldest state in the US, with an average annual temperature of 30.7 F°.

According to a list compiled by Stacker, the coldest city in all of Michigan is Sault Ste. Marie.

Tips for viewing the northern lights

The best aurora is usually within an hour or two of midnight (between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. local time). These hours expand towards evening and morning as the level of geomagnetic activity increases.

Best time to see the Northern Lights in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. In the U.P. you are more likely to see the Northern Lights between August and April, with the peak months being April, October and November. Choose a clear, crisp, cold night without the threat of lake-effect snow.

The months of April, October and November (near the spring and fall equinox) are peak viewing times; it's when solar particles are most likely to react with the Earth's magnetic field, producing ribbons of blue, green, pink and violet light.

Lake Superior is the largest, cleanest, and wildest of all the Great Lakes.

Issyk-Kul is a lake without a drain and is located in the northeastern part of the Central Asia nation. It also keeps scientists intrigued as the water of this lake never freezes due to the lake's depth and natural warmth of the water. This is the reason, it was named Issyk-Kul, which means "warm lake" in Kyrgyz.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. —

Experts say it won't freeze this year and likely never has in human memory. That's because Lake Tahoe is deep — very deep.

"In the winter, raise your room temperature to between 68 and 70 degrees, or even higher if you live in a humid environment." Lower than that, and you could end up with mold on your walls since colder air isn't as good at preventing water vapor from accumulating in your home."

A hat and gloves are important for any winter activity. Mittens are best for those who tend to get cold fingers. Double-layered, fleece-lined options with a waterproof or wool exterior are ideal for keeping the chill away. Footwear should also start with a non-cotton sock.

What temperature to leave a vacant house in winter in Michigan? ›

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Most recommendations say to turn the temperature down no lower than 55° F. If away for an extended period of time, it might be a good idea to shut off the water supply. Shutting off the water supply can also help prevent pipes from bursting inside the home.

Lake Vida is a hypersaline lake in Victoria Valley, the northernmost of the large McMurdo Dry Valleys, on the continent of Antarctica. It is isolated under year-round ice cover, and is considerably more saline than seawater.

Great Lakes that have completely frozen include Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake to have never frozen entirely.

Like many people, fish tend to be less active in the cold. As cold-blooded creatures, their metabolism dips when temperatures take a dive. The layer of ice that forms on top of a lake, pond, river, or stream provides some insulation that helps the waterbody retain its heat.

Sault Ste. Marie was settled as early as 1668, which makes it Michigan's oldest city and among the oldest cities in the United States. Located at the northeastern edge of the Upper Peninsula, it is separated by the St. Marys River from the much-larger city of Sault Ste.

You may not possess or consume an alcoholic beverage at any time within the following described locations, without written authorization of the park manager: Belle Isle Park - entire park. Dodge #4 State Park - entire park. Grand Haven State Park - entire park.

Alcoholic Beverages and Marijuana Use

You may not possess or consume an alcoholic beverage at any time in the park without written authorization of the park manager.

Grand Haven is the seat of Ottawa County. Nestled along the shore of southwest Michigan, this beautiful city of almost 11,000 people ranks among the best places to retire anywhere - let alone in Michigan.

Is the water in New Haven safe? ›

New Haven's water compares with the best. It meets or exceeds all water quality standards set by national, state, and local agen- cies.

Yes, Winter Haven's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Winter Haven has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of.

Water is pumped from Lake Michigan and is pre-filtered through submerged infiltration beds located 12 to 15 feet below the lake bottom. When it reaches the treatment plant it is filtered again using a “direct filtration” procedure, passing water through 52 inches of anthracite coal.

The main international winter sport event is the Winter Olympic Games. In the United States, skiing and snowboarding are among the most popular winter sports. On average, the number of skiers in the United States amounted to around 14.94 million and the number of snowboarders comes to around 7.56 million.

When it is cold, your body has to work harder, which leads to increased endorphin production. More endorphins in your body give you a happier state of mind while at the same time relieving stress.

What do people like to have in winter? ›

The shorter days and longer nights, cold air and low humidity, and the quiet weather are all the things people enjoy during winter.

When the Northern Hemisphere is wrapped in winter's dark shadow, nature puts on a spectacular show for anyone willing to brave the cold. The stillness of the frozen air heightens each of the senses, making the little details of a glimmering blanket of snow or a cardinal's song even more inspiring.

Best time to see the Northern Lights in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. In the U.P. you are more likely to see the Northern Lights between August and April, with the peak months being April, October and November. Choose a clear, crisp, cold night without the threat of lake-effect snow.

Average Temperature at West Michigan Regional Airport

The cold season lasts for 3.3 months, from December 2 to March 11, with an average daily high temperature below 41°F. The coldest month of the year at West Michigan Regional Airport is January, with an average low of 21°F and high of 32°F.

The frost depth for this area, and most of the state of Michigan, is 42". Footings are required to be a minimum of 42" deep., measured from the finish grade to the bottom of the footing. This page last updated on 3/13/2023.

Skiing, snow tubing, and ice-skating are classic Midwestern pastimes during the winter months. If you can make it through a Midwestern winter, you can make it through anything.

The Northern Lights in Michigan can often be seen between the months of August and April, with the peak months being March, April, October, and November. Solar activity tends to be highest during the transition from fall to winter and winter to spring, adding to the chances of catching Aurora Borealis in Michigan!

Will I see it with my naked eyes? You will never see an aurora with the naked eye that looks like the photographs taken on the same night. Cameras, using long exposures, are much more sensitive than the human eye. They capture colours and details that are impossible for the human eye to detect.

But December through February sees the most snow of all. When looking at monthly snow reports between 1969-2022, the months that saw the most snowfall, on average, were: January, with an average of 12.57 inches of snow; February, with an average of 11.46 inches of snow; and.

The top 7 warmest winters in order, starting with the warmest include: 1931-1932, 2011-2012, 2001-2002, 1982-1983, 2015-2016, 1997-1998, and 1918-1919. The winter of 1920-1921 is now tied with 2022-2023 for eighth, and just for fun, 2019-2020 is the tenth-warmest.

How deep do water lines need to be buried in Michigan? ›

The well construction code in Michigan specifies that all water supply wells must be cased to a depth of 25 feet.

Generally, the coldest U.S. states have the deepest frost lines. Alaska's is the deepest at 100 inches, followed by Minnesota with 80 and North Dakota with 75. On the other hand, the hottest U.S. states have more shallow frost lines.

The maximum frost line depth is 100-inches as seen near the tip of Minnesota, North Dakota, and Alaska, all the way to zero inches in Florida, southern Arizona, and southern California.

Many farmers spend the off-season checking their fields. They look at fencing and other outbuildings such as barns and storage silos for damage and then make repairs. Some continue growing, though it's usually at a lighter level. Hearty winter crops such as kale, onions and leeks can help bring in additional income.

The climate of the Midwestern U.S. is largely temperate, one where all four seasons exist. However, summers can be very hot and humid in some parts, and winters can be very cold and full of blistery snow. This area of the country is also known for severe thunderstorms and even tornadoes.