Maximum chill-out
I highly recommend you raise your winter thrill quotient by heading up to the picturesque Devil’s Lake in Manitou Beach, MI ( (less than an hour northwest of Toledo)for the 63rd annual Devil’s Lake Tip-Up Festival, Friday-Sunday, February 6-8. This intoxicating event includes speed-tracked snowmobile races, motorcycle and ATV heats, free ice fishing contests, hockey games, poker runs, music, ice skating, and great food. Don’t miss the fantastic hovercrafts and ultra light aircrafts at the way-cool Hover-In on February 7-8 (hoverclubofamerica.org). And if like me, you lack your own snowmobile, take advantage of the breathtaking Red Light Snowmobile Rides across the moonlit icy lakes and snow-sparkled landscape (8pm, Friday, February 6).
The Highland Inn, 517-547-9726, facebook.com/pages/Devils-Round-Lake-Mens-Club for activities and times. The festival depends on the weather. Same-day registration for all activities.
Celebrating the wind and ice
As part of the annual Ottawa River Yacht Club and Toledo Ice Yacht Club Winterfest, join TIYC members for a free ice boat ride, noon-4pm, Saturday, January 31, at the end of 124th Street in Point Place (weather and ice conditions permitting). Experience exhilaration as you sit on a narrow hull outfitted with large sails and steel runners while traveling over the ice at three-to-five times the wind speed.
Contact past TYIC Commodore Tim Crites for more ride details at [email protected]. Dress for the cold and wind. Visit tiyc.net for ice boat and club info.
Winterfest is 6pm-midnight, Friday, January 30 and 5pm-midnight, Saturday, January 31 at the Ottawa River Yacht Club (5844 Edgewater Dr.). Enjoy tours, food, music and a poker run. Visit ORYC at oryc100.org for a complete schedule of all festivities and fees.