30 reasons to love winter in metro Detroit

Head to Winter Blast

No, a “winter blast” isn’t only what hits your face whenever you step outside these days. Downtown Detroit’s long-standing seasonal festival was moved to Royal Oak in 2021 due to what organizers blamed on “funding challenges,” and the wintry celebration returns to the suburb’s Centennial Commons (between Main and Troy Streets and 11 Mile Road and 3rd Street) from Friday, Feb. 17 through Sunday, Feb. 19. Guests can go ice-skating in an outdoor rink, learn to ski, or take a ride down the snow slide or zip line. There will also be ice sculptures, kid-friendly activities, live music, food trucks, and vendors, with warming zones and marshmallow roasting stations available. Admission is free and open to the public, and more information is available at winterblast.com. —Lee DeVito

Editor's note: The Winter Blast was originally slated for Friday, Feb. 3 through Saturday, Feb. 5. Organizers postponed the festival two weeks due to impending weather.

Enjoy s’mores at Valade Park

Valade Park on the Detroit riverfront is loaded with daily winter activities like sledding, oversized bonfires, s’mores, hot boozy and non-boozy drinks, food, and more. Every Saturday and Sunday from now through February, the park hosts wellness events like meditative walks, a dog pack meetup with Canine to Five, and hustle classes. There are also themed weekends like “Winter around the World” with an international food truck rally and performances, “Motown Love” with local vendors and an open mic, and “Mardi Gras.” Plus, all the events are free to attend. —Randiah Camille Green

Experience curling

We have to admit, we became absolutely entranced by the strange sport of curling while watching the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, where players slide stones across a sheet of ice toward a target, using tools to guide the stone’s movement by subtly altering the surface of the ice. Well, now we — and you — can try it out. A new $10 million facility called the HUB Stadium in Novi bills itself as the only place in Michigan for the general public to try curling. The 70,000-square-foot facility includes six curling sheets. The HUB Stadium is located at 44325 W. 12 Mile Rd., at the Fountain Walk mall. More information is available at novi.thehubstadium.com. —Lee DeVito

Try snowmobiling

Michigan has more than 6,000 miles of trails for snowmobilers to enjoy. Haven’t yet had the pleasure? The Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced a free snowmobiling weekend on Feb. 11 and 12 where it is temporarily suspending the requirement for snowmobile registration and permits, the idea being to encourage experienced snowmobilers to bring along friends to try it out for the first time. (Just remember to please drive carefully!) —Lee DeVito

Stay in a warm cabin

Escaping up north to a warm cabin in the middle of a snowy forest is one of the best things about living in Michigan in winter; extra points if the cabin has a hot tub, sauna, or indoor fireplace. There’s just something about leaving your everyday life behind for a rustic one (at least temporarily) that warms the soul, especially after a day of skiing or hiking. You don’t even have to go all the way to the Upper Peninsula to find a secluded cabin, although you totally should. Michigan State Parks like Brighton Recreation Area, Pinckney Recreation Area, and Bald Mountain offer affordable rustic cabins and yurts not too far from metro Detroit. You can reserve them through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, though the online booking system leaves much to be desired, so you may want to just call the park instead. You can also find everything from swanky shipping container homes to geodesic domes and classic chalets on Airbnb. —Randiah Camille Green

Rummage for a book from John King bookstore

There’s nothing like cozying up to a good book in the winter, and there’s no place quite like John K. King Used & Rare Books in Detroit to find a good read. With more than 1 million books on multiple floors, you could spend an afternoon perusing the shelves. And the staff is super knowledgeable if you’re looking for recommendations. Chances are, you’ll leave with a box full of books and have reading material for the rest of the winter. —Steve Neavling

Take a winter hike

We know it’s hard to find the motivation to get outside when the sun is nowhere to be seen for days, but going for a hike can actually ease the winter blues. Getting even the tiniest bit of vitamin D from the sun and moving your body will boost your mood and help you feel less “blah” from being cooped up inside all day. With metro Detroit’s plethora of parks, you’re spoiled for choice. Palmer Park, Rouge Park, Maybury State Park, Pinckney Recreation Area, and Kensington Metropark are some of our faves, but if you need more ideas, we’ve got a whole slideshow dedicated to winter hiking spots. —Randiah Camille Green

Warm up with video games at Barcade

Step out of the cold and into the past for a beer, some pub grub, and a large collection of classic arcade video games and pinball machines at Barcade on Selden Street. These classics are certain to warm you up with nostalgia, and it won’t cost you a fortune. The games are only 25 cents to play. Barcade also has two dozen beers on tap. —Steve Neavling

Walk wintery acres of the Detroit Zoo

Bundle up and head to the Detroit Zoo, where you’ll find plenty to do. The zoo is open 362 days a year, and many animals are active in the winter months, including gray wolves, tigers, camels, polar bears, red pandas, Japanese macaques, bison, and wolverines. There’s also the Polk Penguin Conservation Center, one of the biggest habitats for penguins in the world. Winter is the perfect time to capture some wild-life photography. And if you want to get out of the cold, the zoo also has many indoor areas to explore. —Steve Neavling

Go fat tire biking

Pioneered in Alaska decades ago, fat tire biking, or snow biking, has caught on in Michigan in recent years. A fat tire bike’s four-inch tires can grip the snow, offering an opportunity for a winter workout. The trend really took off in Marquette in the Upper Peninsula, where many shops offer fat tire bike rentals that can be taken on miles of local trails. —Lee DeVito

Catch a flick

You can enjoy an evening out without ever leaving your warm car at the Ford-Wyoming Drive-in in Dearborn. With multiple screens, you’ll have a variety of current movies to choose from every weekend during the winter. The 70-year-old drive-in is a metro Detroit staple. With FM radio and wifi streaming audio, you don’t even have to open your window for an external speaker. Just pack your car full of snacks, drinks, pillows, and a blanket, and you’re all set for a fun, warm evening. —Steve Neavling

Cross-country skiing in the U.P.

Some of the best cross-country ski trails in the nation are in the Upper Peninsula, where you’ll never worry about a lack of snow in the winter. The well-groomed trails wind through beautiful, serene landscapes. With trails for beginners to experts, there’s a fun snowscape for everyone. Some wind past century-old lighthouses, waterfalls, and Great Lakes beaches. —Steve Neavling

Go ice skating

There are plenty of other places in metro Detroit that offer outdoor ice skating, including, of course, the outdoor Rink at Campus Martius in Detroit. There’s also the Clark Park Ice Rink in Southwest Detroit, the Riley Park Ice Rink in downtown Farmington, and the rink in Barnum Park in Birmingham. —Lee DeVito

Keep an eye out for the minks

When it comes to fashion and style, Detroiters might as well be ranch because they stay dressing. Being well-dressed is not something that is reserved for the warmer months, and Detroiters will stand out even in the cold weather. While some might opt for an Al Wissam bomber or Carhartt duck jacket, there’s nothing quite like fur season in Detroit. Whether you’re showing up for church on a snowy Sunday or hitting a quick two-step at Floods, you are guaranteed to see someone in a mink coat with the matching hat. You might even walk into the Detroit Department of Elections holiday party and witness a “mink off.” Detroiters love their furs and we love to see them. There’s a reason Dittrich Furs has been one of Detroit’s top fur suppliers since 1893. —Alex Washington

Attend a professional sporting event

To be a Detroiter means to be painstakingly loyal to our sports teams. But honestly, attending a professional sporting event in Detroit has little to do with the team and a lot to do with the experience of it all, especially at Little Caesars Arena. The arena has four restaurants inside and is within walking distance of a lot of great food and bar options. Check out a high energy Red Wings game or grab your best jewels in case you’re caught on the Pistons’ Ice Cam. Unfortunately the Detroit Lions season is over, but at least it ended on a great note by locking out the Green Bay Packers. —Alex Washington

Warm up at the Schvitz

There is no better time to spend a day at the Schvitz than when it’s frigid and snowy outside. Detroit’s only bathhouse is a warm oasis that will melt your frozen bones. For $40, you can spend the whole day sweating it out as you go back and forth between the saunas and cold plunge. Trust us, dunking yourself in the cold pool feels amazing and refreshing after a few minutes in the sauna, so don’t skip it. Your body will warm up fast. The Schvitz has frequent food pop-ups, massage therapists, tarot readers, and estheticians for a full day of self-care. Check before you go, as certain hours are designated for men or women only, with other times open to all genders. The Sunday ladies-only brunch can get pretty lively, while weekdays offer a quieter and more meditative experience. —Randiah Camille Green

Cozy up at a coffee shop

Find you a coffee shop with cozy vibes, grab a hot drink, and chill. Sure you could do this at home, but sometimes you just need to get out of the house and be around other people. We find we’re more likely to hunker down and get work done or dig into a good book when we’re at a coffee shop than at home, where it’s easy to get distracted. The Congregation in Detroit is situated in a beautiful former church with a heated patio and open bonfires. Cairo Coffee inside Spot Lite is another super chill spot, plus there’s a record store on one side where you can do some crate digging. Some of our other go-tos are Haraz Coffee House, Black Coffee Cafe, and The Red Hook. —Randiah Camille Green

Snow tubing at Rolling Hills

Thrill seekers need to look no further than Rolling Hills Winter Park in Ypsilanti for a winter-time staple: snow tubing. The 275-foot hill is large and steep enough to catch some breathtaking speeds. The hill is fenced-in, and the bottom is flat, so your only concern is hanging on and having fun. Need a place to warm up? A gas fireplace is available to the public. —Steve Neavling

Take a trip to Little Bavaria

Frankenmuth is a great place to visit any time of the year, but it really shines in the winter. Go sledding in Memorial Park, take a spin around the ice rink in Zehnder Park, or check out the snow and ice sculptures at the Zehnder Snowfest later this month. If you’re looking for something warm to do, grab a chicken dinner at Bavarian Inn Restaurant or splash around at Zehnder’s Splash Village indoor waterpark. And if you’re looking for something on tap, grab a beer at Frankenmuth Brewery. —Alex Washington