Small Town Snow Globe

NOW IS THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR FOR A FAMILY-FRIENDLY GETAWAY TO MAGICAL HARBOR SPRINGS. SHAKE UP SOME NEW UP NORTH HOLIDAY TRADITIONS.

- Courtney Jerome

Let me start by saying I’m a mom of two toddler-aged boys. I don’t go out with them and enjoy Northern Michigan’s bountiful outdoors as much as I should. Especially in the wintertime. Because it’s hard.

If you’ve had young kids, you’ve been there. Bundling layer on layer to noncompliant littles isn’t an easy task. Add the cold temperatures and an inevitable toddler tantrum (or two!)—because, no, you can’t eat snow—the lengthy efforts are for a short amount of playtime. You get it.

But when asked to head to Harbor Springs during the holidays to write this travel piece, I only needed a little push ... and I was all in.

Snowpants? Packed. Road snacks? Yep. Sunglasses? Absolutely. Our family of four is ready to go.

Snowmobile tracks line the road as we drive closer to Emmet County. My husband and I are slightly giddy as we drive our two sons to our holiday trip to Harbor Springs and points beyond. At three and almost two years old, we know better than to tell them any details in advance about our adventure—we’d never hear the end of it. So we keep our upcoming destination a secret between us. And instead, when we are asked where we’re going, we simply tell them, “North.”

We hear our boys’ first gasps of excitement from the back seat once we arrive in downtown Harbor Springs, as they spot the biggest Christmas tree they have ever seen, right in the middle of the street. The bustling heart of Harbor is beautiful—but we don’t stop driving yet. We roll down the window to wave at the marvelous tree and holler, “See you soon!” as we drive higher in elevation. Our first stop is for a snack break.