Spacious, Family-Friendly Resort with Lake and Mountain Views

No interior designer, no matter the budget, can compete with Mother Nature. As sumptuous as a recent multimillion dollar overhaul has made the lobby of Shanty Creek Resorts’ Summit Village Lakeview Hotel, the eye continually scans past the elegant chandeliers and luxe leather and velvet seating to take in sweeping views of the outdoors, visible through three levels of windows lining the western wall. Surrounded by miles of unspoiled hardwood forest sporting a patchwork pattern of autumnal colors, pristine Lake Bellaire glints in the sunlight. Guests of the resort enjoy out-the-door access to the water as well as to manicured golf courses and nearby ski slopes.

The rustic yet contemporary feel of the main lobby is echoed in the décor of standard rooms. A lattice-patterned carpet rests beneath two queen-size beds dressed in plush white linens. Framed floral prints adorn the textured walls, and colorful damask curtains frame a sliding-glass door leading to a private balcony or patio overlooking the lake. In bathrooms, walls covered in diamond harlequin wallpaper surround soaking tubs and modern granite sinks.

Back in the main lobby, The Lakeview Restaurant serves sophisticated cuisine complemented by picturesque views of the lake from floor-to-ceiling windows. A large wood-burning fireplace, built into a stone structure rising dramatically at the north end of the dining room, supplements the cozy warmth of table lamps. The kitchen prepares inventive regional fare such as niçoise meatballs and flash-fried calamari, and a handsome wooden bar beckons to diners who’d like to sip a cocktail or perform a rousing clog-dancing routine upon its surface. Summit Village Lakeview Hotel also houses an on-site spa offering detoxifying green sea-clay wraps and exfoliating chocolate-peppermint brown-sugar scrubs.

Bellaire, Michigan: Quaint Lakeside Village Abounding with Mountain Activities

In the winter, nearby Schuss Mountain attracts flocks of downhill skiers to slopes ranging from li’l runs for beginners to black-diamond trails for seasoned pros. Flagged NASTAR racing courses let skiers time their slalom runs or snowball-pitching speeds. Downhill-tubing sessions give non-skiers a chance to relish the rush of barreling down the mountain's north face.

Nestled in the hills 7 miles south of the hotel, the Grass River Natural Area encompasses lakes, a winding river, and rushing streams. Seven miles of walking trails meander through upland forests and floating sedges where bobcats, white-tailed deer, and great blue herons make their homes. In the quaint village of Bellaire, located about 3 miles north of Summit Village, artisan coffee shops abut independent breweries. Inside a gourmet deli, chalkboard menus announce 20 craft-beer specials, and live music and local artwork enhance the authentic flavor.