Michigan’s Crystal Mountain Likes The Holidays, And You'll Like Crystal's Deals

Usually, ski areas don’t give away holiday stay-dates. Traditionally ski resorts make up to 20 percent of their total winter take over the holidays. Many resorts will charge a bit extra for everything from lodging to lifts to make those cash registers ring a little louder.

Tell that to northwest Lower Michigan’s Crystal Mountain. While it works to whiten its slopes with an army of snow guns, helped along by a Dec. 9-10 winter blast that barreled in from the Dakotas, Crystal is offering a plethora of holiday deals all season that give you at least one night’s stay free.

Celebrate Hanukkah at Crystal Dec. 14-15 by staying two nights, and get a third night free. The deal applies to lodging only. If you miss that one, there are lots more through the season, listed here. Or if you book one of Crystal’s “unlimited ski and ride” packages starting at $149 per adult, per night, including lift tickets. Up to two kids ages 9-17 sleep and ski/ride and get breakfast free. Crystal's weekend lift tickets alone start at $55 per adult, so a room rate quickly drops from a $179 rack rate to less than $100, an $85 per night savings.

Named by On The Snow as one of the nation’s top resorts to celebrate the holidays, Crystal has always prided itself on catering to families. It boasts learn-to-ski/ride programs that’s made it famous for over the decades. Add to that rep its ice rink, indoor pool, the outstanding variety of accommodations ranging from mountaintop condos and the cottages at Water’s Edge, and the services available at its Crystal Spa. Add again to that its commitment to the environment, and there are myriad reasons the resort has become one of the most popular destinations for boarders and skiers from across the Midwest

With 45 downhill runs, more than 40k of cross-country ski trails threading through the hardwood hills, the opportunity to snowshoe through Michigan Legacy Art Park, more snowmaking capacity added over the summer, and its new XC Training Center, there are more than enough reasons to put a visit here on your winter wish list this season.