Michigan's Homestead Resort Offers the Friendliest Family Pricing

The Homestead announced today that it is taking strong steps to encourage families to ski and ride – kids 17 and under will ski and ride free.

There are only three restrictions and there’s no fine print. The restrictions are:

• The family must be registered guests at The Homestead.
• At least one parent must have purchased a same day, all day lift ticket.
• Proof of relationship must be presented.

This offer is available every day of the season, including holidays, as there are no blackout dates. Call 231.334.5100 for reservations.

Jamie Jewell, a Vice President of the resort stated: “Industry research showed that younger people are not pursuing outdoor winter recreation opportunities that lead to healthy, lifetime skills. This goal of this offering was to make those outdoor opportunities accessible to families with the next generation of skiers and riders." Those first time visitors who pursue this opportunity will discover a place that’s luxurious yet relaxed, nearby yet far away. They’ll also discover the beauty of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the place the viewers of ABC’s Good Morning America chose as “America’s Most Beautiful Place.”

Repeat visitors will be welcomed back with a gift commemorating ABC’s recognition. While here, they will see and enjoy new facilities and services made possible with $1.5 million in improvements that were made to the property this year.

www.TheHomesteadResort.com

Warm Up Your Northern Michigan Winter Nights with North Peak Brewing Company's Furry

As fall turns to winter, North Peak Brewing Company is ramping up to release its latest seasonal beer – Furry. The black IPA is a wonderful winter beer. Its hoppy character is sure to warm you up on a chilly Michigan winter night.

And just where does Furry come from? As with all North Peak beers, its existence is attributed to local lore. Some say that the creature evolved its thick coat to protect itself from the extreme cold of northern waters.

“The stories that we were told growing up in Northern Michigan suggest that as the weather grows warmer during the spring, the fur-bearing trout sheds its fur, only to regrow its coat as winter returns,” says Jon Carlson, who – along with Greg Lobdell, Ron Jeffries and Mike Hall – are the managing partners of Northern United Brewing Company.

This may help explain why trout with full coats of fur are so seldom encountered.

“One of our very close childhood friends, Brad Warren, is an avid fisherman. He says that he's caught so many fur trout over the years that he sewed his own pair of pants with the pelts he's collected,” says partner Greg Lobdell. “No one has ever seen these pants, but we've never forgotten his description of the fur bearing trout and decided to name our Winter Seasonal Black IPA after his fish story. “

Made with Chinook, Columbus and Cascade hops and Pilsner, C-40, Midnight Wheat and Carapils malts, this 50-barrel production beer ranks in at 7.2% IBV (72 IBUs).

Furry will be available mid December in six-pack retro-style stubbie at retail outlets statewide (complementing Siren, Diabolical, Majestic, Vicious and the summer seasonal Archangel). It is also available on tap at restaurants and bars around Michigan.

The North Peak is part of Northern United Brewing Co., which also encompasses the Grizzly Peak and Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales craft beer brands, as well as the soon-to-be-released Civilized line of spirits. NUBC’s philosophy focuses on a dedication to conservation, inspiration and locally sustainable practices. All of the beers and spirits under these brands are produced at either the new 5600-square-foot facility on Old Mission Peninsula adjacent to Mission Table (former Bowers Harbor Inn) restaurant or at the original Jolly Pumpkin facility in Dexter.

Find NUBC products at stores, restaurants, and bars all throughout Michigan, including: North Peak Brewing Company, Mission Table and Jolly Pumpkin Brewery, all in Traverse City; Jolly Pumpkin and Grizzly Peak, in Ann Arbor.

Northern United Brewing Company
Jolly Pumpkin Brewery | Mission Table at Bowers Harbor Inn
13512 Peninsula Drive
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 223-4222
www.NorthPeakBeer.com
www.MissionTable.net

Spend the Holidays at The Homestead

Couples and families will enjoy endless activities over the upcoming holiday season, at The Homestead Resort – America’s Freshwater Resort, in Glen Arbor.

Discover a place that's luxurious yet relaxed, nearby yet far away. It's a place that features fine design and inviting décor, exquisite food and memorable accommodations. Skating, snowshoeing, skiing and snowboarding - without crowds - are a part of it. So, too, are magical moments for families, sparkling fires, candlelit dinners and romantic interludes for couples. It's unlike you'll discover anywhere else.

Activities on the schedule this holiday season include:

Roasted Chestnuts & Hot Apple Cider (Daily, Dec. 26-Jan. 2)
Enjoy a classic tradition of chestnuts roasting on an open fire while sipping hot apple cider. Complimentary. At the base of Bay Mountain. 4:30pm daily.

Cookie Decorating (Dec. 27 & 29)
Children can enjoy cookie decorating at Camp Tam-A-Rack at 7pm. Complimentary.

Storytime Reading (Dec. 28)
Storytime reading with hot chocolate at Camp Tam-A-Rack. 1pm. Complimentary.

Guided Snowshoe Hike (Dec. 29 & Jan. 2)
Fun for the whole family! Guided snowshoe hike on the Bay View trail. Meet at Mountain Flowers Lodge. 7pm. (Snowshoe rentals available at Mountain Flowers Lodge)

Storytime with Fuzz Foster (Dec. 30)
Local storyteller, Fuzz Foster, entertains at Camp Tam-A-Rack as part of the Kids Night Out from 6pm to 9pm. Reservations required. $25 per child, includes snack.

Torchlight Parade (Dec. 31)
Watch the magic of a torchlight parade from the base of Bay Mountain. 8pm

New Year's Eve Dinner (Dec. 31)
Enjoy a special five-course New Year's Eve dinner at Nonna's with Chef John Piombo. Serving from 5pm to 10pm. $65 per person plus tax and gratuity. Includes champagne toast at Beppi's.

Happy New Year! (Jan. 1)
Watch the New Year's Day Bowl games on six flat screen televisions at Beppi's. Open from Noon to Midnight.

Celebrating its Silver Anniversary in 2009, The Homestead is Northern Michigan’s largest waterfront resort community located in the heart of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore – a unit of the National Park Service. Along with its unmatched natural setting and miles of frontage on Lake Michigan and the Crystal River, the resort offers downhill and cross country skiing in the winter; and world-class lodging, shops, restaurants, meeting centers and the luxurious new Spa Amira, throughout all four seasons.

www.TheHomesteadResort.com