Keweenaw Snow-Venture 2025: Northern Escape

February 2025

Mark your calendars for Feb. 12-16, 2025 to discover your next winter escape in Michigan’s northernmost gem: the Keweenaw Peninsula. Embrace the thrill of the season like a true Yooper on Lake Superior, where deep rooted Finnish traditions, star-filled night skies and hundreds of miles of snow-covered trails create the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation. From the warmth of rustic saunas to the exhilaration of snowshoeing and skiing through pristine wilderness, the Keweenaw offers an unforgettable winter journey – where cozy comforts meet wild, untamed beauty.

What is the Keweenaw Snow-Venture 2025:

Visit Keweenaw is hosting the first Keweenaw Snow-Venture in February 2025 to engage the world of travel media with our year-round destination. A hidden gem in the Midwest, Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula is full of untold stories and fun ways to embrace winter. The Keweenaw Peninsula has the best snow product, enthusiasm for winter and available experiences to host the ultimate winter retreat involving outdoor winter recreation, health and wellness and dark skies.

Who Should Come to the Snow-Venture:

Do you love the outdoors AND snow? Do you enjoy surreal, natural beauty and discovering new destinations that draw you back time after time? Or maybe you’ve never seen the northern lights. If you’re interested in seeing a region with a vibrant personality that knows how to embrace winter, you should attend the Keweenaw Snow-Venture 2025. We’re looking to treat travel media to the ultimate bold north winter itinerary near the 47th Parallel in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Where You’re Going:

Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula is the northernmost point in the state – not including Isle Royale National Park. (Though it is in Keweenaw County.) Water-locked by the deepest and largest of the Great Lakes (Lake Superior) – the two-county Keweenaw Peninsula gets belted with snow during winter. A popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts, the Keweenaw is known for its versatile offerings in winter including snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and downhill skiing.

When Is the Keweenaw Snow-Venture:

The Keweenaw Snow-Venture 2025 will take place from Feb 12-16: plan your perfect Valentine’s Day vacation and double dip the trip for your audiences. Pre and post tours may be arranged at the discretion of Visit Keweenaw to add to your extended experience. You’ll find more information on the Keweenaw Snow-Venture itinerary and potential pre/post tours below for your specific interests.

Standard Trip Itinerary:

(Subject to Change)

Accommodations:

All attendees will stay at the Hampton Inn in Downtown Houghton. It offers a complimentary breakfast and features a restaurant and bar on the top floor with beautiful views of the area. Conveniently located on the main strip of downtown, the hotel is about 15 minutes from the Houghton County Memorial Airport (CMX). Which offers daily connecting flights from Chicago O’Hare (ORD).

Day One:  Arrival (Wednesday, Feb. 12)

• Cocktails & Food Reception at the Hampton Observatory Lounge 7 p.m. - Complimentary introductory cocktails and hot plates at the Observatory Lounge in Downtown Houghton. (At the Hampton Hotel) Observatory Lounge overlooks the Portage Canal, past the Isle Royale National Park ferry to the Quincy Hill in Hancock. On its shore is the Quincy Smelting Works, the last of its kind still standing in the world. Attendees will check into the hotel and enjoy a meet and greet with Visit Keweenaw staff, hearing the area’s history and enjoying cocktails and food.
• 9 p.m. - Night at the Museum: The Carnegie Museum will open late for a guided walk through downtown Houghton to the museum and to admire the beautiful architecture downtown and learn more about the area.

Day Two: Mining or Snowshoe Hikes (Thursday, Feb. 13)

Split Tour Day

• 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Quincy Mine Tours Experience “Old Reliable” the Quincy Mine. One of the early mines in the area, it paid dividends to its investors every year from 1862-1920, and was one of the top producers in the nation of Copper at its peak. Much of America's copper came from Michigan, and more specifically, the Keweenaw. Ride the original tram car down to go underground in the mine.
• 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Snowshoe/XC Ski at Michigan Tech Trails If you’re claustrophobic, skip the mine and enjoy snowshoeing or cross country skiing at the Michigan Tech Trails for an introduction to the area’s winter recreation offerings.
• 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. - Complimentary Wolves and Moose Lunch at the Bonfire Join Visit Keweenaw for a banquet lunch with insights from MTU researchers about the world’s longest predator-prey study active in the world. It takes place in Isle Royale National Park, one of the two national parks in the Keweenaw.
• 4-6 p.m. Recovery Saunas at Takka Portage: Warm up from the frozen waterfalls at Takka Portage, the Keweenaw’s newest and hottest sauna location on the Portage Canal in Hancock.
• 6-8 p.m. - Sunset/Night Skiing/Snowboarding/Tubing at Mont Ripley Ski Area: Experience Michigan’s oldest ski area, with scenic sunset views of the Portage Canal, Portage Lake Lift Bridge and Houghton.
• 7-9 p.m. - Late Night Photography Club: For the photojournalists, join a local photography expert for a night of capturing starry skies or a hopeful aurora borealis.

Day Three: Nordic Spirit and Wellness (Friday, Feb. 14)

• 10 a.m. Bus Departs for Up North!!
• Pick your poison: Keweenaw Mountain Lodge or Mount Bohemia Ski Resort (11 a.m.-5:30 p.m.)
  • Lodge Activities: Snow tire biking, snowshoeing, XC skiing and exploration of the public Keweenaw Dark Sky Park, headquartered at the Lodge. It’s 550 acres of dark sky viewing area open to the public year round.
  • Mount Bohemia: Enjoy snowshoeing, skiing and snowboarding and the heavenly Nordic spa featuring three saunas and the UP’s largest outdoor hot tub with steam rooms and salt pods. Voted #1 Ski Resort in North America in 2023 by USA Today.
• Lunch: Available at both locations on your own
• Complimentary Group Dinner: Visit Keweenaw will take folks out to Fitzgerald’s Restaurant on the way back from Up North in Eagle River. Fine dining experience at a BBQ smokehouse on the rocky frozen shores of Lake Superior where every table has a view. Dinner is on Valentine’s Day. Most romantic restaurant in the Keweenaw.

Day Four: More Activities and Jibba Jabba Heartthrobs (Saturday, Feb. 15)

• Rise & Shine Hike: 8 a.m. Hungarian Falls: 8 a.m - 10 a.m. Breathtaking frozen waterfalls hike along Dover Creek in Lake Linden – accessible in winter
• Lunch on your own in Houghton
• 2-4 p.m. Keweenaw Brews Mixer @ the Keweenaw Brewing Company: Visit the largest brewery in the Keweenaw in Downtown Houghton. Housed in a historic building, the “KBC” ships its beers all over Michigan and Wisconsin. Its brews share names with iconic sights around the region. Connect with VK and unwind after a fun few days in the Keweenaw.
• Dinner: On your own in Houghton/Food Trucks at Jibba Jabba available
• 5-9 p.m. Jibba Jabba - A Red Bull Sponsored Snowboard Event: Visit Keweenaw is a proud sponsor and partner of Jibba Jabba, a professional snowboard event in Downtown Houghton. This year, love is in the air and so are the snowboards for Valentine’s Day Weekend. Join Visit Keweenaw in our exclusive VIP area at Jibba Jabba to partake in a s’mores party, togo beers from the KBC in Houghton’s social district, fire pits and snowboard tricks only feet away from where you stand. Watch professional riders shred down Houghton’s historic Huron Street down to the waterfront pier on the Portage Canal. The event brings high energy and will be a perfect send off for media members visiting the Keweenaw for the first-ever Keweenaw SnowVenture.

Pre/Post Tour Options:

For media members bringing an experienced portfolio, looking to take a deeper dive into the Keweenaw’s winter offerings, the following tours may be arranged upon request.

• A Photographer’s Paradise - (BY REQUEST ONLY) Interested journalists may request an additional night or two to spend quality time outdoors doing winter photography. Connect with a local professional photographer (TBD) and expect to capture frozen lighthouses, chilly shorelines, starry nights and maybe some nocturnal wildlife!
• Snowmobile Thrills – (BY REQUEST ONLY) Get comfortable with the 230+ miles of snowmobile trails in the Keweenaw. Twist and turn your way up an exhilarating stretch up Brockway Mountain Drive, a nine-mile road up Brockway Mountain that is only open to snowmobiles in winter. See for miles atop Brockway.
• Historical Keweenaw Tour – (BY REQUEST ONLY) Hear the stories of some of the oldest buildings/places in the Keweenaw and the culture surrounding their communities. Find out what’s so cool about the red Jacobsville Sandstone that makes up much of the Keweenaw’s downtown buildings. Take a deeper dive into the area’s mine tours and copper mine culture.

Indicate your interest in your application, pitched outlets and any deliverables applicable to the additional tours for consideration. Depending on interest, these additional tours may be grouped or exclusive. Visit Keweenaw will then be able to confirm availability and book post/pre tours.

MEDIA MEMBERS: LET US HOST YOU!

Visit Keweenaw wants to treat you to the ultimate Valentine’s Day weekend snowbound in the Keweenaw Peninsula. To help make the trip affordable and impactful for your audiences, we’re picking up the following for you (excludes rentals/meals/experiences for spouses):

• Four Hotel Nights (Hampton Inn)
• Three Group Meals
• Mine Tours
• Lift Tickets
• Spa Passes
• Equipment Rentals (Skis/Snowboards/Snowshoes ETC)
• Bussing/Transportation for Itinerary Items
• Flights/Travel Reimbursements may be considered on a case-by-case basis

HOW TO APPLY TO THE KEWEENAW SNOW-VENTURE:

We’re inviting an EXCLUSIVE group of up to 10 seasoned travel media members to join us for a wildly curated, adventure-filled press trip to Michigan’s northernmost wonderland. If you’re ready to discover a bold winter escape where Finnish traditions, night skies and endless trails meet, sign up today.

Fill out this google form to apply.

Applications should be submitted by Friday, Jan. 3.

EXPECTATIONS:

At Visit Keweenaw, our goal is to share our story and highlight our region as a premier destination for winter recreation and year-round travel. We invite media members to experience our culture, attractions and culinary delights while planning coverage of their visits. We encourage you to think creatively about how you can help showcase the beauty and adventures of the Keweenaw Peninsula through articles, social media or multimedia content. Any pitched outlets, social media channels or confirmed deliverables should be included as part of your application. Your efforts are invaluable to inspiring others to discover the winter wonders of our region.

While we welcome media members to bring their spouses along for this special Valentine’s Day Getaway, please keep in mind that we are unable to cover their expenses. The Keweenaw Peninsula offers a charming atmosphere with plenty of romantic activities for couples to enjoy during this Valentine’s Day Stay. We appreciate your primary focus being on capturing the essence of our winter wonderland while also sharing this unique experience with your loved ones!

WHAT TO BRING:

• Coats, hats, gloves, boots, warm socks, scarves, insulated layers
• Cameras, snowshoes, skis, snowboards, all your winter gear anything you can bring
• Swim suit, comfortable clothes for spa

QUESTIONS? SEND THEM OUR WAY

Don’t let this winter pass you by while you sit inside or hang out in warmer climates. Have any questions? Reach out to Jesse Wiederhold, Public Relations/Events Coordinator at Visit Keweenaw at jesse@visitkeweenaw.com or call (989) 551-3191. Feel free to also ask about pre/post tour options.