The local ski resorts are the destination for fun in the wintertime, and if you’re looking to warm up in between outings, there are plenty of opportunities for families in the region. Some suggestions:

Bowling and more
Bowling is a great family day activity, and Northern Lights Recreation in Petoskey provides a clean, smoke-free environment for families.
Sixteen bowling lanes mean hours of fun for kids and parents, plus there’s an 18-hole mini-golf course, billiards and arcade inside the facility, along with a full-service restaurant.
Glow bowling takes place after 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Lane bumpers can be raised for young bowlers and lightweight balls are available, too. Bowling costs $2.75 per game for kids. Northern Lights is located on M-119; call 347-3100.
The Jungle, adjacent to Petoskey’s Big Boy restaurant, also offers a miniature golf course and arcade games for families.

More bowling locations:
• Boyne City Lanes, 582-7291
• Gemini Lanes, East Jordan, 536-2411
• Paul Bunyan Lanes, Charlevoix, 547-2848

Libraries
Local public libraries offer wide selections of materials, computers, games and play areas. Programs on a number of topics are regularly offered, plus free Internet access is available.
• Petoskey Public Library, 758-3100
• Charlevoix Public Library, 547-2651

Community pools
Charlevoix, 547-0982 • Harbor Springs, 526-4824

Casino
The new Odawa Casino Resort, located at 1760 Lears Road in Petoskey, brings Las Vegas-style gaming to Northern Michigan. Opened in 2007, the casino has multiple dining options with distinctive menus. Ovation Hall accommodates up to 1,000 people for concerts and trade shows, and O Zone is a high-energy club with an explosion of audio and visual techniques.
On the floor, 1,500 slot machines, 36 table games and a poker room, plus more than 100 plasma televisions, create excitement for visitors year ’round.

Indoor water fun
Avalanche Bay at Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls offers another adventure for families. It’s Michigan’s largest indoor waterpark and features a winter wonderland theme complete with Swiss-Austrian cityscape design.
Some of the inside fun includes the Splasherhorn play structure, and every 10 minutes the giant mountain dumps an 800-gallon water avalanche. The Rip Zone surf simulator, Vertigo and Kitz Pools provide fun for all ages. Many other slides and rides complete the adventure. Food service is available as well, along with an arcade. Visit www.avalanchebay.com or call (800) GO-BOYNE.