From: dougr@meaddata.com (Doug Ritter)
Subject: Re: snowmobile rentals
Organization: Mead Data Central, Dayton OH
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 16:54:19 GMT
Distribution: na

In article <BtxG3p.Cru@usenet.ucs.indiana.edu> sleith@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (scot evan leith) writes:
>
>I am going to northern Michigan in October and am interested in
>renting a snowmobiles.  What places are the best for riding and
>renting.  What sort of costs should I expect.  I have ridden
>motorcycles for a while now but I know nothing about snowmobiles so 
>any assistance is GREATLY appreciated.  Thanks.
>
>Scot
>Also looking for any good cottages or cabins in northern Michigan,
>any suggestions?
>
>Scot

Chances are pretty slim that you'll find snow in Michigan in October Scot.
The farther north you go and the later in October that you go there, the
better your chances are.  But even in the Keewenau in the last week of October
I don't think you can count on snow.  And even if it does snow, the trails
are not likely to be in very good shape - the ground needs to be frozen for
the best snowmobiling.  In fact, most areas won't even groom the trails 
after early snowfalls because the ground isn't frozen yet.

You need to wait until December.  If you're going to the U.P., you can be
pretty sure that you'll be able to ride.  If you're only going to the northern
lower penninsula, you need to check the snow reports before you go any time.

Believe me, I'm not trying to discourage you from trying snomobiling!  To
the contrary, I don't want you're first sledding experience to be a bad one!

THe first thing you need is Snowmobile Magazine's Vacation Guide.  It'll tell
you about selected snowmobiling areas around the country - they usually cover
two or three areas in Michigan.  It used to cost $3.99 - you can get it by 
writing to:

	Vacation Guide
	319 Barry Ave.
	Wayzata, MN 55391

My advice?  Wait until December and go to the Cadillac area (be sure to call
the snow conditions lines first!  To be a snowmobiler while living south of
the snow belt, you've got to be flexible and able to take off for a week or 
weekend at a moments notice), it's a nice area with lots of accomodations and 
it's not so far north that it takes forever to get there.  And best of all, 
they usually get lots of snow from the prevailing SW winds off Lake Michigan.

So, here's all you need to know to go snowmobiling in Cadillac MI:

Cadillac has great trails, beautiful scenery, lots of places to stay and eat, 
but it can be crowded on weekends - if you go there, go through the week.  
It's going to cost you a lot to rent a snowmobile - figure on at least $150 
per day.  And there aren't that many places to rent them - when I open my 
dealership though, I'm going to have a *huge* rental fleet!  So, if you can 
wait 20 years . . . ;-)

Don't forget that you need a snowmobile suit, gloves, boots and helmet.  A
helmet is pretty much a neccessity for snowmobiling - as much for warmth as
for safety.  I've never considered renting those things, so I don't know if
the rental outfits handle that stuff too.  Most likely they do since it's
not too much fun to ride for long stretches without a suit, but be sure to
ask when you call them.

First off, call the Cadillac Chamber of Commerce at 616-775-9776.  They'll
send you more literature than you'll be able to read before the season starts.

There's at least one snowmobile dealer in Cadillac, Cadillac Square Marina.  They
sell Polaris and Arctic Cat.  Their phone number is 616-775-4011.  Don't know if
they rent sleds.

Lost Pines Lodge used to rent sleds, but I'm not sure if they still do.  Call
them at 616-389-2222.  The last time I checked with them (1989), it was $150
per day.  Expensive, but they had fairly new sleds and you got 1 tank of gas
per day free.  They also have package deals that include a room and a sled and
a couple of meals.

Then there's a huge list of motels.  My favorite is Pilgrim's Village - they
have motel units and cabins and are located right on the beach at Lake Mitchell.
It's a pretty spartan atmosphere though!  Phone # is 616-775-5412.

One bit of advice for Cadillac motels - stay at one that's on the Lake Mitchell
side of Cadillac (either S. Lake Mitchell Drive (M 115) or M55 *west* of M115.
It's *much* easier to get to the trails from the Lake Mitchell side.

The two nicest motels in Cadillac are:

	Bill Oliver's Best Western
	616-775-2458 or 800-OLIVER5

		and
	
	McGuire's Resort
	616-775-9947 or 800-632-7302

Then there's a whole slew of 'em that are fairly cheap:

	Sun-N-Snow Motel
	616-775-9961

	Sunset Point Cabins
	616-775-9163


But then again, after the summer we've had this year, maybe there *will* be
snow in Cadillac in October.  We can only hope!

--
Doug Ritter (dougr@meaddata.com)          "Bo don't know snowmobiles!"

P.S.  Last night my wife and I were watching the Reds get beat for the umpteenth
      time - I was about as depressed as a baseball fan can get.  Between innings
      she was was complaining about the cold weather (it was in the 50's), and
      said (in her best whine) "I just *know* it's going to be a cold winter.
      And I bet we just get dumped with snow."  I looked at her, trying to hide
      my glee, and said "Quit trying to cheer me up!"  

      THINK SNOW!!!!!
--
===============================================================================
Douglas N. Ritter                                  Bo don't know snowmobiles!
dougr@meaddata.com
..!uunet!meaddata!dougr                          No, I'm not speaking for MDC!
Newsgroups: alt.snowmobiles