There's no easier way to get out into the woodlands and enjoy the silent beauty of winter. The cost is fairly nominal, and there's really no learning curve to using the equipment. Anywhere there's snow. However, unless you're really familiar with the area or carrying a compass and topographic map, I don't advise just taking off into the wilderness. Try a few easy trails at first, or try a nearby golf course, assuming they allow winter use of the land area.
Municipal parks are another good place to try the sport for the first time.
Once you're ready to try some more energetic treks, try these suggested trails. They aren't tracked for cross-country skiing, and you should never mix the trails. Empire Bluffs Trail, part of the Sleeping Bear National National Lakeshore, is located just south of Empire. It offers stunning overlooks of Empire, the valley and the Lake Michigan shoreline. To the north is the great Sleeping Bear Dune.