Think ski resorts are for wintertime only? Summer offers myriad activities for a family to enjoy at a ski resort, including hiking and biking trails, dining, and swimming. My family recently traveled to Boyne Mountain for an end-of-summer getaway and experienced the many activities and amenities offered during the warmer months.

We stayed in a Salzburg Suite at the Boyne Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa, a three-bedroom, two-bathroom suite with a bunk-bed-equipped room just for the kids. Our little ones loved exploring the suite and running up the stairs to get to the bedrooms, then racing back down to the living/dining area and kitchen. Guest rooms were spacious and tastefully decorated with soft pastels and hand-painted wood accents. The bathrooms provided plenty of room for us all to get ready in the morning or to prepare for bedtime.

Suite Provides Plenty of Space for a Family

The main floor of our suite had a kitchen with a full-sized refrigerator, oven/range and dishwasher, as well as an extra-deep sink for food prep and hand washing dishes. We loved that the space provided a chance to cook our own meals or bring back takeout to enjoy in a more casual atmosphere (read: where our grumpy, overtired kids would disturb no one but us, and maybe the guests in the next room). It would also be good for those on a special diet or with allergies or other restrictions. A table and four chairs provided space for meals, and a sofa and chairs offered plenty of space to relax. Our balcony overlooked the back lawn of the resort, where we could watch guests play volleyball or relax in beach chairs, or watch riders coming in on the Zipline Adventure tour.

Visit the Village for Shopping and Sweets

Just around the corner from the lawn is the Village, a quaint Alpine-style area with small shops and outdoor seating. Among the shops are a general store, a toy and candy store, and Michigan-based Kilwin's chocolates and ice cream parlor.

Water Park Adventures and Arcade Games

Avalanche Bay waterpark is located on the second floor of the lodge and can be accessed by way of an interior second-floor hallway or an exterior entrance. The 88,000-square-foot waterpark is the largest in Michigan and has something for visitors of all ages and swim levels. My four-year-old gravitated toward the biggest and baddest waterslide, while my preschooler hesitantly dipped his toes into the water of the shallow children's pool and spent most of the time in the safety of my husband's arms. The Avalanche Bay Arcade, located adjacent to the waterpark, didn't interest our kids but appeared to be popular with school-age and tween/teen guests. Over 100 games are housed in the two-story arcade, including several ticket-redemption games.

Dinner for Four and Storytime with Cookies

The resort hotel also has a full-service restaurant with kids' and adult menu options, a lounge, a gift shop, and a 19,000-square-foot salon and day spa that offers a daily schedule of fitness classes. The library, located just off the main lobby, has evening story time for children, complete with milk or lemonade and warm cookies, and comfortable sofas and chairs to relax into while a hotel staff member chats with the kids and reads stories.

While most of our meals were taken in our suite, we did eat lunch at Everett's inside the hotel. The kids happily munched on pepperoni pizzas and grilled cheese sandwiches, while my husband and I opted for the delicious cheeseburgers and thick-cut French fries. The menu was reasonably priced and the restaurant provided both good food and excellent views of the hotel grounds.

Some of the summer activities at Boyne were a little too advanced for our little ones, such as horseback riding and junior golf clinics – but I'm sure they'd enjoy them as elementary school kids another few years.

Disclosure: Our accommodations were provided by the Boyne Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa.

Teresa J. Shaw covers Southeast Michigan for Traveling Mom. Visit her website at TeresaJShaw.com and follow her on Twitter at @TeresaShaw.

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