Thirty years is a long time to be married. We wanted to do something different for this special anniversary. Since our wedding date falls on January 8th, we are often at a loss for how to celebrate during the peak of Michigan’s winter weather. We had booked a beautiful room in Harbor Springs, Michigan for the weekend. As part of our Anniversary package, we were given $150 resort credit, to be used at any of the nearby Boyne Resorts. I scanned the opportunities. There was skiing, tubing, dog sled pulls, horse drawn sleigh rides and something called the Aonach Mor Moonlight Dinner. Since we were on an “A” themed adventure, this caught my eye.
The advertisement stated that we would be taken from the Slopeside Lounge and transported up the ski hill to the North Peak Lodge. Here we would join 38 other people for a meal of french onion soup, followed by roast beef, garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed vegetables, served by candlelight. This had us salivating. It sounded romantic and unique. Alan and I booked our seats. At nearly $75 per person, it would be the perfect use of our hotel credit.
Hoping to enjoy a glass of wine before our dinner, we arrived at Boyne Mountain an hour in advance. We were surprised that we couldn’t find the lounge to meet our fellow guests in. Finally someone said that we were at the wrong resort! The sister company of Boyne Highlands was where this event takes place! It was a 40 minute drive from our current location. We were now scheduled to depart with the group in just 30 minutes! Realizing we would arrive late, I was near tears as anxiety soared. This was not how either of us had visualized our evening. It must be a common mistake though. The attendant who had assisted us, phoned the other lodge to say that we were on our way. We were assured that we would be met and taken up to the lodge. Now rushing, it was a stressful drive through dark and unmarked roads, over to the other resort.
As expected, the sleigh had already left by the time we arrived. Waiting for us, with helmets and blankets in hand, was a member of the ski patrol. It appeared that we would be riding up the mountain on a rescue vehicle! Not the sleigh ride like we had hoped, but we now felt very pampered as we were attended to by our personal driver. It was pretty exciting to zoom along the ski trails with snow flying everywhere. Our driver assured us that we were not far behind the last group that had departed and that we would still arrive in time for dinner. He was right. We pulled in, just as the last person was exiting the sleigh.
North Peak Lodge was bathed in a soft glow cast by little white lights decorating the outside of the knotty pine building. A large fire burned outside, filling the air with the scent of recently cut wood. We hurried to join the others. Entering the large open space, romance quickly filled the air. This was the ambience we needed. Long rows of pine tables had been covered with fresh, white linens. The only light inside the building, was being cast from tiny candles set near each place setting. Our appetites quickly grew as the aroma, of dinner combined with the rosemary and thyme sprigs, set at each elegant place setting, wafted towards us. Floor to ceiling windows looked out over the Mackinaw Bridge, which was now lit for the evening.
We soon had our glass of wine in hand. Our meal was served family style, on large platters heaped with meat and bowls were piled high by the accompanying side dishes. Music filled the air as the strolling musician, Nelson Olestrom, took requests to serenade us with his accoustic guitar. He was excellent as he performed popular oldies from the likes of Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens and John Denver. His talent seemed boundless when he sang a current tune by one of my favorite musicians, Jason Mraz! All too soon our evening was ending. We completed our meal with a chocolate fondue. A few minutes remained to enjoy the bonfire and s’mores on the outside deck, before our departure.
Not quite ready to return to reality, Alan and I then piled into the back of the huge sleigh which was being pulled by a snow groomer. Tucked beneath wool blankets, our ride back to the resort was full of laughter as we sang show tunes, while traveling slowly down the now closed ski hill. It had been the perfect Anniversary celebration.