Bellaire is an easy place to travel with kids. The drives are short, the beaches are calm, the trails are flat, and little kids ski for $10. Here's what works best for families, by season.
Beaches and swimming
- Richardi Park, Bellaire: a village park on the Intermediate River with a swimming beach, courts and a big pavilion, a few blocks from downtown.
- Alden public beach, Torch Lake: shallow, clear water and a small-town downtown to walk afterward.
- Torch Lake Township Day Park: a swimming area plus a playground, volleyball and picnic areas.
Torch Lake is very deep and stays cold until midsummer, so July and August are best for little swimmers. More in our guide to beaches near Bellaire.
Easy hikes and nature
- Grass River Natural Area: flat boardwalks over wetlands, with stroller-friendly loops. The Grass River Center is open daily from May through October. Our Grass River guide.
- Skegemog Lake Wildlife Area: a flat out-and-back walk to lake views.
- A paddle on the Grass River: calm, slow water, ideal for a first kayak trip.
Winter with kids
- Ski Schuss Mountain: kids 8 and under ski for a flat $10 all season, and Magic Carpet-only tickets for beginners are $10 too. Shanty Creek runs children's ski programs. Schuss Mountain guide.
- Go tubing at Summit Mountain, open weekends and Friday evenings in season.
- Day trip to Boyne Mountain about 30 miles away, home to Avalanche Bay, Michigan's largest indoor waterpark. Ski resorts near Bellaire.
- Walk SkyBridge Michigan at Boyne Mountain, a 1,200-foot suspension bridge high over the trees, reached by chairlift. Open in most seasons.
Rainy-day ideas
- Swim in the Shanty Creek pools (included with stays at Alm Haus and Northwoods Treehaus)
- Visit the Grass River Center
- Spend a day at Avalanche Bay at Boyne Mountain
- Game rooms and arcades back at the house
More in rainy day things to do in Bellaire.
Family-friendly places to stay
Every home we host was set up for families. Alm Haus has a whole kids' floor with a triple-queen bunk room, a reading tent and a toy kitchen. Overlook Bellaire's lower level has a four-queen bunk room and a game room. The Treehaus has a bunk room with a Pac-Man arcade. Compare them in our guide to family-friendly rentals in Bellaire.
Alm Haus
A renovated Northwoods chalet 5 minutes from Schuss Mountain, with a hot tub under the pines, triple-queen bunk room, game room and stargazing dome.
Check dates and book direct →
Overlook Bellaire
A 2021 modern home on 10 private acres above Bellaire, looking out over Intermediate Lake. Sauna, cold plunge, hot tub and a game room.
Check dates and book direct →
Northwoods Treehaus
A 1960s A-frame in the pines at Schuss Mountain Resort, with three kings, a stone fireplace, a bunk room with arcade and a treetop hot tub.
Check dates and book direct →Tips for a family trip
- Plan around naps. Everything in Bellaire is a short drive, so heading back to the house midday is easy.
- Pack water shoes for rocky beaches.
- Bring bug spray for wetland trails in summer.
- Book holiday ski weeks early. Christmas week and Presidents' Day weekend fill up first.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bellaire, Michigan good for kids?
Yes. It has calm beaches, flat boardwalk trails, a family ski hill where kids 8 and under ski for $10, tubing, pools, and Michigan's largest indoor waterpark about 30 miles away at Boyne Mountain.
Where can kids swim in Bellaire?
At Richardi Park in Bellaire, Alden's public beach on Torch Lake, Torch Lake Township Day Park, and the Shanty Creek pools for guests with access.
What can kids do in Bellaire in winter?
Ski or snowboard at Schuss Mountain, go tubing at Summit Mountain, or spend a day at the Avalanche Bay indoor waterpark at Boyne Mountain.
Sources
Ski and tubing details from Shanty Creek Resorts (2026–27). Grass River hours from grassriver.org. Checked October 2026.