About fifteen years ago I moved to Toledo Ohio where I lived for five years. During that period of time I had opportunity to visit most "ski" areas on the Midwest and West side of Appalachian mountains. Upper peninsula Michigan is the biggest deception when it comes to skiing in the North America. What is the problem? The problem is that there are no actual mountains on the upper peninsula. If you have just a quick look on to the map of U. S. and Canada you will see that the only real mountain chains on the North Americas continent are Rockies and to some extend Appalachian mountains.

Upper peninsula is for the reason unknown to me advertised
as a major ski area on the East cost. It is not. Upper peninsula is not worthy even of 6 hour drive from Detroit area let alone a flight from somewhere else. If you live in Detroit area there are couple bunny hills north of city well worthy of an hour drive for a day on the snow. If you really want to drive 6 hours from Detroit or north east Ohio the best place is Holiday Valley New York. Even there you will not find real skiing. The highest picks of Appalachian mountains (5600--feet) lie in the North Carolina and are not serious ski areas by any degree as well.

Moral of the story is head to the West (I used to live in Arizona)for real skiing in North America unless you live in Vermont or Lake District area of New York where you will have harder time to justify spending $1500 for 5-6 days of skiing which is actual cost of the season ski pass in some nearby decent ski centers.