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Zipline tours are popular pursuits at numerous ski resorts along the east coast and in the western mountains. Around the Great Lakes, you head to Michigan’s Boyne Country to find the Heartland’s only zipline tours. 

It may be the middle of August during one of the hottest Heartland summers on record, but several of the region’s ski areas are currently offering their best season pass deals for the 2012/13 season.

Record heat is scorching much of the Heartland this summer, so you might consider a quick trip to Big Sky Resort in the Montana mountains, with Yellowstone National Park just down the road.

Central Wisconsin offers mountain-like scenery at Devils Lake State Park, the popular Wisconsin Dells and the long running Tommy Bartlett Water Ski Show. Devils Head Resort, just down the road, is a great place to stay. 

These two Boyne locations, located near Lake Michigan resort towns Petoskey and Harbor Springs, offer a variety of activities that would take care of a very large family with multiple choices. 

How would you like to ski or ride every day all over Michigan this winter for $500? That’s not just one area, but at 20 of the top ski areas scattered across the Wolverine State’s both peninsulas. 

It was immortalized by the wonderful period movie "Somewhere In Time" with Christopher Reeves. Mackinac Island has long been one of the Great Lakes most recognized vacation destinations. Conde Nest Traveler calls it “One of the top 10 islands in the world.” 

Winter sports aren't the only games in town for a couple of the Twin Cities' most popular ski areas.

What’s the “Most Beautiful Place In America?” More than 100,000 viewers of ABC’s Good Morning America voted for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. 

Traverse City, Mich., known for its downhill and cross country skiing during winter, is also a top summer destination. National Geographic lists it as one of the Top 10 Summer Trips for 2012.  

Otsego Club & Resort, one of the nation’s oldest private ski clubs, will only open next winter if a buyer or operator is in place.

Peak Resorts, which owns and operates six Midwest ski areas in Missouri, Indiana and Ohio, is spending several million dollars this summer expanding and remodeling two of the sites.  New jobs will be created with the expansion.

Summer is a great time to visit America’s national parks, and two of the most popular are easily accessed from a couple of Montana’s more popular resorts.

Minnesota’s Arrowhead with Lake Superior and the Sawtooth Mountains rising 1,000 feet above the coast offers a variety of outdoor activities not often found in the Heartland.

While most ski resorts are still pushing early season pass deals for the 2012/13 season, Ski Brule, in Michigan's UP, is already touting lift ticket and lodging deals for next season.

Springtime in northern Michigan is wildflower season and what better way to celebrate the season than a trip to Crystal Mountain's seventh annual Michigan Beer & Brat Festival. It takes place Saturday, May 26.