Great Lakes Travel Deals is about helping people in our region see the world for less, discovering flight opportunities that might not be on your radar, and building a community around travel. But part of that journey is introducing you to Great Lakes–based businesses and experiences closer to home.
Today, I’d like you to meet The Sauna Guys, a family-owned company handcrafting cedar barrel saunas in Pelkie, near the base of the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
We’re kicking off a partnership, and I’ll be bringing you along as our family gets to know their product, the people behind it, and the experience of having a backyard sauna.
The first impression? Craftsmanship, friendly faces, and cedar.
When their trailer pulled up last week, three things stood out right away: the craftsmanship of the saunas, the warmth of the owners, and that wonderful smell of cedar. From the moment I walked out the front door, there was a lot to like.
A little while later, my boys and I were helping move ours down the hill onto its platform while my daughter captured much of the action on camera (see video below). You can still catch that cedar scent in the backyard, and it’s even better inside the sauna. It’s one of those details you can’t capture in a photo, but it adds so much to the experience.
Built in the U.P. Enjoyed across the country.
The Sauna Guys has been handcrafting cedar barrel saunas in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula since 2012. They now build hundreds each year, delivering them fully assembled to customers across the lower 48—from the East Coast to the West Coast and everywhere in between. Their delivery map tells the story of a family-owned U.P. business whose craftsmanship has found a home far beyond the Great Lakes.
Ours is a six-person, wood-fired sauna with a metal roof and a stove that loads from outside. I’ve always appreciated natural wood and craftsmanship, and this is something beautiful that’s built to be used.
Good experiences don’t always require a plane ticket
We spend a lot of time thinking about where our next trip will take us. I’m excited about something that makes the time between those trips more enjoyable, too.
For our family, that means another reason to embrace our long winters, leave the phones inside, and spend time together. A fire to tend, that wonderful cedar smell, and a warm place to end a cold day.
If a backyard sauna has been on your wish list, I hope this gives you a Great Lakes business worth exploring. And if you’ve never considered one, maybe you’ll enjoy following along.
You can explore their saunas at thesaunaguys.com.
Already a sauna person? What’s one tip you’d give someone just getting started?
Our Approach: I’m selective about the businesses I share with this community. I take time to learn about them, and partnerships often begin with me reaching out because something catches my interest and feels worth sharing with readers. This sponsored feature with The Sauna Guys grew out of that same approach, and the observations and opinions I share reflect our family’s own experience.
