You Can Plant Trees and Paint Like Bob Ross as Part of Michigan’s 'Happy Little Getaway' Vacation Package

While sun, sand, and sea are necessary vacation elements for some people, others would rather escape to a cozy lodge in an area more populated by trees than people—the type of landscape you might see in a Bob Ross painting.

If you fall into the latter category, you’d probably appreciate the Bob Ross-themed “Happy Little Getaway” hosted by Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Basically, the Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center in Roscommon, Michigan, is giving people the opportunity to spend the night in one of its rustic lodges, help plant trees in the area, and even sign up for an art class where you’ll learn how to paint like Bob Ross himself.

The region around the conference center, near North Higgins Lake State Park, has a special historical significance. There, in the early 1900s, the Civilian Conservation Corp established a tree nursery that produced 484 million trees to replant all over the state. That area is now known as Michigan’s “cradle of forestry.”

As MLive reports, the dates of availability—April 22 through April 30—coincide with the DNR’s “Run for the Trees / Happy Little Virtual 5K” event, where local participants plant trees in Michigan’s state parks. More far-flung folks raise money and awareness for forest protection, and also run a 5K wherever they choose.

The “Happy Little Getaway” package costs $80 per person per night, which also covers the cost of breakfast and lunch. The optional Bob Ross painting classes, supplies included, are an extra $60 per person per session. Because of COVID-19, lodges can’t accommodate members from more than two separate households. And even if you’ve already gotten the COVID-19 vaccine, you should continue to follow the CDC’s safety recommendations—which include wearing a mask and social distancing in public places.