Gaylord styles itself as an "Alpine Village" and the city center features many buildings with Tyrolean style motifs. Receiving abundant snowfall and experiencing mild summer temperatures, in recent years the area around Gaylord has become known for its snowmobiling, and many skiing, and golf resorts, one of the largest such concentrations in the Midwest.

Gaylord features an annual event in July known as the Alpenfest. Participants are encouraged to dress in traditional Swiss stylings.

Gaylord experiences heavy lake-effect snow during the winter and is in the middle of the Northern Michigan Snowbelt.