Lists for Michigan Places Archives - Page 14 of 14

My Michigan Memory: Tourist In My Own Town

There are so many places in Michigan that bring a big smile to my face — from gorgeous, sandy beaches to unique dives and rockin’ wineries.

Often when I think of places in my state that I love, it requires getting in my car and driving for a while. But what about being a tourist in my own town?

I did just that a few weeks ago when I went to check out the almost 3,000 tulips blooming in a local cemetery, the White Chapel Memorial Cemetery in Troy, Mich., just a few miles away from me. I know, I know…sounds a tad morbid, right? Well, let me tell you – it’s one of the most beautiful and peaceful cemeteries I’ve ever seen.

Kinley and I had a great time checking out the beautiful tulips and I was able to snap some fun photos for the cemeteries’ photo contest. Here are a few of my favorites:

If you’re so inclined, feel free to give me the green ‘thumbs up’ at the top to vote for my photo here 🙂

I was so happy to have finally taken some time to discover beauty I didn’t even knew existed just a few miles away.

Don’t forget to link-up to My Michigan Memory and enter our giveaway for a 4-pack of tickets to the Henry Ford Museum or Greenfield Village HERE!

What have you discovered as a tourist in your own town?

#MyMichMemory: Giveaway #1 with the Henry Ford + Linky!

Shared by Mrs. Weber

We’re excited to announce our first giveaway for our My Michigan Memory series: A 4-pack of tickets to either the Henry Ford Museum or Greenfield Village (entrance to the Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition exhibit sold separately), which is up to a $96 value. How fun is that?!

All you have to do is link up your blog in the linky tool below and then enter your info into the Rafflecopter form. You’ll get 10 points just for linking a blog post you’ve written about Michigan. If you are not a blogger, you can still enter to win, just follow the directions on the Rafflecopter form.

The Henry Ford complex is a top tourist destination for Michigan

So what’s the Henry Ford all about?

The Henry Ford complex, located in Dearborn, Mich., is one of our state’s most beloved tourist attractions – and for plenty of good reasons.

The complex is home to FIVE destinations in one, including: Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village, the Ford Rouge Factory Tour, the Benson Ford Research Center and The Henry Ford IMAX Theatre for the latest feature-length and documentary-style films.

The presidential limousine in which John F. Kennedy was assassinated is just one of many attractions visitors can see at The Henry Ford Museum

Henry Ford Museum showcases the American ideas and innovations, technological and social, which have fired our imaginations and changed our lives. Here, visitors explore the first 40 years of flight in the Heroes of Sky exhibit and walk past awe-inspiring vehicles in Driving America including Henry Ford’s first automobile, the Quadricycle. With Liberty and Justice For All showcases American freedom and features an amazing array of artifacts representing powerful change agents such as the bus on which Rosa Parks took a stand for Civil Rights, the camp bed George Washington used during his tour of Revolutionary War sites and the chair in which Abraham Lincoln was sitting the night he was shot.

Additionally, a summer favorite is Greenfield Village, where visitors can experience more than 300 years of American history through 83 authentic, historic structures, four living history farms, and nationally-renowned artists creating one-of-a-kind 19th- and 20th-century pieces in pottery, tin and glass. Filled with amazing authentic structures such as the Wright brothers’ cycle shop, Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park Laboratories and George Washington Carver’s memorial cabin.

Greenfield Village is a favorite stop for many Michigan residents during summer

Check out the month-by-month calendar for the latest events. Upcoming events include the Ragtime Street Fair, Old Car Festival, the Salute to America concert with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and fireworks display, and historic baseball games, following rules from 1867.

If you’d like to win tickets to Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition at Henry Ford Museum, be sure to like THF’s Facebook page for weekly giveaways!

For more information, visit THF’s website or Twitter page too!

[Read more…]

Introducing: My Michigan Memory

Shared by Mrs. Weber 11 Comments

If you follow me closely on Facebook, Twitter or on here, it’s easy to see I am extremely passionate about Michigan. So when I was approached by a fellow blogger, the lovely Jackie from With Just A Bit of Magic, about putting together a Michigan-themed meme, I couldn’t resist.

To show love for our hometown state, we’ve partnered up for a bi-monthly link-up called My Michigan Memory to highlight all that is wonderful about our state.We invite bloggers of all types to link up with us to share, in post form, a favorite Michigan place, photo, product or just anything that has to do with our state.

Each blogger who links up with us will have the chance to also win a fabulous prize from a Michigan company, just by including your information on our weekly Rafflecopter form. We can’t tell you which companies all will be participating just yet, but we’ve already gotten some great ones lined up (think girly and family fun, for starters)!

Here’s the quick rundown:

The link-up will be held on Mondays, twice a month, starting next week – Monday, May 7. On that date, we will also reveal the prize up for grabs and a description of the business. Subsequent weeks will be May 21, June 4 & 18, July 9 & 23 (we’ll be skipping the week of 4th of July), and August 6 & 20.
The link-up will be live for nearly two weeks and we will choose a winner on the 2nd Friday.
If you are not a blogger, but would still like the chance to win a great Michigan prize, you will have the chance to win as well by entering via a Rafflecopter form.
You will be able to link-up on either blog (the linky will be live on both sites).
Feel free to tweet about this with the hashtag #MyMichMemory
Please include the button below {also on my sidebar} in your posts so word can spread to more great Michigan-loving bloggers!

One of my favorite Michigan Memories…swimming with Kinley in Lake Mitchell in Cadillac last year

If you are a Michigan business interested in giving away a fabulous prize or know of a great business to feature, feel free to email me at laurenmarieweber{at}gmail{dot}com.

Feel free to drop us a comment if you have any questions about link-ups or anything else. We look forward to seeing what everyone can come up with to show the world some Mitten love!

Date Night Idea: A Grand Rapids Getaway

Shared by Mrs. Weber 12 Comments

About a month ago my hubby surprised me with a fabulous idea…to plan a night out to celebrate our 3rd anniversary…finally (our anni is in June). After we lined up grandma to babysit for the eve, I was off to planning.

I knew he might want to go somewhere scenic, but I really just wanted to dine out at a fancy spot — something that’s a bit more difficult to do these days with a little one. I was on my computer researching when a lightbulb went off.

“Let’s go to Grand Rapids!” I said.

And with that, I was asking everyone for recommendations. Facebook friends posted detailed itineraries and I reviewed tons of reviews on Yelp, my favorite website/app for finding what the locals love.

Soon, I had a massive list of things I wanted to do. Problem? A $200 budget to do it all in. Thankfully, we had a free stay in the Courtyard Marriott due to points the DH earned through business travel, so that helped.

Fall in Michigan generally means unpredictable weather, so we decided to skip the local beaches just in case. We love doing outdoorsy things though, so we thought of the next best thing: Canoeing. After some research, I found a reasonably priced livery on the Thornapple River, just 30 minutes southeast from Grand Rapids. The views were beautiful and it was so peaceful. Along our route, I spotted tons of turtles (and no snakes), so I was a content gal.

Once we were through canoeing, we headed into the city for our night out. Once we were there, we parked the car and didn’t move it until the next day.

We started out our evening by having a lovely dinner at Bistro Bella Vita, an upscale spot with a menu with a Mediterranean flair. We enjoyed our own gourmet pizzas and a bottle of wine on the patio.

After, we checked out Founders Brewing Company and I tried the Breakfast Stout, a new dark beer on the menu with notes of coffee and chocolate. It was delicious.

From there, we went to hear live comedy at Dr. Grins Comedy Club. We saw a past semi-finalist from Last Comic Standing and he, along with the opening comics, had us laughing the entire time.

After the show, we headed to Hopcat, another local brewery with 49 (!) beers on tap. We ordered some “crack fries” as recommended by Yelpers, and paired with the cheese sauce, we were not disappointed. I had a raspberry brew from St. Louis and it was divine.

We were pretty tired after our big day, so we didn’t stay out too late, although there were about 50 more spots I was hoping to check out.

We slept in and then went to breakfast at the Electric Cheetah, an artsy spot with a unique breakfast menu, chock full of all local and organic items. The Ze French Toast I had was amazing with a hint of orange – something I’ve never tasted in the Motor City.

We had an great time in Grand Rapids. The food and vibe in the city was fabulous, but we were most amazed with the people. Every person was so unbelievably nice to us and interested in why we were visiting from Detroit.

For your next romantic excursion, I highly recommend a visit to Grand Rapids.

I was not compensated for this post or any of the items listed…I just wanted to highlight the great businesses we experienced!

What is your ideal date night?

Fab5: Walking Trails in Metro Detroit

Shared by Mrs. Weber 6 Comments

Having a baby, a limited budget and a hubby who works long hours doesn’t really make going to the gym an easy task. So, to get my exercise on and get my nature fix, I enjoy taking long walks in scenic places. Here are 5 metro Detroit places I like to stroll with the little one in tow.

5. Kensington Metropark (Milford) – If you don’t already have the Michigan Recreation pass, you can get into the park for $5 per car. And believe me, it’s worth it – it’s gorgeously maintained, plus there’s lake swimming, canoeing, disc golfing, a petting farm (super cute) and so much more.

4. Detroit RiverWalk – The beautiful stretch of concrete along the river makes for a peaceful walk – especially at sunrise or sunset. Nice features for kiddos include a lake creature carousel, snack bar and bike rental spot in Rivard Plaza. Just be sure to also pack a swimsuit because the little ones will not be able to resist a run through the fountain on GM Plaza. (Free street parking available near Rivard Plaza)

3. Yates Cider Mill (Rochester) – Walk on the beautiful 1/2 mile river walk behind the mill for some beautiful scenery…including possible critter* sightings. After your walk, reward yourself with a delicious apple cider slush for just under $3. You will never want a 711 slurpee again, trust me! *I may or may not have seen a baby snapping turtle and a snake on the path, but don’t be scared!

2. Friendship Woods & Nature Center (Madison Heights)– I love the little trail surrounding the nature center. It’s just long enough for a little exercise, but short enough for baby not to need a bottle before leaving. Lots of interesting history along the walk, too. For instance, did you know that Oakland County was swampland and considered unlivable for quite some time after Detroit’s founding? Interesting, huh!? Another item to note: Please consider dropping a donation in the box as well since the nature center is currently in danger of closing.

1. Beautiful, historic downtowns. I couldn’t choose just one, so I’m choosing 5 of my favorite walkable downtowns in metro Detroit to explore and window shop: Milford, Rochester, Ann Arbor, Brighton and Plymouth. All have fab little boutiques, yummy restaurants and great people-watching.

The path at Friendship Woods

Where are your favorite places to walk around?

25 Metro Detroit Places To Show My Daughter

Shared by Mrs. Weber 15 Comments

One of my favorite things about having a little one is I get to see things through a child’s eyes all over again.

To get excited about our future adventures together, I’ve compiled a list of 25 places/events I am super stoked to take Little K to in metro Detroit.

1. Detroit Zoo

I have so many fond memories of visiting the zoo as a child. I can’t wait to see what animals K likes the most. I’m always partial to the polar bears and penguins.

2. Fountain on the RiverWalk

One of my fondest memories of working in the RenCen was witnessing kids playing in the fountain on the RiverWalk in the summer. I loved how some parents even let their kids go fully clothed, not anticipating how wet they would really get. Little K will love it I’m sure.

3. Greektown

I remember asking to go to Greektown for a birthday when I was young. I thought it was so magical. Being about 25% Greek, I can’t wait to share this cool part of the city with K to tell her about her own heritage.

4. Fisher (Nederlander) Theatre

I remember seeing my first play here – The Secret Garden – and so began my love for live productions. Such a great venue to see a show and be astonished by the beauty of the building.

5. The Whitney

We might not be able to get her to sit still for a formal dinner, but I would love to take her to this famous landmark for dessert when she’s the right age. While we wait for our sweet treat, we’ll be sure to walk around and admire the home’s historic beauty. We’ll just save the third floor, the might-be-scary Ghost Bar, for when she’s 21.

6. The Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village

Love these wonderful historic spots. Can’t wait to see K’s wonderment when she sees where butter really comes from. Plus, like my nephews below, I’m sure she’ll love getting in the hot dog and covering herself with toppings in front of the Oscar Weiner Mobile at the museum.

My nephews having fun in the Oscar Meyer hot dog

7. Comerica Park

I didn’t see my first Tiger’s baseball game until I was in college. I don’t want that to be the case with K. As a little one, she may not understand what is going on in the actual game, but I can’t wait to see her face covered in mustard from a ball park dog and see her take a ride on the beautiful Tiger-themed carousel.

8. Big Bright Light Show

Rochester’s premier festive event featuring thousands upon thousands of lights is perfect for little eyes to witness one of the magical parts about the holiday season. I can’t wait to see K’s face light up in amazement.

9. Blueberry Picking at Hazen’s Farm in Howell

I have so many fond memories of picking blueberries with my mom at Hazen’s Farm. Can’t wait to take K to this special spot to show her the ropes.

10. Heidelberg Project

This Detroit landmark of hodgepodge is a living work of art that seems to be inspired by Dr. Suess himself. This will be a great spot to show K that art is in the eye of the beholder.

Randomness at the Heidelberg Project

11. Imagination Station in Brighton

This is the play structure children dream about. It’s 10,000 square feet of pure playful bliss, complete with tons of fun nooks and crannies for kids to explore. Plus, it’s located adjacent to the Mill Pond, a beautiful spot for photos and family walks. We’ll be sure to also stop by the ultra-cute Yum Yum Tree for ice cream afterward.

12. Parshallville Cider Grist Mill

The cider mill I grew up loving is in Fenton (an hour drive from Detroit). It’s not as crowded as many of the metro Detroit mills, plus I love the historic value and amazing scenery and trails. Another fab spot for photo ops.

13. America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

I personally hate crowds and parades. But, that doesn’t mean I won’t put my negative feelings aside for my daughter, who has to bundle up, get some hot cocoa in a mug and experience this, just like I did growing up. I don’t doubt she’ll be in awe…especially if Elmo makes an appearance.

14. Kensington Metropark

Love, love, love this place. We’ll swim in the lake, rent paddleboats, have a picnic and check out my favorite spot – the petting farm! Also, a great spot to watch fireworks while hearing the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in the summer or go sledding in the winter.

15. Detroit People Mover

Even if you don’t go anywhere in particular, this is a must-do for kids of all ages when in Detroit.

16. Michigan Challenge Balloonfest

Another childhood favorite of mine from my hometown of Howell. Absolutely stunning to see hot air balloons up close.

17. Michigan Renaissance Festival

Nothing like eating a giant leg of turkey like a barbarian. This fest is such an fun thing to do, even if it’s not so easy on the wallet. I’ll just have to learn to sew better so I can make Little K a medieval princess baby costume.

18. Milford Memories

I used to love craft shows as a kid and I’m hoping my daughter feels the same. I could stroll around this event for hours checking out artist booths, live music and food tents.

19. Morley Candy Factory Tour

A kid in a candy store. Need I say more? (Disclaimer: I have never been here, but am dying to go…might have to go even before she can technically eat chocolate!)

20. Detroit Opera House

Of course we have to see some sort of show here…and since I am a former ballerina, of course I hope it will be the annual showing of The Nutcracker.

21. Ice Skating at Campus Martius

Every child needs to witness the magic of ice skating in the middle of the city in winter.

22. Art at Pewabic Pottery

The famous historic landmark has fantastic children’s programs, many of which have little or no cost. Can’t wait to see what creations K can make that I can collect over the years.

23. Howell Melon Festival

You haven’t tasted melon until you’ve tried a Howell Melon. So delicious and farmed to perfection. I’ll get melon ice cream for K while the DH and I opt for delicious melon wine.

24. Detroit Institute of Arts

Not always known for being child-friendly, this is a place I can’t wait to take K when she’s a bit older. But, they do have great children’s programs as well, so that’s a starting point.

Detroit Institute of Arts

25. Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

Such a cool little gem. Best part? There’s a great area for kids under five so no need to wait until she’s too much older.

I know there are TONS of other great places in metro Detroit and beyond. Fill me in! Where is a cool place to take kids?

My Michigan Memory: Tourist In My Own Town

#MyMichMemory: Giveaway #1 with the Henry Ford + Linky!

Introducing: My Michigan Memory

Date Night Idea: A Grand Rapids Getaway

Fab5: Walking Trails in Metro Detroit

25 Metro Detroit Places To Show My Daughter

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