South Haven Visitors Bureau It's Summer- Head Outdoors
Cherry Bowl Drive-In
Honor
231-325-3413
www.cherrybowldrivein.com
Step back into the Fabulous 50's at the Cherry Bowl Drive-In Theatre! We offer the Finest in Film, Food, Fun and Family Entertainment. Always a family-friendly double feature starting at dusk. Come early and enjoy a picnic of homemade broasted chicken or Crazy Harry’s BBQ Ribs.
Riverfront Concert Series
June 5 through August 28
South Haven
269-637-5252
www.southhaven.org
Thursday nights at 7:00 p.m. at Riverfront Park enjoy a different musical guest. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets.
A few ideas- while in Traverse City
The Little Traverse Conservancy Nature Preserves are right in the heart of a region renown for its breathtaking natural beauty. Included in the preserves are more than 20,000 acres of protected property. This is the ideal place to lace up your boots for an unforgettable hike. You’ll go through hardwood forests and have the chance to explore creeks, discover wildlife and stroll along sandy beaches — all in a peaceful, undisturbed setting. Mini-guides of the preserves are available at the conservancy office and at area chambers of commerce. For more information call 231-347-0991 or visit www.landtrust.org.
For a hike to really get your heart pumping, Avalanche Mountain Preserve in Boyne City is perfect. 462 steps lead the way through the woods and up, up, up the hill. Once you’ve reached the top, the view of Boyne City and Lake Charlevoix make the journey well worth the effort.
Don’t forget canoeing (for the adventurous person) and rafting (much less tippy!) the Sturgeon River (the second fastest river in the state) with Big Bear Adventures (www.bigbearadventures.com).
The folks in Petoskey like the fresh air so much, they even bring their movies outside with Movies in the Park. On select Saturday evenings, Pennsylvania Park is full of folks in lounge chairs and laying on blankets under the stars while watching top-rated movies shown on the side of a building. Family fun – and it’s FREE!
Jeep Rides!
April 5 - November 2
Sandy Korners Adventure Tours
www.sandykorners.com
This adventure, through the Pere Marquette State Forest, provides an opportunity to have the whole family immersed in the pure Michigan wilderness – safely. Driving through picturesque wooded trails, everyone will experience a little taste of off-roading fun, possibly some mud, and maybe even a glimpse of Michigan wildlife. ($150 per Jeep; each Jeep can hold 4 adults or 2 adults/3 children. Offered weekends April 5-May 17, daily May 19-November 2).
Lions are returning to Grand Rapid’s John Ball Zoo
Grand Rapids
www.johnballzoosociety.org
Bissell’s Lions of Manyara, opening in June, will be one of the largest lions’ exhibits in the nation. Because the exhibit is replicated after Lake Manyara in Tanzania, one of the few places in the world where lions have been known to climb trees, this new exhibit features a climbing tree that is heated in the cooler months and cooled when it is warm. Visitors can get a look at the lions from a variety of viewing vantage points. Two bomas, replicas of Tanzanian buildings, sit at the foot of the exhibit providing a panoramic view. One of the bomas contains a rock that is both inside the boma and outside the exhibit so that children can actually 'share a rock' with the lions. There is also a two-story viewing deck that provides a bird's-eye view of the lions.
Outdoors at Meijer Gardens!
Monet: The Gardener
Grand Rapids
www.meijergardens.org
Travel outdoors to see select plants, textures and floral colors that visually represent concepts of Claude Monet’s gardens in this living tribute to the Impressionist painter, embracing his spirit inside and out. Those who are fond of his paintings will recognize poppies, snapdragons and hollyhocks in select locations across our gardens and grounds. Areas will reflect Monet’s formal style with a careful arrangement of color, harmony and contrast. Our Volunteer Tribute Garden will display flower colors in hazy blues, rose tones and white blossoms – all selected with preference to morning light like Monet’s border gardens. And the Amphitheater Gardens will become a painter’s pallet, full of the rich tones of sunflowers, gladiolus and zinnias that seem to pop out of the fading light of dusk. Even the indoor tropical conservatory will provide the feel of exploring elements of a Monet paining, particularly the works illustrating his love for bamboo tickets, represented by the large towering groves just inside the door.
Portage Point Vacation
Portage Point Historic Inn & Lakefront Restort
Onekema
800-878-7248
www.portagepointinn.com
The classic summer family resort since 1903 is Portage Point Inn and Lakefront Resort. On the beaches of Lake Michigan and Portage Lake just north of the City of Manistee. Generations of families have chosen to spend their week each summer at this wonderful place. We watch the sun rise over Portage lake and set over Lake michigan while enjoying a campfire on the beach. Weekly activities include shuffleboard tournaments, bingo, and softball games. The prize for the kids sandcastle building contest or big fish contest is a free ice cream cone at the ice cream window. Sometimes guests retreat from the beach to the indoor pool, hot tub, and fitness room. Everyday, the guests are well fed at our wonderful dining room and lounge overlooking Portage Lake.
A peaceful vacation at Pickerel's
Baldwin Area
800-464-1468
www.LakeCamp-Cottages.com
Enjoy your vacation at this perfect location for a peaceful, relaxing outing. Pickerel Lake is located 9 miles south of Baldwin. It is approximately 100 acres in size and allows water-skiing, but is better known for its great fishing and quiet usage. Our four "just like home", squeaky clean, fully modern lakefront cottages and 46 site lakefront family campground is the place to unwind and get in touch with nature. You'll see song birds, loons, ducks, geese, squirrels, deer, turkey and an occasional eagle on our nearly 40 acres of wooded property and over 700 feet of lakefrontage . Camp sites have electric, picnic table and fire pit, centralized water, sparkling outhouses and a dump station. Boat launch, buoyed swimming area, basketball, volleyball, horseshoes and trails. We are 10 minutes from the "Flys Only Section" of the Pere Marquette River, and miles of public land.
Traverse City KOA Outdoor Activities
Traverse City
www.traversecitykoa.com
It’s time to get out and enjoy the outdoors, and what better way than to go camping. Cool in our sparkling heated outdoor swimming pool or challenge the family to a game of miniature golf, basketball, volleyball or horseshoes. In the evening enjoy sitting around the campfire with your family and friends, roasting marshmallows and telling stories. To make your camping experience as convenient as possible we offer a well-stocked General Kamp Store, complete with camping/RV accessories, groceries, souvenirs, and movie rentals. Stay connected with business or family with KOA Net-Connect in the store or at your site with free wireless-internet service.
Niles Bensidoun French Market
May 22- October 7
Downtown Niles
www.nilesmainstreet.org
Niles Bensidoun French Market 9am -2pm 3rd Season for our Niles French Market, a Bensidoun USA Market, in Downtown Niles. This season, Market will be open Thursdays & Saturdays, beginning May 22nd and running through October 4th ~ Indulge yourself and enjoy best this area has to offer at our market. This is not a Traditional Farmers Market, but a European style Open-air Market showcasing the finest that our local artisans, small businesses and farmers have to offer…fruits, vegetables, flowers, candles, handcrafted jewelry, artwork, pottery, handmade soaps and lotions, fresh bread, pastries and more.
Blues on the Mall
June 11 - August 13, 6:30 - 9:00 pmRosa Parks Circle
Grand Rapids
www.wlav.com
97 LAV Budweiser Blues on the Mall brings Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids alive every Wednesday night with a free concert featuring national blues acts. Vendors offer a variety of food and goods. Limited seating available so bring your lounge chair!
Free Concert Summer Series
June 10 - August 12
Tuesdays 7:30 - 9:00pm
Bandshell on White Lake
www.artscouncilofwhitelake.org
Parties in the Park
June 6 - August 29, 2008
Downtown Muskegon
231-725-6333
www.visitmuskegon.org
These Parties will take place every Friday night and will feature live bands each night. There are children's activities, beverage tents, and much more. Parties In The Park will not take place during other major festivals.
Bandshell on White Lake
231-893-2524
www.artscouncilofwhitelake.org
Tuesdays from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. plan to meet at the Bandshell on White Lake for their summer concert series! June look forward to hearing these artists perform: (10th) Ray Kamalay and his Red Hot Peppers; (17th) Kitty Donohoe; and (24th) Mary Rademacher and the Rad Pack.