Hey Michigan Left Coasters, What to do in Your Area?

I'm taking the family to the Gilmore this weekend. What else is there that I shouldn't miss while I'm over there.

Beer.

After that, not much. It is still Michigan.

Kalamazoo area? Bells Ecentric Cafe and Gilmore is about it.

Artprize just finished in GR

Meijer Gardens are pretty cool

Color tour up the lake coast

This is what we do when it starts snowing:

Gingerman Raceway towards South Haven (nice little Lake Michigan harbor town).

Grattan raceway to the north.

Visit www.PureMichigan.org for other cool things to do.

There's a u-rench it yard near Wayland off 100th street and Division. (find it on www.lkqselfserve.com).

Both are about an hour from Gilmore.

Is Gilmore north of you? Remember, if you live in Michigan you are only allowed to go "up north" for r&r.

logdog wrote: Is Gilmore north of you? Remember, if you live in Michigan you are only allowed to go "up north" for r&r.

Just don't let it be known you are a fudgy troll.......

If you're into accidental Presidents, the Gerald R. ford Museum is in GR. It's actually pretty good.

If I recall right you live on the east side of the state. My recommendation would be to make it into a scenic drive rather than taking 94 from the south.

There's a ton of small lakes and such north and east of Gilmore. M43 winds past a few of them. Maybe if you come across 96 jump off at Ionia (M66) and go south to where that hooks in M43, then take M43 down through Hastings and out to the Gilmore it will be a nicer drive.

Aside from that, yes the Gilmore is kind of in the middle of nowhere, and the closest town is K-zoo. Bell's is good, GR has plenty of good beer as well (Founders / Brewery Vivant / Hopcat / etc.). If you end up downtown GR, you can grab a burger at Stella's Lounge which was named America's Best Burger by GQ magazine (http://stellasgr.com/) Neat place, old arcade games as well, enter off the alley from Ionia St.

You said "taking the family".. young kids? what else do you want to do?

A color tour up the lakeshore is great this time of year, but you're not really that close @ the Gilmore... you're still over an hour away from South Haven (straight west). If you do loop out that way, Lakeshore Drive from Holland to Grand Haven has some great views, curves, and is a leisurely drive.

This: http://www.airzoo.org/ isn't far. Worth the trip in my opinion, but I have a soft spot for military aviation.

Thanks guys. Yeah xflow, I'm bringing the kiddo's, 5, 8, and 10. We are thinking about Bender Park Zoo but the airzoo looked cool as well. And thanks for the tip on making the drive there scenic, I like that idea. Add a little time to the drive? So what, it's worth it to make it a nice drive.