December Michigan Event Calendar

December Michigan Event Calendar

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REGISTER TO WIN A FREE WEST MICHIGAN GETAWAY!
Winner Drawn January 1, 2009

Enter to win a Girlfriends Shopping Getaway to Petoskey & Harbor Springs!
New this time- we will pick three lucky winners!

GRAND PRIZE WINNER DETAILS
WMTA is giving away three - day, two-night vacation to one lucky traveler. This
get-away will bring you and a guest to the Petoskey/Harbor Springs area of West Michigan.

• 2 night's stay at the Stafford’s Perry HotelBreakfast Each Morning
• $30 in Stafford's Dining Dollars (Redeemable at any Stafford’s property)
• $30 in Petoskey Merchant Money (redeemable at any participating Gaslight District business)
• $100 to Grandpa Shorter's Gifts - Voted "Northern Michigan's Favorite Gift Shop",
• Free Wine Tasting & Bottle of Wine at Pleasantview Vineyards

2nd Prize Winner Will Receive:
Two Night Stay at the Apple Tree Inn in Petoskey! Each room at Apple Tree Inn offers a private balcony with breathtaking views of Little Traverse Bay

3rd Prize Winner Will Receive:
One Night stay for two at the Water Street Inn in Boyne City! Provided by Holiday Vacation Rental. Conveniently located within walking distance of downtown shops and a variety of dining choices.

Simply enter into the drawing at www.wmta.org and you'll have a chance to win a wonderful getaway to explore the Petoskey & Harbor Springs Area!

A winner will be drawn January 1, 2009

For more information on traveling in West Michigan visit our website at www.wmta.org or call 800-442-2084 to order our new 2008-09 West Michigan Carefree Travel Guide – your guide to all the places to stay and things to do in West Michigan.

Founded in 1917, WMTA is the oldest continually operated regional tourist association in the nation. Representing 41 counties from the Michigan-Indiana state line to Mackinac Island and covering the entire west half of the Lower Peninsula, WMTA is dedicated to proving that “We Know West Michigan!”

WMTA visits Robinette's Apple Haus

Fall is the perfect time to visit an apple orchard and WMTA wanted in on the fun! A perfect solution to our problem: a visit to Robinette's Apple Haus located in Grand Rapids! Upon arrival, the fabulous smells coming from the bakery enticed us to follow our noses inside to check things out!

After exploring the bakery and sampling homemade donuts and fresh apple cider...we decided to take a peek inside the other buildings located on the property at Robinettes. Here we discovered an ice cream parlor and wine tasting bar! A new fun thing this season at Robinettes is the Make - Your - Own Candy Apple. For only $3.50, you receive an apple (already sliced and cored) topped with fudge or caramel and a choice of a variety of other yummy treats such as sprinkles or nuts!

A visit to an orchard is not complete without taking some goodies home to share.
We decided that Fresh Apples (just bagged that morning!)
would provide the perfect gift to share with those who couldn't visit the orchard with us.

Robinettes serves 13 Michigan made wines for visitors to taste. For $3 per person or $5 per couple, you receive a taste of 6 wines and a souvenir glass to take home with you!

Microbrew Color Tour at Timber Ridge Resort, Traverse City

After setting up our campsite, and envying our neighbors much larger tent...it was time for some refreshment!

Friday night at the welcome reception, Joe enjoyed Pumpkin Ale from New Holland Brewery. It was a great start to a fabulous weekend!

Saturday, after a long bike trip on the Old Mission Peninsula, found us back at Timber Ridge Resort for some fun in their Microbrew Tent! Founders Brewery, Right Brain Brewery, Shorts Brewery and Arbor Brewing Company were all featured. The music was pumping, food was being served and everyone was having a great time!

Sunday, we awoke to some rain, but that did not dampen our spirits! We cleaned up in the very clean bathhouses at Timber Ridge, then decided to head to Traverse City for some breakfast and wine tasting!
What a fantastic weekend!

Plans to visit Timber Ridge during their March 2009 Suds N' Snow event are definitely in the works! Suds n' Snow will combine snowshoeing and more Microbrews from Michigan! For more information visit www.TimberRidgeResort.net!

All Things Autumn-West Michigan will Delight Visitors with its Fall Color Show

The West Michigan Tourist Association celebrates “All Things Autumn” by offering visitors a comprehensive way to plan their fall color tour trips.


Autumn is here in Michigan and the West Michigan Tourist Association (WMTA) has created a resource for visitors planning their fall color trips. In a campaign to celebrate this colorful season in West Michigan, WMTA’s “All Things Autumn” is a comprehensive, online portal of color tour routes, fall-season FAQ’s, harvest festivals, and weekly color updates.

“All Things Autumn” can be found by logging onto www.wmta.org and access the Great Ideas section at the top of the homepage.

Keep track of the most current fall color conditions by logging onto “All Things Autumn” at www.wmta.org, or calling the West Michigan Tourist Association conditions hotline at 800-442-2084, ext. 304. The recorded line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week with AAA Michigan’s statewide fall color updates. Conditions are updated each Thursday starting at the beginning of September.

Color Tours in West Michigan
There is no single best way to enjoy the fall color display. West Michigan travelers have a plethora of ways to enjoy the show, either by car, train, boat, bicycle, horseback, at festivals, hiking, on golf courses and luxury resorts, or historic highways. Many of these “old roads” cut through great forests of hardwood and pines and make perfect color tours, and some are state-designated scenic routes.

Color seekers can find these 26 scenic driving tours on WMTA’s online feature “All Things Autumn” at www.wmta.org and print detailed directions for each route. From 40 miles to 140 miles, there’s a day trip perfect for everyone. To aid in planning their fall color tour adventure, visitors can request a free copy of the West Michigan Carefree Travel Guide by calling 800-442-2084.

We Hope You Enjoyed Your Summer!

The end of summer in West Michigan can be a little disheartening. The summer is always so beautiful and goes by so fast. Luckily, we still have a few months of warmth left before the snow falls. In a way, Autumn is even more beautiful than the summer because of all the fantastic colors we see during this season. Make sure that you keep up with our All things Autumn portal on www.wmta.org. Also, here are a few harvest-related activities to get you started this month.

Grey Hare Inn Grape Harvest Stomps
September 1 - October 25
Traverse City
231-947-2214
www.greyhareinn.com

September 5 – 6
Mackinaw City
800-750-0160
www.mackinawcity.com

Wine & Harvest Festival
September 5-7
Paw Paw
269-655-1111
www.wineandharvestfestival.com

Family Fall Festival
September 12-14
Jackson
517-841-9203
www.jacksonfamilyfallfestival.org

Apple & BBQ Cook-off Festival, Silver Lake AreaApple & BBQ Cook-off Festival
September 12-13
Silver Lake Sand Dunes
800-874-3982
www.thinkdunes.com

2008 Leelanau Harvest Tour
Sept. 21
Leelanau County
www.leelanauharvesttour.org

The Annual Harvest Stompede Vineyard Run & Walk and Wine Tour
Sept. 20 - 21
Leelanau Peninsula
www.lpwines.com

Annual Fall Fest
September 26 - 27
North Mears Parking Lot
800-879-9702
www.whitelake.org

Four Flags Area Apple Festival
September 25-28
Niles
269-683-8870
www.fourflagsapplefestival.org

September 27
Harvest Festival
Friske Orchards
Charlevoix
231-599-2604
www.friske.com

September 27-28
Fallasburg Fall Festival
Lowell
616-897-8545
www.lowellartscouncil.org

September 27-28
Fall Festival
Pentwater
866-869-4150
www.pentwater.org

Niles Haunted House Scream Park
September 19-November 1
269-687-3327
www.haunted.org

West Michigan- the New Hollywood?

NEWLY FORMED WEST MICHIGAN FILM OFFICE EXPECTED TO LEAD REGIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH IN EMERGING INDUSTRY

A number of film companies are already inquiring about West Michigan

GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. (July 15, 2008) – The West Michigan Tourist Association (WMTA) announced today the official opening of the West Michigan Film Office (WMFO), which will work to bring filiming and production of feature films to communities throughout West Michigan. The announcement was made from the set of the feature film, “Tug,” which will star Sam Huntington and Haylie Duff, being shot by Hopwood DePree at his TicTock Studios in Holland. Three other films are set to be shot in West Michigan pending approval of the state incentives.

The WMFO is led by Rick Hert, executive director of WMTA. Hert has more than 25 years of experience recruiting all size film projects and has put together more than 100 different successful projects in his previous work.

“The new incentives from the state of Michigan have really opened a lot of doors for both filmmakers and Michigan businesses,” said Hert. “With the eyes of many of these filmmakers now on Michigan, we need to be proactive with our efforts and be ready to assist as necessary. The economic impact of a large film project will do great things for the region, and our office plans to be a leader in bringing this business to West Michigan.”

The formation of the WMFO is related to the WMTA’s mission, and the hope is that bringing filmmakers here will benefit West Michigan’s tourism industry. WMFO is already working with 55 different CVBs, Chambers and other economic development organizations from around West Michigan.

As part of the WMTA, the WMFO can also offer a great value to filmmakers through the numerous WMTA members, linking film prospects with the many available locations and resources. West Michigan offers a wide array of locations from the skyscrapers of downtown Grand Rapids to the sand dunes of Silver Lake.

“Having the WMFO and personnel ready on the west side of the state is going to present Michigan as being very film-ready,” said Janet Lockwood, director of the Michigan Film Office. “We look forward to excellent cooperation, communication and sharing of all information as it comes into either office. Production companies will be very happy to work with a regional film office. The bottom line results in more economic impact for West Michigan, more industry jobs and more tourism.”

The WMFO will work closely with the MFO that is based in Lansing, identifying film leads that would work well in a West Michigan setting. The Michigan film incentives legislation, which took effect in April 2008 has already brought in more than $200 million in film revenue to Michigan.

Founded in 1917, WMTA is the oldest continually operated regional tourist association in the nation. Representing 41 counties from the Michigan-Indiana state line to Mackinac Island and covering the entire west half of the Lower Peninsula, WMTA is dedicated to proving that “Nobody Knows West Michigan Like We Do!” For more information, visit www.wmta.org.

Take a Staycation- Gas Incentives for Traveling!

With the price of gas on the rise, more Michigan travelers are going to be looking for deals and discounts, special savings throughout the summer.

Listed below is a round up of those offering special gas card type promotions. In addition to these, don’t forget that Mackinac Island is a gas savings destination in that cars are not allowed on the island. Also, if traveling from Wisconsin to Michigan, save gas by taking the SS Badger or Lake Express Ferry across Lake Michigan to Ludington and Muskegon ports.



Treetops July Mid-Summer Golf Special – Gaylord
Swing into Treetops Resort this July on any two-night golf package and receive a bonus round of golf on the course of your choice. In addition, when groups of twenty or more reserve the same package, they will receive a $35 Marathon gas card good anywhere in the Continental United States for each foursome.

Traverse City Rebate Rally, a new spring vacation package between May 1 and June 12 that offers great room rates at Traverse City hotels, motels and resorts (as low as $27.50 per person, plus tax, based on double occupancy) plus restaurant and shopping discounts, casino deals and even a discount on wine purchases.

Even better, visitors who book a Rebate Rally package of at least three nights will also receive a $25 gas card. All that’s necessary to qualify is to book the package through a toll-free reservation line, 1-800-TRAVERSE (1-800-872-8377).



Cottages on Silver Lake – Mears
Robert Ortman, 616-392-8337 or Robert@robertortman.com said ‘we will pay up to $100 cash for any receipt(s) on gas, on any new reservations. Unfortunately, this is not reflected anywhere on their web site. Might be worth a call. Cottages on Silver Lake

Holiday Inn – Grand Haven/Spring Lake
When you reserve our Gas Card Promotion you receive a $25 Gas Card for each night you stay with us. The promotion price is only $15 more than our regular rates and you receive a $25 Gas Card. Our website is www.higrandhaven.com

Lakeside Inn Resort – Whitehall
‘No Fueiln!’ package
Come stay with us any time between May 1 – June 30, 2008 and receive a $25.00 gift card to Shell Gas station every night you stay! Not only do you receive a $25.00 gift card, you only pay $99 a night per room, including a free hearty continental breakfast!

Country Inn - Holland
We have offered guests a $25 gas card for any two consecutive night stays during the week (Su-Th). Available now thru the second week in June.
Country Inn by Carlson.

By the Lake at Parkview Cottages will be discounting their rate by $5.00 per night after Labor Day to help off set gas prices. Located just 1/2 block from Lake Michigan and Ludington's city beach known as Stearns Park, Parkview Cottages are the perfect choice when planning your Ludington vacation.

West Michigan Carefree Travel

This is West Michigan Carefree Travel, a comprehensive guide to all you would want to do and see on your trip to West Michigan!

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Celebrate Michigan Week: May 17-23!

Whether you're a lifelong resident, a newcomer or a visitor to the Great Lakes State, welcome! The State of Michigan invites you to take part in the grand tradition of Michigan Week. It is an annual salute to the best Michigan has to offer. I have lived in Michigan my entire life and I am ashamed to say that I have never heard of Michigan Week. But, I look forward to celebrating this year. There will be parades, festivals and other celebrations taking place all week long.

Michigan Week began in 1954 as a way to promote state pride among citizens and to celebrate the rich heritage and unique features that make Michigan special.

For one week in May each year, Michigan celebrates all that make our communities, our businesses, our schools and our collective heritage so very unique and worth sharing during a time called “Michigan Week.” It’s also the perfect time to visit Michigan for the first time or rediscover what’s new!

To find out more about Michigan Week visit: www.michigan.gov/michiganweek/ .

Going on this week!

One of West Michigan's premier festivals is taking place this week- Tulip Time Festival in Holland! A friend of ours made a video-blog devoted to this festival and you can check it out here. It is just a great festival to visit, rich in Dutch Heritage. This year, Johnny Lang was the headliner of the Festival (he was there May 3rd.) You can still catch some great concerts; Tony Orlando (Thursday May 8, 4:30pm and 8pm, Central Wesleyan Auditorium $36) And Tonnie Mislap (Friday, May 9 4:30 and 8pm, Central Wesleyan Auditorium $36)



We also have compiled a list of things to do for your mother for Mother's Day, which is coming up... this Sunday- May 11! If you haven't thought of a gift yet, try out one of these events:

A Camping We Will Go...

Camping Season is quickly approaching and I for one cannot wait! I just thought that I would share some quick resources for those who want to start planning their camping vacation.

Most campgrounds open Memorial Day Weekend. But you may want to call ahead to find the exact dates. Whether you love "roughing it" in a tent or like the homey feel of an RV, West Michigan has campgrounds to fit everyone's needs.

A couple campgrounds in West Michigan:

• Double JJ Ranch, Rothbury, 800-DOUBLE-JJ, www.doublejj.com
• KOA Campground,Traverse City,www.traversecityKOA.com
• Pickerel Lakeside Campground and Cottages, Baldwin Area, 800-464-1468, www.LakeCamp-Cottages.com
• Sunny Brook RV Resort, South Haven, 888-499-5253, www.sunnybrookrvresort.com
• Hungry Horse Campground, Dorr, 616-681-9836, www.hungryhorsecampground.com
• Hill & Hollow Campground, Pentwater, 231-869-5811, www.hillandhollowcampground.com

For a list of all of the state campgrounds and national forests, visit Michigan's Department of Natural Resources Campground Page Here. They have a map for every county in Michigan showing where the parks are. A great resource!

Hey, have fun while camping this summer. It is going to be a beautiful summer and I don't think there is a better way to spend time with family and friends than around a campfire, playing games and barbecuing. Can't wait!

West Michigan Goes Green!

In Celebration of Earth Day, I am going to blog about how West Michigan is going green!

Grand Rapids Art Museum - Located in Downtown Grand Rapids, the new Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) is internationally known for its design and LEED status (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Also, now through June 1, 2008, visit the GRAM exhibition Art & The Environment: Design Solutions, which showcases the green design features of the museum. Be sure to check out the WARHOL Exhibition as well. Rapid Exposure: Warhol in Series will be on exhibition through June 15. The exhibition showcases over 100 Warhol paintings and print portfolios. I went through the exhibition a week ago - it was excellent! Very neat to see up close some of his popular works such as the sixteen panel Jackies and Campbell's Soup II.

Binder Park Zoo - Located in Battle Creek this is a great hands on zoo for the whole family to enjoy! Binder Park Zoo Opens today through – Oct 12. Discover spectacular views of wild animals from elevated boardwalks. Get nose-to-nose with one of the largest giraffe herds in the country as you explore Wild Africa and hand-feed a giraffe. It’s an African adventure not to be missed! New for this season experience the “Year of the Snow Leopard!” Witness these majestic cats in their newly designed and expanded exhibit. On April 22, Binder Park Zoo will kick off its 2008 season with a weeklong celebration and festivities dedicated to planet earth. The event will coincide with the National Earth Day on April 22. Highlights will include guest speakers and valuable earth-friendly tips to use to “Go Green” in your everyday lives. Come, be a part of this celebration and learn how you can help save planet earth!

Hayes State Park - Earth Day Celebration! Click on the link for more information on this event taking place on May 3, 2008 at Hayes State Park.

Wine Country

We love West Michigan Wine! With now more than 50 wineries statewide, Michigan is really making itself a name among wine enthusiasts. It is hard to pinpoint what wineries are our favorites - because each one has its own unique personality! Here are a few I recommend to visit:

Fenn Valley Vineyards: located in Fennville, MI. This winery has a suberb winemaker and a friendly tasting room staff. Take a cellar tour at this vineyard and you are sure to learn alot as well as taste many wines! The vineyard puts on many fun events during the year - my girlfriends and I have made it a point each year to attend the Girls Afternoon Out which includes wine tasting & pairing as well as learning a new skill & recipe to try in the kitchen! Another event they host is the Summer Evening Cookout. This fun event has live music, grilled food, and wine of course!

Warner Vineyards: located in Paw Paw, MI. Try the Cabernet Franc paired with a grilled steak - fabulous! Also, fun in the summer is their Sangria and in the winter try the Holiberry as a mulled wine - both of these are great to serve in the company of friends! When you visit Warner make a short walk over to St. Julian!

Old Mission Peninsula Wineries: located in Traverse City, MI. Ok so Joe & I have a special fondness for the Old Mission Peninsula Wineries because in the fall this is where Joe proposed to me! He actually proposed to me by the Old Mission Point Lighthouse but we had stopped at a few wineries (which I thought was the point of the trip...) on our way up the Peninsula...I had no clue that he was about to propose!

West Michigan's Weekly Blog!!

First Blog Ever! We at West Michigan Tourist Association thought it would be a good idea to start a blog. This way we can show current up to date highlights of what is going on in West Michigan. Plus, this way you can comment and share your experiences of what you have done while visiting the Western Half of the state.



Coming up this summer- West Michigan has tons upon tons of festivals, events, concerts, etc. to make plans to attend! West Michigan locals and visitors alike look foward to attending Tulip Time in Holland is celebrating their 79th year of good ol' Dutch Heritage. Taking place May 3-10, 2008 this festival is always a terrific time for all with food, music fireworks, klompen dancers and street scrubbers. New this year is Tulipalooza held May 6-9. Tulipalooza will be held at the Sixth Street Stage concert area and feature FREE concerts! Artists include Pop Evil, Headed for Zen, Bronk Bros. & Headin South. Saturday, May 10, mark your calendars for the Bier & Muziek Fest that will feature "That 80's Band", Jimmy Staggard & LaSondra Leffler.


A new festival this year is the Rothbury Festival taking place on the Double JJ Ranch and Resort in Rothbury. This is a new idea featuring a number of excellent choices for bands--Dave Matthews Band, Phil Lesh and Friends, John Mayer, Snoop Dogg, Modest Mouse, and the list goes on and on and on. It will be great fun!



Tell us about the events you are looking foward to this summer in West Michigan!