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Thursday, September 30, 2010

Weekend Idea Round-Up

The first weekend of a new month is just around the corner, and this week we give you an early resume to start your October. There is always something going on in West Michigan, so don’t miss out on this weekend’s ideas – packed with lots of harvest festivals, Oktoberfest celebrations and spooktacular Halloween attractions.

If you happen to be in the Indianapolis area this Saturday and Sunday, stop by the Indiana State Fairground to visit our always-exciting booth at the Women’s Expo, offering helpful travel information for your next West Michigan vacation – or just to say hello.

It's showtime,

- Elisa, WMTA Intern

Starting This Weekend:

All Weekend:

Friday:

Friday & Saturday:

Saturday:

Saturday & Sunday:

Sunday:

Don’t Forget:

As always, check out WMTA.org for complete calendar of events for the coming months. Start planning your West Michigan vacation today or visit us in Indy!
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Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Fall Color Wednesday

It's finally starting to feel like fall. Wouldn't you agree? I have the growing desire to wrap up with a mug of warm cider or pull on my boots and wander through an orchard with a bucket of freshly-picked Michigan apples. The multitude of colors popping on trees everywhere is certainly helping autumn settle in, with our Michigan Audubon Society leaf watchers reporting a 25% average change.

Petoskey (Emmet County): Colors are approaching full peak here, especially the maples! Some trees are leaf-less already. Aspens and beeches are yellow. The sumac is deep red most places. There are lots of geese flying around, and turkeys are wandering into roadways. A few deer are seen foraging amongst the falling leaves.

Manistee County: Color is about 15-20% along the lakeshore in Manistee County and up to 30% inland.

Wexford County: 20% of trees along US-131 south of Cadillac at this time are showing color.

Ludington (Mason County): 30% of trees are showing color with purples, reds and oranges but not much yellow. It has been windy, and some of the leaves are already being blown away.

Newaygo County: The maple, sassafras and poplar trees are doing well with around 50% of color. Oaks are only at 10% of their color.

Muskegon County: The area is still more than 95% green. Of the approximately 10% of deciduous leaves that have turned, colors are about 60% yellow, 30% orange and 10% red.

Clinton County: Along I-96, trees appear to be approaching 50% color, mostly pale yellows.

Barry County: About 10% color is showing, mostly yellow undertones. Around marshes and swamps, there are more browns/oranges.

Eaton County: Color less than 10% with some pockets showing yellow undertones.

Ingham County: Color less than 10%, although in the town of Mason, many of the street-side maples were showing oranges/yellows.

Van Buren County: The I-94/I-196 corner of Van Buren County is still pretty green. The soft maples have a spattering of color.

Calhoun County: Colors are around 20%. Most of the trees are oaks in this area and aren't showing colors yet. There were about 1,000 sandhill cranes that roosted over the weekend at the sanctuary.

Jackson County: 35% of trees - mostly maples, sumac, button bush, dogwoods, and cherry – are showing color. There were 318 sandhill cranes that came in to roost at the Haehnle Sanctuary on Sunday evening.

WMTA's weekly reports are also available on WTMA.org in All Things Autumn and on the Fall Color Hotline: 800-442-2084 x. 304.

High five,

-Shannon
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Friday, September 24, 2010

Weekend Idea Round-Up

Our first fall weekend is upon us, and there's a lot to take in. The season - and our weekend calendar -  is full of color changes, pumpkins, and harvest festivals galore. If you're in the Grand Rapids area, you'll be blasted with all things ArtPrize. That's right, don your beret and grab a glass of wine: Michigan's second largest city has been turned into a giant art gallery featuring both the beautiful and the strange, and the city is talking about little else. It you're digging all the art in GR, take the short half hour drive to its neighbor Grand Haven where the city is hosting a similar event, ArtWalk.

Happy fall readers!

High five,

-Shannon

Starting This Weekend:

All Weekend:
Friday:
Friday & Saturday:

Saturday:
Saturday & Sunday:

Sunday:

Don’t Forget:
Planning ahead: WMTA.org is your place not only for this weekend's events, but a complete calendar for the coming months. Start planning your West Michigan vacation today!
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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Fall Color Wednesday

The leaf watchers of the Michigan Audubon Society are keeping a keen eye out for fall colors, reporting their findings to us each Wednesday. You can find them here, in All Things Autumn on WMTA.org, or by calling 800-442-2084 x 304.

As of today, prime viewing is still approximately two to three weeks weeks away. Color development in the region ranges between 5 and 10 percent.

Petoskey to the Soo: Maples are the predominant changers-yellow-orange-red.

Traverse City: Early color oranges are starting. Purples and reds are very few and far in between. Further inland, colors are just starting to pop.

Manistee: Less than 10% color; it has been windy so leaves are falling although they haven't turned yet.

Ludington: Colors are about 30% with lots of deep oranges. It has been windy so many leaves are being blown off the trees.

Newaygo County: Maples are starting to show some color, but the oaks are still green.

Eastern Allegan County: The area is still green with only smattering of color on a few trees.

Barry County: Less than 5% of the overall leaves show color, however, you will find pockets of light yellows and some orangish/browns in the low lying swampy areas in and around the Barry State Game Area and the Yankee Springs State Recreation Area.

Eaton County: The area is still green with little to no color.

Ingham County: The area is still green with little to no color.

High five,

-Shannon
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Monday, September 20, 2010

Restaurant Week Grand Rapids coming in November

Cygnus 27 at the Amway Grand Hotel
I just got word from Experience Grand Rapids CVB that November 4 - 13 will kick off the inaugural Restaurant Week Grand Rapids event. As of today, 52 city restaurants – including WMTA favs Cygnus 27, Dugan's Pub & Grille, Heritage Restaurant, Radisson Hotel Grand Rapids Riverfront, San Chez, six.one.six, and The 1913 Room – will offer a three-course or more dinner menu for a fixed price of $20.10 in addition to their regular menu over the ten day period. The specialized menus will be available for viewing ahead of time on www.RestaurantWeekGR.com.

Doug Small, President of Experience Grand Rapids, said, “We are ecstatic that over 50 restaurants have signed up to participate in Restaurant Week Grand Rapids an event taking place for the first time in Grand Rapids from November 4 - 13. As a first time event the community will have many great opportunities – ten days to be exact - to experience all of the wonderful restaurants in our city. We’re applauding all of the restaurant chefs who have come up with some amazing menus that these restaurants will be offering. Three courses for $20.10 – who can beat that at some of the finest restaurants in Greater Grand Rapids.”

I agree!

High five,

-Shannon
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Friday, September 17, 2010

Harvest Lions

I just went to the John Ball Zoo's website, www.johnballzoosociety.org, and saw this picture. I simply had to share. These lions certainly seem to be in the harvest spirit!


Have a great West Michigan weekend!

High five,

-Shannon
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Weekend Idea Round-Up

Kalamazoo's Air Zoo
There is never a shortage of events happening around West Michigan during the weekends. Below is just a sampling. For a more complete look, visit WMTA.org's Events Calendar. If you go to one of these great events and snap some stellar photos, send them to shannon@wmta.org, and I'll be happy to post them here for all to enjoy!

High five,

-Shannon


Starting this weekend:
All Weekend:
Friday - Saturday:
Saturday:
Sunday:
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Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Wandering Forth in All Directions

"I never saw a discontented tree. They grip the ground as though they liked it, and though fast rooted they travel about as far as we do. They go wandering forth in all directions with every wind, going and coming like ourselves, traveling with us around the sun two million miles a day, and through space heaven knows how fast and far!"
-John Muir
The bluebird conditions on Monday afternoon gave way to a peaceful walk through West Olive's Hemlock Crossing County Park. This year-round gem is home to 239 acres of woods and wetlands along the Pigeon River and over six miles of trails connecting to the neighboring Pine Bend Park.

The landscape was as varied as it was stunning. One moment I was walking through towering pines, the next gnarly, old oaks with a white-tailed deer peaking shyly from around its thick trunk. The still-green woods dipped and climbed into elevations, crisscrossed with trickling streams starting from an invisible source. Eventually wetlands took over, with freckled frogs leaping across my path.

This park is speckled with scenic overlooks, offering multiple views, each as picturesque as the last. Other perks included the price – free! – and a beautiful nature center (which is, much to my dismay, closed on Mondays). I would like to go back and take advantage of the kayak launch. I really should just travel with my boat always strapped to the top of my car so that I'm ready for opportunities like these. The Pigeon River definitely invited a serene paddle, crystal clear waters covering the sandy bottom. Sigh, next time.

Check out this and other West Michigan parks in the upcoming weeks for a fall color hike. As I said, everything is still incredibly lush and green, but that changes fast. Many destinations are offering unique guided tours, including Swiss Valley Ski & Snowboard Area in Jones, the Otis Sanctuary in Hastings, and Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids. Boyne Highlands in Harbor Springs even has horseback color tours. If walking among the trees isn't your cup of tea, WMTA.org has 26 driving tours that guarantee to put on a dazzling autumn show, viewed comfortably from the window of your car.

High five,

-Shannon

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Wednesday, September 8, 2010

After the showers

Was your camera ready after Labor Day's rain showers? WMTA staffer Judy Dood certainly had her's poised for action, capturing these beautiful West Michigan moments.

The Frankfort North Breakwater Light
watches the waters of Betsie Lake and Lake Michigan.

A wind surfer takes to the Lake Michigan waves in Elberta.

A (double!) rainbow over Thompsonville

Fishermen along the Bestie River

The rushing waters of the Betsie River Dam

Thanks for sharing, Judy! If you have West Michigan photos that you'd like to share, just send me an e-mail at Shannon@wmta.org.

High five,

-Shannon

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Tuesday, September 7, 2010

New Season: New Bloggin'

The trees outside the West Michigan Tourist Association office are dancing violently in the wind, the sunlight highlighting their lovely green leaves. Soon they will give way to warmer hues, and we couldn't be more excited for our most colorful season to make its debut. I. Love. Fall. The trips to the orchard! The crisp smell in the air! Color tours! Harvest festivals! Pumpkin carving! Caramel apples! Hot days and cool nights! West Michigan truly shines during this oh-so-unique time of the year.

With this new season, readers of the West Michigan Weekly (hello to you) will be seeing some colorful changes to the blog as well. I have all sorts of goodies in the works for you, from little known West Michigan facts to giveaways and reader photos, but I must ask, what do you want to see? Leave a comment and let me know!

In the meantime, be sure to head over to WMTA.org and check out All Things Autumn, a great source for planning your fall excursions.

High five,

-Shannon
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