Labor Day Getaways on eightWest

1.2 Million Michiganians Have Labor Day Travel Plans, Says AAA

1.2 Million Michiganians Have Labor Day Travel Plans, Says AAA




Find West Michigan Labor Day Ideas here: http://www.wmta.org/labor-day-getaways-560/

Plan ahead for a busy weekend in West Michigan!

Some Upcoming Events in West Michigan for weekend of August 20 - 21:

• Butterfly Hike at Otis Farm Bird Sanctuary, Saturday, August 21

Join volunteer naturalist DJ O’Neal at the Otis Farm Bird Sanctuary on Saturday, August 21st for a Butterfly Hike through the Sanctuary’s fields. DJ will lead participants on a hike around the sanctuary beginning at 3:00 p.m. Many species of butterflies make their home at the sanctuary and DJ will identify them for you. Participants should meet DJ at the Otis Barn dressed in long pants and good walking shoes. Protection from the sun in the way of a hat and sunscreen is suggested; insect repellent will keep away the biting bugs. If you have a butterfly field guide and net, please bring them with you. The walk will take 1.5 – two hours. The program fee is $2 per person (age 12 & under free); Michigan Audubon members may attend for free. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Registration for this program is required and can be done by calling 517-886-9144 or you may send a message via e-mail to Wendy@michiganaudubon.org prior to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 20th. After 5:00 p.m. on the 20th you need to contact the Sanctuary at 269-948-5777. In your message please include the name of all participants, a phone number and indicate if you are a Michigan Audubon member. If there are children participating, please list their ages. In the event of rain, this program will be cancelled. Otis Farm Bird Sanctuary is located at 3560 Havens Rd., approximately seven miles southwest of Hastings.

• National Coho Festival, August 20, 21, 22, 2010 • Honor, Michigan
  

The annual Coho Festival is a four-day event centralized in Honor, Michigan that began in 1967. The event celebrates the 'salmon run' up the Benzie County rivers. Honor is considered the 'birthplace' of salmon in the state of Michigan. Coho Salmon were introduced to the state of Michigan in April, 1966 with the first planting of Coho Salmon in the Platte River. The Platte River Fish Hatchery, operated by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, is located just east of Honor. By the fall of 1967, when the fish were mature enough for legal catching, fishermen were flocking to Benzie County to try for these new game fish. The event includes a parade, state fish hatchery tours, lawn tractor races, a 5K-walk/run, an arts & crafts fair combined with a flea market, games and fun for the young, a beer tent with live entertainment and more.

• Two European Tall Ships Coming to Muskegon August 19-22
  Visitors invited to tour the Europa

Bark Europa from The Netherlands and Roald Amundsen from Germany will make a spontaneous appearance in Muskegon, Michigan on Thursday, August 19th and will stay through the weekend. Visitors are welcome to come down and tour the Europa for a donation. The two ships are in the Great Lakes as part of the Great Lakes United TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® 2010 Race to Save the Great Lakes. Both ships will be docked at the Mart Dock at 560 Mart Street in Muskegon. The Europa will be open from 10am – 5pm daily, Friday – Sunday, August 20 -22.

Along with their rich maritime and cultural history, the ships will bring with them the message of water preservation and protection of this areas most precious resource, the Great Lakes. Bark Europa is a 185’ barque that sails all around the globe including five annual trips to Antarctica. She is the oldest ship in the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® fleet as she was originally built in 1911. Roald Amundsen is making her first ever trip to the Great Lakes since she was built in 1952. Roald Amundsen is a 165’ steel-hulled brig and is operated and maintained by over 600 volunteers.
Both ships are offering berths on board throughout the summer, where the more adventurous public can sail on board from various ports throughout the Great Lakes. The ships will be in Green Bay, WI prior to coming to Muskegon and will sailing to Chicago, IL on their way out. For more information on getting on board, visit www.barkeuropa.com for Bark Europa and www.sailtraining.de for Roald Amundsen. The American Sail Training Association is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization focused on youth education, leadership development and the preservation of the maritime heritage of North America.

Suds on the Shore Craft Beer Festival

August 21st at Ludington City Park 12noon until 6pm!

Tickets can be purchased at Jamesport Brewery in Ludington for $25.00 or at the door for $30.00

Check out sudsontheshore.com for more information!

Live Entertainment at Jamesport

Friday & Saturday August 20th and 21st C-SPIN @8pm

Tuesday August 24th Freddy G. 7pm-9pm

Friday August 27th Freddy G. 7pm-9pm

Saturday August 28th Skeleton Crew @8pm

Saturday, August 21, 2010 ~ 3-10 PM

The 2010 Traverse City Wine & Art Festival takes place on Saturday, August 21, 2010 from 3-10 PM at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons. The event is a celebration of the wine and culture of the Traverse City region and features 22 wineries of the Leelanau Peninsula, Old Mission Peninsula and Traverse City paired with a spectacular array of food, art & music headlined by Larry McCray, Greg Nagy and May Erlewine & Seth Bernard!
Tickets are $25 at the door, but you can purchase them in advance for $20 online, at participating wineries, Higher Grounds Roastery, Traverse City Convention and Visitors Bureau, Art Center Traverse City, Crystal Lake Art Center and the Leelanau Community Cultural Center

Find more events at www.wmta.org

Tasty Adventures in West Michigan!

Still time for a summer escape in West Michigan!

Go Star-gazing at Otis Farm Bird Sanctuary

Michigan Audubon is offering the opportunity to watch shooting stars from the Perseid meteor shower away from the city lights at the Otis Farm Bird Sanctuary. Join volunteer naturalist Greg Nelson on Saturday evening, August 14th for Star-gazing in August. Greg will lead participants to the best location at Otis to star-gaze beginning at 8:30 p.m. A scope will be set up to assist with seeing stars & planets more closely. Greg will also point out summer constellations. The program will last until 10:00 p.m.

Participants should meet Greg at the Otis red barn at 8:30 p.m. Recommended attire is long pants, good walking shoes, and a light jacket. Insect repellent is also recommended. Participants should bring with them a blanket to lie on, binoculars, a flashlight, and a constellation chart if available. This program will be cancelled in the event of rain.

Registration for this program is requested. The program fee is $2 per person (age 12 & under free); Michigan Audubon members may attend for free. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Registration before 5:00 PM on August 13 can be done by calling 517-886-9144 or you may send a message via e-mail to Wendy@michiganaudubon.org. In your message please include the name of all participants, and a phone number. Please indicate if you are a Michigan Audubon member. If there are children participating, please list their ages. After 5:00 on the 13^th you must call the Otis Sanctuary at 269-948-5777 to register.

Otis Farm Bird Sanctuary is located at 3560 Havens Rd., approximately seven miles southwest of Hastings.

For additional information on this and other Michigan Audubon programs visit www.wmta.org