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Monday, February 28, 2011

Outdoors Experience!

Judy working the WMTA booth!
My eyes have been opened to a whole new world- and that new world is the world of Outdoor Shows. I had no idea anything like these even existed until I came to the WMTA. I will admit it right up front that I am a city girl. So you can imagine my shock when I first walked into an outdoors show.

My first encounter was at an outdoor show in Chicago this past January. I walked into a room full of deer heads, stuffed lions and bearskins adorning the walls of different booths. There were cross bows and fishing rods on every corner- I didn’t even know where to look first. People from all over the world promoting different “hunts” and “fly-in” services (I found out later that had to do with fishing). Luckily I had my sidekick Judy with me to walk me through the ropes. She explained what different hunting terms meant, she went through some quick fishing lingo with me, and she made sure I knew the difference between a bow and arrow and a cross bow. With all my new knowledge- I was ready to take on the show, and it was a great success!

Fast forward a month to this past weekend where I attended my second outdoors show (I’m getting the hang of these things). Judy and I drove the WMTA trailer (successfully I must add) to the Showspan produced show, Outdoorama, in Novi. I have raved about Showspan shows before, and I will do it again.

This time I was prepared for the dead animals and funny turkey calling noises that we would hear all weekend. The show was executed beautifully. They had every outdoor supply you could image. From boats to ATVs, travel information to bear hunts, they even had a trout pond and pool with jumping dogs! Yes, you read that correctly, “Air Dogs” to be exact.

Speaking from an attendee’s perspective and a perspective of an exhibitor, Showspan really out does themselves. From customer services to vendor appreciation, every show of theirs I have attended has been absolutely flawless. As an added bonus, they always make it a point to pack their days full of informative seminars for the attendees. At this past show they had seminars that ranged from fishing tips to gutting a deer (yep, they had an exhibitor gut a deer right there on the main stage). I am not outdoorsy enough for that one quite yet, but there was a seminar that I will never forget and that was the turkey calling information session and competition.

The winning ladies with some nationally renowned turkey callers!
Why the turkey calling you ask? Well, I may be a little biased, but here is why. I told you before that I am a city girl, which obviously means that I come from a city family. I am originally from the east side of the state, and since the show was close to home, my family came to check it out! Much to my enjoyment, they were just as shocked at their first trip to an outdoor show as I once was. A few hours had gone by since they first arrived and they had pretty much seen everything they could have but my mom is one of those people who has to participate in absolutely EVERYTHING there is to participate in (that must be where I get it from)! Needless to say, as she heard the announcement about the turkey calling over the loud speaker, she about jumped out of her seat. Judy and I manned the WMTA booth as my sister, mom and dad went off to the turkey calling seminar/competition. A short time passed before they came back. You could hear them laughing all the way from the end of the aisle and Judy and I were curious as to what all the racket was about. It turns out, my sister and mom WON the turkey calling competition. I don’t know how it happened, but all I know is that it is a moment neither they nor I will ever forget. It’s the little things in life, ya know?

Showspan has another outdoor show coming up in just a few short weeks. The Ultimate Sport Show in Grand Rapids is always a hit and this year it will be no different. Make sure you check out the indoor lake, big buck contest, and the ultimate air dogs. They will also have seminars such as open water walleyes, finding and hunting big bucks, tracking Grand River catfish, and of course the turkey calling competition!

I want everyone to experience an outdoor show at least once in their lifetime, so for the next two weeks, we are giving away three pairs of tickets to the “Ultimate Sport Show” in Grand Rapids the weekend of March 17-20. Just tell us why you want to go, and you will be entered to win! And if you do win, do me a favor and enter the turkey calling competition!

--Kelly
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Thursday, February 24, 2011

Weekend Idea Round-Up

What? But it's Thursday!

That's right, West Michigan, we're mixing things up and giving you an extra day to plan your weekend as well as a new video edition of the round-up. Kelly and I took a moment from our busy travel show/travel guide schedules to build our fancy set in the back of the WMTA HQ. It's amazing what one finds in storage when there's set building to be done. It felt like "Wanye's World."

Each Thursday, we'll bring to you weekly clips highlighting three happenin' events. Up first is the Petoskey Winter Blues Festival, Build Your Own Bobsled event at Double JJ in Rothbury, and Super Science Saturday at the Air Zoo in Kalamazoo. Enjoy!



All Weekend
Saturday
 Sunday
 Starting This Weekend
  Don’t Forget


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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

West Michigan Wednesday

Good morning, West Michigan! It that time of the week again. Let's showcase all the stunning imagery from our fair state. Last week, we had an absolutely beautiful collection of shoreline photos, from Grand Haven to the Sleeping Bear Dunes. Great shots, readers! Don't forget that West Michigan stretches all the way from the Indiana border to Mackinac Island, from Lansing to the big lake. Show us your favorite photos from your travels around this large and deserving region.

Simply send your photo to shannon@wmta.org or post it on our Facebook page, and we'll add it to the blog. I can't wait to see what you've come up with this week!

High five,

-Shannon

Whitehall by Jennifer Stewart
No, it's not the UP, it's NE Grand Rapids! From Shelia Porteners
"The sun was so bright, you could hardly see looking out
over the lake. A quick cloud cover gave this a sepia
tone of brilliant sun rays peeking through..."Rose Witherell
Winter at its finest! Fresh, white and freezing cold, Brrrrrrrrrrr
by Rose Witherell
Sleeping Bear Dunes, fall 2010 by Pam Mulder Plamann
"Driving down a side street, seen this young man walking in the road.
I liked his viking hat - so I asked if I could take his picture. Taken
from the inside of my car through the passenger window... Pretty Cool."
by Rose Witherell
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Monday, February 21, 2011

A Not So Scary Experience: Bodies Revealed




I have always been queasy when it comes to the human body. At the sight of blood I feel nauseous, at the sound of a break I pass out, and for some reason eyes and teeth just really freak me out. Needless to say, when Shannon told me we were going to see the Bodies Revealed exhibit at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, I was a little hesitant.

I remember my parents had gone to see this exhibit years ago, and purposely left me and my sister at home- because believe it or not, my sisters is just as bad as I am. My parents raved about the exhibit when they came home. Actually, rave is probably an understatement. My Mom talked about it for weeks after; about how beautifully displayed it was, and how amazing it is that scientists can preserve human bodies. She went on and on about how much we could learn from it and how it would really expand our knowledge about how our body works.  Being a former nurse, she thinks everyone should know how the body works, and personally, I really didn’t care.
 
That being said, I was hesitant to go see the exhibit, but at the same time pretty excited that something this amazing had come to Grand Rapids.

So off we went. As I approached the two huge doors to get into the exhibit, I felt my stomach drop. I almost backed out, but knew I couldn’t. I had to face this fear I have of the human body and go check it out.

As the doors opened a feeling of serenity overtook my body. Yes, there are bodies surrounding you, but it really was amazing. The fact that these bodies have been perfectly preserved and displayed for us to see was actually pretty incredible to me. And despite my original thoughts, there are not as many bodies as I thought there were going to be. There were skeletons, different body parts, and only a few full bodies.

Shannon and I were in awe as we walked through the whole exhibit. My favorite part (and Shannon’s too actually) was the room where all of the human organs were laid out. The exhibit showed a healthy organ and then a few of the same organs that had been affected by different diseases. It was truly unbelievable to see exactly what happens inside the human body. We hear all the time about different diseases and what they do to your body, but do we actually know what they look like? I sure didn’t. To be completely honest, I don’t think I could have even told you where my spleen was before I saw the exhibit. Now not only do I know where the spleen located, I also can use the word “polyp” and know what I am talking about  (I impressed some of my med school friends with that one). But I digress.

If you have not seen the exhibit yet, I highly recommend you do. And take your children if you think they are ready. I wish I had gone years ago with my parents. Not only is it extremely informative, it is also a beautiful exhibit with a great message: treat your body right because life is precious.

Giveaway:
This week, we will be giving away 2 passes to the Bodies Revealed Exhibit in Grand Rapids. All you have to do is tell us about the most outrageous bump, bruise, or break you have ever had! Let us know by Friday- and you could be a lucky winner!

--Kelly 
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Friday, February 18, 2011

Weekend Idea Round-Up

Crisp and cool microbrews are certainly on the minds of West Michiganders this week. Stouts, pale ales and everything in between were represented in your answers, a tribute to the quality and sheer quantity of fabulous brews in our fair state.

Last spring, a large group of friends and I migrated south to Raleigh, North Carolina for a wedding. As we explored downtown, I was amazed at how many Michigan beers were featured on the menus of local dining establishments. One well known BBQ joint had three or four on tap! Trust me, Mitten brews taste just as good with pulled pork and hush puppies as they do with a burger and fries.

So which lucky West Michigan Weekly winner will be celebrating the wonderful world of hops next weekend? Noah!

Congratulations, Noah. You're this week's winner!

Simply e-mail your contact information to shannon@wmta.org, and you'll be set up with this brew-tastic prize.

High five,

-Shannon

Starting This Weekend


Saturday
Saturday & Sunday
Sunday
All Weekend

 Don’t Forget
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Thursday, February 17, 2011

A Luging Saga

I had this brilliant idea a few weeks ago to go luging at the Muskegon Sports Complex. I had been researching the complex for some media coverage I was doing for it, and the more I thought about it, the more excited I got. I mean seriously, how many people can say they have been ice luging before? That’s pretty awesome.

The start of the track.
So I wrangled in a few of my friends who all eagerly agreed- and then I waited. Very patiently I might add.

One of my very best friends I brought along with me, Muaz, is an absolutely fantastic writer and he had SO much fun luging, that he just had to chronicle his experience in written form. I don’t think I could have explained this experience we had together any better. So today I bring you the literary genius of Muaz telling all of you about our fantastic luging adventure. I hope you find his humor and his love (real or fake; you decide) for Justin Beiber as amusing as I do! Enjoy!
--Kelly


“My Justin Beiber ring tone had never made me so nervous.  The sound of Bieber’s angelic voice singing “Baby,” meant only one thing – Kelly McGrail was calling me. My best friend Phil and I had promised to go luging with Kelly a couple of weeks earlier.  Neither of us knew what we were getting ourselves into, and now Captain McGrail and her first mate, Missus Partlo were downstairs waiting for us to join them on our luging dalliance. 


Phil and I were dressed in layers, out of fear of injury, not fear of frostbite.  The luge scared me.  I was not made for extreme snow sports.  My fears became visible as I signed the waivers at ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ the Muskegon Winter Sports Complex. My knees grew wobbly as the knowledgeable staff took us through our training session.  My hands clammed up as we climbed the stairs to the top of the track.  I decided to let a couple of people cut on front of me, in an act that was born of fear, not of courtesy.  I was the last person in line and people were on their way back up the stairs for their second run as I contemplated my next move.  So I sat on my sled, texted an “I love you” to my mother, called my brother and asked if he could feed my pet goldfish, and inched towards the launch.  I got into position and asked the most personable sixteen-year-old and Muskegon Winter Sports Complex employee, Jake, to give me a push. 

And then it happened.

I was happy; I could not take the smile off my face or the elation out of my spirit.  I made it down the hill in a disappointing 21 seconds, the rest of my quartet were in the low 18s, but I made it down.  I called my brother and told him to leave my goldfish, Justin Beiber, alone and that I would be back to feed him as soon as I was done luging. 

"Epic Phil"- Our new name for a crash.
Fear not- crashes like this do not
happen often. Only Phil could spill
like this.

I grabbed my luge and sprinted back up the stairs.  Luge humor took over as we grew close with our fellow lugers.  We discussed the physics of luging with our expert, Jake.  We discussed the speeds and times achieved down the track and why it was impossible to fly off the track we were on.  The day was full of laughs and luging, and I was full of regret.  I was regretful that I had waited so long to experience this.  The moment I was done luging was full of one thing – the desire to luge again and again and again. 
In my favorite Justin Beiber song, Love Me, he sings, “when I’m with you, everything has disappeared,” and that is how I felt when I was luging, everything disappeared but joy and happiness.  I think happiness is the knowledge that there are things in existence that can make you happy, and the Muskegon Winter Sports Complex is one of those things.”

Winners!- Phil was disqualified for his "Epic Phil"- but we
still let him near the podium!
**All photo credits to Hanna Partlo.
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Wednesday, February 16, 2011

West Michigan Wednesday

Welcome to another edition of the West Michigan Wednesday photo collection! I hope you each had your camera poised and ready over the past week. Simply post your photos to our Facebook page or e-mail them to Shannon@wmta.org, and they'll be posted here for all to enjoy.

We'll get things started with this excellent photo of Kelly as she prepares to ride the luge at the Muskegon sports park.

Allegan in the fall from Craig Phillips
Holland State Park from Judy Dood
Muskegon from Rose Witherell
Sleeping Bear Dunes from Pam Mulder Plamann
Sleeping Bear Dunes from Pam Mulder Plamann
Sleeping Bear Dunes from Pam Mulder Plamann
Snowmageddon! from Rose Witherell
Grand Haven from Pam Mulder Plamann
Grand Haven from Pam Mulder Plamann
Grand Haven from Pam Mulder Plamann
Grand Haven from Pam Mulder Plamann
Grand Haven from Laura Furst McDonald
Grand Haven from Pam Mulder Plamann

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Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Whats that? A Vlog?

Hello West Michigan Weekly Readers!

We want to take a moment to thank you so much for always taking the time to stop by our page and see what we are up to! We love enlightening everyone about the different treasures of West Michigan and we really enjoy telling you about our adventures around this great side of the state. 

Instead of posting about a restaurant this week- I wanted to let you in on our newest venture! Thats right, we are at it again. We have started keeping a Vlog (a.k.a. a "video log"). We love writing about our adventures but now we are going to have a camera along with us so you can watch our sometimes crazy antics first hand! Shannon and I tried our hand at this for the first time last week at Crystal Mountain and we want our West Micahigan Weekly readers to be the first ones to see it! 

So ladies and gentlemen, without further adieu, here is our YouTube debut!


Let us know what you think! 


--Kelly
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Monday, February 14, 2011

Michigan Winter Beer Festival: Shakin' a Fist at Ole Man Winter

Michigan has many nicknames, such as The Mitten, The Great Lakes State, America's High Five and more recently The Great Beer State. That’s right, beer. With over 30 microbreweries just in West Michigan, Michigan knows a thing or two about creating a world-class brew.

And what comes with beer? A festival obviously! That’s right- it’s almost that time again- time for the beer filled event that every enthusiast is counting down to: the Michigan Winter Beer Festival. Every year the Michigan’s Brewers Guild hosts four different beer festivals around Michigan: two in the fall that take place in Marquette and Detroit, one in the summer hosted in Ypsilanti and the infamous winter festival held right here in West Michigan. For the past six years, thousands of beer lovers pack into the Fifth Third Ballprak in Comstock Park for beer, food, fun and the singing of the Michigan Beer Anthem. That’s right; Michigan beer is so awesome that we even have our own beer song.

The festival is an outdoor celebration of Michigan beer, featuring more than 250 different beers from over 45 breweries. Hot food and live music is always on the agenda and the show goes on snow, rain or shine. Dress for winter weather and let the hearty winter brews warm your soul.

In the spirit of the festival we took a poll around the office today to find out everyone’s favorite West Michigan Beer- here is what we found:
  • Judy- Oval Beach Blonde Ale- Saugatuck Brewing Company
  • Tom- Reds Rye- Founders Brewing Company- Grand Rapids
  • Bruce- Mad Hatter IPA- New Holland Brewery- Holland
  • Shannon- Breakfast Stout- Founders Brewing Company
  • Cheri- Heirloom Ale- New Holland Brewery- Holland
  • Kelly- Maggie’s Irish Ale- Saugatuck Brewing Company- Douglas
  • Intern Matthew (yes, he is 21)- Pale Ale- Founders Brewing Company- Grand Rapids
The festival has become so popular in the past six years that tickets for this year’s event are already sold out. But of course, the WMTA has some good news for one lucky winner. We will be giving away a pair of tickets to this year’s event taking place on February 26 from 1 - 6pm. All you have to do is tell us what your favorite Michigan beer is. Let us know by this Friday and it could just be your lucky day!

Cheers! Slainte! Prost!

-Kelly
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Friday, February 11, 2011

Weekend Idea Round-Up

Our first order of business on this flurry-filled Friday is to announce our Boyne Mountain zipline adventure winner. Which lucky, brave soul will be flying through the air with the greatest of ease? (Oh, wait, that's a trapeze...) Andrea!

Congratulations, Andrea. You're this week's winner!

Per usual, please send me an e-mail at shannon@wmta.org, and we'll have you set-up and soaring in no time. I. Am. So. Jealous. I shall shoo away the green-eyed monster and focus on the jammed packed Valentine's Day weekend ahead of us. How do you like to celebrate this oh-so-romantic holiday? Roses and chocolates? Dinner for two? Do you head out on the town or enjoy a quiet evening alone? If you're a last minute planner, head on over to WMTA.org's Valentine's Day Ideas page for inspiration.

This week, I'd like to shine a spotlight on three noteworthy events from our round-up, one from the northern, central, and southern regions of fair West Michigan. Let us first travel north to Traverse City where the North American Vasa Festival of Races is taking place tomorrow. The what? I know, it's a mouthful, but I'll break it down. This cross-country ski race is based on the Swedish Vasalopet, an 85-kilometer annual race named after King Gustav Vasa. The Swedes have ever been fond of cross-country skiing, and winter-savvy Michiganders took note, forming their own version of the race in 1976. Today, the race draws hundreds of skiers young and old in addition to hundreds of spectators cheering them on. Other events round out what has truly become a favored part of the Traverse City community.

In central West Michigan, DeVos Place in Grand Rapids is hosting the 23rd Annual West Michigan Golf Show, and I know four of our West Michigan Weekly readers will be attending. Myself, not so much a golfer, though I try hard when I hit the green (once a year). The Golf Show, knowing how to draw us novices in, offers free golf lessons and clinics. For the pros, there's the Treetops Par-3 Challenge, a real grass hole inside the convention center. If you know your nine iron from your pitching wedge (which I don't), you might have a shot at the $25,000 prize.

Finally, our friends to the south are sharing what may be the most unusual Valentine's Day celebration in the state, Zoorotica. Yes, you read that right, Battle Creek's Binder Park Zoo hosts this annual adults-only event, leading guests through a tour of the secret sex lives of "the feathered, furry, and fanged." Oh my... Your trips to the zoo may never be the same, but who knows, maybe you'll pick up a few tips and tricks from the animal kingdom.

Have an awesome weekend, West Michigan, and enjoy spending time with your sweethearts, whether it be hitting the snowy trails, calling "fore," or getting in touch with your animal side.

High five,

Shannon

Friday


Friday & Saturday

Saturday

Saturday & Sunday

Sunday

All Weekend
Don’t Forget
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Wednesday, February 9, 2011

West Michigan Wednesday 4

It's a beautiful Wednesday morning, West Michigan, and that means it's time for West Michigan Wednesday. This week, we're running into a few programming snafus, so we're mixing things up this time. Send your photo to shannon@wmta.org or post it on our Facebook page, and we'll post them here.

High five,

-Shannon
"I'm seriously craving a nice, warm Lake Michigan sunset
right about now." July 2010, Pentwater from Dee Maggio

"A little West Michigan darling celebrating the
groundhog not seeing his shadow and encouraging
spring to come." from Hanna Partlo

"Photo taken from the south side of the lighthouse on
Lake Front Drive in South Have. See the people out on the ice,
frozen a long way out." from Craig Phillips
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Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Where To Eat This Week: CityVu Bistro

Today's Where To Eat This Week is brought to you by CityVu Bistro in Holland. CityVu is a fabulous restaurant that sits atop the CityFlats hotel. The sleek atmosphere of the hotel definitly spills over into the restaurant. CityVu only serves healthy, fresh and local options. Sarah Lilly the marketing coordinator of the CityFlats as well as CityVu Bistro gives us an inside look at what CityVu is all about!


There are thousands of restaurants dotting the grease-glazed highway between fast food and fine dining. If you’ve grown weary of ho-hum chain restaurants with nothing to offer but blah burgers and overpriced, under-seasoned appetizers, CityVū Bistro is the place for you.

CityVū Bistro is Holland’s hotspot for all things fresh. Fryers and frozen foods are out.  Fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, creative menu concepts, and healthy and delicious dishes are in. Our 100% whole grain, hearth-baked flatbread, topped with unique combinations of savory ingredients, is the ultimate edible plate. And to make it even better the flour that is used to make our flatbreads is ground at ZeWaan Windmill on Windmill Island.  Now you can have your plate and eat it too!

In addition to flatbread you can choose from a diverse array of appetizers, soups, salads, entrées, and desserts. Regular menu revisions, including a monthly “Taste Of” feature highlighting the culinary nuances of international locales, will satisfy even the most discerning of palettes.

At CityVū Bistro, we know that nothing compliments a succulent meal more than the perfect glass of wine. We are a recipient of The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, which recognizes CityVū Bistro’s list of over one hundred wines as one of the most outstanding in the world. You can count on our knowledgeable wait staff to recommend the ideal wine pairing for your meal.

CityVū’s elegant yet relaxed atmosphere is the ideal canvas for the bistro’s invigorating menu, blending subtle sophistication with serene neutrality. The spectacular fifth-floor view, framed by floor- to-ceiling windows, creates a quixotic ambiance. Daytime sunshine invites power lunches and lively family gatherings, while sunsets and moonlight create a soft backdrop for elegant business dinners and romantic interludes.

We have recently expanded our weekend breakfast and brunch menus to include an omelet station so now you can watch your breakfast being made!

Don’t forget that in the summer months CityVū Bistro has the only rooftop patio in the city.  Sit outside and enjoy the beautiful views of downtown while you dine with friends.

Dine at CityVū Bistro and discover a cure for the dining doldrums. We keep things fresh because you deserve the best!

Hours: Monday-Thursday 11:00 to 9:30pm
            Friday: 11:00am to 10:00pm
           Saturday: 8:00am to 10:00pm
           Sunday: 9:00am to 9:00pm

Specials: 
Flat Fee Lunch- Enjoy a soup, salad, and gourmet flatbread bar for just $7.99 a person Monday- Friday 11:30am-1:30pm

Wine[d] Up Downtown- Every Wednesday from 4pm to close join us for half off bottles of wine up to $90

Happy Hour- Join us at the CityVu Bistro bar for great drink specials and discounted appetizers Monday- Friday 4:00pm to 7:00pm

CityVū Bistro atop CityFlats Hotel
61 East 7th Street
(616) 796-2114
www.cityvubistro.com

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Monday, February 7, 2011

Boyne Gets Cooler With Time- They Now Have A Zip Line!

Some of my fondest memories as a child remain at Boyne Highlands. I remember packing in the car a few times a winter with my parents and sister and hitting the road for the 5 hour commute from Detroit. I remember the anticipation I felt for the entire week before the trip. I loved skiing; it was my thing. And I loved Boyne; it was my place.

Every year we took a trip to the highlands with family friends. One vivid memory I have is the year I decided to trade the skis in for a snowboard. My parents hesitantly agreed and instantly signed me up for a lesson. Luckily for me Boyne has fabulous lessons for any level or skier or snowboarder. The instructor was extremely patient with me and made falling down the hill fun! I was ten years old and after one day on the hill of snowboarding I hurt in places I didn’t event know existed. But, being ten years old and very stubborn, I didn’t give up. Thanks to some fabulous instructors at Boyne and a disgusting amount of Motrin, by the end of the weekend I was a snowboarding pro. Okay, that might be a little exaggeration, but I could get down the hill without falling face first every few feet. Fast forward a few years, I am still snowboarding, and love it just as much if not more.

When I went to college, I scored big by having a roommate who had a condo at Boyne Mountain. This was a whole new game for me. I had never been to the Mountain before, only the highlands. But I wasn’t going to turn down a weekend snowboarding trip. As we made our way to the hill on our first trip, I was so excited to see that it was just as good as the highlands. The hills are a little more challenging and a bit more expansive in my opinion. The highlands have more hills tailored to younger children where as the mountain has more hills for the experienced skier. However, both have hills for every level.

One of my favorite things about both Boyne locations is the family atmosphere and the fact that there is something for everyone to do. Take my mom for example. She can ski, but she would much rather sit in the lodge by a fire and read a book. Boyne has fabulous lodges at both the Highlands and the Mountain. Each is decked out with fireplaces, plush couches, food courts, shops, ski repair, first aid and so much more. She loves that she can sit by the fire and look out the large windows of the lodge and watch my sister and I come down the hill and hop on the chairlift. And when she is done with her book, the Solace Spa at Boyne Mountain is her go to getaway. Where she can relax and enjoy soothing whirlpools, saunas, massage, body treatments, salon services and more

My Dad on the other hand is an avid skier. He has traveled all over the United States to fulfill his passion, yet Boyne is still one of his favorite places to ski. He loves the variety he gets with the 114 different runs between the two locations, and when we were younger, he loved that there were hills easy enough to teach his two daughters on. As we got older, he moved us to bigger and better hills. And when we finally got the hang of things (and stopped losing skis and poles on our way down the hill) we graduated to the black diamonds.

Besides the skiing, I personally love the water park at Boyne Mountain, Avalance Bay. At 88,000 square feet, Avalanche Bay is the largest indoor waterpark in Michigan. What really makes this indoor waterpark so great is the wide variety of attractions it has to offer everyone in your family. At Avalanche Bay you’ll find: ive exciting waterslides, a children’s pool, adventurous wet climbing wall, relaxing hot tubs, Rip Zone surf simulator, Splasherhorn Mountain, and a variety of other unique waterpark attractions, arcade filled with hundreds of games for all ages, and the Snack Shack and Après Ski Pub. During a week full of snowboarding, if it is ever too cold, or I just feel like doing something different, this waterpark is the perfect option!

Then there is my sister, she is the adventurous one in the family and loves to explore the other opportunities available at ski resorts. She enjoys going to Boyne for their expansive 35KM cross country ski trails at both locations, 700- 800 feet tubing hills and the dog sledding at the Highlands. You can imagine just how excited she was when she found out there is now a Zip line at both locations! Yes, you heard me correctly; a zip line.

The latest addition at the Boyne locations is this fabulous Zip Line adventure. You and the whole family can enjoy the thrill of racing your friends and family on the side by side lines of the Twin Zip or choose the relaxed pace of the Zipline Adventure Tour. These guided tours begin at the top of the mountain and allow you to soar on a series of lines, over slopes and through trees, as you descend back to the base area. Both are all thrills, no skills activities for all ages. This is a fantastic way to see the grounds of both locations and it runs all year round! Talk about cool!

There is still so much more to do at Boyne I can’t even begin to touch on it. Luckily, they have a fabulous website that gives information about every activity they have available for every season. I highly recommend your next trip be to one of the Boyne locations. You will have a weekend packed full of fun for the whole family. Start planning your Boyne trip here!

Giveaway!

This week we are giving away a zipline adventure for 4! All you have to do is tell us what your most extreme adventure has been! Let us know by Friday and you will be entered to win. Good luck!
at 9 comments:

Friday, February 4, 2011

Weekend Idea Round-Up

Good evening, West Michigan! We've all survived the Blizzard of 2011 (eleven, eleven, 'leven...). The snow dropped from the sky with vengeance, the frozen wind whipped through our bones, but, like true Michiganders, but just pulled on another sweater and headed outside with the shovel (it took me three hours to clear my driveway). I must say, I think everyone is secretly glad to receive such a storm. If winter would have passed uneventfully, we hardly would have felt the season satisfactory.

The new snow has freshened our landscape and primed it for another month of amazing snow sports. It has also gifted us the perfect excuse to snuggle in a little closer to our sweeties, just in time for Valentine's Day. We've pulled a list of cupid-friendly events and packages to impress your loved one, found here on WMTA.org.

One person who won't have any trouble feeling holiday romance this winter is our winner of the Bay Pointe Inn Lakefront Resort giveaway, Danielle.

Danielle, you're this week's winner!

Congratulations! Send me an e-mail at shannon@wmta.org, and I'll get your certificate in the mail.

Break out the scarves and get outside this weekend!

High five,

-Shannon

All Weekend
Saturday
Saturday & Sunday
Sunday 
Don’t Forget
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The Start of a Busy Weekend...

West Michigan readers, fret not, you are not forgotten. We'll be announcing the winner of the Bay Pointe Inn giveaway later today, as well as posting the weekend round up. Check back soon to see if you were a winner!
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Wednesday, February 2, 2011

West Michigan Wednesday 3

Snowed in! Much of West Michigan is buried under a thick blanket of snow this morning, causing businesses and schools to close for the day. Are you, like WMTA, blessed with a snow day? Use this opportunity to explore the beautiful winter world around you and snap a few blizzard photos.


  1. Copy the West Michigan Wednesday icon to your blog entry or link it to West Michigan Weekly (http://westmichiganweekly.blogspot.com).
  2. When the meme opens at 9 am on each Wednesday, a Linky link posted on the West Michigan Wednesday post will walk you through the photo loading process.
  3. Visit West Michigan Weekly and take in the amazing photos!


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Tuesday, February 1, 2011

A Restaurant That Has Become an Obsession

Our where to eat this week is being brought to you by yours truly (ahem, thats me, Kelly) :). Usually we have a restaurant’s representative write to you about their restaurant, but I just had to take the time to tell you about one restaurant that I just can’t stop eating at. Really, I’m beginning to think it’s becoming a problem.

San Chez in Grand Rapids always intrigued me. I used to walk by all the time and be mesmerized by the cracked egg stickers plastered on the windows. I would think to myself “What is this place?” Finally one Sunday last March I stopped thinking this and decided to try it out with some friends. Best decision I ever made.

As you walk in the front doors you have 3 options. You can turn immediately to your left into the café, walk a little further forwards and take a left into the take out area, or take a right into the Tapas Bistro. Upon my first entry I went to the immediate left. After being seated, we were greeted by the extremely friendly staff and ordered a pot of French press coffee. I LOVE French press coffee- in fact, I think love is an understatement. So really from the beginning, they had me hooked. I ordered the French toast which came out in a piping hot skillet and tasted like heaven in my mouth.

Fast forward 11 months -- I have ordered just about everything off of the menu by now, and there has not been one item that I do not like. My absolute favorite though is the Chicken and Apple Panini. You wanna talk about a good sandwhich? This is it. I am telling you, I talked about it the whole rest of the day after I ate it- no joke. Made with Grilled chicken tenderloins with bacon, apples, pecans and organic greens topped with Swiss and Manchego cheeses, homemade pesto and horseradish alioli—seriously it can’t get much better.

San Chez is not just good eatin’, they practice responsibility within the Grand Rapids community as well. Their website says it best, “Before San Chez, a Tapas Bistro opened its doors in November 1992, owner Dan Gendler incorporated the importance of community service in his original business plan. He believed that we must view our community as importantly as we view our profitability. Years later, that commitment remains strong.”

I highly recommend the next time you are in Grand Rapids you stop by San Chez located on the corner of Fulton and Commerce Ave. You can order off of their breakfast and lunch, drink, tapas, dessert, or childrens menu, and none of the food will disappoint. They also cater cocktail parties with their tapas size portions and are sure to be a hit with any crowd.

For more information about San Chez, visit our website.

Stay warm in the storm!

Kelly
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