March Events in West Michigan

Ahhh, March! The first glimmer of springtime here in West Michigan. We can hear birds chirping, see the ice melting, and actually watch the sunset later than 5:30! But what is the best part about March, you ask? Well, that would have to be all the awesome events happening around the region!

For starters, March marks the month of laughter in West Michigans largest city, Grand Rapids. Laughfest kicks off this Thursday and runs through March 17. Gilda’s LaughFest, the nation’s first-ever community-wide festival of laughter, is quickly earning a reputation for being one of the nation’s marquee events for both participants and artists. The 10-day festival features stand-up, improv, film, authors, community showcases and a variety of seriously funny stuff. This year you can see acts such as Wayne Brady, Lewis Black, Brian Regan, and Joel McHale. The event kicks off every year by setting a Guinness Book World Record. In 2011, Laughfest set the record for the Largest Rubber Chicken Toss, and last years record was set for the Most People Wearing Animal Noses. This year, Laughfest will try to set the World Record for most people wearing a fake mustache! You can join in on this fun on Thursday, March 7 at Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids.


Other events that are famous to March in Grand Rapids are the opening of the John Ball Zoo and the Butterflies are Blooming event at Frederik Meijer Gardens. Both of which are family friendly and perfect excuses to get out and enjoy some of the sunshine we are starting to see again!




Other notable events this month include: 

Festivals, Events, and Expos
MARVAC Battle Creek Camper & RV Show | Battle Creek | March 7-10
West Michigan Women's Expo | Grand Rapids | March 8-10
Southwest Michigan Golf Show | Kalamazoo | March 8-10
Brew-Ski Festival | Harbor Springs | March 9
St. Patrick's Day Parade | Muskegon | March 16
Northwest Michigan Camper & RV Show | Traverse City | March 22-24

Arts, Culture, and Food
Butterflies are Blooming | Grand Rapids | Now through April 30
Super Saturday Family Program | St. Joseph | Saturdays in March
Titanic Adventures | Grand Rapids | March 10
Artful Retreat | Suttons Bay | March 10
Easter Brunch | Shelbyville | March 31

Outdoor Recreation
Treetops Amazing Race | Gaylord | March 8-10

For more events and happenings around West Michigan, please visit our events calendar.

Michigan International Auto Show: Review

I was lucky enough to be able to have a sneak peek at the Michigan International Autoshow earlier today while the show staff was putting the finishing touches on the set-up. For those of you car lovers out there, this local show is a fantastic way to see all the latest and greatest 2013 models of your favorite cars.

 

Some of my thoughts from the show:
      - Almost every automotive company is represented, so no matter what kind of cars you 
        fancy, they will most likely be at the show.
      - I saw ever more fuel efficient cars, SUVs and trucks, cars that sync wirelessly to your
        smartphone, and compact cars this year (maybe that was because fiat was   
        represented?!)
      - I was surprised to see how classy some of the classic "economy" cars are lookin' these
        days. Check out the Dodge Dart, the Ford Fusion, and the Chevy Malibu.

Favorite part? The fact that the Gilmore Car Museum is there showing off some of the best cars from their classic collection. It really brings an amazing element to the show by tying in the old with the new. We are always in awe when we visit their campus down in Hickory Corners, and today was no different while seeing them at the show. To be able to see how far the automotive industry has come in the last 100+ years is truly fascinating.

So what was my favorite car you ask?? I'd have to say this sweet BMW 28i. I think I would look really great driving this around delivering West Michigan Carefree Travel Guides! Whaddya say boss man??  


While you're there, check out the Million Dollar Motorway. Some swanky cars that only most of us can dream of owning. But hey, they sure are fun to look at. 

We wish we could send every single one of you to go check out the show, but alas, we only have 5 pairs of tickets! Let us know what your favorite car is, and you will be entered to win! Please note: this is last minute and the winners will be drawn by noon tomorrow (Thursday, January 31) so enter quick!

--Kelly

February Happenings in West Michigan

Ice festivals, Valentine's Day, chili cook-offs, and wine. These are just a few of the types of events you will find this month in West Michigan! We always get excited for a good event, but below are a few that we just can't wait to attend. 

The winner for us this month? The opening of the Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Yep, you guessed it, we are Titanic Fanatics! The exhibit opens on February 9 and will be sticking around until July 7. Luckily, this means you have quite a bit of time to go see it. However, we are going to grab a sneak peek of it next week- so we will give you the inside scoop!
Here are some highlights for the rest of the month:

Festivals and Events

Michigan International Auto Show | Grand Rapids| January 31-February 3
Dowagiac Ice Time Festival | Dowagiac | February 2

Arts, Culture, and Food

Taste the Passion | Traverse City | February 2-3
Sales of Saugatuck | Douglas/Saugatuck | February 2-3
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition | Grand Rapids | OPENS FEBRUARY 9
Traverse City Winter Comedy Fest | Traverse City | February 14-17
Experience the Beatles: RAIN | Grand Rapids | February 17
Experience Beer | Grand Rapids | February 19

Outdoor Recreation

Michigan Winter Triathlon | Muskegon | February 3
Magical Ice Carving Festival | St. Joseph | February 8-10
North American Vasa | Traverse City | February 9
Mitten Mixer | Cadillac | February 14

And how could we leave out the fact that February is the month of love? That's right folks, you can't forget about Valentine's Day! This day has so many events to go along with it, that we had to make it's own page! You can view all the Valentines Day events, dinners, and hotel packages happening around West Michigan right here! It's not too late to plan a great date night or weekend. 

2013 Carefree Travel Guide is HERE!

We are so excited to announce that our 2013 West Michigan Carefree Travel Guides are here! Two months earlier than we usually have them (which we are sure all you hard core West Michigan Fans noticed.)

This years guide features beautiful photography from local Ludington photographers, Todd and Brad Reed. This photographing pair give travelers tips on how to get the most out of their camera on their next West Michigan vacation.

There are also sections for brides to be, beer lovers, and trail enthusiasts. For brides to be, there is an amazing article about why West Michigan is the right choice for your wedding. Beer lovers? Find out why Michigan is the great beer state, and for you trail enthusiasts, you now have a quick guide on where the nearest trail is to you on your next West Michigan trip. 

Of course, there is much more than this in the 80 page guide, but we can't give it all away here! If you want your very own FREE copy of this guide, you can call our office to request one at 616.245.2217 or (for all you calling from afar) you can call 800.442.2084. If phoning an order in isn't really your thing, that is okay too! You can order one online right here.

And if you really just CAN'T wait for yours to come in the mail, you can view the entire thing online from where ever you are in the world!

We are so exited to share this new guide with you and would love to know what you think of it! Leave your feedback for us here or on our facebook or twitter pages.

--The friendly staff at WMTA

Resolution: Be Adventurous

A new year is underway, and the typical resolutions are making the rounds: Eat less! Exercise more! Visit all of the Lake Michigan lighthouses (no?)! Perhaps for 2013, it's time to throw caution to the wind and set your resolution to something a bit more exciting: be adventurous!
Luckily for the brave souls venturing down this path, West Michigan makes it easy to indulge in new and daring feats. Here's our top three to get you started.

Ride the Luge

You don't have to wait until 2014 to live out your Winter Olympic dreams. Muskegon is home to one of only four luge tracks in the United States, and it's open to the public. While our Olympic counterparts spend years in training to wrap around tight curves at 90 miles an hour, three-time Olympian Frank Masley designed the Muskegon Winter Sports Complex' track to give novices a safe luge experience.
Adventure-seekers as young as eight are outfitted and taught the skills needed to cruise at 30 MPH down the icy lane with six curves and two starting points. The $40 price will not only give you multiple runs (three to eight depending on session size), but also a fancy certificate and bragging rights for life.
Need a few months to work up the nerve? The luge is open year 'round with a warm-weather wheeled option - the only one in North America.

Drive the Dunes

There's nothing quite like hiking to the top of a towering mountain of sand... except flying down them via a motorized vehicle. Lake Michigan's shoreline is spotted with picturesque dunes from Berrien County's Warren Dunes to the famous Sleeping Bear Dunes which were just named the Most Beautiful Place in America by Good Morning America. True adrenaline junkies make the pilgrimage to the Silver Lake Sand Dunes, a sandy mecca that offers one very tempting perk: driving yourself.

The Silver Lake State Park is the only dune system east of Utah that allows the use of private motorized vehicles. In fact, the northern third of the park is reserved just for this extreme sport. That's a 450-acre playground built of shifting sands.  If you don't happen to own a sand-blasting ORV, fret not. There are several outfitters ready to set you up dune-style.

If the thought of driving through an ever-changing landscape is a bit too intimidating, guided services are available, both in Silver Lake and other West Michigan communities like Saugatuck. Whichever option you chose, you'd be wise to buckle up and hold on tight for the ride of your life.
We recommend:

• Mac Woods Dune Rides, Silver Lake
• Parrot's Landing, Silver Lake
• Razor J's Adventure Tours, Silver Lake
• Silver Lake Buggy Rentals, Silver Lake
• Saugatuck Dune Rides, Saugatuck

Soar on a Zip Line

The final few moments before you step off a platform and are sent speeding through the air on a zip line are certainly heart-pounding. Yet once you've taken the plunge, the ever-so-addicting feeling of flying takes over and suddenly, you're hooked.

Northern West Michigan's Boyne Highlands and Boyne Mountain Resorts have criss-crossed their properties with a total of 18 lines, including one that stretches 1,350 feet, the longest zip line in Michigan. They offer tours all year, so you can fly over skiers in January, take in a sunny afternoon in July, or enjoy the color display in September -- all at 25 miles an hour and up to 50 feet in the air.

Want to climb even higher? Wildwood Rush Canopy Tours in nearby Boyne City specializes in giving breath-taking views that can't be achieved with two feet on the ground, and they go to heights of 80 feet to achieve this. Not only do their 5,000 feet of zip lines take you high into the canopies near Lake Charlevoix, but they give you a chance to challenge your friends with triple racing lines, the only one in the Midwest.

If you're not ready for a zip experience quite that extreme, Grand Rapids' John Ball Zoo is home to a 300-foot line that takes you 40 feet into the air so you can swing about like the neighboring monkeys.

Take a Ride in a Helicopter

2013 is the year to face your fear of heights! Go up up and away in a once in a lifetime helicopter tour of Grand Rapids or the Grand Haven Lakeshore with Easyrotor Helicopters. Grab a friend and enjoy this sky high experience first hand.

Bundle Up for Winter Rafting

Nothing says "I'm an adventurer" quite like winter rafting. That's right, snow, ice, and a nice cruise down the river. At Big Bear Adventures in Indian River, you can take a guided winter rafting tour down the Sturgeon River. Experience the breathtaking beauty and solitude of winter, while floating beneath a canopy of cedars and pines covered with freshly fallen snow. This is a fun and narrative 1½ hr trip, offering an excellent opportunity to see wildlife in their natural habitat.
Most importantly, they do not tip over- this is a dry trip! In the winter, our Raft trips are Guided Only, to ensure the highest safety standards. All equipment is U.S. Coast Guard approved and safety-inspected, and Type III Lifejackets are required to be worn by all participants. No experience is necessary, but participation is required (this involves TEAMWORK!). A truly unique trip with memories to last a lifetime!

Using Local Markets to Create and Epic Meal This Holiday Season

Farm to Fork

Did you know there are 322 farm markets in Michigan?? 322!  That is almost double of the 163 that were operating just three short years ago in 2009. Not only do farm markets offer fantastic produce to create some amazing fresh meals, but they provide a huge economic impact for the communities in which they operate.

This holiday season as you are thinking about what on earth you are going to cook for your family members, keep local produce in mind. Although the temperatures are dropping and the snow is making its way to your doorstep, remember that there are still local farmers out in their fields every day picking fresh produce, and there are still markets selling this produce. Although not many markets are open year round, there are a few in West Michigan that we highly recommend you stop by to pick up some of your holiday treats.

Lansing City Market Hours:
Tuesday through Friday 10a-6p
Saturday 9a-5p
Lansing City Market Directions:
325 City Market Drive, Lansing, MI 48912

Fulton Street Farmers Market, Grand Rapids
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday
8am-3pm
1147 E. Fulton Street
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Frankfort Farmers Market
Open "All Year Round on Saturday mornings.
Indoors (November - April) at the Recreation Center
832 Main Street along the Waterfront. - 9 am to 1 pm
Outdoors (May - October) at the Open Space Park, 7th - 9th Streets & Main Street along the Waterfront. 9 am to 1 pm.

Farmer’s Market at Borgess Medical Center (BMC), Kalamazoo
January through April
Saturdays from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
 
For a full list of all farm markets in West Michigan operating seasonally or year round, visit our farm market page!

Winners!

Thank you to all that participated in our Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer, and Food Festival ticket giveaway. The winners are Lisa, Paul, Tina, Danielle, and Daniel! If this is you, please email media@wmta.org the name you would like the tickets held under, and they will be available for pick up at will call!

Did you say wine??

Today we are bringing back an "oldie but goodie" article from our friend Karel Bush at the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council. Don't let us fool you, we celebrate wine every month here at WMTA, however we are gearing up for one of our favorite events of the year, the Grand Rapids Wine, Beer, and Food Festival (!), so to pay homage to this awesome event featuring hundreds of wine and beer vendors from all over the world, we are going to regale you with this article from Karel about why Michigan wines are totally awesome. And, if you keep reading all the way to the end, you will even find a little treat (it is Halloween after all!)

If you love fine food and wine, your first question when planning your travel might be: What is unique about this region? When you travel through Michigan, you’ll discover the Great Lakes State offers a diverse assortment of cool-climate wines that pair beautifully with foods from their regions.

Many of Michigan’s 90-plus wineries are located in the most scenic spots in the state. Most are along the Lake Michigan shore, where vineyards take advantage of the “lake effect,” which brings insulating snow cover in the winter and warm breezes in the fall.

Because of Michigan’s diverse growing regions – vineyards are scattered from the Upper Peninsula to the southern state line – there are many varieties and styles of wine to enjoy.

Aromatic white wines like Riesling and Gewurztraminer are widely produced in Michigan. Riesling, in particular, is found from very dry to very sweet – even Ice Wine, which is a style unique to cool-climate areas. Try a sip and you will fall in love with this heavenly nectar.

Cabernet Franc ripens earlier than many other red grapes, which is an advantage in a cool climate like Michigan. This wine is produced as a varietal (labeled with the grape name), but is also blended with Merlot and other reds. Many Michigan wineries also produce delicious Pinot Noir, the most widely planted red grape.

Whether you’re looking for red or white, dry or sweet, you’ll find something to love at any of the winery tasting rooms around Michigan. To learn more about the wines and wineries of Michigan, visit www.michiganwines.com.

Now that you're all read up on Michigan wines, we want 5 of you to experience these awesome wines for yourself - at the GR Wine, Beer, and Food Festival of course! We are giving away 5 pairs of tickets away to the event happening next weekend, November 8-10 at the DeVos Place in Grand Rapids (we won't make you work as hard as you did last year to win them either.) All you have to do is tell us your favorite Michigan wine or winery and you will be entered to win! Winners will be announced next Tuesday. 

Share this with your friends for an increased chance to win! (That is assuming they will take you as their guest!) 

The Wrap Up of the Fall Color Show

October 25, 2012

Photo by Todd and Brad Reed Photography in Ludington

The beautiful color show is coming to a close here in West Michigan. The northern and central parts of the region are both past peak and southern West Michigan is just about past peak as well. It was a beautiful fall for colors with the entirety of the color show lasting over a month. Make sure to check back next September for the start of the fun all again!

Fall Color Report 10.10.12

Kodachrome Dream by Todd Reed

A few areas are already past peak, but that doesn't mean there aren't still colors around West Michigan. The lower part of the region is still seeing peak or close to peak. However, freezing temperatures are starting to move in at night which is speeding up the color change process. If you are looking to come see some brilliant colors, we recommend you stay south and come soon!

North:

Report from Charlevoix: Currently in peak! Leaves are starting to fall off of trees due to a few freezing nights this week.
Report from Petoskey: The trees are just past peak and are starting to lose leaves.
Report from Traverse City: Peak has arrived! Brilliant colors are showing throughout the entire region.
Report from Cadillac: The colors are absolutely perfect! But bundle up when you go, there has been a snow sighting and freezing temperatures!
Report from Newaygo County: 70% change- peak expected later this week.
Center:

Report from Gaylord:   Just past peak and leaves are now falling off the trees.
Report from Grand Rapids: Seeing about a 70% change. Vivid reds and oranges are more visible this week, however a couple of freezing nights this past week will speed up the change. Peak is expected this weekend/early next week.
Report from Lansing: At about 60% color change right now, peak expected later next week.
South:
Report from Muskegon County: 60% change. Reds, yellows, and a bit of green still.  Peak expected in the next week.

Report from Van Buren County: 60% change. Peak color expected later next week.

Thanks to the local Area Visitors Bureaus and the Michigan Audubon Society for the color reports.