West Michigan

..Well, my first blog post. First of many, I anticipate. I promise not to get too philosophical or analytical here, as that's really not my personality most of the time (depends on the day), although my opinions will undoubtedly be expressed occasionally.

I just gotta say....I love West Michigan, so my first blog entry is a toast to my home town! There's no place I'd rather live. I've spent most of my life here, although I lived in northern Illinois for just over 3 years, and Kalamazoo Michigan for a year.
Many that live here take it for granted. The people that live here are overall very friendly. We have a wonderful mix of people, economically and racially, and that being said, have suprisingly few social issues here. Here are some of the things I've found here that I love! Feel free to add anything in the comments if you have something you enjoy doing 'round these here parts.By reading this, you'd think I have no life and simply wander through town all day and night..quite the opposite. I'm really to busy to do alot of recreation, but after 33 years, I've found some things that I like and have really made it a point take in as much of West Michigan as possible!

There's so much to do here...if you haven't found it, do yourself a favor: did a little deeper.

There's the best (and one of the largest) public beaches in the Great Lakes area at Pere Marquette! Some of the best State Parks and local parks in Michigan, and a great change of full seasons to highlight the best of spring, summer fall and winter, including swimming, boating, walks on the beach, hiking, skiing, snow sledding/tubing, etc. The Nature Center at Hoffmaster State Park is really cool on any day, and way cool when they have special exhibits going on! http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/ParksandTrailsInfo.aspx?id=457

Also, a couple of popular and absolutely wonderful great bike paths. One from Muskegon to Marne, and my favorite, the shorter one which goes from heritage landing to North Muskegon. Try it sometime! I often will also ride through Lakeside via Lakeshore drive when taking this route also.

Enough superstores and specialty stores to keep one fairly content, with larger Grand Rapids just 40 minutes away when you need a real shopping boost! While your in GR, check out the symphony during the picnic pops, which is an outdoor symphony concert at the base of the Cannonsburg ski hill. This is one of our favorite places to go on a date in the summer. The symphony plays from their performance stage at the base of the hill, and people spread out chairs, blankets, and dinner picnic baskets all up the hill and relax to the music. As night draws near, people light candles....it's truly beautiful. Once per summer, they also end the show with fireworks....my heart is melting....wonderful music, candlelight, relaxation, food, fireworks, and all accompianied with my hottie of a wife and best friend, Lisa!!

Keep your eye on the Frauenthal Theater. There is alot going on there, sometimes not getting all of the marketing and press necessary to get your attention. They host the West Shore Symphony, various plays and productions, Christmas Tree festival, and much, much more.
http://www.frauenthal.info/

Just down the road, take a tour of some of Muskegon's history at the Muskegon Museum and both the Hackley and Hume Homes (which are listed in the Museums Links). http://www.muskegonmuseum.org/exhibits.asp

Got some extra time? Wander down to the Muskegon Art Museum while your downtown for some really cool and intersting exhibits. http://www.muskegonartmuseum.org/

If you've been to the annual Muskegon Air Fair, you understand why it's rated one of the best in the nation. http://www.muskegonairfair.com/

By the way, Muskegon is now hosting one of the best Christian Concert Festivals in the Midwest. A TON of bang for the buck, the best artists in the industry, cheap food and snacks, and a whole bunch of stuff for the kids to enjoy & be a part of too!! This year's lineup just announced! All at our beautiful Heritage Landing!
http://www.unitymusicfestival.com/

Another great place for Christian events, concerts, and relaxation is Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference Center. This place is incredible! You can get passes for the day to swim, play mini golf, etc also. Be sure to check out their concert & event lineup for this summer! It's on thier website.
http://maranatha.gospelcom.net/

The Summer Celebration is a wonderful "mixed bag" of things to do during this exciting summer week including concerts, various shows (stunts, exhibits, etc) also at the wonderful Heritage Landing, a huge parade, carnival, lots of food, and a gigantic art fair! Many other events are also held at Heritage Landing, ie Irish Festival, Greek Festival, etc.
http://www.summercelebration.com/

Let's not forget the LC Walker arena, home to the Muskegon Fury hockey team, Michigan Mayhem basketball, and the annual Good Friday service where many Christians form various backgrounds and denominations come to celebrate good Friday.
http://www.lcwalkerarena.com/

If you want a nice night away, and are willing to pay for ellegance, you'll be delightfully suprised at the view, both inside and outside, at the luxurious victorian Shoreline Inn Hotel. Rafferty's restaurant is right next door. Great place to celebrate an anniversary or other special occation.
http://www.shorelineinn.com/index.asp

Also, there's a small old-fashioned style candy shop in Lakeside (on Lakeshore Drive) called the Lakeside Emporium that's truly a cool little place to stop by. It feels like stepping back in time, and given the specialty and older specialty candies, it tastes like it too...yum! They'll even give you some free sample of thier specialty homemade fudge! http://www.lakeside-emporium.com/

Of course, while your eating your candy, please walk across the street, to your boat at the beautiful Great Lakes Marina and yacht club. Don't have one there? Ok, just walk a block east and watch the Lake Express pull in or out with a huge crowd of happy passengers. It's a fascinating vessel, and you can get pretty up-close to watch, even if you don't have a ticket. Candy all eaten while waiting, walk back toward the street and into the ice cream shop to get something to dazzle your tastebuds. Still bored....ok walk accross and down the street to the coffee shop. Okay.....Lake Express still not due in yet...go watch a movie at the theater and then wander a few yards to the Lakeside Emporium mentioned above. By the way...you missed the boat while you were in the movies. Okay, Okay..I love Lakeside, can you tell. Like I mentioned, bring your bike and do it all from there including a short ride over to Pere Marquette beach and/or the other direction to Heritage Landing and Downtown. You will see me down at Heritage Landing this summer....just look for the big kites with lots of line laundry. I'll be somewhere near the bottom end of the strings (if you can call 500 lb test flying line a "string").

The Cinema Carousel is very unique with it's Merry-Go-Round. It's always sure to be neat, clean, and have good popcorn! http://www.celebrationcinema.com/htdocs/index.php?pid=189&abtheaterID=7

Just a short ride south is Grand Haven, home of the annual Coast Guard Festival http://www.ghcgfest.org/index.php and annual Great Lakes Kite Festival http://www.mackite.com/glskc.htm sponsored by Mackinaw Kites and Toys store in Grand Haven (and Mackinaw City location).

If you like annimals things of the farming nature, there's an annual 4H fair at the Muskegon County fairgrounds out on Hts Ravenna Rd. Also, if you're willing to drive for about 1/2 hour, I highly reccommend checking out the annual Newago County Fair held in Fremont.
http://www.newaygocountyfair.org/

If you've read this far into my West Michigan ramblings...well...thank you. This will give you a start and hopefully get you thinking. More can be found here: http://www.muskegon.org/

By the way, most of this stuff is not really expensive - much of it is free. I lived in Chicago and saw $10 - $15 just to park downtown on a weekend night! Don't ask what dinner & a movie cost!
One thing's for sure; even the events that cost money here, give you ALOT of things to do for the money!

Moral of the story, if you live here or are just visiting, look around a bit. Best of all, we're experiencing tremendous growth & the fun's just getting started! Keep your eye on the paper, internet, and community publications for events. Get out there and do some stuff. There's alot more here than meets the eye at first glance. I know you'll be wonderfully suprised!

-jeff