Fun Friday
Good Morning we have made it through another week and now it's time to go on our weekly Friday adventure.
Can you guess where we are going this week? We are going to visit the state of Michigan
1.) Saugatuck Dune Rides One of West Michigan's premier attractions!! Our goal is to provide you with 40 minutes of entertainment, fun and excitement. Let us provide you with a tour of one of Michigan's treasures. Learn of the lost town of Singapore or check out our local vegetation and wildlife. We work hard to make sure your trip is memorable, so if you are coming to our wonderful West Michigan area, make sure to fit in a ride and you will see why our customers return year after year. We now offer online ticket sales for our rides. We will also sell tickets over the phone if seats are available the day of. Tickets are $25 adults and $15 ages 3-11 age 2 is free but they don't allow children under 2
2.) The Henry Ford Museum located in Dearborn hours of operation are 9:30-5pm “One of the world’s coolest museums'' — The New York Times The Henry Ford is Michigan’s premier multi venue cultural destination with three must-see attractions: Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Greenfield Village and the Ford Rouge Factory Tour. At The Henry Ford, you'll experience the history of America — its inventions, people, culture and can-do spirit — and hundreds of interactive ways to explore it, enjoy it and be inspired by it. Park at The Henry Ford’s Welcome Center to visit and buy tickets for all three venues for three hours or three days of experiences. Or purchase a membership for a full year of FREE unlimited visits to Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and Greenfield Village, plus discounts, special events and more. We are conveniently located in Dearborn, Michigan, which is just outside of Detroit. The Henry Ford is a proud participating museum with Museums For All.
3.) Greenfield Village also located in Dearborn Greenfield Village features over 80 acres and 7 historic districts for you to explore near Detroit, in Dearborn, Michigan. There are many activities for your whole family to enjoy, while learning about and experiencing American history. See working farms, take a ride on a steam locomotive, explore Thomas Edison's lab, tour Henry Ford's birthplace and more! Greenfield Village was envisioned by Henry Ford himself, to show how innovative objects were made and used, and it still features craftsmen that use traditional craft techniques. There are also holiday events at Greenfield Village that are full of family fun, these include Holiday Nights, Salute to America and Halloween at Greenfield Village. Contact us today for more information!
4.) Motown Museum located in Detroit hours of operation are 10-6pm This old Detroit home belies the greatness that was born here: the Motown Sound. But one step inside Hitsville, USA, the original house where Berry Gordy lived and recorded the Motown hits, and you'll catch the beat and spirit of this booming music era. Photos, costumes, artwork, music and other memorabilia take you back to simpler times.
5.) Comerica Park is also in Detroit Home of the Detroit Tigers, this is no ordinary ballpark. Combining theme park, ballpark, and baseball museum, it features huge statues of tigers, a Ferris wheel, carousel (with tigers, of course) and a fountain that celebrates each home run with colored lights and music.
6.) The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant located in Detroit hours of operation are 10-4 Experience the Original Model T Factory Visiting the Piquette Avenue Ford Plant is a unique experience-it's the oldest auto plant open to the public anywhere in the world. Almost unchanged since Henry Ford's day, the plant is a three-story New England-style mill building. Each floor is divided into sections by the original metal fire doors, complete with the shadows of Henry Ford's "Positively NO Smoking" stencils. The old plank floors are worn from the 12,000 Model Ts built on them, so wear appropriate shoes for your visit. The plant is on the National Register of Historic Places, and is a designated National Historic Landmark and a Michigan State Historic Site. Walk the worn wood floors and touch the brick walls where Henry Ford and his team of automotive pioneers developed the car that led to an automotive and social revolution. See Henry Ford's office as it was in 1908 when he was on the cusp of fame. And learn why it still matters today. See a selection of rare Detroit-built cars from the first decade of the 20th century and learn their fates.
7.) Belle Isle Park located in Detroit Rich with history and natural beauty, Belle Isle Park is a Detroit gem and a Michigan state park. The 987-acre island park features the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, the Belle Isle Aquarium, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, giant slide, athletic fields, picnic areas, Belle Isle Nature Zoo, the James Scott Memorial Fountain and more attractions popular with all ages and interests. The park includes three lakes, 150 acres of wooded area and spectacular views of the Detroit and Windsor skyline. Rentals available for: Watercraft, Bike, Snow Sports. Food and ice sales available. Recreation Passport Required for entry. Please check the website for hours for each attraction.
8.) Fort Mackinac hours of operation are 9:30-7pm Iconic. The cannon blasts, the rifles fire, the soldiers march and history comes alive. The oldest building in Michigan and 13 other historical structures boast exhibits explaining everything from military training and battles to medical treatments to family life within the fort. More than just a military outpost, Fort Mackinac served as a home for soldiers and their families and eventually the headquarters for Mackinac National Park, where tourists to the island visited the great fortress on the bluff, much like they do today. This is Mackinac.
9.) Soo Locks Located in Sault Ste Marie The visitors center is set-up as a museum that has displays and information for people of all ages. It contains wonderful coverage of the history. There's a TV where you can see the ships approaching, and the staff is very knowledgeable about the ships' arrival times. There's even a phone number you can call for ship schedule updates. Admission to the park, the observation tower, and the visitors center are all free. We went to the top floor for the best view. We also took a boat tour through the locks. A visit here, along with the boat tour, will teach you a lot about the history and importance of the Soo Locks. Everything was laid back and relaxed, but a little research will remind you just how important this area is when it comes to US and international commerce.
10.) Gerald R. Ford Museum located in Grand Rapids hours of operation are 10-5pm Explore the life and times of Gerald R. Ford, Michigan's only President. Here documents, artifacts, photographs, and videos combine to tell the dramatic story of the Ford Presidency in the mid-1970s. Museum galleries depict Gerald Ford's rise from a humble youth to Eagle Scout, star football player, World War II naval officer, and U.S. congressman, and the unique way by which he became Vice President and President. Meet the issues of the day - the energy crisis, the Nixon pardon, Vietnamese refugees, and learn about the Bicentennial. Your visit will include a stop in the life-sized Oval Office and Cabinet Room. See for yourself how President Ford shaped our world.
11.) S.S. Badger: Lake Michigan Carferry located in Ludington The S.S. Badger is the largest car ferry to ever sail Lake Michigan and has provided a safe, fun, and reliable shortcut across the inland sea for 67 years. The ferry takes passengers, autos, RVs, tour buses, motorcycles, bicycles, and commercial trucks across Lake Michigan between Ludington, Michigan and Manitowoc, Wisconsin from mid-May through mid-October.
12.) Lakenenland Sculpture Park located in Marquette A FREE art park donations are accepted that children, serious art enthusiasts and anyone with a sense of humor will love. A Half mile trail to walk or to drive has an impressive collection of both whimsical and serious outdoor sculptures. A Picnic and play area is beautifully done for everyone’s enjoyment. What I found cool was that there is a fishing lake (catch & release) for the kiddos.
13.) Quincy Mine located in Hancock hours of operation are 8:30am-5pm Historic mine site that helps tell the story of Michigan's copper mining boom that played a large part in the industrialization of America.
14.) Gilmore Car Museum located in Hickory Corners hours of operation are 9-5pm The ever expanding Gilmore Car Museum, hailed as one of the Top Five car museums in the nation, features over nearly extraordinary cars and motorcycles from all eras. The Automotive Heritage Center (about 150 vehicles) is Open daily year-round. The outdoor park-like campus of historic buildings (including 1930s gas station, working 1940s diner and several exhibit structures)are open April - Novemember.Museum exhibits range from cars of the 1890s to the classic Duesenberg, the elusive 1948 Tucker, to the muscle cars of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Located just off M-43 at Hickory Road near Hickory Corners (20 minutes northeast of Kalamazoo, MI)
15.) Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum located in Paradise The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum has become one of Michigan’s most popular destinations in the cultural tourism industry, attracting over 75,000 visitors each season. Museum patrons learn about the perils of maritime transport on the Great Lakes at the Whitefish Point Light Station, an Historic Site on the National Register of Historic Places. See the Whitefish Point Light Tower, in continuous operation for 155 years, the oldest operating lighthouse on Lake Superior. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society was founded in 1978 by a group of divers, teachers, and educators to commence exploration of historic shipwrecks in eastern Lake Superior, near Whitefish Point in Michigan's scenic Upper Peninsula.
16.) Nelis' Dutch Village located in Holland A visit to Nelis' Dutch Village is like a step back into the Netherlands of over 100 years ago on a day when a festival came to town. Watch old Dutch craft demonstrations and the klompen dancers (and join in on the fun with our Dutch dance lessons.) Taste 22 kinds of Dutch cheeses, enjoy beautiful Dutch architecture and listen to the joyful sounds of the Golden Angel street organ. Admission includes unlimited rides on the Ferris wheel, carousel, Dutch chair swing ride, and a number of other fun play activities for small children. Our newest attraction is the Pirate Balloon Battle, where water balloons are launched at ships in defense of a pirate attack. Also enjoy unique shopping for Dutch gifts and souvenirs, tasty food in the Dutch cafe and pub, fresh-made fudge, and yummy ice cream. If you have young kids along, plan on 3 to 4 hours at a minimum.
17.) Detroit Zoo located in Royal Oak hours of operation are 9-5pm The Detroit Zoo has 125 acres of naturalistic habitats for more than 2,000 animals from anteaters to zebras and features award-winning attractions such as the National Amphibian Conservation Center, Great Apes of Harambee and Arctic Ring of Life. The Zoo’s newest attraction is the spectacular Polk Penguin Conservation Center, the largest facility for penguins in the world.
18.) Grand Rapids Public Museum hours of operation are 9-5pm The Grand Rapids Public Museum is a place of never-ending inspiration and discovery, with a focus on science, history and culture. We have three floors of core and traveling exhibitions, the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium, a 1928 Spillman Carousel and a Mighty Wurlitzer Organ.
19.) Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Center located in Portage hours of operation are 9-5pm From rare and historic to inspiring artwork and exhibits, there's always something new to discover at the Air Zoo. The Air Zoo is a world-class, Smithsonian-affiliated aerospace and science museum with over 100 air and space artifacts, inspiring interactive exhibits, full-motion flight simulators, indoor amusement park rides, a theater and over 100 education programs! Spend the day exploring aviation, engineering, science, technology, math and art in both of the exciting and unique Flight Centers. Make sure to take the shuttle to the Flight Discovery Center where visitors have the opportunity to climb in training cockpits, geek out over the intricacies of aerospace technology and engines, and see a nationally recognized restoration program! Volunteers are busy, 7 days a week, restoring two WWII aircraft recovered from the bottom of Lake Michigan. It's a must see! Both centers are included in admission and are open 360+ days a year. Come imagine, explore and discover at the Air Zoo!
20.) Dow Gardens located in Midland hours of operation are 9-8pm Originally established in 1899, as a home for Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow and family, the 110-acre Dow Gardens now welcomes thousands of guests per year. Visitors are invited to leave the pathway and explore the uniquely-designed landscape, take a tour of the historic Pines Home, participate in one of many hands-on educational programs, and discover beautiful art and music in a relaxed setting. Dow Gardens comprises an Estate Garden, Exploration Garden, and Whiting Forest, which is home to the nation’s longest forest canopy walk.
21.) Silver Beach Carousel located in Saint Joseph MAKE A MEMORY ALL YEAR ROUND! The horses, the tigers, the hippocampus, the panda, the clown fish - in all, 48 unique carousel figures and two chariots - are whirling with excitement to see you. Come pick your favorite and ride beneath 1000 twinkling lights as the band organ's music happily soars and dips with the gears. Each figure is beautifully hand-carved and hand-painted by the artisans at The Carousel Works. Around the top of the carousel you can learn about our local history - told as no one else in the world has told it on a carousel - using historic photographs. As you gaze at those 18 rounding boards, you'll become part of our story, too.You'll find all the magic and wonder of the Silver Beach Carousel below the bluff in St. Joseph, just yards from Lake Michigan's Silver Beach, named one of the top 10 family beaches by Parents magazine.
22.) Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum hours of operation are 10-5pm. Everyone gets creative in this interactive science and technology museum, featuring engaging exhibits in subjects like psychology, the media and health.
23.) Bronner's Christmas Wonderland located in Frankenmuth hours of operation are 9-7pm July - September hours: Mon thru Thurs 9am-7pm. Fri 9am-8pm. Sat 9am-9pm. Sun 12-5:30pm. See bronners.com/hours.
Bronner's is a shopper's dream for Christmas lovers of all ages with 1.5 football fields of ornaments, lights, collectibles, trees, nativities etc. Store and Silent Night Chapel open year-round. No admission fee. Christmas Lane lights shine nightly. The world's largest Christmas store is a photographer's delight. Snack area available for light refreshments. Wheelchairs and strollers available. Service animals welcome (sorry, no other pets due to health department regulations). Free Wi-Fi. CLOSED Jan. 1st, Easter, US Thanksgiving & Christmas. Bronner's closes at 4 pm Dec 24 & 31 and 12-3 pm Good Friday.
24.) USS Silversides Submarine Museum located in Muskegon hours of operation are 10-5:30pm this is the first submarine style museum where a knowledgeable retired nuclear submariner giving a tour of the boat. His perspective was very refreshing and informative, comparing and contrasting the similarities and differences from serving aboard today's nuclear boats (he had tours on both fast attacks and boomers) and their Diesel predecessors. In addition to the tour, there's also a nice, slick museum of WWII history, including Michigan's role in the war effort. Another interesting display looks at the second USS Silversides, a nuclear fast attack boat that served during the Cold War. As a bonus, the museum has another ship that visitors can tour (self-guided this time), USCGC McLane. This prohibition era Coast Guard cutter served with the Navy during WWII, patrolling the Bering Strait. She sank a Japanese submarine and rescued American fliers during the war. After touring the exhibits, visitors can stop by the museum's gift shop where there are a variety of souvenirs and some submarine related books for sale. You can easily spend an hour or more here. Admission is $17.50 for adults ($13 for kids) to see the museum and tour the sub and cutter.
25.) Castle Farms located in Charlevoix hours of operation are 10-4pm Open year round, Castle Farms is one of Northern Michigan's top historic attractions, as well as one of the Midwest's premier wedding venues. Visitors can stroll throughout the magnificent stone buildings dating back to 1918, and enjoy gorgeous gardens. A variety of museum quality collections featuring castles, antique toys, and royalty memorabilia from around the world are displayed throughout the buildings. The Castle's 1918 Museum showcases items from that time era, plus World War I memorabilia. Children delight in feeding the huge rainbow trout swimming in the Reflection Pond, playing a game of giant chess, or hide-and-seek with the fairies and gnomes dwelling in the Enchanted Forest. Our Self-Guided Tours offer Scavenger Hunt tours for children, too! Everyone loves The Castle's Garden Railroad; with more than 1/2 mile of track and 68 G-scale trains, it's one of the largest in the State. Listed on both the National and State Historic Registries, Castle Farms is a world-class historic property where old world charm and modern-day elegance enchant visitors of all ages.
26.) Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum located in Bay City hours of operation are 9-4 Visit the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum, home of the USS Edson DD-946. This Vietnam Era Forrest Sherman Class destroyer is one of two left in the United States. Guests are invited to step back in history on a self-guided tour of the Grey Ghost of the Vietnam Coast and see what life was like for the men who served aboard her. Approximately 90% of the ship is open to the public. If you are lucky, you'll meet one of our many volunteers who served aboard the USS Edson or a similar ship. Guests are asked to wear close-toed comfortable shoes since you will be climbing up and down ladders. Due to the amount of time it takes to tour the ship, no guests will be admitted one hour prior to closing. Please check our website for the latest information on our hours. There may be times when our times change due to private events or restoration needs.
27.) Fort Gratiot Lighthouse located in Port Huron The Fort Gratiot Light Station is the oldest lighthouse in Michigan, 2nd oldest on the Great Lakes. The current tower was erected in 1829 and has helped guide mariners and ships for over 187 years between Lake Huron and the St. Clair River. Deeded to St. Clair County Parks & Recreation Commission in 2011, this 5 acre campus has already seen restoration of several of the seven buildings on site, with more improvements planned every year. The Port Huron Museum operates the activities at the site. Various programs include "Overnight at the Light, where groups of 20 - 40 people can spend the night in the remodeled, 1872 Duplex. A beautiful gift shop, guided tours for only $7.00, spacious grounds, programming and exhibits go on throughout the season (May - December). Also available for special events: weddings , reunions, parties and professional & social events. OPEN: Now through November 13,2016: Sat./Sun. only, 11 am - 5 pm November 19 - December 18, 2016: Sat. 11 am - 8 pm for Candlelight Tours;Sundays 11 am - 5 pm December 27-29, 2016 11 am - 5 pm December 30: CLOSED UNTIL MAY 4, 2017, except for special events and Overnights. Looking forward to welcoming you!
28.) R.E. Olds Transportation Museum located in Lansing hours of operation are 10-5 From rare vehicles like REO, Star, Durant, and Viking to classic Oldsmobiles, buggies, bicycles, aviation endeavors, trucks and engines- enjoy the excitement of transportation history! See why we are rated one of "The Ten Best Automobile Museums in the United States" exhibiting a small collection, by Car Collector Magazine.
29.) Iron Mountain Iron Mine located in Vulcan hours of operation are 9-5pm Guided Underground Tours -- A certified Michigan State Historical Landmark. This fascinating tour is family fun and educational too!! You won't forget the experience of visiting the Iron Mountain Iron Mine with skilled guides who take you through 2600 feet of underground drifts and tunnels to 400 feet below the earth's surface to see an amazing underground, lighted cavern giving you a close up view of strange geological formations. Watch tour guides operate mining machinery that was used over 100 years ago. Ride the underground mine train into the tunnel and walk approximately 2 city blocks to see the reality of iron ore mining. Over 21 million tons of iron ore was taken from this mine during 1877 to 1945. Visitors are given rain coats and hard hats before the tour begins. The temperature of the mine is a crisp 43 degrees, so a sweater or jacket is recommended along with closed covered shoes.
30.) Holocaust Memorial Center located in Farmington Hills hours of operation are 9:30-5pm The Holocaust Memorial Center Zekelman Family Campus (HMC) is a 55,000-square-foot museum and library archive in Farmington Hills. Our mission is to engage, educate and empower by remembering the Holocaust. As Michigan’s only Holocaust museum, we are an important source of humanities education for the state. We educate over 100,000 people each year about the systematic, state-sponsored murder of millions, and why each of us must respect and stand up for the rights of others if we are to prevent future discrimination, hate crimes, and genocide. Our exhibits feature artifacts, text panels, photos, video testimonies, and artworks ranging from the representative to the abstract. Art is an essential medium we use to convey challenging subject matter such as the magnitude of the tragedy, man’s inhumanity to man and the banality of evil. Paintings, sculptures, photography, and films are on display in both our permanent and temporary exhibit galleries.
31.) Music House Museum located in Acme The Music House Museum is located on US31 just north of Traverse City, Michigan. Now in their 30th year, the museum presents one of the most unique music museums in America. Ninety-minute tours demonstrate fully-restored mechanical instruments dating from 1870 to 1930.Guest will also see Models of buildings from Traverse City 1930’s era. Music boxes of all sizes, a mechanical street organ, one of largest dance organs built in Belgium in 1922 , Weber Duo-Art reproducing grand piano,1924 Wurlitzer theater organ used to accompany silent films.
32.) Castle Museum located in Saginaw hours of operation are 10-4:30pm Since 1979, the Castle Building has been preserved by the Historical Society of Saginaw County and is home to the award-winning Castle Museum of Saginaw County History. Within its walls, you will discover a celebration of the diversity and richness of the community's heritage through dynamic exhibits and programs. When you visit, you will learn about Saginaw's archaeological past, the community's evolution from trading center to the lumber capital of the world and its development and continuing history as a manufacturing and farming center.
33.) Pictured Rocks Cruises located in Munising Come aboard Pictured Rocks Cruises, the only boat cruise touring the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Pictured Rocks Cruises, Inc. is the only authorized concessionaire of the National Park Service to provide interpretive programming on cruises of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Pictured Rocks Cruises has been guiding the public to view the magnificent Pictured Rocks for over 70 years.“The Only Official Boat Cruise of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore” Plan to get there at least an hour early if you want a good seat on the tour
34.) Jackson Historic Prison Tours Experience nearly 200 years of Jackson’s fascinating prison history. Fun and knowledgeable guides take from one memorable character to another. Hear unforgettable stories about life behind bars, colorful characters, painful punishments, escapes, corruption, and reforms. You will visit Michigan's first prison. Don't Miss This Tour! Recommended for anyone over 8 years old. This is a 1 hour 30 minute tour. Open: April 1st through October 31st. Bus Tour Groups inquire about a customized tour for your group, weekdays are open for buses. All tours start at Michigan’s First State Prison and proceed from there. Friday through Saturday at 10:00 AM or 1:00 PM. Reservations are necessary for all tours! Reserve your spot online before 5 PM the previous day.
35.) Rusty Wallace Racing Experience located in Brooklyn Your chance to drive a real race car on the same track the NASCAR pros do! We provide the instruction, the cars and safety gear, you just have to bring your Need for Speed!
With almost 7,000 things to do in the state there really is something for everyone. I had no idea Michigan had so many amazing things to do. I challenge you to plan a visit to this magnificent state.
I hope that you have enjoyed this week's tour and come back next week for another amazing adventure. Remember to always be kind as it costs nothing and if you see someone without a smile stop and give them yours a smile is contagious.
Written by: BeautifulChaos318
