I was in town for their pink lady's slipper festival. It's a small fair held at the nature center…read morewith live music, food, and vendors. It was pretty fun! The pink lady's slipper is an orchid that is native to the eastern United States and is abundant near the center and it's also the logo of the center. The volunteers mentioned there were over a hundred spotted near the trails and you were sure to see them (which we did, over 20+ sightings!). The nature center itself has dioramas about the ecology of the area, bathrooms, a water fountain, and a bird feeder where you can watch wild birds and chipmunks. There were so many goldfinches and mourning doves at that time of day. There's also a tank with a rescued turtle to look at too. It's very family friendly and the trail I went on near the center was paved with a bunch of signs, although there's also more trails which are unpaved. This is a neat little place and I would recommend it!

This place is a hidden gem in Port Austin not only does it have a great nature walk and agility…read morecourse it is free! I never knew that it had a little indoor Research Center that teaches about the wildlife and history of the county it was very interesting and the highlight of going here was for my daughter to be able to pick out a fossl that was local to the lake they even have a little gift shop in the back that you could buy bookmarks, books, birdhouses, bird feeders, and much more if you're going up here to vacation please take the time to check this out it will not be a disappointment.

Saginaw Bay is one of the largest freshwater coastal wetlands in the state of Michigan…read more Huge sandy beach great for walking and fun for the whole family. There are over 2000 acres of wetland woods,cattail marshlands and oak savannah prairies which makes for a great area for birding. Good trails with wooden walkways and lookouts. The Saginaw Bay Park is huge with a new " Play by the Bay " Park which is great for families as well as a Spray Park. If you are looking for a great area for biking,hiking,birding,swimming,or just to relax and watch the sunsets..come to Saginaw Bay State Park.

Nice walking trails along the lagoon and a boardwalk along the bay make this a nice place to enjoy…read morea break from driving. There is also a playground for the kids and picnic tables. Fishing, swimming, birdwatching or skipping stones are fun for everyone.

I was a little sticker shocked at first. $55 to visit three bars on an old school bus. While on the…read morebus, we learned that our $55 was actually supporting transportation for kids to school and after school programs. Definitely changed my tune. Our tour guide was able to share the history of prohibition in Detroit as well as shared the unique history at each of our stops. I would definitely recommend to try this tour.

My 1st experience with The Detroit Bus Co. was unforgettable! Boy, do they know how to entertain…read moreyou! We had 3 stops on this tour and music/trivia on the bus between each stop! Check-in was easy and the bus was packed. We met at Checker Bar to start the journey. It was a well lit area, with paid street parking. A part of each ticket sold helps provide bus rides for students in Detroit that could use the support. Take a look at their planned events and get on board!

I have come to and enjoyed Lumberman's Monument many times over the years. First with my kids and…read morefast forward some thirty plus years to present day with my grandkids. The monument and out buildings give you a very nice history of this area spanning from the logging years in Michigan back in the late 1800's/early 1900's through the FDR years where youth/education programs were based in this area to more modern times of the US Forest Service and their work in preserving our great national/state forests in this area and their work in containing forest fires in this region over the years. Additionally there are interactive logging related displays that are quite fun and educational for adults and children alike. Aside from the the historical/educational aspects of this park there is amazing elevated scenic overlooks of the Ausable river that are some of the most beautiful scenic views I have seen in Michigan or anywhere for that matter. These are the sort of views you see in post cards and are worth the trip here alone. Finally there is the huge sand dune that runs down to the base of the Ausable. Literally just seconds to go down with gravity doing most of the work and many tortuous minutes to climb back up as it is literally two steps up and one step back as you fight the shifting sand under your feet. Great for kids but not so much for a sixty something old retiree. I have done this hill many times over the years but not this last time and my knees/lungs/muscles thanked me for for not doing it this last time.... Overall a great spot to learn some history about Michigan and see some of the most scenic views this state has to offer. A trip/experience that should not be missed if you are in this area. Five stars +

This is a beautiful place on the ausable River. If you get the chance do stop and take a look…read morearound. They have a cute little gift shop with very knowledgeable people of the area, and they have a couple interesting games for the kids. A nice little History museum nothing real big but definitely informational. The view of the River from the top is wonderful but if you're able and I do mean able, take the stairs all the way down. The views right on the riverfront as well as The boathouse is something to see.

The Bavarian Bell River boat ended up being one of the main highlights of our time in Frankenmuth…read moreand that's saying a lot because we had a really good time here. When we arrived, the woman selling the tickets was genuinely friendly and interested in our dog. I love that this is a dog-friendly activity and that always gets extra bonus points with me. She asked our dog's name and answered all our questions and when we saw her hours later walking around the town she called out to our dog by name and said hello. It was very sweet and just one example of the warm welcoming spirit of this city. The cruise itself was very calm and slow. Just a smooth ride down the Cass River and back. There's lots of time to take in the scenery and you learn a lot. The gentleman narrating our tour was knowledgeable and had a great voice on the microphone. I actually thought it was a recording for the first few minutes, but he introduced himself and explained that his son was the boat captain. He shared the history of Frankenmuth and the surrounding area and when he tells you the popcorn they sell on board is the best you'll ever have, he's not lying. The popcorn was the surprise star of this cruise! For only $2 you get this bag of fresh salty delicious popcorn and they actually encourage you to toss some to the ducks on the river. It was really fun watching them Rush up to the boat and watching the children laughing and enjoying themselves. I love popcorn though so unfortunately the ducks had to share with me because it was definitely the best $2 popcorn I've ever had! This is a must if you're in Frankenmuth and I'm so glad we got to experience it. We had such a nice time that we bought some souvenirs on our way off the boat, including a little Captain's hat for my husband to match the one we had for our pup already. It really was a lovely time.

I love Bavarian Belle Riverboat tours. They are reasonable. Tickets are $18 for adults and the…read moresnacks are reasonable. My husband bought two waters, two popcorns that cost $8.00. We recently did the one hour tour on Memorial Day. The tour was scenic and relaxing and enjoyable.

Key West trip was wonderful. We were very pleased with the balance of included activities and free…read moretime. Loved having use of golf cart for 24 hours. Thanks to Matt for his photography!

Can't say enough good about Julie S! She absolutely went above and beyond to help me find and book…read morea cruise. She was very patient with my questions and indecisiveness, as well as with everyone she spoke with at the cruise line when we were having trouble with their website. She stayed late to finish, and was extremely kind and professional! Very impressive!

Chances are if you've been on any tour in the city of Grand Rapids it's being led by Grand Rapids…read moreresident tour guide Caroline. The Grand Rapids, running tours encompass such a tremendous variety of tours from murals to cemeteries and everything in between. As others have mentioned don't let the name fool you running, is not required. I've been on a few of her guided tours, and always come away with a better appreciation of our city, and its rich history. Last fall we took the Fulton Street cemetery tour on Friday the 13th and despite the abysmal cold weather and steady downpour, we found the tour engaging and interesting. She almost bombards you with too much information as her notes are plentiful and her words fly quickly it can be a lot to take in. if you have the opportunity and have a curious mind, do not hesitate to join one of these tours.

Grand Rapids Running Tours is an awesome way to explore Grand Rapids! Any of the tours can be…read morewalked, so you don't have to be a runner to enjoy them. My boyfriend and I recently did a special tour of the Rad Women public art project throughout downtown Grand Rapids with GR Running Tours. Our guide Caroline was super friendly, energetic, enthusiastic, and fun to listen to! She made sure to keep everyone in the large group together and kept a pace that was manageable for all. We learned about all the women depicted in the murals as well as the local artists who painted them. The tour we took was 3+ miles but they offer shorter tours with all sorts of themes, including architecture, art, haunted spots, the history of Beer City USA, firehouses, etc.! There are many options. The tours are great for visitors and locals alike, as there is so much history to be learned. Highly recommended!