How to get out Lansing (Michigan)
Lansing is the state capital of Michigan and the regional center of Mid-Michigan. The city's population is under 115,000 and the metropolitan is under 500,000. Do not expect the big city lights and action of a metropolitan of millions. But there are still many great things to do in and around Lansing. Yes, it snows in Michigan. So embrace the beauty of the seasons, and plan your activities accordingly.
Museums
The Michigan Historic Center and Library: This building houses the State Library in one wing and museum in the other. In the center is a live White Pine, the state tree. The museum is appropriate for all ages.
Impression 5 Science Center: A great museum geared toward exposing younger children to the world of science.
Michigan State University Museum: The Museum, located on the campus of MSU in the old library, houses a large collection of dinosaur bones and other artifacts. Cost of admission for students is waived.
MSU-Kresge Art Museum: The Kresge Art Museum is in the heart of the MSU campus on the Red Cedar River. The Museum houses a small collection and will soon be replaced by a new modern art museum on Grand River.
R.E. Olds Transportation Museum: A museum dedicated to the founder of Oldsmobile, which was later bought by GM and was for years a popular US auto brand. Many traces of R.E. Olds still remain in Lansing. The tallest building in the city, the Boji Tower (noted for its large red clock), was originally built as the Olds Tower, after its major financier, R.E. Olds. The area near the location of an old Olds factory is now called REO Town, after R.E. Olds. The Lansing Lugnuts, a minor league baseball team plays in Oldsmobile park near downtown Lansing.
Michigan Museum of Surveying: Located in the Museum District just outside downtown Lansing off Michigan Ave.
The Michigan Women's Historical Center & Hall of Fame: The museum details the accomplishments of women in Michigan and is in the historic 1903 Cooley-Haze House. The museum is surrounded by the Cooley Gardens, which are an oasis in its otherwise industrial surroundings.
Historic Buildings
Michigan State Capital: The Capital has been beautifully restored and sits in the heart of downtown Lansing surrounded by beautiful mid-rise buildings of Michigan's golden auto years. The building was dedicated in 1873; today it is a National Historic Landmark, and still the working seat of the Michigan House of Representatives and Michigan Senate. Self-guided and guided tours of the capital are available. A visit to the capital is perfect for any season.
Turner Dodge House: Built in 1858, this beautiful and meticulously maintained home is available for tours. Cost of admission is $5.00 for non-residents and $3.50 for residents.
Michigan State University Campus: The MSU campus is home to many historic buildings north of the Red Cedar River.
Government
Michigan Hall of Justice: Home to the Michigan Court of Appeals and Michigan Supreme Court, this relatively new structure is situated at the opposite end of a mall from the Capital.
Ingham County Court House: Lansing is the only state capital to not also be the county seat. The county seat is in the small town of Mason. The historic courthouse in the center of town is the crown gem of this sleepy village.
Parks
River Trail: The Lansing River Trail extends over 13 miles (21 km) along the Red Cedar and Grand Rivers. Users of the paved and board walk trail can enjoy the natural beauty of the rivers all the way from the campus of MSU to Dietrich Park near Old Town on the north side of Lansing. The attractions along the way include the Potter Park Zoo, multiple access points for canoes and kayaks, downtown Lansing, the Museum District, Oldsmobile Park, the historic farmers market, and Old Town. The trail is currently being expanded to provide access to the south side of Lansing. Spring, Summer, and Fall, this is a great way to see many of the Lansing attractions.
Lake Lansing: Located near Haslett, the lake is surrounded by beautiful homes and a number of parks. The MSU sailing club provides sailing lessons for a nominal fee. It is an ideal location to spend a summer afternoon and melt away.
Potter Park Zoo: Situated in a park integrated into the city's excellent river trail, the Potter Park Zoo is a terrific way to spend an afternoon. The park is very children-friendly and features a petting park where the children can pet some of the animals. There are peacocks walking about the park along with pony and camel rides. The Zoo, located along Pennsylvania Avenue, can be accessed by car, foot, and bike using the river trail, which extends from Old Town to Michigan State University.
Gardens
Cooley Gardens: The gardens surround The Michigan Women's Historical Center and Hall of Fame a few blocks away from the Capital. The garden is typical of an early 20th Century garden and features a rose garden.
Michigan State University Horticultural Landscape Demonstration Gardens: The gardens are open all year, but are best viewed spring to fall. The garden's beauty changes with each season, and is surprisingly colorful all through the fall months. The roses are especially beautiful in the summer months. The garden is on the south side of campus away from most of the University lecture halls.
Michigan State University W.J. Beal Botanical Garden: The Beal Botanical garden owes its beginnings to W.J. Beal, a former president of MSU that established a plot along the Red Cedar River in 1872 with 140 species of plants. The garden is situated along the north side of the Red Cedar near the center of campus amid the park-like surrounding of the MSU campus and is enjoyed by thousands of students each year as they pass between classes.
Michigan 4-H Children's Garden at MSU: The 4-H garden is located near the MSU Horticultural gardens and is fun for children and adults alike. The garden features exhibits such as the "pizza garden," which includes oregano and basil, which children can taste and smell. Many of the plants are familiar tastes and smells that children will instantly realize as the source of enjoyment in many of their favorite treats.
Michigan State University Hidden Lake Gardens: Hidden Lake Gardens is owned and operated by Michigan State University under the division of Land Management, but supported through private endowments and gifts, along with a small amount of money from MSU. The Gardens are open 362 days of the year with an admission fee of $3 per person. Guided tours, requested at least two weeks in advance, are available at no additional charge. In addition to more than 6 miles of one-way paved drives, there are 5 miles of hiking trails to allow the visitor a closer look at the beauty that the Gardens provide.
Theaters
The Riverwalk Theater, the Lansing Civic Players, and the Boars Head Theater are all located in downtown Lansing.
Peppermint Creek Theater Company: It is a relatively new and award winning theater group.
The Creole Gallery brings various musicians and hosts the Icarus Falling Theater Group.
The Wharton Center for Performing Arts at Michigan State University: The Center is on the campus of MSU and is home of the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, which performs 17 concerts a year for free. The Center hosts many of the best Broadway shows, finest classical musicians, and unrivaled dance companies. The theater is currently undergoing an extensive upgrade and expansion, bringing the theater, both exterior and interior, into the 21st century.
Libraries
The Library of Michigan and historical Center is a well-regarded state library and research enter. The library is a top five genealogical research center in the United States. The City of Lansing Capital Area District Library has three branches in the city: the Main Library downtown, the Foster Library on the east side, and the South Library on the south side of the city.
Michigan State University Libraries includes a large collection located within the Main Library and also a number of smaller libraries outside the Main Library. These libraries include the Biomedical & Physical Sciences Library, the William C. Gast Libray, the Law Library, the Dubai Library, the Engineering Library, the Gull Lake Library, the Mathematics Library, and the Veterinary Medical Center Library.
The East Public Lansing Library is on Abbot Road just south of Saginaw.
Get out and explore beyond lansing
Located in Mid-Michigan, Lansing provides convenient access to all of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Michigan is a wonderful state to explore in all seasons. In the summer, get out and kayak the many rivers, take a sailboat out on the thousands of lakes, or enjoy a day at the beach along the thousands of miles of sandy beaches along the Great Lakes. The fall is perfect for hiking through the woods and taking a camera to document the leaves as they change from vibrant green to golden yellow. Fall is also a time for enjoying Michigan's abundant crop of Michigan apples and Michigan sweet corn. Michigan is one of the country's largest wine growing regions. Get out and explore!
Detroit: Visit Michigan's first state capital! Only 1.5 hours away from Lansing is Michigan's largest city. The city is home to a metropolitan of combined statistical area of nearly 5.5 million people. Founded in 1701 as a French outpost, the city boats North America's tallest hotel, the busiest international crossing in the country, world-class museums, and all the major sports. In recent years, Detroit has become a gaming center, with three major casinos and one major casino across the river in Windsor, Canada. Visitors will enjoy the sights and tastes of Greek Town and Mexican Town, which have long been staples of the Detroit restaurant scene. The city is also home to many of the best examples of art deco architecture in the world. A visit to the Detroit-area would not be complete without checking out a number of the suburban cities. Dearborn is home to the world headquarters of Ford Motor Company and the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. The Collection includes the chair President Lincoln was assassinated, the car Present Kennedy was assassinated, a replica of Liberty Hall, Thomas Edison's last breath, Thomas Edison's childhood home, and the Wright Brothers bicycle shop.
Grand Rapids: The city is Michigan's second largest and located on the west side of the state, or as it is known locally, "the other West Coast." The city has not suffered as greatly from the decline of the auto industry as other Midwest cities, and has a modern class skyline. The City is home to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum and Library. The city has an impressive art collection and located nearby is the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, which includes a replica of Leonardo Da Vinci's massive sculpture, Horse. The gardens receives over 600,000 visitors annually.
Ann Arbor: The city is Michigan's academic and cultural center. The city is home to the University of Michigan, many of the State's high-tech jobs, museums, and many fine restaurants. The high population density, lively downtown, and good public transportation system, make the city one of the best in Michigan. It is also close to Detroit, providing easy access to major events in downtown Detroit.
Traverse City: Traverse City is the largest city in upper Michigan. Situated on the Grand Traverse Bay, the setting is idyllic and popular tourist and vacation destination for people in the Chicago and Detroit-areas. The area is the largest cherry producing area in the world, and one of the largest wine-producing regions in the country. Recently, the area has also begun growing hops to provide the growing number of local breweries. The city is comparable to smaller version of Ann Arbor.
Mackinaw City: Mackinaw City is the northern most point of the Lower Peninsula and gateway to Michigan's rugged wilderness in the Upper Peninsula. To the west is Lake Michigan and to the east is lake Huron. In the middle are the Straits of Mackinaw. In the center is the Mackinaw Bridge, or Mighty Mac. The bridge is one of the largest in the country and links Michigan together by a thread of steel and concrete.
Mackinac Island: This small paradise is in Lake Huron, just offshore from Mackinaw City. The historic island is protected by a stone fort built by the British to control the trade routes of the Great Lakes. Historic homes, including the governor's mansion, dot this island. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the island, so tourists must get around by horse, on bike, or by foot. The island is noted for its beauty, fudge, and the Grand Hotel. The Grand Hotel, built in 1887, still maintains the record for the largest porch in the world.
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The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Lansing (Michigan)
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