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Category Archives: Michigan recreation

Cristo Rey Fiesta

May 11th, 2013 by insideout

Join in the best Latino party of the year at the annual Cristo Rey Fiesta. Featuring authentic folk dancing from several Mexican states as well as traditional homemade Mexican food booths, a beer tent and a children’s play area with a giant slide, bounce tents and games, this is a great family friendly event! Make sure to stop by the Mercado (Mexican market) where you can buy rosaries, traditional Mexican clothing, purses and other trinkets.

Dancing will continue into the evening to live Tejano and Salsa Merengue bands and DJs. The vendors are proudly serving the finest in homemade Mexican dishes, such as tacos, gorditas, pan dulce (sweet bread), pinto beans and rice, and even pizza for the kids. Everything is prepared in the Church kitchen.

Photo by Robert Killips of the Lansing State Journal

Photo by Robert Killips of the Lansing State Journal.

The massive kick-off festival helps raise funds for programs offered at the church, including the food bank and youth/ senior citizen programs and takes place over the three day memorial day weekend, May 25 -27. Hours are as follows:

  • Fri: 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.
  • Sat: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
  • Sun: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

A raffle is planned for Sunday, featuring such prizes as a television, a getaway trip and a sombrero filled with lottery tickets. $5 admission on Friday and Saturday, free on Sunday. The Fiesta takes place at the Cristo Rey Catholic Church, 201 W. Miller Road, Lansing.

Need Lodging in Greater Lansing for Memorial Day Weekend?

Look no further than the elegant and historic English Inn. Located in picturesque Eaton Rapids, about 15 minutes south of Lansing, we have beautiful grounds, alive with spring flowers and provide breakfast with every overnight visit. We hope to see you this spring!

 

Snowshoe and Ski around Lansing Michigan

January 2nd, 2013 by insideout

Come out of the house and into nature during the winter months to see a whole new side of the landscape. The snow makes everything look pristine and cross country skiing and snowshoeing are great ways to stay active during the winter months. There are multiple organized trips that occur regularly during the next couple months you might want to join.

Snowshoe Owl Prowl at Lincoln Brick Park (13991 Tallman Rd., Grand Ledge): 7 – 8:30 p.m. January 16, February 13, February 27, and March 13.
Join Naturalist Jackie Blanc on a night hike in search of screech owls.ski and snowshoe michigan Look for animal tracks and make a few of your own. Program fee is $5 per person with equipment rental or $2 per person with your own equipment. Advance registration required; to register please send an e-mail to parksdept@eatoncounty.org with your name, phone number, number of adults and children in your party, the date of the hike you’d like to attend and whether or not you need to rent equipment. You may also register by calling the park office at 517-627-7351 during regular business hours.

Ski and Snowshoe Night Fest at Fitzgerald Park (133 Fitzgerald Park Dr., Grand Ledge): 6 – 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights ~ Jan. 4, 5, 18, 19 and Feb. 1 & 2.
Come cross-country ski or snowshoe under the stars on illuminated trails or enjoy the sledding hill (weather permitting) at Fitzgerald Park. Cross-country ski and snowshoe rentals are available on a first come, first serve basis at the Fitzgerald Park office. Cost for event is $2 per person with own equipment (payable at office) or $5 per person per hour to rent equipment.

Beginner Snowshoe Clinic at Fitzgerald Park (133 Fitzgerald Park Dr., Grand Ledge): 2 – 4 p.m. Jan. 20 & Feb. 3.
This two hour clinic is designed to teach novices the basics of snowshoeing. Cost is $15 for those who need to rent equipment or $10 for those with their own equipment. Class size is limited and advance registration is required. Call the park office at 517-627-7351 to sign up.

 

 

Admire Fall Colors by Water

October 17th, 2011 by insideout

Fall colors throughout Michigan are peaking. Red, orange, yellow, and russet leaves are everywhere: along country lanes, in rolling forests, and lining the banks of rivers, streams, and lakes. If surrounding yourself with colorful fall foliage makes you happy, now is the time to do it.

DSC_6688_89_90_copy

Fall foliage reflected in Lake Michigan.

One of the most wonderful ways to experience fall colors in Michigan is from the water. Water is everywhere in Michigan. It borders the state to the east, west, and north. It is found in the more than 36,500 miles of rivers and streams that flow through here.

This fall, get out on the water and admire fall colors as they’re reflected in the water under your feet.

Several places near our Eaton Rapids Bed and Breakfast offer boat rentals:

  • Burchfield Park, on the Grand River.
  • The Grand Fish in Lansing, on the Grand River.
  • U-Rent-Em Canoe Livery in Hastings, on the Thornapple River.

 

Spend a few hours in a canoe or kayak, meandering up the Grand or Thornapple Rivers, or circumnavigating a small lake. The fall colors will be magnificent and the fresh air will be invigorating. It will undoubtedly stimulate the appetite.

After your paddle, stop by the pub at our Eaton Rapids inn and restaurant. Satisfy your thirst with a pint of ale and stave off hunger with a Black Angus Burger or a hearty French Dip sandwich. Then wander through our grounds and admire fall colors along the Grand River from a higher elevation. You may even be inspired to stay the night.

Find Your Michigan Ancestors

September 25th, 2011 by insideout

Our families give us indelible traits. We are each our own person, to be sure. We are each unique. Yet we have a connection with those who came before, those who survived so that we might survive. Thinking about this can boggle the mind.

Stay at the English Inn while research your genealogy in Lansing.

Not everyone is interested in genealogy, and not everyone should be. But for those who are, it is a fascinating field of study. It can lead people around the globe in search of family. People have discovered long lost relatives in remote villages in the Alps. They’ve also learned something about themselves by learning about their ancestry.

Genealogy Research at the Library of Michigan is open to the public Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you think you’ll find some answers there, why not go and see?

The Library of Michigan is less than 30 minutes from our Eaton Rapids Bed and Breakfast. Travel here with a friend who is patient and thorough – a friend willing to help you be an ancestral sleuth. If nothing else, your search will be rewarded with a stay at our luxurious, historic inn.

Please see Genealogy for information about doing research at the Library of Michigan.

 

 

 

 

Go Spartans!

September 15th, 2011 by insideout

Touchdown MSU!

Touchdown!

Fall means the return of rain in the Pacific Northwest and brilliant foliage in New England. It means relief from extreme heat in the southeast and southwest, and it means shorter days and longer nights in Alaska. Yet all across the country, north to south, east to west, fall also means football. And that’s a good thing.

Our Lansing, Michigan, Bed and Breakfast sits in the backyard of Michigan State University (figuratively speaking, of course). Each fall, we welcome the return of the Spartans with open arms. Each September, we clear our throats and get ready to cheer for the MSU Football Team.

The Spartans have had nothing but wins so far this year. They walloped Youngstown State 28-6, and they crushed Florida Atlantic 44-0. This Saturday, we’ll face stiffer competition at Notre Dame. We feel optimistic.

Many families stay with us or dine at our Lansing Restaurant while in town to drop off their students. For some, we’re as much a part of the “Back to School” tradition as packing the car. Their victories are our victories, their defeats our defeats.

We hope to see many fans at our Lansing pub to celebrate a victory after the game on Saturday, and in the coming months. Go Spartans!

Beal Botanical Garden

September 7th, 2011 by insideout

The W.J. Beal Botanical Garden at Michigan State University is a special place.

Beal Garden Entrance

The Beal Garden Entrance - a thing of beauty in and of itself.

The oldest continually operating university botanical garden in the country, Beal Botanical Garden is a haven for observation, growth, and peace. Students go to Beal Botanical Garden to make use of an unparalleled outdoor laboratory. Guests of our Michigan Bed and Breakfast go there to bask in its beauty.

Beal Botanical Garden is located on the campus of Michigan State University, approximately 20 miles northeast of our Lansing area Bed and Breakfast. Self-guided tours of the garden are encouraged through the use of detailed plant labels. Some folks go there to learn about specific plants, visiting the Lanscape Plants or the Wetlands areas. Others go simply for the opportunity to walk and sit in a lovely, peaceful setting.

More information about the gardens may be found at Beal Botanical Gardens.

Plan a Golf Getaway

August 30th, 2011 by insideout

Hawk Hollow golf course!

Hawk Hollow Golf Course.

Our Lansing Michigan Bed and Breakfast is close to several outstanding golf courses, making it an ideal destination for a golf getaway.

Hawk Hollow Golf Course is one of the most highly regarded courses in the state. Golf Digest has awarded it 4.5 out of 5 stars, so it’s definitely worth a look. Our Michigan lodging is just 30 minutes from Hawk Hollow, making it a convenient destination, as well. Please visit Hawk Hollow for more information.

Charming Bonnie View Golf Course is just across the street from the English Inn. It’s known as much for its lovely scenery as for the challenging greens. A 9 hole course, it allows ample time for our guests both to golf and enjoy other attractions in Eaton Rapids and Lansing.

If you haven’t hit that little ball enough this year, plan a golf getaway at the English Inn. We hope you’ll enjoy post-game feasts at our Lansing fine dining restaurant (and drinks at the pub) as much as the golfing itself.

 

Meridian Historical Village

March 19th, 2011 by insideout

Just 30 minutes northeast of our luxury Lansing MI Bed and Breakfast is the Meridian Historical Village. A handful of buildings from the 19th century were moved to this picturesque site overlooking Lake Catherine, and then restored; the result is a charming historic village.

Many of these buildings were slated for destruction – moving them to their new home in Okemos allowed them to be saved and restored. The village includes a one-room school, a pioneer’s log cabin, a farmhouse, and an inn and tavern. The only building that is not historic is the Village Chapel, which is an exact replica of the 1870 church that originally stood in Okemos.

One snowy Spring day in Okemos

A snowy spring day in Okemos.

Guests of our Lansing MI Lodging may enjoy visiting Meridian Historical Village, which hosts a number of special events such throughout the year. The village is open May through October on Saturdays, and for special events. See Meridian Historical Village or call 517-347-7300 for additional information.

Michigan Fall Color Tours

September 13th, 2010 by insideout

Fall foliage

Look for fall colors reflected in SW Michigan's many lakes.

Autumn is a beautiful season in Michigan. Fall colors near our Lansing MI bed and breakfast generally peak early to mid October, which means the time to plan a SW Michigan fall color tour is now.

There are dozens of fall color tours throughout the state of Michigan, including one that begins in nearby Lansing. Head out on quiet country lanes in your car or on a bike. From Lansing, this tour takes you west on M-43 through Grand Ledge, and then south through Richland and Hickory Corners to M-37. Head east through the towns of Battle Creek, Marshall and Albion before going north on M-99 back up to our bed and breakfast in Eaton Rapids.

There are plenty of places to stop and rest along the way. Pack a picnic and rest at Fish Hatchery Park in Hastings or overlooking Gull Lake between Richland and Hickory Corners. Keep an eye out for antique shops and farm stands along the way.

After a day on the road, no matter how you travel, you’ll enjoy relaxing over drinks in our Lansing area Pub and feasting on dinner in our DiRoNa restaurant.

Cool Off in Sleepy Hollow

August 17th, 2010 by insideout

Rent a rowboat at Sleepy Hollow Park.

If you feel like  exploring some of the natural beauty of Michigan while staying at our Lansing area bed and breakfast, head to Sleepy Hollow State Park, in nearby Laingsburg. Less than an hour from the inn, Sleepy Hollow offers miles of shaded hiking trails and a lake that is perfect for boating and swimming.

Start with a super night’s sleep in one of the historic rooms of our Lansing Michigan bed and breakfast. In the morning, greet the dawn with a stroll through our English gardens or out to the gazebo overlooking the Grand River. After breakfast, begin your journey to Sleepy Hollow.

You may want to pick up picnic supplies in Lansing on the way to the park. Once there, you may rent kayaks, paddleboats, pontoons and rowboats. If you’re an angler, you’ll probably want to spend out on Lake Ovid, but if not, you may enjoy escaping from the sun to the cool of the woods; over ten miles of trails meander through prairie grasses and hardwood forests.

By the time you return to our Lansing Michigan bed and breakfast, you’ll be ready for dinner. You may have a casual meal at our English pub, or a more formal dinner in our DiRoNa restaurant.

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