Five Fun Things to do in Michigan This Weekend 6/3 - 6/5/11

The weather is heating up and summer is upon us. Here are five events across the state of Michigan that look like fun this weekend!

1. Antique Gas Engine and Tractor Show - Hudson Mills Metropark - 6/3/11 - 6/4/11. Admission is $5 to see tractor pulls, arts and crafts, petting zoo, sawmill display, and tons of activities for kids.
2. 4th Annual Breeze on Tawas Bay Kite Festival - East Tawas - 6/5/11. Free family event features stunt kites, kiteboarding, a candy drop, kite flying workshop, and more.
3. Do-Dah Parade - Kalamazoo - 6/5/11 at 11am in downtown Kalamazoo. This wacky and goofy parade has been entertaining parade goers for many years.
4. Mancelona Bass Festival - 6/2/11 to 6/5/11. Contests, carnival, crafts, games, and of course - a bass fishing contest.
5. Taste of Ann Arbor - 6/5/11 from 11am to 5pm. Local restaurants serve up their tastiest creations along with many fun things for the whole family to enjoy.

Five things to do in Michigan this weekend 10/1-10/3

This weekend Flannel Festivals, lumberjack meals, sweet chocolate, and vintage restored trains will be celebrated and enjoyed across Michigan.

1. Fayette State Park Fall Festival 10/2. Enjoy hayrides, campsite decorating, haunted trail, and more family-friendly activities at historic Fayette.
2. Lumberjack Breakfast and Logging Contests at The Tahquamenon Logging Museum - 10/2. Breakfast runs from 7am to 12pm and costs $7.50. You will enjoy a "breakfast of bacon, eggs, homemade sausage, pancakes and fried potatoes cooked over an authentic wood stove and served in the Cook Shack as it was done 100 years ago."
3. Cedar Springs Red Flannel Festival 10/1 - 10/2. Events include a lumberjack supper, entertainment, bed races, arts & crafts, a parade, and more.
4. This is the last weekend for the Michigan Renaissance Festival up in Holly - 10/1 - 10/3. The weekend's theme is their 10th annual Chocolate Festival.
5. Railroad Enthusiasts will be gathering in Grayling 10/2 - 10/3. There will be opportunities to view and ride in restored passenger coaches, LEGO train display, Model Train Show & Swap, Farmer's Market, Tractor Show, and many more events around Grayling.

Five Things to do in Michigan this weekend 9/24-9/26

This weekend's Top Five list takes you from the village of Clinton on up to Leelanau State Park. Get out and enjoy some Pure Michigan this weekend!

1. Clinton's Fall Festival - 9/24-9/26. They pack a lot of events into their annual festival - car show, live music, hundreds of arts & crafts vendors, food, bull riding, and a huge parade.
2. Detroit History Highlights Trolley Tours - 9/25. "Climb aboard our nostalgic trolley and enjoy a ride back in time as our experienced guides present the real Detroit story and its role in shaping our nation and the world."
3. 19th Century Lumber Days at Hartwick Pines State Park - 9/24-9/26. "Historic logging demonstrations, Musical/entertainment programs, other historical activities and demonstrations."
4. Curran Black Bear Festival 9/25-9/26. Visit the "Black Bear Capitol of Michigan" this weekend for "displays and information about black bears as well as woodcarvers, live music, wildlife exhibit, vendors and crafts, and food."
5. Leelanau State Park Harvest Festival - 9/25. "Event has an agricultural background with various vendors displaying products, conducting educational programs, leading games and outdoor activities such as nature hikes, apple press/cider making, candle making, nature craft making."

Bonus - Corn mazes and apple orchards abound across Michigan. Check here for a statewide listing and find one close to you!

Double Bonus - enjoy this unofficial Pure Michigan ad created by Leclerc Brothers Motion Pictures.

Five Things To Do in Michigan This Weekend 9/10-12

I'm starting up a new feature to highlight select events across Michigan for each weekend. There is a chill in the air and the weekend weather looks fairly promising (umbrellas optional in select areas of the state :) ) across the state. Get out and enjoy some Pure Michigan.

1. Paw Paw Wine and Harvest Festival There is a lot to do for all ages at this festival. Car Show, Craft Show, Carnival Rides, Wine Tasting, Music, a parade, and much more.

2. Breakfast for the animals at Binder Park Zoo Go behind the scenes and see what the animals eat for breakfast as well as a chance to help feed the animals.

3. Antique Engine and Tractor Show in Bangor September 9-12 - call (269) 639-2010 for open times and other details.

4. Good Old Days Festival in Richmond "Highlights during the four days include; demolition derby, figure 8 derby, tractor/truck pulls, musical entertainment both in the beverage tent and on the festival stage, Mid America Shows, and fireworks." Give it a look and see for yourself why this was voted Michigan's Best Small Town Festival.

5. U.P. Fall Beer Festival This is the second year for this event (formally U.P. Oktoberfest) that will feature over 30 Michigan craft brewers with almost 200 varieties of beer to sample.

What are your plans for the summer?

We already have plans for a lot of short trips around the state. We're taking the kids to Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City this month. In July we'll be camping up at White River Campground – one of my favorite privately run campgrounds in the state. Towards the end of July and in early August we have tickets to see a couple of Detroit Tigers games at beautiful Comerica Park. My son is super excited because at one of the games we're going to he will get to run the bases. Wish I could, too :).

So, how about you?

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Michigan's summer tourism is looking up for 2010

If early signs such as an increase in summer reservations at Michigan hotels, resorts, and bed and breakfasts hold true, this could be a very good summer for Michigan tourism. Sure, the unseasonably cool weather last summer played a part in the down year for the Michigan tourism industry, but more than that, I believe the economy was to blame. More good news is that AAA Michigan is predicting gas prices to peak at $3.25 and are not expected to top $4 per gallon. This would be great news not just for Michigan tourists, but us residents as well. Last summer, gas prices in Michigan topped out at $2.93 per gallon on June 7th according to AAA Michigan.

Have we hit the bottom of this economic nightmare in Michigan as Gov. Granholm has stated? I'm not sure, but our business has really picked up and a lot of other small businesses owners that I personally know here in Michigan are experiencing an increase in business as well.

Detroit Free Press article on Michigan's summer 2010 tourism