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Michigan is a wonderful state! It’s a great place to live and visit. There are so many places to explore! I will be providing you with many ideas of places to visit that are either well known or more off the beaten path. You can learn about these places and make plans to visit them yourself and make lasting memories of being in Michigan.

1. Lewis Adventure Farm and Zoo – GREAT FOR KIDS

There is so much to see and experience at this farm and zoo. Their map shows all the different things and it made sense for us to start near the entrance where we parked, and work our way around the main path. We started our adventure with the pirate ship that kids can climb on. There are several climbing opportunities for kids throughout the farm. My kids love it! We then made our way to the corn maze. My 8-year-old and 3-year old had no problem running through it and made it out! Next was an open farm building where there are games like skee ball, baseball throw, and bean bag toss. They also have a burlap slide which was pretty neat. On the weekends they have apple and pumpkin cannons where you shoot apples and pumpkins at things in their field. Let your kids go free and play on the spider web climb or in a sand pit. Pedal carts and jumping pillows are. The animal section of the farm was very fun and so exciting to see the unique animals. They have 25 or more kinds of animals to see outdoors and indoors. The bird house has parakeets and you can feed the parakeets by holding a stick with their favorite food. They make food for lunch or dinner and offer a variety of treats from the gift shop. This was an amazing family outing and great for all ages. You won’t be disappointed!! Find out more details on their website at https://www.visitlewisfarms.com/

See all the pictures and more details at

2. Fredrik Meijer Gardens – GREAT FOR FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND KIDS

Fredrik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park is a great place for the whole family! There are many things to see, do, and experience while there. The gift shop offers many unique gifts for kids and adults. There’s a café to sit and have lunch or just order a coffee. There are special events throughout the year like their Christmas tree display which shows different traditions around the world. Another event, every spring, is located in the tropical room where they release several hundred butterflies. They are flying all around and sometimes land on your head or shoulder. It’ a wonderful experience! You can then go through to the other garden rooms. Outdoors there is a concert area which has performances during the summer or catch the tram to get a tour of the whole gardens. The kids area is straight out from the main building which has lots to explore. They have special garden areas for them where they can learn a lot about plants and animals. Paths lead to different areas like a playground, huts, sculptures, and more. If you feel up for a nice walk, there is a boardwalk that follows a nearby lake or the Japanese Garden. Sit and enjoy the peacefulness, beauty, and nature. Continue further down the path to visit the farm and learn about farm animals and farming tools. Kids can use a real pump to pump water! Keep an eye out for other amazing sculptures like the American Horse which is 24 feet tall! Be sure to share your pictures and experience that day with all your friends and family. It will be one to remember! Read more details and see all the pictures by clicking here.   

Show your Michigan pride and get some unique apparel to wear.

3. Pickerel Lake – GREAT FOR FRIENDS, FAMILY, HIKERS, RUNNERS, AND FISHING

Pickerel Lake is off the beaten path, but known to many locals. It’s a great lake to walk or run around because there is a nice path that goes around the lake. The boardwalk is very long and allows for several opportunities for fishing. No matter your fishing experience, you’ll have a great time and enjoy this beautiful lake. There is some wildlife there including a few swans and other native birds and their nests. The walk along the lake is peaceful and relaxing. There are few benches along the way, so bring a snack and coffee and enjoy the view while you rest. You’ll definitely enjoy some time at Pickerel Lake and make lasting memories that will make you want to return again and again. Check out all the pictures and more details by clicking here.

4. Grand Haven, Michigan – GREAT FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Grand Haven and nearby Spring Lake has a lot to offer any visitor. First of all, highway 31 has lots of restaurants and stores to check out. This is the highway that takes you from north or south to Grand Haven. Fricano’s Pizza Tavern is just one of the many great places to make a dinner stop. If you follow Washington Ave, you’ll go right through downtown Grand Haven. There are many small shops and places to eat. Follow S Harbor Drive to visit Lake Michigan and the famous pier. Grand Haven State Park is there to explore and camp. If you want to walk the pier and need to park a shorter distance, there is a small parking lot called the Grand Haven State Park Channel Parking Lot. Of course this place is great for those with a boat! Go out and enjoy the waves, views, and beautiful sunsets. The pier and the channel are perfect places for trying to get a bite. If you’re looking for a quieter place to fish and enjoy the pier and beach, there is another spot worth visiting which is on the other side of the channel and north of Grand Haven. The park is called The North Shore Fisherman’s Lot. My family and I have gone there many times when we want to avoid the crowds of people in Grand Haven during the summer months. I hope this helps you plan your next trip to Grand Haven and I wish you all the best on your adventure! There are pictures and more details here: Grand Haven.

Show your Michigan pride and get one of these unique shirts to wear.

Restaurant Reviews | Food Places Reviews

5. Joe 2 Go – HOLLAND, MI

When I drove through the northern part of Holland, Michigan, I saw there was a coffee shop I’ve never tried before. I stopped and picked up a hot “Café Mocha” and a “Frusia Dairy Strawberry Smoothie”. Both were really good!!! Pricing is a little high, but for the drink quality, it was worth it. They offer many other items including a variety of drink options, breakfast sandwiches, and other dessert treats like brownies and scones. The also have sandwiches, panini’s, wraps, kids’ meals, and salads. Check out their menu on their website https://joe2gocoffee.com/. This will be added to my list of favorite places to stop! You’ll enjoy your visit there too!

6. Jody’s Restaurant

Jody’s Restaurant is located in Rockford, Michigan, and is close to the corner of 10 mile and Wolverine Blvd. This place to eat could be overlooked and passed by for other well known restaurants or fast food. The building may have an older style on the outside, but they make the most amazingly delicious food on the inside! I was shocked when I saw the line of cars there when I pulled up. It’s like getting restaurant food but through the drive-thru and almost as fast as a regular fast food place. The service is great! When I pulled up to the window, the food was ready and could be on my way very fast. I ordered the fish basket which comes with a side. The kid’s meals come with the main entrée like hamburger or chicken tenders, but it comes with a drink, fries, and Mott’s fruit gummies. The onion rings were awesome! Not too greasy, but very crispy and delicious! I would recommend stopping here if you’re in the area. Make a special trip here and eat at a local park or take to downtown Rockford to view the beautiful dam and Rogue river. Enjoy! Click the review below to view pictures.

7. Stan Diego Baja Taco Kitchen

Stan Diego Baja Taco Kitchen was worth tasting and writing this review about it. They offer mainly tacos but they have starters, sides, and a kids menu. They offer tacos with beef, pork, steak, chicken, fish, shrimp, brisket, and one with no meat. The combination of flavors in these tacos makes them super delicious. I had the baja fish taco which has a lightly breaded piece of fish with a slaw, special mayo, and cilantro. Simple but full of flavor and I could have eaten many more of these. The carne asada taco was similar to the classic authentic Mexican taco, but of course had a real good taste. The hard shell was very similar to the Americanized taco with ground beef, salsa, tomatoes, and cilantro. This taco has a more fresh and authentic taste and increases you’re desire to have more. Their French fries have a beautifully crispy outside and they come with this amazing dipping sauce! The only thing I thought could have been better is that the tacos are very small for the price, so plan on ordering more than normal to get full. I will be going back to try more tacos and highly recommend you trying this amazing taco place too! Click the review below to view pictures.

8. Beer City Bread Company

Okay, so I have wanted to try this new restaurant in my area called “Beer City Bread Company”. On their website, you can see the menu, their making process, and more about the restaurant. Everything looked delicious and I wanted to try it all, but I decided to try the pizza first. These are made to be individual pizzas, but if you have light eaters, you can share. The specialty pizzas have 6 medium slices and the cheese has 4 medium slices. Here is the items I tried:

Margherita Pizza – Very good, but you need to love cheese because there is a lot on it.

Pesto Chicken Pizza – Awesome! It has lots of unique toppings and the combination is great: artichoke, mushroom, and feta.

BBQ Chicken – Another really good one. Lots of toppings and the bell peppers give it an extra kick which your mouth will enjoy!

Cheese – Simple but really good as well.

They also offer sandwiches, salads, tacos, fries and baskets, and yummies from the bakery. You’ll have a hard time deciding. I’m definitely going back to try something different. There are 4 locations in the Grand Rapids, MI area. Check out their website at www.beercitybread.com. Click the review below to view pictures.