Hiller's Michigan Foods Fair

Hiller's is a Michigan-based grocery chain that is spearheading a campaign to support Michigan companies. Their circular highlights which products are from Michigan and how many people each company employs. Not only that, they are very fun store with lots of gourmet and hard to find items!

On March 21-22, 2009 from 11am until 4pm there will be a Michigan Foods Fair at the Union Lake Hiller's store on Commerce Road. Vendors will be offering samples of their products and people will be on hand to answer questions about supporting Michigan and what else you can do to help. Check out Hiller's website for more information.

Another awesome thing going on at Hiller's is the Hometown First program. When you spend $100 at Hiller's you qualify for a Hometown First card. There is a list of local businesses that will accept your Hometown First card as a coupon. The card is redeemable one time. There is a more detailed explanation here.

Please find your local Hiller's and check them out! You will find a great selection of products and you will be helping Michigan businesses-everybody wins!

It's Maple Sugaring Season! and Michigan on a Budget #2

Did you know that Michigan is very active in the Maple Sugar industry? Michigan is one of few places in the world that has native maples suitable for sugaring!

This is the time of year to see some sugaring demonstrations. Freezing nights and above freezing days cause the sap to run. On a good day, from a large tree, you might get a gallon of sap. It takes forty gallons of sap to boil down to 1 gallon of syrup!

Parks all over Michigan are doing maple sugar demos in the next couple of weeks. My family headed over to Independence Oaks in Clarkston for Maple Magic last weekend. Using a puppet show to interest the kids, we learned the basics of tapping a tree, collecting the sap and boiling it down to syrup. With crafts and samples of foods made from maple syrup the program kept everyone happy!

After the inside portion, we headed outside to tap a tree and see a kettle of sap boiling over an open fire. The presenters did a great job and the program was enjoyed by everyone!

The park itself looked like it had a lot to do. We passed trails, play equipment and picnic tables. The Lewis Wint Nature Center has both stuffed and live animals to check out. The entrance fee into the park is $7 for a day, so if it hadn't been raining we would have spent a lot longer. The program was an additional $2 a person. If the weather had been nicer, we could've packed a lunch and had a great day out for $13. Definitely budget friendly!

Check out the Maple Syrup Association website for more information about sugaring and check out possible demos in your area!

Great Lakes Children's Museum

I love Traverse City. It is beautiful, fun and has something for everyone. For the younger members of your group there is the Great Lakes Children's Museum. When we went my son had just turned two and he had a blast!

It has a water and boating theme (appropriate enough). There is an area for coloring, a very cool climbing/sliding explanation of the water cycle and the most incredible virtual stream that reacts as people walk through it. The best part, though, is the huge, interactive water table that dominates the center area.
Kids are able to see how the flow of water changes as they add or remove the plastic panels. A large collection of floating toys helps drive the lesson home. As a bonus, adults seem to love the table as much (maybe more) than the kids. My husband played at the table for much of our visit!

There is a small toddler area full of fish pillows, books and a small, soft slide.


There is also a game that helps illustrate how pollution affects us and the water around us. It was a little advanced for my little guy, but the older kids really seemed to be enjoying it.


At just $6 a person for an all-day admission (under 2 are free), the museum is a great bargain for a little fun for the kids. Visit the museum website for more information on hours and events.

Sorry!

I must apologize for my absence. I was out of town for a while and kind of got out of the routine! I will be back tomorrow with a post about some fun in the northen lower peninsula!

See you tomorrow!

Ocqueoc Falls

Nestled in an area of farmland and forest, Ocqueoc Falls is the only major waterfall in Michigan's lower peninsula, eleven miles inland from Rogers City, off of M-68, in Presque Isle County.



There is a a rustic camping area with permanent outhouses, picnic tables and parking. There are some beautiful hiking opportunities or you can simply explore the area immediately surrounding the falls. If you're a geology buff, examine the rocks for geologic features like the ripple marks that my son and I found.



This would be an excellent half-day trip for folks from the northeast lower peninsula, or even the thumb area. Take a picnic lunch and spend several hours exploring the falls, hiking and relaxing outside. It is truly a beautiful place.

Michigan on a Budget #1

Want to visit some of Micigan's cultural hotspots and save a few bucks in the process? Then hit your local library and check out the Detroit Adventure Pass! There are 28 great spots participating, from Ann Arbor to Howell to Pontiac to Detroit. The pass will allow free admittance for either 2 or 4 people and many places have additional deals you can take advantage of on the day you visit with your pass.

For more information and to check out a full list of the participating venues, check out the Detroit Adventure Pass website.

Potter Park Zoo

Situated along the Red Cedar River in Lansing, Michigan, Potter Park is a large park that avoids the lawn-like uniformity of many traditional green spaces. The park itself is full of trees and has several picnic pavillions and play structures. Within the park is Potter Park Zoo. The zoo began in 1915 when J.W. and Sarah Potter donated 58 acres to Lansing. This became Potter Park. In 1917, twenty-seven more acres were added and the first animals, elk, arrived in 1920. The zoo continued to grow throughout the 1950's but that growth slowed in the 60's and some people thought the zoo should be closed. In 1969, Jim Hough formed the Friends of the Zoo. Money raised by the society bought the zoo's first elephant in 1972 and the zoo railroad in 1974. In 1986, the Friends of the Zoo became the Potter Park Zoological Society.

Today, the zoo is open year round and is home to over 400 animals. Camel and pony rides, a petting area, big cats, primates, penguins and otters are just a part of all the things to see and do at the zoo! Members receive free admission to the Potter Park Zoo as well as other perks throughout the year. Members also receive free or discounted admission to over 100 other zoos and aquariums across the country.

Rates for parking and zoo admission vary based on age, membership and Ingham County residency status. Check the zoo's website for a complete listing of fees, hours and events. Use of the park outside the zoo is free except for the parking fee.

The Potter Park Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.