Exploring Lansing, Michigan

I'll be honest, Lansing isn't a destination city like Orlando or San Diego, but it's a great place to explore.

Lansing has a great assortment of restaurants, including major chains and local institutions like Clara's and Bonnie's. There are also many options for entertainment, from the dueling piano bar aesthetic of Rum Runners to large movie theaters to small community theaters and art galleries. Lansing offers numerous shopping choices, including large malls like the Eastwood Towne Center open air mall and small shops in neighborhoods like Old Town.

If you're looking for something educational, the Potter Park Zoo is a great small zoo, and the Impressions 5 Science Center makes learning fun. Of course, don't forget a visit to the state Capitol Building for a look at government in action.

If you're a sports fan, you can choose from Lansing Lugnuts minor league baseball or collegiate athletics from nearby Michigan State University.

Quick Tips:

You can visit the Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau at http://www.lansing.org for information on everything you would need to plan a visit.

The only weather-related advice applies to all of Michigan--we have all four seasons here. Expect snow in the winter and heat and humidity in the summer. At the same time, Michigan's weather can change unexpectedly, so it's a good idea to keep an eye on the weather forecast and be prepared. You never know when you might need that umbrella.

Best Way To Get Around:

You can visit the Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau at http://www.lansing.org for information on everything you would need to plan a visit.

The only weather-related advice applies to all of Michigan--we have all four seasons here. Expect snow in the winter and heat and humidity in the summer. At the same time, Michigan's weather can change unexpectedly, so it's a good idea to keep an eye on the weather forecast and be prepared. You never know when you might need that umbrella.

Clara's is a Lansing institution. Located by the train tracks on Michigan Avenue, it actually was once a train station. Visitors even have the option of dining in an old railroad car.

The first time I ate at Clara's, it was the first time I had ever seen a spiral-bound menu--their menu has that many pages! They offer a little bit of everything, from steaks and seafood to Italian favorites.

The food is first-rate. I especially enjoy the fried mozzarella appetizer, the French dip sandwich, and their calzones. Servings are plentiful without going overboard and the food seemed to be made from quality ingredients.

Service has always been prompt and pleasant, although if you arrive at a busy time, you'll have to wait for a table and the overall service time might be slowed a bit. If you're arriving with a large group, it's best to make a reservation if you wish to be seated in a timely manner.

Clara's carefully straddles the line between being accessible to all and being a "fancy" restaurant. It's a place you might go to before prom, but you could just as easily stop there after going to a baseball game.

Bonnie's Place offers the best burgers in the Lansing area. My personal favorite is the Pizza Burger, while my husband always orders the signature Bonnie Burger, featuring ham along with typical hamburger toppings. You can get a plain hamburger or cheeseburger, too, but this is a place to experiment with the page full of burger offerings. All burgers come with fries, although you can substitute onion rings for an additional cost.

Bonnie's is a bar, which determines its overall atmosphere. It can be a little dark and smoky inside. However, even though the non-smoking area is close to the bar, I've never felt overwhelmed by the smoke.

The service has always been prompt and friendly, and they're quick with pop refills. Even though it's a bar, I've never felt like the place was rowdy, and I think the entire family could enjoy dinner at Bonnie's.

I recently tried this restaurant for the first time and highly recommend Claddagh Irish Pub. While my party stuck with standard burgers and sandwiches, there were several authentic Irish dishes, like bangers and mash, on the menu. The food was a bit on the expensive side for casual dining, but we thought it was worth it because everything tasted great and came in good-sized portions.

What really made Claddagh stand out for me, though was the atmosphere. I felt like I had actually stepped into a neighborhood pub. Seating was more reminiscent of armchairs and couches than typical restaurant furniture, and dim lighting and a fire only added to the cozy feel. My friends and I don't drink, so we passed up that part of the pub experience, but there seemed to be a large selection of beers, and I'm pretty sure this is the only place where you'll see Guinness listed in the "Starters" portion of the menu.

I have to admit that I wasn't expecting much from this zoo, but I was pleasantly surprised. Don't let the zoo's size or the fact that it's "just" a city zoo keep you from enjoying this great Lansing attraction.

I was most surprised by the wide variety of animals the zoo had on display. There were bald eagles, camels, llamas, a bird and reptile house, rhinos, lemurs, owls, monkeys, tigers, and many more. You can access a zoo map and more information on the zoo's animals at this page.

The kids should love the farmyard area, which also includes some petting zoo attractions. I believe my husband and I were the only adults who thought it was really cool to pet a large tortoise.

The grounds of the zoo are attractive, with lots of green space and pleasant walking paths.

Bring a few quarters with you so you can buy bits of food from vending machines to feed the llamas, ducks, swans, and peacocks.

At the time I visited, they were previewing a coral reef exhibit house. Perhaps they're jumping on the Finding Nemo bandwagon a little late, but it looked like they had the beginnings of an interesting exhibit, and it was indoors, which can be a bonus when it's hot outside and you just need a few minutes in air-conditioning to cool down.

Another in-progress exhibit at the time I visited was a new otter habitat, which promised to be quite an attraction.

The cost of visiting the zoo varies depending on the season, and there are also reduced rates for City of Lansing residents. Visit their Admissions Page for the most up-to-date hours and admission prices.

Be on the lookout for discounts. I visited when I had a 2-for-1 admission coupon from a grocery store. Local companies sometimes also sponsor free or cheap zoo days for their employees and their families.