Lansing

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Michigan's Capital

A travel journal to Lansing by Laura

I often travel to Lansing for work. I will review they places I have been.

  • 11 reviews

Michigan's CapitalBest of IgoUgo

Overview

Visit MSU - Michigan State University in East Lansing home of the Spartans. See the state capitol.

Quick Tips:

East Lansing and neighboring Okemos are much nicer than Lansing itself. Although downtown has been undergoing some urban renewal especially with the new stadium for a Cubs farm team - the Lansing Lugnuts. The joke among lobbyists who frequent many state capitals is that you are REALLY GOOD if you can find a decent restaurant in Lansing, Michigan. It is no culinary mecca.

Best Way To Get Around:

I like to always have a car so I can go out shopping and touring. There is an airport LAN. United and Northwest have prop plane service into Lansing. American recently cut service. I prefer to take jet into Detroit and drive the 85 miles west to Lansing.

Radisson Hotel LansingBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "RADISSON HOTEL"

The Radisson is a terrific location if you have business with state government. It is steps from the capitol and other state office buildings. It is also very close to the baseball staduim. The rooms are comfortable although the bathrooms could use some updating. They have coffee makers and hair dryers. The meeting facilities are lovely and can accomdate very large meetings with break out sessions too. The only problem I have is that as a guest, you must valet park you car. Thus you have to wait to get your car out when you want to depart and must schedule some extra time when leaving.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Laura on December 24, 2001

Radisson Hotel Lansing
111 NORTH GRAND AVENUE Lansing, Michigan 48933
517-482-0188

Sheraton Lansing HotelBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "SHERATON"

The Sheraton is probably the nicest place to stay in Lansing and is generally my first choice. However it is a bit of a drive to downtown Lansing, but the hotel is just off the interstate. I like the location near all the shopping and restaurants on Sanganaw Hwy. Parking is free. The staff is professional. Christie''s Bistro, the hotel restaurant is very good. The rooms are set up for business travlers with a desk and dataport, coffee maker and the bathrooms are fine.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Laura on December 24, 2001

Sheraton Lansing Hotel
925 South Creyts Road Lansing, Michigan 48917
517-323-7100

Holiday Inn South Conv CenterBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Holiday Inn South"

This hotel is located on the south side of the city just off of I-96. I am not sure if I had an upgraded room, but it was great. I had a king sized bed, a mini fridge, coffee maker, a big chair and a small couch. The desk was set up nicely for business travelers. I did not get charged for local calls nor 800 numbers. I love that! I was there for a conference and the meeting facilities were just OK and could use some rehab. The hotel is pretty big and there are stores nearby in the area like Meier (a Target and grocery store all in one.)
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Laura on February 14, 2002

Holiday Inn South Conv Center
6820 S CEDAR ST Lansing, Michigan 48911
517-694-8123

Fazoli's RestaurantBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "FAZOLI'S"

Fazoli's a midwest chain of Italian fast food restaurants bills itself as "Real Italian, Real Fast." And you know what? It is really pretty good - and I'm Italian! My favorite thing to order is the cheese ravioli with meat sauce. The red sauce is tangy and and well-cooked how I like it. They also ofer pizza slices, sandwiches and other pasta choices along with fresh salads. The garlic breadsticks are soft and like the ones served at the Olive Garden. If you dine in, a server will come around and offer you more breadsticks. The soda is self serve with free refills. The also have a drive-thru.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Laura on December 24, 2001

Fazoli's Restaurant
5617 W Saginaw Hwy Lansing, Michigan 48917
(517) 323-8470

Beggar's BanquetBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Beggar's Banquet was a quintessential hippy hangout in the 1970's. It is located in campustown just off the main drag - Grand River Ave. It has expanded somewhat over the years and has a nice varied menu. I ordered the London Broil served with rice and mixed veggies. It has a ginger lime rub and was very tasty. My fello-diners had salmon and a turkey baguette sandwich. The salmon looked good and must have been because there was nothing left on his plate. The turkey sandwich was huge and served with homemade red potato salad. The service was quick and the salad was great. I had a strawberry cracked pepper dressing - delicious.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Laura on February 14, 2002

Beggar's Banquet
218 Abbott Road Lansing, Michigan 48823
(517) 351-4540

Emil'sBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Emil's serves basic Italian food. We started off with a bottle of Chiante in wicker. It was a nice lighter Chiante. I liked it as a table wine. My friend was being diet conscious and was hard pressed to find something to fit in his plan. He finally settled on the vegetarian lasagna and ordered low fat ranch dressing on his salad. I was not in the low fat mode and ordered the baked mostacelli. It was smothered in melted mozzarella and a good red sauce. Pasta dinners came with a soup or salad. For 3 of us and a $19 bottle of wine, it was like $58 with tip and tax. Not bad and the red sauce hit the spot for that craving I was having. The restaurant is just down the road from the State Capitol and the local watering hole - the Nut House.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Laura on February 22, 2002

Emil's
2012 E. Michigan Avenue Lansing, Michigan 48912
(517) 482-4430

Meridian Mall Shopping CtrBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Meridian mall is anchored by Marshall Fields, JC Penney, Mervyns and Jacobson's. Other well-known retailers include Ann Taylor, The Gap, Abercrombie, Eddie Bauer and The Disney Store. Restaurants include Ruby Tuesday, Chili's, Olive Garden and a Food Court. There is also a movie theater with 6 screens. It is a little more upscale than its counterpart on the east side of town - the Lansing Mall.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Laura on December 24, 2001

Meridian Mall Shopping Ctr
Corner of Grand River and Marsh Road Lansing, Michigan

Lansing MallBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

The Lansing Mall is probably not as upscale as the Meridian Mall, but it has whatever you need and is a very nice little mall. It has the area's largest Old Navy and the newest Barnes & Noble. There are 110 stores including Gap, Gap Kids, Hot Topic, Wet Seal, American Eagle, Pac Sun and Bath & Body Works. The anchors are JC Penney, Marshall Field's and Mervyn's Department stores. There is a food court with Subway, Dairy Queen and more if you get hungry.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Laura on December 24, 2001

Lansing Mall
5330 W Saginaw Hwy Lansing, Michigan 48917
(517) 323-4119

Michigan State CapitolBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Michigan has a full-time legislature. The rule of thumb in Michigan is that when kids are in school, the legislature is in session. This is not the case in most states that have part-time legislatures with a session running Jan. to April.

The House and Senate sessions are normally held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. and Thursdays at 12:00 p.m.. On occasion, the House also convenes on Mondays and Fridays depending on the need.

As with all state capitols, tours are available and guides provide historical and contemporary information on the building and legislative process.

  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Laura on December 24, 2001

Michigan State Capitol
Capitol Avenue Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State Basketball GameBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

I went to the Michigan State Basketball Game at the Breslin Center to see them lose to my beloved Fighting Illini. It was a great game. I was amazed at the number of fans I met who did not even attend Michigan State, but are huge Spartan fans with season tickets. The student section - the IZZONE (named after beloved Coach Tom Izzo) is huge and rowdy. I feel bad for the opposing team. The Breslin Center is really a wonderful facility. There is a jumbo-tron - fancy for a college team. I had very nice seats courtesy of a client so I was happy and nervous because it was such a close game. MSU generally has a terrific team, so it's a great place to see some top notch college hoops - if you can get tickets. They sell out most of the time.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Laura on February 14, 2002

Michigan State Basketball Game
Breslin Center Lansing, Michigan

About the Writer

Laura
Laura
Chicago, Illinois

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