Going Rogue in a Grand Way

Hi-o, friends!  How has your September been thus far?  I haven’t been doing much in West Michigan this month, sorry!  There are some pretty sweet things coming up, though, like the awesome *free* Grand Rouge Encampment event.  This Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 18 & 19) head up to the Grand Rouge Encampment just north of Grand Rapids where the Rouge and Grand Rivers come together for historical demonstrations!  There will be military and camp life demonstrations all weekend ranging from Colonial America to WWII.



Logo Courtesy of Grand Rouge Encampment

The super sweet thing about this event is that it takes place next to a modern campground so you and the family can camp there & not miss a second of the awesome dorkiness that is historical reenactment.  I was a theatre jock in high school and college & have always been secretly jealous of those people that participate in events like this.  What fun!  How do you all feel about historical reenactments?  I enjoyed looking at the participant rules, my favorite being “Absolutely no smoking of non-period tobacco products in the historic areas.”  Haha.  I hope that you can go – I am going to try my hardest!  I’m working in the Lansing area Saturday morning & making jelly on Sunday & Monday with grapes from my own vines.  Hooray fall!



Rosy Mounds Natural Area

Holy Stairs!

While the name tends to suggest a beach devoid of clothing and populated by large humans that should keep their physiques covered… clothing is not optional. You should be sure to cover yourselves because this is in fact a clothing-required park. Rosy Mounds Natural Area is a gorgeous park with a long narrow stretch of beach. Because it’s a .7 mile hike to the beach, those beautiful summer days aren’t nearly so crowded here as they are in Holland and Grand Haven, but be sure to wear some comfortable shoes for the hike!

We love Lake Michigan!

I am super pumped to hike this in the fall because the trail is through the woods and I know the color is going to be superb. Rosy Mounds is actually a 164 acre park with lots of hiking trails other than the one directly to the beach. Although this park is free, there is a parking fee from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend (which is this weekend – woo-hoo!). No dogs allowed at this park, sorry!

Hey look - it's Me!

The park is located south of Grand Haven in Grand Haven Township on Lakeshore Avenue. From US 31, turn west on Rosy Mound Drive, then south on Lakeshore Avenue to the park entrance on the west side of the road.

xo

Meyer May I?

I’m back in the Mitten, friends. Sorry for the week hiatus – it was unintentional. On to the free stuff! The Hubs and I hit up the Meyer May house recently… never heard of it? I am not surprised. If you love architecture (as I do) or history (as my college roomie, Erikka does) this free tour is for you. The Meyer May house is a Frank Loyd Wright house built in 1908-1909 in the Heritage Hill neighborhood of Grand Rapids.

Gorgeous Windows!

 Sooooo cool! They aren’t open a ton of hours, but if you can get there it is a couple of hours of super interesting fun. The house is owned by Steelcase Corp. who acquired in 1985 and restored the entire house, property, and gardens. The tour starts in a beautiful old home next door with a video about the restoration process and a little info about the May family, then proceeds with a guided tour of the grounds and home by a very knowledgeable docent (ours was Barbara Draigh and she’s been a docent since 1990!). The last tour starts no later than 1 hour before closing, but tours don’t start at any specific time.

Table in the wrap room - How cool is that?

Hours are Tuesdays & Thursdays from 10am to 2pm and Sundays from 1pm-5pm. You don’t need a reservation for groups of 10 or less. It is a fairly long tour with a lot of standing so I do not recommend this tour for kids or those with problems standing for long periods of time. They offer the tours year round, so this is a great option for when there isn’t much else going on.

Original custom mural restored - so soft & beautiful.

On a side note, my sister did really well in her first triathlon. My other sister and her husband were able to come to Charlotte from Ohio and we had a lot of fun cheering her on. We were super proud, but I am still disappointed at the awesomeness I missed in GR.

xo

I am Lyon, Watch Me Slide!

Probably one of the coolest events to hint Grand Rapids is happening this Saturday and Sunday courtesy of the incredible Rob Bliss Events. The Lyons Street Water Slide rocks my socks, if I were wearing any. From 8:00am – 10:00pm on both Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd the 500 foot, custom designed water slide will be open for business. The city of GR is shutting down Lyons street this weekend to accommodate the $30,000, California-designed, fun vessel which is FREE to ride! Woot woot :) There are some rules like a 48” height restriction and the requirement of a bathing suit (something that won’t rip the slide). If you are wearing anything that may rip the blow-up slide, you will be turned away. There will be $30 Skip-the-Line tickets available which would cut down on your wait time, but there is no charge to ride. $10 t-shirts are also available with proceeds going to support this very expensive event. Buy one, or donate a couple of bucks if you can to keep these great free events going. Show me your pics or tell me about your experience – this is too awesome to miss. Go on Saturday and hit up the Thunder Country Jam on Sunday, that would make for an awesome weekend.


xoxo

Lining the Streets

This weekend is going to be spectacular… for all of you. I am traveling to North Carolina to cheer my sister on as she competes in her first triathlon. All of you folks, however, will get to help break the world record for the longest line dance! Here’s the scoop: the Thunder Country Jam is a Free Concert taking place this Sunday (August 22nd) in Rosa Parks Circle from 1:00pm – 9:00pm. There are going to be 8, that’s right EIGHT acts on stage, which is pretty much an entire day of fun. DJ Curtis Avison is going to be the one to help break the world record for longest line dance at 5:15pm. Learn it here and get excited for this weekend. Metered street parking will be free on Sunday, but that is limited of course. More FAQs answered on their website or check them out on facebook.


Artists that will be performing: Little Big Town, Chuck Wicks, Thompson Square, Ash Bowers, Tommy Steele, Teddy Crocker, Due West, and Sarah Darling.
Come back tomorrow & I will tell you about the other half of the best free weekend ever in GR!

xo

Ada's Got You Covered

How was your weekend, blog-o-sphere friends? Sorry for the few day hiatus - Scott (the husband) and I headed back to my hometown for the St. Johns Mint Festival on Saturday and came back to the West side on Sunday afternoon. We rode our motorcycle & took a break in Ada on Sunday to see the covered bridge! Cool stuff. Have you ever been to see it? Picnic tables & nice bathrooms make this the perfect pit stop location.

Monday was Scott’s birthday, and we did (and are doing) awesome stuff that I will blog about later today and tomorrow. Also, check back in because this upcoming weekend is probably the most awesome opportunity for incredibly cool, free events this summer!

xo

Maddie

Rockin' in Rockford AND Grand Rapids

Holy Schamoly (how the heck do you spell this?) - There are so many free things to do this weekend! Go help Rockford celebrate its 75th birthday this Saturday. There will be a historic play by Rogue River Theatre from 2:00-3:00pm and free music from 3:00-6:00pm. Taste of Rockford is from 2:00-6:00pm and the tickets for that are $1.00. The Rockford Art Capsule event is also taking place until August 16th and all of the art either commemorates, showcases, or reflects life in Rockford 2010. Another great option for Saturday is The Mixing Pot! Head to Rosa Parks Circle in downtown GR for an entire day of free family fun. The event starts at 10:00am with a free breakfast served at 10:10. TONS of music & TONS of dancing! Music ranges from Christian to Reggae, and dance demonstrations like Native American, African, Pacific Hawaiian, and Fire Dancers! There is so much going on I can’t list it all. Check it out on their facebook page. There will even be a live butterfly release (limited to the first 150 families). What an awesome event! Way to go Grand Rapids Community! You rock (a lot).

Avast, Me Hearties!

It be Michigan Pirate Week in Grand Haven. For the third year in a row, the “Brethren of the Great Lakes” has sailed into Grand Haven for a week of demonstrations and pirate-y fun. This festival is put on in conjunction with the Loutit Library which means lots of fun events for the kiddies. "Sparring with Sparrow" allows young mates to learn about swords and have a little fun in a “wild sword fight with safe, foam swords, lots of adult supervision, and other powder monkeys [their] own age.” Check the Library’s Calendar of Events to find age group times. There is also a fun discussion series with topics such as Pirate Medicine and Food at Sea. On Friday, land lubbers be sure to watch the pirates sail into the Channel at 6pm. Throughout the weekend there will be “Merchant booths, Pirate Shows, and special events” in Central Park.  Yar!

Fun Fest

Festivals are a super way to get out of the house and have a little fun without spending much (if any) money. Luckily, West Michigan has an incredible number of festivals taking place all through the summer and fall. Here is a pretty good list on GRNow’s website, but I am putting all of those that I find most relevant into the calendar. Check them out there – they have links with more information in each of the events. Right now: the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival! Awesomeness. Starting next week are both the Coopersville Summerfest (in Coopersville) and the Kent County Youth Fair (in Lowell). They have some AMAZING opportunities. For example, at the Coopersville Summerfest you will be able to see tractor show events like a tractor pull and powder puff games, the Del Shannon Car Show and Car Cruise, or join a FREE archery tournament! If you are willing to spend a little bit of money you could enter the horseshoe tournament for $5 an individual or enter as a team for $10. The Kent County Youth Fair is kind of blowing my mind with all of the things to do. A few of the coolest are free Swing Dancing lessons by the Grand Rapids Original Swing Society on Tuesday night, Free ORV and Boating Safety Classes for youths, all sorts of animal exhibits, and tons of free music and dancing. Go to the websites for more info.


These last few days of the Coast Guard Festival include Free Ship Tours, the Grand Parade on Saturday, and a Fireworks Extravaganza! I’ve heard it is pretty spectacular. Go and have fun!!!

Coopersville Summerfest
Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival
Kent County Youth Fair
 
Have fun guys! Check the calendar frequently.  I'm always adding new stuff there even if I don't do a new post.  xoxo

Calling All Gardeners

Did you know that you can get woodchips from the city of Grand Rapids? For Free?! Well I didn’t either. How sweet of a deal is that? I took a little trip today to check it out and lo and behold… it is true! According to the city’s website, woodchips can be picked up from 9am – 4:45pm, Monday through Saturday at 2001 Butterworth Ave SW. They are available from the first Monday in April through the second Saturday in December. These chips are actually available through the Forestry Division of GR - what a great example of recycling. These chips are for city residents only, so be sure to bring a picture ID. Grab some buckets or put a sheet in your trunk and get some free mulch, your flower beds will thank you!
Info on the City's Website: Link

Here's To You, History Buffs

One of my favorite things to do when traveling is to walk.  I find that the best way to get a feeling for the pulse of the city is to immerse yourself.  Grand Haven is the perfect walking town.  If you are a history lover (like my college roommate Erikka) be sure to stop by the Tri-Cities Historical Museum and the Train Depot Museum. One of the two locations is right downtown alongside the shops at 200 Washington Avenue, while the Depot Museum is right next to where you will see the musical fountain later.  Along with their normal exhibits, the Tri-Cities Museum is featuring a couple of awesome exhibits about Michigan logging, the birds of Michigan, and Michigan banks. The Depot Museum is actually in the former Grand Trunk Railroad Depot and has an entire room dedicated to the Coast Guard. This would be a great break from the beach if you want to get out of the sun and into the air conditioning. 

Haven Heaven

Hi-dee-ho neighbors! I have had some requests for info on the Havens (South Haven and Grand Haven), so I am going to be focusing my posts on those places this week. Obviously I can’t do a post for every free thing that is going on in West Michigan, but I am working on a great calendar feature for you folks to check out. I will list free & cheapo events on there but continue to post according to requests and the things that I am specifically doing.

That being said, here we go with Grand Haven, Coast Guard City USA:

The Largest Musical Fountain in the World!!



Ok, I am a little skeptical that it is actually the largest, but that is what I read somewhere and thought it was funny. This musical fountain/light show is set to a playlist that can be found here and takes place Every Night in the summer. The start times change through the season and can be found here. From now until August 7th, though, the show is starting at 10pm. Plenty of room to sit and watch, but it is pretty busy on the weekends. The fountain can be found at the Grand Haven Waterfront Stadium on Harbor Drive. Right downtown by the waterfront, it is pretty easy to find. Beautiful!  Have fun.
Want more pictures?

xo

Come Polk-a-round Sparta

Have you been to Sparta? No? Well you should go! It is a cute little town north of Grand Rapids filled with homey charm and a tempo much slower than downtown GR. Go check it out next Wednesday and listen to the free music in Rogers Park. I went this past Wednesday and had an awesome time listening to… The Grand Rapids Accordion Ensemble! Have you ever heard 25 accordions playing at the same time? Well it was awesome and you should be a little jealous. Polka not your bag? Not to worry; the music is different every week. Check the calendar or go here to the Sparta Chamber of Commerce website. I had a lot of fun and sat with a couple of nice women, Lynn and Lorraine (who is 93 and drove herself there!). This is a very family friendly event with a playground area and plenty of seating. Some benches available, but I recommend bringing a chair or blanket to sit on.

Sparta Concerts in Rogers Park are every Wednesday evening at 7pm. The typical rain make up day is the next day (Thursday) at 7pm. Rogers Park address: 75 North Union Street, Sparta, Michigan 49345. Check it out!

Another idea: go early and eat dinner at Maxine’s, a family friendly restaurant where kids eat FREE from 3pm-8pm Tuesday through Friday.

xo

Grand Rapids, Free?

Hello all! Welcome to my blog! I am on a mission, a quest if you will, to experience West Michigan as cheaply as I can. I’m a five year resident and am ashamed to admit I know very little of the place I call home. I graduated from GVSU last April and have been attempting to utilize that expensive degree ever since. In all of those months, with minimum income and maximum bills, there haven’t been too many nights out. But now I am determined to get out, have fun, and learn about this AWESOME place while creating a resource for all of you other West Michiganians out there. Stick with me and maybe join in the fun!

xo
Maddie