The Hart Historic District is worth a visit for sure! The museum offers some amazing area historic…read moreexhibits, including; historic wood shop/wood working tools, wild life exhibits, military exhibits, and a mechanical area that is a one of a kind. The old church and school house are amazingly well kept. The picnic pavilion, new bathrooms, meeting hall, and production kitchen make this location perfect for a wedding or reunion.

Don't bother. Seriously. Don't come here, no matter what you think might be here. I came here,…read morehoping the tower was open for climbing so I could look out over the countryside. The tower is on the National Register of Historic Places, so I decided to venture forth. Hah! Bad move on my part. (The tower in Mountain, Wisconsin is open for touring. Silly me, I thought this one was, too.) First of all, you have to want to come here. It is at the end of a National Forest Road, after branching off of another National Forest Road. What is a National Forest Road? Basically, it's an unimproved ATV trail and during the winter, a snowmobile trail. If you DO decide to venture back here (and judging from the debris left behind by ne'er do wells, several people do come here) don't follow your GPS. Some of the maps show roads that, when you get there, aren't roads at all. One "road" my GPS sent me to was a line of high power transmission towers. Even the Yelp map shows a road that isn't really there. Eventually, I did get here. When you (don't) arrive, you'll find some interpretive signage. One says you shouldn't climb the tower until it's made safe to do so. The message is dated 1988. The first flight of stairs has been removed and barbed wire lines the base of the tower - clearly, the US Forest Service doesn't want you to climb the tower. Judging from the work of local artisans on the outside of the cab, those artisans have more chutzpah than brains and not much talent. Other interpretive signs describe what these towers were used for and frankly describe the absolute isolation the spotters lived in. These towers are seldom used anymore, as airplanes can cover more territory at less cost than manning several towers. It is an anachronism but a piece of history, and it's a real shame the US Forest Service hasn't restored and opened the tower. Maybe someday, they will. Until then, read about towers rather than trying to find this one. Trust me.

If you are in the Grand Rapids area and like Frank Lloyd Wright, don't miss the opportunity to…read morevisit the Meyer May house. It is a very good example of the prairie style that he is known for. The tour starts with video history of the house emphasizing the history of the restoration. It gave a great insight on the research for the restoration. Then the tour of the interior of the house ending with a tour of the gardens. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and kept us engaged by asking us questions along the way. The tour takes about an hour and a half. Make sure to make reservations ahead of time.

You begin the tour with seeing a film that explains all of the renovations that took place. It was…read moresuper interesting to learn about such things as how the carpet was selected and the paint colors. The house was breathtaking to walk through. Especially once you turn the corner and are in the living room with all of the stained glass and the bright suns space. There are limited hours so make sure to book in advance so that you don't miss coming here. The dose sense were extremely knowledgeable in the crowds were small since there are limited numbers of people that can come at a time. The neighborhood is super beautiful as well.

The Musical Fountain in Grand Haven was a fun attraction for tourists and locals. The fountain…read moreplays lights and music every night from 9:30-10 p.m. It might not be as impressive as the Bellagio as some have mentioned in the reviews, but I think it's a very unique way to make your downtown fun!

The Grand Haven Musical Fountain 100% belongs on your West Michigan bucket list. A tradition since…read more1962, the musical fountain is truly is a spectacle of water and lights creatively synchronized to various songs that will make you want to sing or dance along. It's utterly delightful no matter your age. The details: -Shows take place at the Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium in downtown Grand Haven. -Shows are FREE and last between 25-30 minutes. -Shows play nightly at dark from Memorial Day-Labor Day as well as Fridays and Saturdays in May and September. Bring your loved ones and a blanket, and I promise you that you'll be entertained by a tradition that's truly unique and special.

The Shrine of the Pines is a Log Cabin that has a bunch of furniture made out of tree trunks,…read moreroots, and fallen logs. A lot of the work took place in the 1920's. It is a fairly intresting place in a very beautiful setting near Baldwin, Michigan. The furniture is all extremely well made. There is a $5 oral tour about the creator and his creations. I actually found this mostly boring. However that could be because the tour guide was very blah. It is worth a visit if your already in the area. Not really worth a drive though. I give it a solid 3 stars.

From the owner: A rustic furniture museum depicting the works over a 30 year using hand tools, a historic tour is…read moregiven showcasing why the museum was created and the origins of the creations. We also have a gift shop on site.

In this spot lies a monument to a real train that was used in the area for the purposes of forest…read moreclearing and industrial work. The Shay Locomotive was designed to help loggers haul logs year round. This idea was envisioned by Ephriam Shay, who was one of the people to design temporary tracks to help transport materials short distances in the Cadillac area. The train itself is very impressive and big. You can't do much with it except for look at it, though. My children would have been more impressed with the Shay Locomotive if they were able to climb on it and explore it, but alas. The Shay Locomotive is located in City Park.

I saw this locomotive when it had the old shed built over it. Imposible to photograph, I complained…read moreto a gentleman about it as I took photos, imagine my surprise when I returned to see the new shed with minimal posts. Well done folks, Well done. This locomotive is very photogenic now!

We've visited a few times and the history is really interesting but tough with kids (aside from…read moreduring their gingerbread show which is adorable and fun) because they're not allowed to touch anything. So, while the building houses Girl Scout troops and things, the tours aren't really young child friendly. During the holidays, there is a gingerbread show where you can vote in different categories and that is really fun and very kid friendly.

It is strange because it's says they have free tours daily except holidays but it looks like no one…read moreis around. Sure enough the guide will show and take you on this neat journey of this amazing building and cultural history.

Big Sable Point Lighthouse was such a fun experience! The walk out to the lighthouse is about 1.8…read moremiles each way, so just under 4 miles round trip. The trail is a wide, sandy path, so it's not difficult, but it is a pretty long walk and definitely sandy. You walk through part of the campground before heading out toward the lighthouse, and the scenery along the way is really pretty. We weren't there during the hours when the lighthouse was open, and we weren't planning on doing the tour anyway, but I believe it was $8 per person to go inside and climb the lighthouse. Even without going inside, it was absolutely worth making the walk out to see it. I also really enjoyed all of the history around the lighthouse. There were informational boards where you could stop and read about the lighthouse, the history of the area, erosion, the sand dunes, and how the landscape has changed over time. I love when places do this because it makes you appreciate what you're looking at so much more. The lighthouse itself is really cute and makes for such a great destination after the long sandy walk. There are also picnic tables around the area, so you can sit and take a break before making the walk back. If you're visiting Ludington State Park, I definitely think the walk to Big Sable Point Lighthouse is worth doing. Just wear comfortable shoes, expect a lot of sand, bring water, and give yourself plenty of time. It's not a quick little stroll, but getting out there and seeing this historic lighthouse surrounded by Lake Michigan was absolutely worth it!

Beautiful place to visit I can't wait to go back in the summer. It's a very serene place to visit.read more

Passing through Hastings, I had to turn around and find a spot to park so that I could admire this…read moreinteresting and unique structure. It's off the main street but along the way you might be driving if you are passing through the city on Green Street. The marker reads: "Built in the 1880s by Daniel Striker, this Queen Anne-style building was once considered the "handsomest residence in Hastings." Born in New York State in 1835, Striker moved as a child with his family to Michigan. He was elected to several offices in Barry County, became a lawyer, and in 1871-75 was elected Michigan secretary of state. Striker was also widely known in banking circles. He died in 1898, and after the death of his wife in 1915 the house became a hospital, later a convalescent home." Stop by and check it out. [Review 11130 overall, 904 of 2019.]