Things to Do in Lansing

There is the charming downtown that is interspersed with peaceful trails along the Grand River, kid-friendly museums, laid-back restaurants, and the fast-paced world of state politics taking place in the dome-topped Michigan State Capitol. Neighboring East Lansing is home to Michigan State University, with its 5,200-acre campus, manicured gardens, live musical and theatrical performances, and major sporting events.

Nature and the Great Outdoors

Covering more than 20 acres and home to over 500 animals, Potter Park Zoo exposes your little ones to the world of nature. Let the kids wander freely in Farmyard EdVentures, where they’ll come face-to-face with toy China pigs and enormous African tortoises. For additional animal interactions, don't forget the camel and pony rides. Exhibits highlight African lions, macaws and ring-tailed lemurs.

A fun and healthy way (you’ll get plenty of exercise) to explore Lansing is either walking, biking, or inline skating the Lansing River Trail. This paved pathway meanders more than 20 miles along the banks of the sleepy Grand River; through Scott Woods Park with its lake, creeks and forest-filled landscape; and across the green lawns of Hawk Island, Crego and Maguire Parks.

Museums and Science Centers

Michigan celebrates its famed car culture and one of Lansing’s most prolific automotive minds—R.E. Olds, inventor of the early-20th-century Oldsmobile—at the aptly titled R.E. Olds Transportation Museum. The museum’s extensive collection includes more than 60 vehicles that date from 1886 through 2003, including an 1886 Oldsmobile Steam Carriage, a 1921 Oldsmobile V-8 Model 46 and a 1953 Oldsmobile NASCAR race car.

Impression 5 Science Center aims to engage your child’s senses through its 25,000-square-foot facility with over 150 interactive activities. Kids can play dentist inside an oversized mouth, build structures out of giant blocks and tubing, and study the inner workings of musical instruments.

School Days

Go green, go white! Football fanatics can kick off the fall with a bit of tailgating and pigskin madness at Michigan State University’s 1923 Spartan Stadium, just 10 miles from downtown Lansing. If you’re more of a culture vulture, make your way to the school’s Wharton Center for Performing Arts, where you can enjoy ballet, classical music and theatrical performances. A great way to relax and appreciate the simple beauty of nature is to take a leisurely stroll through the 14-acre Michigan State University Horticulture Gardens, home to vibrant and fragrant vegetable, rose, perennial and annual gardens.

Fun with Food

Kitschy decor, long lines and hearty food are on hand at Golden Harvest Restaurant, Lansing’s tiny, cash-only eatery. Start your morning off right by diving into a massive breakfast sandwich filled with eggs, bacon, cheese and avocado, or dig into a rich plate of biscuits and gravy. In addition to dishing out a wide array of classic breakfast, lunch and dinner entrees, Soup Spoon Cafe offers at least six different homemade soups daily, and their full bar here serves a rotating collection of local craft beers. Bottoms up!

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