CITY SPOTLIGHT:

YOUR GUIDE TO Lansing, Michigan

Lansing capitol building

Know Before You Go: About Lansing

The spirit of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula comes alive in Lansing and we're here to help you navigate your way through the vacation of a lifetime.

You’ll find it easy to get to and around the supply-chain hub of Lansing in Central Michigan—except, naturally, when it's college football season. There's something in town for kids of all ages, from the zoo and a touch-and-build science museum to the car museum, where you might grow misty-eyed remembering the Olds of years past. Pack your bags and prepare for a well-rounded trip to Lansing!

Ready for the Rain

Rule of thumb for traveling to central Michigan—bring an umbrella and/or snow gear. The summers are likely to bring rain that can escalate to thunderstorms, and the winters bring snow, although storms rarely dump more than an inch or two. Pack comfortable fabrics for sticky summertime humidity; it can feel especially muggy around July and August. Bundle up during the winter as temps can dip into the teens with an average daily high in January that struggles to hit 30 degrees.

Runabout Lansing

Imagine a birdcage with a parakeet or cockatiel taking flight, and multiply the rush of wings and bird calls by a couple hundred. The Potter Park Zoo lets you feed the birds in their giant free flight area, and the parrots are more than happy to set aside any fear of people for some tasty treats. Set down the seed stick to take flight yourself in the zoo's bungee jump. Cruise on over to the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum for a spin through the history of the Oldsmobile, from an 1886 steam carriage to a 1905 Runabout. You can even call before your visit to ask that the staff pull out a certain model not currently on display for you to see. To stoke your kids' interests in everything science, let them play with the Impression 5 Science Center exhibits, which can be as simple as bubbles and as complex as nanoscience.

Blue Collar and Beyond

The home of Michigan State University is also a hub for insurance and financial services companies, with many of the region's jobs in this sector. The city takes advantage of its proximity to the Canadian border and major U.S. cities as a supply-chain center, boosted by a well-known logistics program at the university. The college also fuels growth in the health care sector as well as biomedical research. And like many communities with blue-collar roots, Lansing's manufacturing has evolved to include advanced products and high-tech employers.

Brake for Football

In the heart of it all, Lansing is on Interstate 96 between Detroit and Grand Rapids, and on Interstate 69 between Battle Creek and Flint. Conveniently, you can fly directly into the Capital Region International Airport from several major U.S. cities and grab a rental car, cab or hop on the Capital Area Transportation Authority bus line. The public transportation system slows down for football, though. Routes are detoured and delayed starting five hours before the kicker's foot meets the pigskin at Michigan State.

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Things to Do in Lansing

Catch a game at Spartan Stadium, get up close with exotic animals at Potter Park Zoo, hike the scenic Lansing River Trail and more!