Having grown up in Michigan, the Great Lakes State, perhaps I sometimes take these magnificent natural gifts for granted. Like most cradle Michiganders, the Great Lakes were a childhood source of both summer vacations and geography quizzes (how many of you remember that trusted mnemonic device: HOMES = Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior). So I’m always grateful to have the opportunity to be reminded of their awesomeness.
I had that chance last weekend when the Grand Rapids CVB was hosting a group of travel writers who were interested in the area’s sustainability initiatives. One of the writers, who now works in New York City and is originally from a small Texan town outside Dallas, had never visited any of the Great Lakes. So, after dinner at the new CityFlats Hotel in Holland, I planned to usher my group out to the beach at Holland State Park for a quick glimpse of the Lake Michigan shoreline. Before leaving the restaurant I called home to check in with my husband.
“You definitely should take the writer to the beach,” he agreed. “It’s just too bad it’s so foggy out. She won’t be able to see the other side.”
“Honey, you can never see the other side,” I reminded him.
“Yeah, but on a clear day she would see that she can’t see the other side,” he explained.
This was a good point. And sure enough, as the writers and I walked across the beach on an aluminum walkway towards the lake, the only obvious clue that there actually was an enormous body of water before us was the telltale lapping of the waves. A grey mist hazily blurred the defining point where the water normally seems to touch the sky. The writers and I discussed the surreal feeling we were all experiencing – as if we were about to walk off the edge of the world. The feeling transported me back to my other childhood big-body-of-water experience – summers on the beach in Tenby, a seaside town in southwest Wales and home of my paternal grandmother.
The foggy evening at Holland State Park definitely had a seaside-quality. We don’t question the fact that we can’t see the other side when standing at the edge of the ocean. After all, the ocean is home to monster-like creatures such as blue whales, great white sharks and giant sea squids. Cruise ships transport tourists from port to port, sometimes remaining at sea for days at a time. But most of us associate lakes with a much more humble body of water.
But the Great Lakes definitely challenge that notion. According to the Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN), www.great-lakes.net, a partnership of state, provincial, federal and regional agencies and organizations that provide an online resource, the Great Lakes are made up of six quadrillion gallons of fresh water, accounting for one-fifth of the world's fresh surface water (only the polar ice caps and Lake Baikal in Siberia contain more) and 95 percent of the U.S. supply. Spread evenly across the continental U.S., the Great Lakes would submerge the country under about 9.5 feet of water. The Great Lakes shoreline is equal to almost 44 percent of the circumference of the earth, and Michigan's Great Lakes coast totals 3,288 miles, more coastline than any state other than Alaska.
So if you have the opportunity to visit Holland State Park, or any of the other beaches along Michigan’s West Coast, take a stroll out to the water’s edge and take a look. If it’s a clear day you’ll see that you can’t see the other side.
9.19.2008
8.04.2008
Blueberry Pickin' Fun
Try saying this as fast as possible:
“Blueberry Blog, Blueberry Blog, Blueberry Blog, Blueberry Blog, Blueberry Blog.”
Despite the fact that we’re a Spartan household, there’s been a whole lotta blue going on in our kitchen lately. Blueberry Snacks, Blueberry Pancakes, Blueberry Muffins, Blueberry Smoothies. I’m even hoping to try a recipe I came across for Blueberry Salsa.
A few weeks ago I took my kids and a couple of their friends blueberry picking. I decided to go to Krupka’s Blueberry Plantation in Fennville, in the heart of West Michigan’s fruit belt. As a blueberry-picking novice, I wanted to be sure we found the truest bluest blueberries available. And, since in addition to their U-pick operation, Krupka’s grows blueberries for commercial customers, including Cranes Pie Pantry and Palazollo’s Gelato & Sorbetto, I reasoned their blueberries would be among the best. We were not disappointed.
Set back off of 68th street, Krupka’s boasts 70 acres of blueberry bushes. We were going to be busy! After a brief blueberry-picking tutorial (twist the berry off the stem, don’t yank), the berry staff tied plastic-lined pails around our waists, encouraging us to use both hands for picking. Brilliant! Krupka’s, like most U-pick Farms I’m sure, charges pickers by the weight. That being said, they probably should have weighed my kids prior to sending them scurrying into the orchard, because during the first fifteen minutes, at least as many berries went into greedy little mouths as into buckets. But I must admit, those juicy little spheres bursting with tarty sweetness sure were tempting. And as a mom, how could I object? Blueberries reportedly pack more antioxidants than spinach – and good luck getting any kid to go spinach picking.
Blueberries have gained a great deal of media attention lately – touted as a new “super food”. If that’s the case, then West Michigan is definitely the “super producer” growing more blueberries here than anywhere else in North America, which is why South Haven will be celebrating with the 45th National Blueberry Festival, August 7 – 10, http://www.blueberryfestival.com/.
So, what did we end up with after our blueberry excursion was all said and done? A total of 12 ½ pounds of blueberries – and 50 purplish fingers!
“Blueberry Blog, Blueberry Blog, Blueberry Blog, Blueberry Blog, Blueberry Blog.”
Despite the fact that we’re a Spartan household, there’s been a whole lotta blue going on in our kitchen lately. Blueberry Snacks, Blueberry Pancakes, Blueberry Muffins, Blueberry Smoothies. I’m even hoping to try a recipe I came across for Blueberry Salsa.
A few weeks ago I took my kids and a couple of their friends blueberry picking. I decided to go to Krupka’s Blueberry Plantation in Fennville, in the heart of West Michigan’s fruit belt. As a blueberry-picking novice, I wanted to be sure we found the truest bluest blueberries available. And, since in addition to their U-pick operation, Krupka’s grows blueberries for commercial customers, including Cranes Pie Pantry and Palazollo’s Gelato & Sorbetto, I reasoned their blueberries would be among the best. We were not disappointed.
Set back off of 68th street, Krupka’s boasts 70 acres of blueberry bushes. We were going to be busy! After a brief blueberry-picking tutorial (twist the berry off the stem, don’t yank), the berry staff tied plastic-lined pails around our waists, encouraging us to use both hands for picking. Brilliant! Krupka’s, like most U-pick Farms I’m sure, charges pickers by the weight. That being said, they probably should have weighed my kids prior to sending them scurrying into the orchard, because during the first fifteen minutes, at least as many berries went into greedy little mouths as into buckets. But I must admit, those juicy little spheres bursting with tarty sweetness sure were tempting. And as a mom, how could I object? Blueberries reportedly pack more antioxidants than spinach – and good luck getting any kid to go spinach picking.
Blueberries have gained a great deal of media attention lately – touted as a new “super food”. If that’s the case, then West Michigan is definitely the “super producer” growing more blueberries here than anywhere else in North America, which is why South Haven will be celebrating with the 45th National Blueberry Festival, August 7 – 10, http://www.blueberryfestival.com/.
So, what did we end up with after our blueberry excursion was all said and done? A total of 12 ½ pounds of blueberries – and 50 purplish fingers!
7.15.2008
Hitting Our Favorite Beach
Parking: $6
Picnic Lunch: $12
Tube of Sunscreen: $8
Spending a sunny afternoon playing on a beach on
Michigan’s West Coast: Priceless
So I can already cross off number 12 on my list of Summer Must-Dos – the beach has been hit!
Because it promised to be a perfect July afternoon, we loaded up the boogie boards, beach towels, folding chairs and a cooler and headed to, what is so far, our family’s favorite beach, Kirk Park, part of the Ottawa County Parks system. We love the natural setting this beach offers – boasting more than 68 acres of sandy beach, high bluffs and wooded dunes – it provides the feeling of truly “getting away from it all”, if only for a few hours. We ate a picnic lunch, played in the awesome waves, buried kids in the sand and basked in the sun. As promised, a perfect July afternoon.
There are 18 public beaches between just north of Muskegon to just south of Douglas. Because each one offers its own unique characteristic – from people watching to dune climbing to snapping photos of lighthouses – one of them is sure to become your favorite. To learn more about what makes certain beaches special, visit http://grandrapidsshopping.mlive.com/SS/Page.aspx?sstarg=&facing=false&secid=38200&pagenum=25.
7.06.2008
Welcome To My Blog
Welcome to the first edition of my blog, Positively Grand. I hope you had a positively grand Fourth of July. Since my goal for this site is to share a “behind the scenes” look at the many interesting and amazing visitor experiences that are available in Grand Rapids and throughout Michigan’s West Coast (MWC), I think this is the perfect time to launch it.
Like most Americans, I spend each Fourth completely immersed in Red, White & Blue Hoopla - from our hometown parade (my husband, son, and my daughter all participated this year) to a neighborhood barbecue followed by “oohing” and “ahhing” at a sky full of fireworks. But it’s the fifth, sixth and seventh of July which leave me somewhat panicked. Every year at this time I realize that I still have a long list of summertime “musts” to experience, and there’s only 2 more months to get to it all. So, I’ve decided to make this list the topic of my first blog. That way I can hopefully interest readers in the summer fun opportunities available in Grand Rapids while putting a little pressure on myself to take time to experience it first hand. So, here we go:
Claire’s List of Grand Rapids/MWC Summertime Fun
1. Head to Rockford to bike along the White Pine Trail, Michigan’s longest rail/trail stretching nearly 100 miles from just north of Grand Rapids to Cadillac. (The trail’s 100 miles, my bike ride undoubtedly will not be!) http://www.whitepinetrail.com/
2. Window shop (well, maybe really shop) in the many unique boutiques in one of the beachtowns (well, maybe all of the beachtowns) along Michigan’s West Coast.
3. Go to a West Michigan Whitecaps game. With my sincerest apologies to my co-worker Andrea (who has the ability to crash this blog should she so desire) I’m really not much of a baseball fan. But it’s just not summer without at least one evening cheering on the home team at Fifth Third Ballpark. http://www.whitecaps-baseball.com/
4. Have a leisurely dinner on the deck of Rose’s on Reeds Lake to enjoy a latin wood-fired pizza (my new favorite) along with the view. www.thegilmorecollection.com/Rose's
5. Stretch out on a blanket on the lawn at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park to take in a concert at the amphitheatre. http://www.meijergardens.org/gardens_experience/amphitheater_schedule.php
6. Share a pitcher with my husband at Founders Brewing Company – I feel somewhat guilty that I’ve been there and he hasn’t. http://www.foundersbrewing.com/home.php
7. (Admittedly, this one is almost too easy to put on a list). Pick up some take-out from Marie Catrib’s for a simple dinner at home on the patio. http://www.mariecatribs.com/. I’m thinking the Linda Flo – roasted eggplant with spinach, tomato and provolone on whole wheat herb bread spread with homemade aioli. Yum!
8. Take my kids to John Ball Zoo to try out the new Sky Trail – a double decker ropes course which includes seven climbing elements on each level. I think I’ll stay on the ground – after all, somebody’s gotta take pictures. http://www.johnballzoosociety.org/
9. Shop for fresh produce, flowers and other goodies at the Fulton Street Farmer’s Market as often as possible. http://www.fultonstreetmarket.org/market.htm
10. Take my daughter to Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s performance of High School Musical which runs August 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 & 9 http://www.grct.org/
11. Visit a U-pick Blueberry Farm. Did you know West Michigan is the largest producer of blueberries in North America? So if blueberries are now considered a “super food” thanks to the powers of antioxidants, than our local growers are the super producers.
12. Hit the beach. Problem is, there are at least 18 public beaches along Michigan’s West Coast. Unless I convince my boss to give me some time off in the name of research, I’m going to have to choose carefully. Kirk Park, an Ottawa County Park, is my family’s favorite, but I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about Duck Lake in Whitehall lately. ‘Course if I head to Grand Haven State Park, I have an excuse to snack on a Pronto Pup. http://www.michiganswestcoast.com/beaches.php
Wow, I’ve got a lot to get to before Labor Day. But it’s all good. I’ll keep you posted on my progress.
Like most Americans, I spend each Fourth completely immersed in Red, White & Blue Hoopla - from our hometown parade (my husband, son, and my daughter all participated this year) to a neighborhood barbecue followed by “oohing” and “ahhing” at a sky full of fireworks. But it’s the fifth, sixth and seventh of July which leave me somewhat panicked. Every year at this time I realize that I still have a long list of summertime “musts” to experience, and there’s only 2 more months to get to it all. So, I’ve decided to make this list the topic of my first blog. That way I can hopefully interest readers in the summer fun opportunities available in Grand Rapids while putting a little pressure on myself to take time to experience it first hand. So, here we go:
Claire’s List of Grand Rapids/MWC Summertime Fun
1. Head to Rockford to bike along the White Pine Trail, Michigan’s longest rail/trail stretching nearly 100 miles from just north of Grand Rapids to Cadillac. (The trail’s 100 miles, my bike ride undoubtedly will not be!) http://www.whitepinetrail.com/
2. Window shop (well, maybe really shop) in the many unique boutiques in one of the beachtowns (well, maybe all of the beachtowns) along Michigan’s West Coast.
3. Go to a West Michigan Whitecaps game. With my sincerest apologies to my co-worker Andrea (who has the ability to crash this blog should she so desire) I’m really not much of a baseball fan. But it’s just not summer without at least one evening cheering on the home team at Fifth Third Ballpark. http://www.whitecaps-baseball.com/
4. Have a leisurely dinner on the deck of Rose’s on Reeds Lake to enjoy a latin wood-fired pizza (my new favorite) along with the view. www.thegilmorecollection.com/Rose's
5. Stretch out on a blanket on the lawn at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park to take in a concert at the amphitheatre. http://www.meijergardens.org/gardens_experience/amphitheater_schedule.php
6. Share a pitcher with my husband at Founders Brewing Company – I feel somewhat guilty that I’ve been there and he hasn’t. http://www.foundersbrewing.com/home.php
7. (Admittedly, this one is almost too easy to put on a list). Pick up some take-out from Marie Catrib’s for a simple dinner at home on the patio. http://www.mariecatribs.com/. I’m thinking the Linda Flo – roasted eggplant with spinach, tomato and provolone on whole wheat herb bread spread with homemade aioli. Yum!
8. Take my kids to John Ball Zoo to try out the new Sky Trail – a double decker ropes course which includes seven climbing elements on each level. I think I’ll stay on the ground – after all, somebody’s gotta take pictures. http://www.johnballzoosociety.org/
9. Shop for fresh produce, flowers and other goodies at the Fulton Street Farmer’s Market as often as possible. http://www.fultonstreetmarket.org/market.htm
10. Take my daughter to Grand Rapids Civic Theatre’s performance of High School Musical which runs August 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 & 9 http://www.grct.org/
11. Visit a U-pick Blueberry Farm. Did you know West Michigan is the largest producer of blueberries in North America? So if blueberries are now considered a “super food” thanks to the powers of antioxidants, than our local growers are the super producers.
12. Hit the beach. Problem is, there are at least 18 public beaches along Michigan’s West Coast. Unless I convince my boss to give me some time off in the name of research, I’m going to have to choose carefully. Kirk Park, an Ottawa County Park, is my family’s favorite, but I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about Duck Lake in Whitehall lately. ‘Course if I head to Grand Haven State Park, I have an excuse to snack on a Pronto Pup. http://www.michiganswestcoast.com/beaches.php
Wow, I’ve got a lot to get to before Labor Day. But it’s all good. I’ll keep you posted on my progress.
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