Welcome to Michigan State's capitol. One of the most significant urban centers in both the state of Michigan and the nation is Lansing. There are numerous opportunities to enjoy art, nature, architecture, and sporting events, and it also happens to be one of the most historically and culturally rich.
It's challenging to run out of things to do in Lansing, which is home to Michigan State University, a bustling Old Town, natural preserves, museums, and the Michigan State Capitol.
The city was first populated in the late 18th century. Plans for a plotted city were in place by the 19th century. Olds Motor Vehicle Company's opening in 1897 marked the beginning of the Lansing we know today, and Ransom E. Olds is still regarded as one of the city's founding fathers.
No matter what your hobbies are, Lansing is a diverse and exciting destination to come today. Discover the top activities in Lansing, Michigan, by reading on, go to Potter Park Zoo
1.go to Potter Park Zoo
The most popular activity in Lansing, despite its rich political and historical past, is a trip to the Potter Park Zoo. The well-liked zoo is located on 80 acres of beautifully manicured terrain along the banks of the Red Cedar River, tucked away in an oak forest. That sets the tone for a lovely day spent making friends with animals from all around the world.
More than 350 animals from 60 different species are housed at Potter Park Zoo. Kangaroos, black rhinos, anteaters, meerkats, tortoises, and a variety of other creatures may all be seen in the zoo. The zoo contains a petting zoo area and, during the appropriate season, offers camel rides as well.
To enhance their experience, visitors can enroll up for educational tours at the zoo. Learn about the design of exhibitions, how animals adapt to different temperatures, or how they get ready for the winter.
2. Visit the State Capitol of Michigan
As Lansing is the state's capital, a trip there wouldn't be complete without a stop at the elegant statehouse. The Victorian-era capital building was planned and constructed in the latter half of the 19th century, and it is imposing and dignified.
The state of Michigan has had three capitols during its history. The first was a territorial courthouse in Detroit. The second was made of wood and was constructed in Lansing. Last but not least, the current capital building was among the first to copy the style of the Washington, D.C., structure when it was dedicated in 1879.
The Michigan state legislature, as well as the offices of the governor and lieutenant governor, have all been housed in the capitol building since it was built. A National Historic Landmark, it is today. More than nine acres of hand-painted surfaces can be found inside the amazing edifice.
At the capitol building, tours can be taken both with a guide and on your own for no cost.
3. Acquire knowledge at the Michigan History Center.
History enthusiasts can find a refuge right in the middle of downtown Lansing. The primary location to go to learn about the history of the state is the Michigan History Center. It contains both the Michigan History Museum and the Archives of Michigan. The Michigan History Museum System, which has 12 locations across the state, is likewise centered on it.
The Michigan History Center houses 25 exhibit galleries and a three-story-high topographical map of the state. The Michigan History Center in Lansing transports visitors from the earliest inhabitants of the state through the end of the 20th century.
Interactive displays, audio-visual presentations, and hands-on activities are all included in the exhibits. Discover the Anishinaabe way of life while touring a UP copper mine and a 1950s auto show. The Michigan History Center will make visitors aware of all the state's distinctive characteristics.
4. Check out the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum
Without acknowledging Michigan's storied automobile sector, a trip there would be incomplete. The R.E. Olds Transportation Museum in Lansing is a great place for auto enthusiasts to satisfy their passion.
Ransom is what R.E. Olds stands for. Eli Olds was the creator of the original Oldsmobile, which was created in 1897. In actuality, R.E. Olds was a major contributor to the modernization of Lansing.
The museum's exhibits include this vintage Oldsmobile as well as other vintage REOs, memorabilia, and era-old advertising. More than 80 automobiles from 1886 are among the museum's more than a thousand antique artifacts.
A 1953 NASCAR race car, a 1906 Mama & Baby REO, and the Curved Dash Oldsmobile are among the vehicles on display. Moreover, there is a functional traffic signal from the 1950s and a historical collection of Michigan license plates on display. This museum exhibit is undoubtedly a must-see for auto enthusiasts.
5. Take a Michigan Princess sail
The absence of a Great Lakes coastline does not imply that Lansing does not have a vibrant aquatic culture. The history of riverboats is an important aspect of Lansing's past.
The Michigan Princess riverboat is a stunning, opulent boat that evokes the era of traveling on steamboats in the 19th century. Although the Michigan Princess is a reproduction, travelers will believe they are taking a trip down memory lane as they cruise the Grand River.
The Michigan Princess is permanently moored in Grand River Park. The yacht is still available for activities during the off-season even though the sailing season runs from March to December. The sparkling chandeliers, grand staircases, three dining rooms, two dance floors, and the gorgeous outer deck with views of the Grand River are all marveled at by guests while they are on board.
The Michigan Princess offers a variety of events, including dinner cruises, holiday cruises, and murder mystery cruises. Moreover, there is space on board for 350 guests.
6. Go about Hawk Island Park
All Michigan cities are committed to promoting outdoor activities and green space, which is one of their best features. Lansing's response to battling urban overdevelopment is Hawk Island Park.
Hawk Island Park, one of the newest parks in Lansing, is spread out over 100 acres. The kid-friendly park is one of the most well-liked ones in the nation's capital because it offers activities for people of all ages.
Hawk Island Park has a beach and swimming area, a summer splash pad, a playground, paths, fishing, and boat rentals, among other activities.
Hawk Island has a hill that is prepared for snow tubing during the winter months. 600 feet of lanes that are up to 16 feet wide and as long as possible are carved out of a snow-covered mountainside. Tubing is even feasible all winter long thanks to the park's snow-making equipment.
7. Go to a Jackson Field game
In Lansing, minor league baseball is quite popular. This is due to the fact that Jackson Field, the home of the Lansing Lugnuts, a minor league baseball team, is located in the city. The stadium is a significant hub of entertainment for city dwellers and is located in downtown Lansing.
The Michigan State Spartans college baseball team plays their home games in the same facility as the Lansing Lugnuts. But, Jackson Field is also a place for concerts, outdoor movies, haunted houses, and ice skating.
Wonderful morning with pastors in the Lansing, Michigan, area. With me for breakfast: Bill Michell, Brent Hale, Daniel Moreno, Ed Reynolds. Not pictured: Rob Burns.
— Stephen Simpson 🇺🇦 ProperGander 🌻 (@BamaStephen) March 1, 2023
Beautiful dinner tonight with my longtime friends Jack and Brenda Stohr, with Bill Michell.#PureMichigan #MSU pic.twitter.com/2MMTyibdSe
More than 12,000 people may be accommodated in the stadium, which also has upscale suites, snacks, top-notch audio, and an electronic scoreboard. Pets are welcome, and there is free WiFi available in the stadium.
The stadium's previous name, Oldsmobile Park, was changed to Thomas M. Cooley Law School Stadium when it was opened in 1996. In 2020, it adopted the name Jackson Field.
8. Go along the Lansing River Trail
Go out on the Lansing River Trail for one of the greatest ways to understand the layout of Lansing. This outdoor section, which spans a distance of 20 kilometers, has been named a National Recreation Trail.
From Waverly Road to Old Town and via Potter Park all the way to Michigan State University, the Lansing River Path follows the Grand and Red Cedar Rivers.
Along with being a well-liked location for biking, jogging, and walking, it also hosts a number of unique events all year long, such as the Capital City River Run and the Common Ground Music Festival.
What is Close by? Visitors will pass some of Lansing's well-known tourist destinations along the path, including the Turner-Dodge Mansion, the Potter Park Zoo, and the Louis F. Adado Riverfront Park. You don't have to complete the full path in a single day, but doing it in smaller chunks can be a wonderful way to see Lansing's cityscape and take in its natural beauty.
9. Stroll through Old Town
In 1847, Lansing, which had previously been a one-log cabin hamlet, was named the state capital of Michigan. By the 1870s, Franklin Street, which is now Grand River Avenue, was positively buzzing with activity.
Franklin Street was lined with shops, mills, a train station, grocers, and other establishments in the late 19th century. The North Lansing Historic Commercial District, often known as Old Town, now protects that region.
In a one-block radius, there are 44 buildings that make up Old Town; all of them were included on the National Register of Historic Properties in the 1970s, exactly one century after the beginning of its heyday. For art galleries, boutiques, coffee shops, and other creative places, the area has been rehabilitated.
Activities: Nowadays, tourists visit Old Town to take part in its numerous festivals, art walks, and farmers markets. It is an entirely eclectic, bohemian, forward-thinking venue that has tapped into its history and changed it into something that comfortably fits the twenty-first century.
10. Go to the Turner-Dodge House and Heritage Center.
The Turner-Dodge House & Heritage Center is not only a stunning example of Classical Revival architecture, but it also serves as a center for preserving Lansing's history, which is fortunate given how much of it there is.
The Turners' home, which serves as a cultural heritage center and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1858.
Two of Lansing's founders, John and Marion Turner, were instrumental in bringing the railroads to the city in the middle of the 19th century. The home underwent renovation in the 1990s and 2000s, becoming a museum and event space.
People stop by to appreciate the brick façade, two-story porch with columns, and stunning fireplaces and windows.
11. Wander through Carl G. Fenner Nature Center
In Michigan, going outside is one of the best pastimes. The Fenner Nature Center in Lansing is a popular destination for locals and tourists to enjoy the outdoors. Four miles of trails, maple forests, glacial eskers, and a ton of wildlife can be found on this 134-acre property.
The Monarch House, which houses monarch butterflies at every stage of development, from caterpillars to chrysalises or fully hatched and flowered butterflies, is one of the nature center's highlights. It's a lovely, singular location to observe the natural cycle in action, and families will love it there.
Also, the Fenner Nature Center conducts other events all year long, such as the Environment Day Extravaganza and maple syrup festivals.