• Flowers/Gardens
  Michigan has some of the most beautiful flower gardens in the Midwest. Check this out for info about Dow Gardens and other flower sites around the state.
• Birdwatching
  With an abundant number of birds, many people in Michigan take time out of their spring to watch the many birds in some of the wildlife refuges around Michigan.
• Lighthouses
  Round Island Lighthouse is only one of the many lighthouses ships used to guide themselves through the Great lakes. Check out this page for more information about lighthouses in Michigan.
• Hunting/Fishing
  Hunting is one of the few sports that can be done all year round, and many people find pleasure in fishing on one of Michigan's beautiful lakes.

Gardens

What better to do during the springtime when all the foliage is coming into bloom then visit one of the beautiful botanical gardens in Michigan? There are numerous exquisite gardens across the state of Michigan including the charming Dow Gardens in Midland, the enchanting Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, the captivating Beal Botanical Gardens on the Michigan State University Campus in Lansing and the ethereal Matthaei Botanical Gardens, part of the University of Michigan’s campus, located in the fine city of Ann Arbor.

Dow Gardens is located at the corner of Eastman Avenue and West St. Andrews in Midland, Michigan. They are open from 9 a.m. until one hour before sunset year round except for being closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. There are over 1700 varieties of plants on Dow Garden’s 110 acres. Dow Gardens is a wonderful place to contemplate matters in the quiet serenity and beauty provided. This is especially true of the spring months in which many of the flowers are coming into bloom. For more information please visit Dow Garden’s site at http://www.dowgardens.org/.

Frederik Meijer Gardens is located at 1000 East Beltline NE Grand Rapids, MI 49525. They are open all week in the afternoons and every morning except Sunday. The Frederik Meijer Gardens are divided up into smaller scenic gardens of which each gives a unique visual experience. The exhilarating experiences created by the lush scenery even vary by the season. The Lena Meijer Conservatory is a sight that simply must be beheld, as it is the largest conservatory in Michigan. It houses a wide array of tropical plants and flowers from across the world and many of the garden’s most impressive exhibits are featured in the conservatory. For further information please visit the Frederik Meijer Garden’s site at http://www.meijergardens.org/.

Professor William James Beal established the Beal Botanical Garden in 1873. It is the oldest continuously operated university botanical garden of its kind in the United States. The beautiful garden is also an outdoor laboratory for the study and appreciation of plants. Even though the garden is a laboratory for students, the general public is warmly invited to make use of the garden and to learn about and enjoy the plants and the beautiful setting. The garden is open year round at no charge to the public. Further information on the Beal Botanical Garden can be found at their web site at http://www.cpp.msu.edu/beal/.

The Mathhaei Botanical Gardens is situated on a lush 350-acre oasis of diverse plant life. There are many outdoor trails that give a scenic portrayal of much of the foliage of Michigan’s natural habitats. In addition to this massive outdoor scenery, there is a conservatory that fascinates visitors with a rare glimpse of majestic plants from around the world. There are more than 1200 exotic plants housed within the conservatory. The mission of the Matthaei Botanical Gardens is used for student research but is also available to the general public for viewing and appreciation. More information can be obtained at their web site at http://www.lsa.umich.edu/mbg/.