Lansing

Lansing is a pleasant city, and as Michigan's state capital, it is home to many government offices. Downtown Lansing has a historic shopping district amidst the campus of Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

Understand
Its suburb—East Lansing—is the home of Michigan State University, a Big Ten school and one of the United States' largest and most distinguished public universities with three medical schools and a law school. General Motors has a major presence in the area.

The Lansing metro area has a population of about 464,000 (2010).

Tourist information

 * Greater Lansing tourism website

By car
Lansing is easily accessible from Detroit and Chicago. Interstate 96 directly connects Lansing and East Lansing to Detroit and Grand Rapids. US-127 to Interstate 94 connects Lansing and East Lansing to Chicago, Ann Arbor, and Detroit. Interstate 69 connects Lansing and East Lansing to Flint and Fort Wayne.

By bus
Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) provides local bus service.


 * Greyhound Lines service Lansing and East Lansing, with direct connections to Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Kalamazoo (with transfers to Chicago).
 * Owosso, Michigan-based Indian Trails Bus Lines provides daily service to Chicago.
 * Michigan Flyer Motorcoach service provides multiple daily connections to Detroit Metropolitan Airport with stops in Jackson and Ann Arbor.

By train
Amtrak provides one daily train service via the Blue Water Service, which connects to Flint and Port Huron to the east and Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, and Chicago to the west. There's also Amtrak Thruway Buses to the Wolverine line between Chicago and Detroit as well as the Capitol and Lake Shore Limited services via Toledo.

All trains depart from (+1 800-872-7245), located on 1240 S Harrison Rd next to the Michigan State University in East Lansing. CATA's route 20 provides service to the station for both departures and arrivals on weekdays, and for arrivals to East Lansing on Saturday. Connections to downtown Lansing are provided by route 1.

By plane
The airport is served by Capital Area Transit Authority (CATA) bus line 14, which provides direct service to downtown Lansing.

Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Flint Bishop International Airport, and Grand Rapids Gerald R. Ford International Airport are other nearby airports which serve the region.

By taxi
Taxi companies provide around the clock service to the Lansing-area. It is not necessary to call ahead for evening taxi service near downtown East Lansing, but riders should allow at least 30 minutes for taxi service to arrive elsewhere. This is especially true on weekends.

Get around
Lansing is served by a number of highways. Travel by car to any part of the city normally takes very little time. Traffic is generally light in the region. While there is some rush hour traffic, visitors driving in the region should not anticipate heavy congestion. The heaviest traffic is concentrated on the east and west sides of the city.

The Lansing-area is served by the Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) bus system. Visitors should find bus service to downtown Lansing, downtown East Lansing, and Michigan State University a convenient and affordable alternative to driving. Buses along the Michigan/Grand River Ave corridor (Route 1), which travel between downtown Lansing and East Lansing, run until 3AM on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, making it easy to avoid driving and parking fees. CATA recommends using the smartphone app Transit to plan trips, track buses in real time, and see up-to-date departure information.

Many companies provide taxi service throughout the area. Taxi service is heavily concentrated in the downtown East Lansing-area, especially during evenings and weekends. There is no need to call ahead for taxis in downtown East Lansing, as an available taxi can always be found on Albert Street behind downtown East Lansing. In downtown Lansing, taxi service is not as frequent. Taxi service usually arrives in under 30 minutes. Visitors should expect longer delays on the weekends and during Michigan State University football games. One option is LM Cab, +1 517-295-2334.

The City of Lansing provides an extensive river walk trail along the Red Cedar River and Grand River. Visitors will enjoy strolling along the Red Cedar as it meanders through the beautiful Michigan State University campus, through dense forest, past the City of Lansing's Potter Park Zoo, where the Red Cedar joins the Grand River (Michigan's largest river) and continues through downtown Lansing, Cooley Law School Stadium (formerly Oldsmobile Park), home of the Lansing Lugnuts minor league baseball team, the downtown Farmer's Market, and to the River Walk terminus near the historic Old Town on Lansing's north side.

The area offers many bike lanes, especially in East Lansing near the Michigan State University. Whether on foot or by bike, the area offers plenty of sidewalks, bike lanes, and trails to connect pedestrians to all the local attractions.

For visitors arriving or leaving, Lansing is well-connected to the major regional transportation hubs of Chicago and Detroit. The Capital Region International Airport, Amtrak, CATA, Greyhound Bus Lines, Indian Trails, and Michigan Flyer provide transportation services to and from Lansing. Freeways I-96, I-496, I-69, and US-127 provide fast and convenient connections throughout the Lansing area.

See
Lansing is the state capital of Michigan and the regional center of Mid-Michigan. The city's population is under 115,000 and the metropolitan is under 500,000. Do not expect the big city lights and action of a metropolitan of millions. But there are still many great things to do in and around Lansing. Yes, it snows in Michigan. So embrace the beauty of the seasons, and plan your activities accordingly.

Theaters

 * The Riverwalk Theater, the Lansing Civic Players, and the Boars Head Theater are all in downtown Lansing.
 * Peppermint Creek Theater Company: It is a relatively new and award winning theater group.
 * The Creole Gallery brings various musicians and hosts the Icarus Falling Theater Group.

Libraries

 * The Library of Michigan and historical Center is a well-regarded state library and research enter. The library is a top five genealogical research center in the United States.
 * The Capital Area District Library system has three branches in the City of Lansing: the Main Library downtown, the Foster Library on the east side, and the South Library on the south side of the city.
 * Michigan State University Libraries includes a large collection within the Main Library and smaller libraries outside the Main Library. These libraries include the Biomedical & Physical Sciences Library, the William C. Gast Library, the Law Library, the Dubai Library, the Engineering Library, the Gull Lake Library (at Kellogg Biological Station, approximately 65 miles to the southwest of the main campus), the Mathematics Library, and the Veterinary Medical Center Library.
 * The East Public Lansing Library is on Abbot Road just south of Saginaw.

Do

 * The Michigan Princess (Michigan's only triple decker riverboat offers stunning views of the Grand River in Lansing).
 * Over 100 community gardens/urban farms http://www.greaterlansingfoodbank.org/the-garden-project.html
 * Michigan State University (no shortage of things to do and see, especially Big 10 athletics).
 * MSU 4H Children's Gardens (great place to take children for the afternoon).
 * East Lansing Film Festival (largest film festival in Michigan).
 * East Lansing Arts Festival (one of the largest in Michigan).
 * Common Ground Festival (an event attracting approximately 100,000 to downtown Lansing).
 * Silver Bells (watch the decorating and lighting of the state tree during the holiday season. Around 80,000 come to watch).
 * The Riverwalk Theatreand The Lansing Civic Players (small theater productions in downtown Lansing).
 * The Greater Lansing Symphony Orchestra(17 free shows each year at the Wharton Center at MSU).
 * Wharton Center for the Performing Arts(one of the largest theaters in the state and nationally recognized. The center consists of two separate stages and attracts internationally recognized productions as well as lesser known acts).
 * MSU Auditorium, the Fairchild Theatre, and the Arena Theatre
 * The Hannah Community Center and the Albert White Performing Arts Theater
 * The Dart Auditorium of Lansing Community College
 * Impression 5 Science Center (Hands-on science museum for young children).
 * The Lansing Center (the City of Lansing's convocation center).
 * Lake Lansing (7 miles from downtown Lansing and even to downtown East Lansing, Lake Lansing offers beaches, sailing, and other summertime activities. In the winter, you can go ice fishing).
 * Lake Lansing (7 miles from downtown Lansing and even to downtown East Lansing, Lake Lansing offers beaches, sailing, and other summertime activities. In the winter, you can go ice fishing).

Learn

 * Michigan State University: Michigan State University (MSU) is a member of the Big Ten athletic conference, and is among the largest universities in the United States, with over 45,000 students. MSU is known for its academics and athletics. US News & World Report ranks MSU as a Tier 1 university. MSU is home to 3 medical schools, 1 law school, and the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL). The NSCL is the largest nuclear science facility on a university campus, and the nuclear physics graduate program is ranked 2nd to MIT. The campus park, the largest single university campus in the United States, is noted for its collegiate Gothic architecture and campus gardens. MSU is located in East Lansing.
 * The Thomas M. Cooley Law School located in downtown Lansing is among the nation's largest law schools. The MSU College of Law is located on the Michigan State University campus.
 * Lansing Community College, with an enrollment of over 20,000 students, is located in downtown Lansing.
 * Great Lakes Christian College is located in Delta Township, west of Lansing.
 * Davenport University, Central Michigan University, and Western Michigan University have satellite campuses in and around Lansing.

Buy
Greater Lansing offers a full array of shopping options, from malls to farmers markets. All the major shopping destinations are located within minutes of the city center.



Eat
The Lansing area lacks the dining options of the State's other major college town, Ann Arbor. But there are a number of excellent hidden gems. But no matter the appetite, the Lansing-area offers at least one gem for everyone. Michigan State University has a large number of South Korean students, and also many Korean dining options.

Lansing

 * Pablo's Old Town: Great Mexican food at reasonable prices. It is in the historic Old Town off Grand River on the north side of Lansing. The homemade chips and salsa are complimentary (as well as complementary). Check out the three varieties of tortas. The restaurant is popular with locals who know where to find a good meal. This is a hidden gem in one of the trendiest area of the city.
 * Troppo: Located in downtown Lansing, Troppo offers upscale alfresco dining looking down the street to the State Capitol building. The restaurant caters mainly to government-related employees in the downtown Lansing-area.
 * Altu's Ethiopian Cuisine: at 1312 East Michigan Ave, it offers great food in a traditional atmosphere. The restaurant is vegetarian and vegan friendly.
 * Kelly's Downtown Pub: On Washington, this Irish pub offers decent food and a lively atmosphere. A Lansing downtown fixture since 1985, with a fish and mac special on Friday and Saturday.
 * Mitchell's Fish Market: at 2975 Preyde Blvd. in Eastwood Towne Centre on the north end of town, Mitchell's is the best fish restaurant in town. The Sharkfin Pie dessert is huge and feeds several people. In the summer, enjoy alfresco and oysters on the half shell with your drink.
 * Bravo: An Italian restaurant in Eastwood Towne Center, across from Mitchell's Fish Market. It is an upscale chain, like Mitchell's Fish Market.
 * Fleetwood Diner: The diner is on the corner of Riley street and Cedar Street in Lansing. It looks like a train car. It has a great breakfast menu and is open 24 hours. The restaurant sports a large vegetarian menu.
 * Champps: at 2800 Preyde Blvd, it is an upscale sports bar. There is not a seat in the place where you cannot see one of the many large televisions. The food is better than most bars. It is often packed for Michigan State University basketball games.
 * Fleetwood Diner: The diner is on the corner of Riley street and Cedar Street in Lansing. It looks like a train car. It has a great breakfast menu and is open 24 hours. The restaurant sports a large vegetarian menu.
 * Champps: at 2800 Preyde Blvd, it is an upscale sports bar. There is not a seat in the place where you cannot see one of the many large televisions. The food is better than most bars. It is often packed for Michigan State University basketball games.

Okemos, Haslett, and Meridian Township

 * Dusty's Cellar: 1857 West Grand River in Okemos, it offers upscale dining just east of East Lansing. It has great food and an excellent wine list. A good place for a special occasion (birthday, Valentine's Day) dinner.
 * T & D's Coney Island: at 1735 W. Grand River in Okemos, - they offer items such as coneys, sandwiches, salads, fries, and Gyros.)
 * Buddies: at 1937 West Grand River in Okemos, it offers the best nachos in town. But be warned, the portion size is large.
 * Mark's Watershed: A good restaurant near the beach of Lake Lansing.
 * The Blue Gill Grill: near Lake Lansing near the park at the foot of Lake Lansing Road. Try the pan fried bluegill or walleye for a Michigan treat.
 * Cancun Grill: An inexpensive Mexican restaurant with festive decor, a full bar, and outdoor seating; it's across from the MSU Federal Credit Union on Central Park Drive.

Drink
Lansing is full of working class bars. But there are also bars catering to Cooley Law students and young professionals downtown and in Old Town.


 * Kelly's: in downtown Lansing on Washington, the bar is small and popular among Cooley Law students.
 * Nut House: Sports bar on Michigan Ave. opposite Cooley Law School Stadium, it is perfect for a day at the game.
 * The Exchange: A nightclub in downtown Lansing on Michigan Ave.
 * The Green Door: A local favorite outside downtown Lansing, in the Eastside neighborhood on East Michigan Ave at the intersection with Clemens Avenue (more or less directly across from Emil's). With live music most nights, it is popular with a wide age group from mid twenties and up.
 * Moriarty's Pub: Located on Michigan Ave. outside downtown. A local pub.
 * Dagwood's Tavern & Grill: at 2803 East Kalamazoo in Lansing. It is an institution in its own right. A cozy neighborhood sports bar with great burgers and lively open-mic sessions every Tuesday.
 * Dagwood's Tavern & Grill: at 2803 East Kalamazoo in Lansing. It is an institution in its own right. A cozy neighborhood sports bar with great burgers and lively open-mic sessions every Tuesday.

Go next
Lansing provides convenient access to all of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Michigan is a wonderful state to explore in all seasons. In the summer, get out and kayak the many rivers, take a sailboat out on the thousands of lakes, or enjoy a day at the beach along the thousands of miles of sandy beaches along the Great Lakes. The fall is perfect for hiking through the woods and taking a camera to document the leaves as they change from vibrant green to golden yellow. Fall is also a time for enjoying Michigan's abundant crop of Michigan apples and Michigan sweet corn. Michigan is one of the country's largest wine growing regions. Get out and explore.


 * Detroit: Visit Michigan's first state capital! Only 1.5 hours away from Lansing is Michigan's largest city. The city is home to a metropolitan of combined statistical area of nearly 5.5 million people. Founded in 1701 as a French outpost, the city boats North America's tallest hotel, the busiest international crossing in the country, world-class museums, and all the major sports. Detroit is a gaming center, with three major casinos and one major casino across the river in Windsor, Canada. Visitors will enjoy the sights and tastes of Greek Town and Mexican Town, which have long been staples of the Detroit restaurant scene. The city is also home to many of the best examples of art deco architecture in the world. A visit to the Detroit-area would not be complete without checking out a number of the suburban cities. Dearborn is home to the world headquarters of Ford Motor Company and the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. The collection includes the chair in which President Lincoln was assassinated, the car in which President Kennedy was assassinated, a replica of Liberty Hall, Thomas Edison's last breath, Thomas Edison's childhood home, and the Wright Brothers bicycle shop.
 * Grand Rapids: The city is Michigan's second largest and located on the west side of the state, or as it is known locally, "the other West Coast." The city has not suffered as greatly from the decline of the auto industry as other Midwest cities, and has a modern class skyline. The city is home to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum and Library. The city has an impressive art collection and located nearby is the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, which includes a replica of Leonardo Da Vinci's massive sculpture, Horse. The gardens receives over 600,000 visitors annually.
 * Ann Arbor: The city is Michigan's academic and cultural center. The city is home to the University of Michigan, many of the State's high-tech jobs, museums, and many fine restaurants. The high population density, lively downtown, and good public transportation system, make the city one of the best in Michigan. It is also close to Detroit, providing easy access to major events in downtown Detroit.
 * Traverse City: Traverse City is the largest city in upper Michigan. Situated on the Grand Traverse Bay, the setting is idyllic and popular tourist and vacation destination for people in the Chicago and Detroit-areas. The area is the largest cherry producing area in the world, and one of the largest wine-producing regions in the country. The area has also begun growing hops to provide the growing number of local breweries. The city is comparable to smaller version of Ann Arbor.
 * Mackinaw City: Mackinaw City is the northern most point of the Lower Peninsula and gateway to Michigan's rugged wilderness in the Upper Peninsula. To the west is Lake Michigan and to the east is lake Huron. In the middle are the Straits of Mackinaw. In the center is the Mackinaw Bridge, or Mighty Mac. The bridge is one of the largest in the country and links Michigan together by a thread of steel and concrete.
 * Mackinac Island: This small paradise is in Lake Huron, just offshore from Mackinaw City. The historic island is protected by a stone fort built by the British to control the trade routes of the Great Lakes. Historic homes, including the governor's mansion, dot this island. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the island, so tourists must get around by horse, on bike, or by foot. The island is noted for its beauty, fudge, and the Grand Hotel. The Grand Hotel, built in 1887, still maintains the record for the largest porch in the world.