Michigan

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www.kidslovetravel.com

Updates to Kids Love Michigan - 3rd Edition

Changes:

NE – ROMINIK’S RANCH, Levering (pg. 59) is closed.

NE – MACKINAW THEATER, Mackinaw City (pg. 65) is closed.

NW – THE WATER BUG, Manistee (pg. 83) is closed.

SE – MYSTERY HILL (pg. 118). Irish Hills. Instead of costing $5.00 it costs $7.50 for adults and $6.50 for children, ages 4 and up.

SE – DETROIT ZOO (pg. 114). Visitors can now enjoy some of the most fascinating animals in a whole new way. Instead of looking through glass or over a moat, patrons will have the chance to get face to face with 17 red kangaroos – from inside the Australian Outback Adventure exhibit! Visitors move along a winding path bordered by knee-high cables on both sides, while the kangaroos are free to bound wherever they want. The simulated outback is complete with re-created settlement buildings, termite mounds, and Aboriginal artifacts. Can you leap as far as the kangaroo can?

SW – Battle Creek. KELLOGG’S CEREAL CITY USA (pg. 141). - BATTLE CREEK, Mich., Jan. 4, 2007 (UPI) -- Kellogg's Cereal City USA announced its closing Thursday after finding that a cereal-themed park in Battle Creek, Mich., did not draw the expected crowds. When Cereal City was being planned, backers predicted 400,000 visitors a year. But the attraction lured only 162,000 people in 1998, the year it opened, and attendance has dropped every year since then, the Lansing State Journal reported. The Cereal Fest still happens in June and they have occasional Breakfasts with Tony every so often. Sadness L

NW - The Clinch Park Zoo (pg. 87) closed permanently in early 2006. The Spirit of Traverse City, a miniature 4-4-2 Atlantic steam-powered locomotive otherwise known as Loco. 400 continued to operate through last summer, but its future is uncertain.

Additions:

CE – Frankenmuth, Zehnder’s Splash Village Hotel and Waterpark offers 152 deluxe accommodations including 63 new suites. Enjoy over 30,000 sq. ft. of INDOOR aquatic fun with Splash landing play area, dumping bucket, giggling gorge and Perilous plunge-a four story tube slides. Relax in the whimsical whirl hot tub or just float along the Crooked Brook Creek lazy river. For the landlubber have fun at our new arcade or lunch at Elf hollow café. Zehnder’s splash village is ideally located next to Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland. A towering 26-foot tree is a prominent feature in the hotel lobby with a large gas fireplace built into the trunk. Zehnder's Splash Village includes elves and fairies as part of the waterpark and hotel's overall theme. Complimentary shuttle service is available to Zehnder's Restaurant and the Fortress golf course. Room& waterpark rates begin at $109.00 per night.

SE – SPLASH UNIVERSE WATER PARK RESORT, Dundee (Cabelas exit, US-23S. Exit 17 for M-50 toward Dundee/Monroe). www.splashuniverse.com. At 25,000 square feet, RiverRun is a comparatively small indoor water park, therefore more manageable - especially with the younger set in tow. While it lacks "thrill rides" like a water coaster or raft rides (more for tweens and teens), it does, however, offer the basic water slides, a lazy river, zero entry toddler play area, and an interactive water play station. The 150-room hotel includes family suites and standard guest rooms. All rooms include a Fresh Start Breakfast. Kids Bunkhouse Suites start at $159 for a Family of 4! The resort also features over 70 bunk bed suites including a separate TV just for the kids in the bunk area, refrigerators, microwaves, and DVD players. In addition to the indoor water park, the resort offers an arcade, restaurant, and a gift shop. It also features the Adventure Quest Kids Clubhouse which provides crafts, storytelling, and other activities for younger children.

Seasonal & Special Events:

NW - Port Oneida Fair - (EMPIRE, Mich.) – Rural Historic District of Sleeping Bear Dunes Nat’l Lakeshore. www.leelanau.com/fair. Journey into the past at the Port Oneida Fair, a two-day celebration of Michigan's rural traditions. The Port Oneida Fair features demonstrations and interactive displays of activities, both work and play, that could be found in Michigan in the 19th and early 20th centuries. As a part of touring the district's one-room schoolhouse, historic farms and original homesteads, visitors can witness timber framing, blacksmithing and quilt making, experience a Civil War Encampment, take a ride on a horse and wagon, watch a team of oxen at work in the field or learn about life in the early 1900s from an original resident. Family programs like games, music and live entertainment will take place throughout both days. Food and refreshments will be available and picnic areas will be provided. A free shuttle service will transport visitors between the five historic event sites. (second weekend in August).

NW - SNOWLAND – Traverse City. Great Wolf Lodge. www.greatwolflodge.com. The lodge is decorated in a winter scene. It snows 3x daily, hot cocoa and live music, clock tower sing along, Rowdy the Reindeer Storytime. Attend the North Pole University for Elves. Admission (includes lodging and indoor waterpark passes). (month-long in December)

CW - 25th Annual Yankee Doodle Days Silver Celebration, Grand Ledge. 517-627-2383 or www.grandledgemi.com. Festivities will include children's carnival rides, boat cruises on the Princess Laura Riverboat, pig roast, entertainment tent, canoe races, dunk tank, tug of rope contest, duck race, fishing contest, garden club tour, fashion show and battle of the bands. The Yankee Doodle Days parade will be Friday night, Saturday morning and night. Mudge’s Follies will be performing the best music of the last 25 years, plus favorite patriotic music and a freedom finale. (last full long weekend in June)

CW - 6th Annual Free Ice Cream Social at Country Dairy, New Era. 231 861-4636 or www.countrydairy.com. The small town of New Era, population 600, welcomes around 3000 people each year for its annual free ice cream social. The workers at Country Dairy devote the day to greeting their guests with good old-fashioned country hospitality. They offer free tours of their processing plant, hayrides and many children’s activities. Of course the main attraction is always the free ice cream tent! Guests are encouraged to try all 17 flavors of premium ice cream that are produced right there on the farm, with milk from their own cows. (first Saturday in July)