Text: Brenna Buckwald // Photography: James Lenon, Tucker Riffle, Courtyard by Marriott Lansing Downtown, Downtown Lansing Inc.
There is nothing quite like a Michigan summer with its beaches, hiking trails, lake waters, and outdoor recreation spots sprinkled throughout the state. With cities that offer many amenities and entertainment venues within a short distance of each other, such as Lansing, guests can stay overnight and make the most out of their trip, enjoying many of the bucket-list activities in one stay.
Tracy Padot, vice president of marketing communications at the Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau, recommends driving into the city for a night at the city’s newest hotel, Courtyard by Marriott Lansing Downtown, since its location in central downtown is great for experiencing the heart of Lansing from breakfast and golf to drinks and baseball.
One can wake up from their comfortable stay at Courtyard by Marriott, or Courtyard Lansing, and head right across the street for a bagel sandwich at Goodfellas Bagel Deli, open until 3:00 p.m. ET each day, allowing for either breakfast or lunch to be enjoyed at the eatery.
After getting fueled up with a morning meal, golfers can make their way to the course with a short 15-minute drive to Eagle Eye Golf & Banquet Center to catch their mid-morning tee time. With six unique golf experiences in one location, people golfing there have flexibility with the type of course they choose to play.
Eagle Eye Golf & Banquet Center’s portfolio of courses include three championship courses—Eagle Eye and Timber Ridge, which are both 18-hole courses, and Hawk Hollow, which comprises 27 holes of golf total. The golf club also has Woodside course, which is uniquely one of very few 12-hole golf courses in the country. Welcoming all skill levels, The Falcon is a nine-hole, links-style course, and Little Hawk is an 18-hole natural grass putting course.
Once finished with golfing, the latter half of the day can be spent strolling through Rotary Park—a popular destination for both residents and visitors alike with its kayak launch, beach, lighted forest, and concert venue—with a drink in hand through Downtown Lansing’s Social District program, then catching a Lansing Lugnuts baseball game at Jackson Field ballpark.
Born out of businesses finding creative ways to keep afloat amongst the COVID-19 pandemic, Lansing now has three Social Districts—Old Town Lansing, Downtown Lansing, and REO Town Lansing—which allow patrons to purchase drinks from participating businesses and enjoy them while walking through the designated areas of each district outdoors. The district of Downtown Lansing encompasses Duke’s Saloon, Lansing Brewing Company, MichiGrain Distillery, Midtown Brewing Company, MP Social, Omar’s, Radisson Hotel Lansing at the Capitol, and The Tin Can Bar. A few of these locations also offer a food menu, for those looking for dinner options in the area.
Conveniently, Jackson Field is located within the Downtown Lansing social district in which people can roam with their drinks of choice, making it simple for pedestrians to walk over and catch a Lansing Lugnuts’ baseball game when finished with their drinks.
Jackson Field is throwing many family-friendly events throughout the summer. These fun events include firework displays, days where people can bring their dogs to the field, and Capitol City Market Kids Days, where children get the chance to run the bases after the game. The summer event schedule can be found online on the stadium’s website.
All in a one-or-two-day-span, visitors of Lansing can experience staying at an upscale hotel downtown, dining at local eateries, golfing at Eagle Eye Golf & Banquet Center, enjoying drinks in the sun, and round off the day with a baseball game at Jackson Field stadium.
