Camping/State Parks
1. Brighton Recreational Area. This includes a riding stable with
rental horses, 18 miles of bridle paths, two beaches, picnic area and
shelters, boating facilities, fishing and hunting areas, and seven miles
of hiking/biking trails. A modern campground with 150 sites, two rustic
campgrounds, and seven rustic cabins are also located at the park. The
area is located at 6360 Chilson Road, in Howell. 810-229-6566
2. Pinckney Recreation Area. This park has modern and rustic
campgrounds, horseback riding, hiking, and mountain bike trails. The
area also features volleyball courts, fishing and swimming areas, picnic
shelters, boat launches, and playgrounds. Over 10,000 acres of
undeveloped land is open to bird-watching, hunting, or photography. The
park is located off of North Territorial Road, in Pinckney. 313-426-4913
or 1-800-44PARKS (1-800-447-2757: state park reservations).
3. There are additional parks with camping areas in our area:
Bruin Lake Park
Silver Lake Park
Portage Lake Park
Waterloo Recreation Area
Please call 313-426-4913 or 1-800-447-2757 for more information on these
areas.
Hotels and Motels
Fowlerville:
1. Best Western Inn, Fowlerville: 517-223-9165
Howell:
1. Knights Inn, Howell: 517-548-3510
2. Ramada Inn, Howell: 517-546-6800
3. Grand View Inn, Howell: 517-546-2690
4. Crest Motel, Howell: 517-548-1220
5. Rosewood Inn Bed and Breakfast, Howell: 517-545-7769
Brighton:
1. Courtyard by Marriott, Brighton: 810-225-9200
2. Holiday Inn Express, Brighton: 810-225-9948
3. Lexington Motel, Brighton: 810-227-1272
4. Smith Motel, Briggs Lake, Brighton (swim, fish, boat): 810-227-7441
5. Woodland Lake Motel, Brighton (Lake access): 810-229-7093
Other:
1. Island Lake Resort Motel (this is on the water; swim, fish, boat):
229-6723
2. Bunn-pher Hill, Pinckney (bed and breakfast): 734-878-9236
Other Outdoor Activities
1. Island Lake Recreation Area. This area offers visitors a place to
swim, picnic, canoe and fish along the Huron River. Picnic shelters,
softball diamonds, volley ball courts, an archery range, and trails for
hiking, biking and hunting are also available. This area is located at
12950 E. Grand River Ave, in Brighton. 810-229-7067.
2. Lakelands Trail State Park. This is a part of the Rails-to-Trails
system, is designated for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and
cross-country skiing. Passes are required to use the trail. The 12.7
mile trail runs from M-52 in Stockbridge to D19 in Pinckney. The
Pinckney trail head is locate 0.25 mile north of M-36 on D-19.
313-426-4913.
3. Taylor's Beach. This is a playground, a general store, and a
swimming, boating, canoeing, and fishing area. This beach is located at
6197 Burkhart, between Howell and Fowlerville. 517-546-2679. Open May to
December. Entrance fees are charged.
4. Howell City Park. This park has a playground, boat launch, and areas
for swimming, picnicking, fishing, and playing volleyball and soft ball.
Paddle boat rental is also available. Located on the corner of Barnard
and Thompson streets in Howell. 517-546-0693.
5. Huron Meadow Metro Park. This is a 1,500 acre recreation area that
offers an 18-hole golf course. It also has boat rentals, six miles of
hiking trails, fishing areas, and a picnic area with a ball diamond and
a volleyball court. 8765 Hammel Road, along the Huron River, 3 miles
south of Brighton. 810-231-4084 of 1-800-477-3193.
Stables:
1. Hell Creek Ranch. One or two hour tours are offered on horseback
through 1,000 acres of undeveloped state land by this state-facility
riding stable. Many of the trails used today by this riding stable were
once traveled by the Potowatomi Indians. 10866 Cedar Lake Road, Hell.
313-878-3632. Open May-November. Admission is charged.
2. Sundance Riding Stables. Guided trail rides, carriage and hay rides,
and open riding are offered at this stable. 9250 Nixon Road, Grand
Ledge. 517-627-5500
Rock Climbing:
1. Grand Ledge. This is a small sandstone cliff in the Lansing area.
Only place in this area for outdoor rock climbing.
2. Ann Arbor Climbing Gym. 324 W. Ann, Ann Arbor. 734-761-4669
3. Vertical Ventures Rock Climbing and Wilderness Programs. 922 W
Willow, Lansing. 517-485-7681.
Canoe Liveries:
1. Delhi Metropark, Delhi Road, Ann Arbor. 734-426-8211.
2. Dexter-Huron Metropark, 6535 Huron River Drive, Dexter.
3. Hudson Mills Metropark, 8801 N. Territorial Road, Dexter.
734-426-8211.
Sky Diving:
1. Napoleon Sky Diving Center, Napoleon. 517-536-5252.
2. Sky Dive Michigan, Marshall: 616-781-9411.
3. Sky Dive Tecumseh, Tecumseh: 517-423-7720.
Sailplanes/Soaring:
1. Sandhill Soaring Club, Richmond Field, Gregory. Flying on week-ends
only. 734-498-2075 (week-ends) or 734-761-1132 (anytime).
2. Ionia Sailplane Soaring School, Ionia. Full-time soaring flight
school. 616-527-0711
Cider Mills/Orchards
1. Uncle John's Cider Mills. Enjoy tractor-drawn wagon rides and
train rides at this operating cider mill. 8614 N. US-27, St. John's.
517-224-3686.
2. Alber's Orchard. 13011 Bethel Church Rd., Manchester. 734-428-7758.
This is a family-owned orchard and cider mill and uses an old-fashioned
cider press.
3. Dexter Cider Mill. 3685 Central St., Dexter. 734-426-8531. This mill
has been opened since 1886 and offers cider, donuts, apples, caramel
apples, honey, and ginger snaps.
4. Wiard's Orchards. 5565 Merrit Rd., Ypsilanti. 734-482-7744. Founded
in 1853, Wiard's Orchard offers fresh fruit and vegetables that visitors
can pick themselves. On week-ends in September and October, the orchard
hosts the annual Country Fair featuring a haunted barn and wagon,
evening hay rides and pony rides.
Shopping:
1. Outlet Mall. Located off of I96 and Burkhart.
Places To Eat
Fowlerville/Howell/Gregory:
1. Tomato Brothers, Howell. Pretty good standard Italian fare.
Reasonable prices.
2. Mr. B's Rustic Tavern, Howell. Standard bar-type food. Good food,
very reasonable prices. Excellent daily specials on both food and drink.
Excellent pizza.
3. Gregory Inn, Gregory. Good for breakfast.
Brighton:
1. Outback. Great steaks and drinks. Australian motif.
2. Chili's. Tex-mex.
Chelsea:
1. Common Grill. Outstanding food, excellent wine list. Expensive.
They don't take reservations and there is often a long wait, especially
on week-ends.
Ann Arbor:
There are TONS of good restaurants in Ann Arbor. Ask Lisa or Tracy
for suggestions, depending on what you're looking for.
Other:
1. TreLune. Located between Brighton and Ann Arbor, just off US-23.
Excellent haute cuisine, excellent wine list. Very expensive.
Special Events
May:
1. Ann Arbor Spring Art Fair. First week-end in May. Happens at the
Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds.
June:
1. Michigan Challenge Balloonfest. Late June, Howell High School,
Howell.
2. Frog Island Jazz Festival. Happens in late June in Depot Town,
Ypsilanti.
July:
1. Ann Arbor Art Fair. Third week in July (runs Wednesday through
Saturday) throughout the city of Ann Arbor. This is a HUGE art fair!!
2. Fowlerville Fair. Third week in July. Fowlerville Fairgrounds,
Fowlerville.
August:
1. Michigan Festival. Usually the second week in August. Happens at
the MSU campus and downtown East Lansing area.
2. Island Art Fair. Happens on the first Saturday in August. Island
Park, Grand Ledge.
3. Lansing Jazz Festival. Fourth week-end in August. Happens throughout
Old Town Lansing.
4. Brighton Art Festival. Second week-end in August, downtown Brighton.
5. Howell Melon Festival. Week-end before Labor Day week-end. Downtown
Howell.
September:
1. Springfield Oaks Hot Air Balloon Festival. Third week-end in
September, Springfield Oaks Park, Davisburg.
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