Tag: Michigan

Metamora, Michigan, it’s a small town in Lapeer County.  One time a year the town grows exponentially for a couple days.  This is because of their Metamora Country Days and Hot Air Balloon Festival that takes place every August.  This festival has a whole lot more than just hot air balloons going on. However, that is the main reason that I have been going back year after year.  The second reason is for the fish dinners that the Metamora Lions put on. They also offer more to eat than just the fried fish dinners, but that is my favorite.

Let me tell you about how I started out going to this awesome festival so many years ago.  I was living in Metamora and as with many small towns, if there’s a festival going on in town, that’s where you want to be.  The festival takes place the 4th weekend in August and when I was walking in the Crim Festival of Races in Flint, Michigan it would conflict for the parade on Saturday and how late I stayed at the festival on Friday.  Most years that I was not in Flint for the races I was at the parade and I was taking pictures of the Elf Khurafeh Shriners’ Motorcycle Drill Team while they were driving in the parade. This was an easier parade to do that with, but I’ll cover that in another post.

So, what all do you do at a country days & hot air balloon festival?  Well, aside from the obvious there are a lot of things to do. There are the truck and tractor pulls out behind the Lions hall, where you should bring your ear plugs to sit and watch them.  For those that like a little bit of adventure, there are monster truck and helicopter rides. Of course, there are bouncy activities for the little kids. Inside the Lions Hall there is an arts & crafts show, be sure to pick up some locally made maple syrup from Elling Tree Farm out of Elba.  In the area covered area outside the Lions Hall is where the food is and places to sit and eat. Also, I can’t forget the chicken poop fundraiser. This is where they have a chicken pen that the bottom is sectioned off like a bingo card with just numbers on it. They sell spots to patrons and once all the spots are sold they place the chicken in the pen and whatever spot the chicken poops on is who the winner is.

Out in the field way behind the Lions Hall is where the balloons go up. This year they had bands playing out there for entertainment, plus the Masons have their ice cream sundaes and there was also pizza and BBQ available for purchase.  Each time the balloons are scheduled to go up there is a pilots’ meeting. This is where they determine if the balloons will go up or not. I checked the weather for the area ahead of time and was pretty confident that they would go up. Sure enough, this year they went up.  The great thing about this balloon festival is that they allow the public right up by the balloons, so I have been able to get great pictures and videos throughout the years.

Downtown Metamora has a variety of activities going on as well.  There’s a car show, a vendor tent, the Masons also sell their ice cream sundaes down in the park (that’s before the field opens for the balloons), this year there was also a Civil War encampment and there are food vendors.

This small town brings in thousands of people that fill the parking spaces, even those that are specially created just for the event.  In addition to the parking in town, there are also shuttles from the local high school and from a church.

Next year, be sure to put this on your activities list for August and when you come into town, bring your patience and have some fun!

One of my favorite places to walk is on our rails to trails system here in Michigan.  There are so many rails that have been turned into trails. I have been fortunate to live near so many.  For this post, we will focus on the ones in Oakland County. These trails all connect or at least they will shortly.

We will start at the Polly Ann Trail, which starts in Orion Twp at Joslyn Rd just south of Waldon Rd.  There is no parking near this start. It is a short distance up the trail to parking at the Civic Center Park where you can access the trail.  The trail wanders north through Oxford while passing by various bodies of water, woods, crossing some roads, both paved and dirt. While in Oxford the trail crosses a major road via a bridge.

In Orion Twp there is a connector from the Polly Ann Trail to the Paint Creek Trail that goes along Clarkston Rd and has a crossing into Camp Agawam, a former Boy Scout camp and now a township park.  The Paint Creek Trail starts downtown Lake Orion and goes to Rochester. On the trail you will go by a pond that has a couple of areas for you to get off the trail to fish or put in a kayak. The water is not very deep though with tree branches in it, so if you stick around long enough you may catch a turtle sunbathing.  Traveling south on the Paint Creek Trail you will come across signs from the old rail line. Plus, just off the trail is Paint Creek Cider Mill where you can get cider and donuts or a nice lunch or dinner.

When you get to Rochester there’s a short trail through town that connects to the Clinton River Trail.  The trail follows Paint Creek, goes under Rochester Rd, and around the library. Then there’s a short walk to where it hooks up with the Clinton River Trail.  You have the option of going to the left or right. To left will take you to the Macomb Orchard Trail as you cross over into Macomb County. When going to the right you will be on the winding trail that takes you under one freeway and over another which then puts you in the city of Pontiac. 

I don’t walk in the city of Pontiac, but will pick it back up in Sylvan Lake.  This then ties in with the West Bloomfield Trail. There are quite a few traffic crossings through the Sylvan Lake area.  Once you cross over Orchard Lake for the 4th time you will have a longer stretch without a heavy traffic crossing. Also, along the trail you will have the chance to slow down and read the signs about the area.  Lots of historical information on those signs. This trail ends at Haggerty Rd.

The next trail that ties in is not quite done as of this writing.  It’s the Michigan Airline Trail. You’ll be able to continue through to Wixom Rd when this is finished, including going over M5 on a nice bridge.  You’ll go through Commerce, Walled Lake and Wixom. I haven’t been on this section yet, because although there is asphalt down, it is not ready for people to be walking, running and biking on it.

Let’s Go Walking Some Oakland County Michigan Trails. Still want to go further?  You’ll have to take the sidewalk down Wixom Rd to Pontiac Trail and then head west to Lyon Oaks where you can pick up the Huron Valley Trail.  This trail will take you to Island Lake Recreation Center or to South Lyon. Either way, you have quite the ride ahead of you. These are great trails to go running, walking and biking.

This Friday and Saturday I will be at the Michigan Made Festival.  Friday from 4 pm to 9 pm and Saturday from 11 am to 9 pm. What’s a Michigan Made Festival?  It’s a festival where the focus is on Michigan made products and services.

What all will be at the Michigan Made Festival?

• Artists
• Crafters
• Shopping
• Food
• Bands
• Games
• Beer/Cider
• Cocktails
• Wine
• Pop
• Kids Zone

Where is the Michigan Made Festival located?

Canterbury Village (Behind the King’s Castle)

2359 Joslyn Ct.

Orion, Mi 48359

Does it cost anything?

Yes, just a $3 entry fee, unless you are a veteran or active-duty military and then you get in for free.  Also, under 12 years of age is free. Parking is free, also.

I will be going live on Facebook on Friday so that you know where I am at.  Maybe I will go live on Saturday as well.  

Come on out on either Friday or Saturday, say hello, buy a signed book and take a selfie with me.

Take note, the festival is also taking place on Sunday from noon to 5 pm.  However, I will not be there. I am doing my 18th half-marathon on Sunday at Kensington MetroPark in Milford, MI.

July in Michigan means the Michigan Rib Fest is taking place.  This year’s location was at Canterbury Village in Orion Township.  We liked this location in the grassy back field area over last year’s location of downtown Royal Oak in an asphalt parking lot.  

We entered through the steel frame entry that to me reminds me of the framing that one uses for the lighting at concerts.  There’s a small entry fee and for those over 21 you get a nice paper wristband. However, with that wristband you can leave the grounds, go shopping and come back in for no additional charge.  Plus, if you are military, you get in for free.

My first priority of going to the Michigan Rib Fest was to eat.  I went hungry, which is by far the most recommended. With that, I didn’t look closely at the vendors.  I did notice that Crown Royal was there making bags for soldiers. I wish I would have gone back to check out their booth closer.  Plus, they had a royal purple chair.

We got back close to the food vendors and found the  monster truck rides. These were a portion of the asphalt parking area.  It was far enough away from where you eat that you could only hear the siren noises that it made.  The engine noises were minimal at a distance. Right behind it were the inflatables for the kids along with the portable rockwall.

This is all well and good, but what did we eat?  I know that’s my first thought when reading an article about a rib fest anywhere.  We walked around the food vendors before deciding which ones to go to. They were nicely spaced out and a variety of vendors.  Along with barbeque they had Asian food and even ice cream available. Ice cream is a great vendor when you have the heat that Michigan has been having this summer.

After our tour of who all was there as a food vendor we decided on 3 vendors to try out their ribs.  They all offered a 2 or 3 bone sampler for $5 or $7 respectively.

The first vendor that we went to was Smoke Ring BBQ out of Farmington Hills, Michigan.  To fairly compare the rib samples, we did not get any sauce on any of them. Pictured to the right is the three bone sampler that we received.  Note they are meaty and we found them to be tender and the meat fell off the bone.

I would eat at this food truck again.  They were friendly when we approached the window.  The food was up in a timely fashion and they had paper towels along with sauces and forks.  Their sign caught my attention: “Sorry we didn’t bring our trophies and awards to display, we decided to leave them at home where they belong.  All we brought was our DAMN GOOD BBQ” I have to agree that they have good BBQ.  

The second vendor we decide to patronize was Hog Wild BBQ.  They have a really flashy truck. I like the bright orange and the hog on a motorcycle.  There was not a line at their food truck and I can understand why. We approached the window and they were not ready to greet us.

Our order was the two bone sampler with no sauce.  We picked it up at the grill. The guys working the grill were not the welcoming committee.  These bones were not very meaty and pretty dry.  

We decided on Pork and Bones for our third food truck.  The name really caught us and amazingly there was a very small line.  Very friendly people at the window to take our order and when handing out our two bone sampler.

The rib sampler was very meaty and tender.  The meat also fell off the bones. Definitely gave Smoke Ring BBQ a run for their money.  In my book the two are tied.  

For beverages we just hit up one of the lemonade stands.  That was the longest line we waited in. The family ahead of us ordered 5 lemonades and the gals were overwhelmed.  Patience is a virtue There are no refills, even for the large plastic cups.  

We headed back to the front of the festival to the Hot Dog Pig Races, which we were on the schedule shortly.  There was time to kill though, so we went into Yates at Canterbury Village and Michigan Market Place. Both are great for picking up some local finds.  We did return to watch some Hot Dog Pig Races. They have both pigs and weiner dogs that race. It’s very cute and entertaining.

Overall we had a great time with some great food.  I hope they have it at this location next year.  

Walking up to the Dow Gardens visitor center entrance we were greeted with a garden of tulips and a very large origami bird.  The variety of colors on the tulips were vibrant.

Upon entering we were greeted by a couple of smiling faces behind the counter.  We were asked if we had an annual pass or if we needed a day-pass. We opted for the day-pass at $10 per adult, as we don’t live in the area.  If we lived in the area the $20 annual adult pass would have been our option.

As we enter into the garden area from the visitor center, one can’t help but notice the quietness and stillness.  Although we are only a short distance from a freeway and town, you would never know it.

The day was an overcast day, however, with all the rain that has been in the area lately the green colors were a brighter, more vibrant green than they had been.  Upon reading the signs we went to the right to follow the path over to the Canopy Walk in the Whiting Forest of Dow Gardens.

Along the path there were small white signs with the wedding announcement on them placed along the path to the lawn area (known as Wedding Peninsula) where the wedding was to take place.  There was a stream that flowed behind where the couple was to say their vows and a cinder bridge that reflected it’s three arches into the stream. The bits of purple in the trees nicely contrasted all the green grass and trees.

Sitting in the lawn was a six-paned wood window.  It had the bride and groom each in their own panes, the bridesmaids, groomsmen, bride’s parents, and groom’s parents all in their own panes.  What a great way to announce them.

Further along the winding walkway we came to a fork in the path and chose to go to the rose garden, which had some small gardens of tulips of a variety of colors.  These were grouped according to the kind of tulip it was, there was a fringed tulip ‘labrador’, fringed tulip ‘cummins’, single late tulip ‘queen of night’, and more.

As we continued through the rose garden and tulips we came upon a light blue metal and light tan/gray wood bridge that would take us on a paved path to the Whiting Forest of Dow Gardens where the canopy walk is located.  The canopy walk was why we came to the gardens. When you pay for entry into either the Dow Gardens or the Whiting Forest of Dow Gardens, you get entry into both areas.

Upon arriving at the stone patio of the visitors center for Whiting Forest of Dow Gardens there was an origami buffalo with a small origami bird on its back.  At the opposite end of the patio the path continued on curved along to the forest where we came upon a small replica house of the Pines home. The Pines, which was the home of Herbert H. and Grace A Dow,  is located in the garden area and you can get tours of it. Continuing along the path you go under a portion of the canopy walk. You then have a choice of paths to take. One will take you to the canopy walk entrance, one will take you to the playground and another to the learning center.  

The path we took was the one to the canopy walk.  This is accessible to all abilities. It has a nice long ramp that leads up to the walkway.  There is something different at each end. We went first to the end with the net that you can climb in.  I did try that. The next end had an area that went out that had a clear bottom and sides. With my fear of heights, I did not go out on that.  The third end you have a wooden pod that is off to the left and the only access is a suspension bridge that is a single foot wide, not 12 inches, but you place one foot in front of the other to cross it.  The pod has 2 levels to it, although the lower level is sized more for kids. Opposite that pod, is a pod that anyone can access. Continuing on after the pods you will come to the end and it is a nicely covered lookout area with benches for relaxing and a view over a lake.  The view is spectacular and well worth walking out to see.

After going to each of the ends, we exited the canopy walk and followed one of the loops and went around a lake.  This loop was sorta paved or at least was very well packed down. There were various paths that went off from this loop that were made of mulch.  So, lots of options for walking and photo opportunities.

Although they do sell umbrellas in the visitor centers, don’t forget to take yours with you.  There’s not a lot of places for shelter if it starts to rain. We brought one, thankfully because on our way back to our vehicle it started raining.

My overall impression of the Dow Gardens and Whiting Forest with Canopy Walk was that it is well worth the drive and admission fee.  If we lived closer we’d get the annual pass instead of the day pass. Plus, a great place for people of all ages and abilities. You can purchase your pass on their website: https://www.dowgardens.org/.