Tag Archives: tourism

Gerald R. Ford International Airport awarded $8.7 million for improvements

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By Cris Greer

WKTV Managing Editor

greer@wktv.org


The Gerald R. Ford International Airport will receive nearly $8.7 million in federal funding to install eight new passenger boarding bridges.

Gerald R. Ford International Airport to receive nearly $8.7 million for terminal improvements. (Courtesy)

The Federal Aviation Administration funding, announced by U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, was made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Signed into Law Last Year

“This funding will support eight new passenger boarding bridges in 2023 to further enhance the guest experience and provide growth opportunities for airline service in West Michigan for years to come,” said Torrance Richardson, president and CEO of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. ”We are thankful for the investment in community infrastructure by Senator Stabenow and Senator Peters, which allows the Gerald R. Ford International Airport to compete nationally for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding to invest in our passenger terminal.”

This funding is from the Airport Terminal Program. Senators Stabenow and Peters helped secure these funds in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

“Having reliable and safe air service is crucial for tourism, commerce, and economic development,” Senator Stabenow said. “This funding is another critical piece of the infrastructure investments coming to our state and will improve customer experiences at our airports.”

Gerald R. Ford International Airport. (Courtesy)

The Airport Terminal Program is one of three aviation programs created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The law provides $1 billion annually for five years for Airport Terminal grants.

“Airports play a critical role in boosting Michigan’s economy by connecting communities and businesses to important destinations and resources,” Senator Peters said.

“I was proud to help secure this federal support through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help Gerald Ford International Airport make necessary upgrades to critical infrastructure, ensuring it can continue to welcome and transport travelers safely and efficiently for years to come.”

The Airport also will receive a $3.6 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for infrastructure improvements. The funding will go toward expanding the airport’s snow removal equipment building, as well as reconstructing existing airport service roads, runway lighting systems and the aircraft rescue and firefighting building.

SWMI Tourist Council encourages visitors to get ‘creative’ with new tourism game

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Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council just released its Creative Connections game that will run through April 30, 2022. (Provided)

By Millicent Huminsky
Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council

The arts, music and theater scene is thriving in Southwest Michigan. Now it’s more fun than ever to discover this region’s creative side by playing Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council’s new Creative Connections game between now and April 30, 2022. Laugh, be awed, meet the artists and send your spirits soaring while earning cool, artsy prizes along the way.

“Our Southwest Michigan region is very fortunate to have a vibrant and comprehensive arts scene,” said Mike Nadolski, executive director of The Mendel Center, one of the 16 game destinations. “The arts add significantly to the quality of life for all by entertaining, educating and inspiring us. Creative Connections is a fun and easy way to learn more about some of the many varied arts organizations our region has to offer.”

Here’s how the game works:

  1. Pick up a Creative Connections brochure. You’ll be able to request one online or at any of the Creative Connections destinations.
  2. Visit the Creative Connections destinations (listed below). Each business will have a door decal or a flag signifying their role in the game.
  3. Show your brochure and collect a stamp at each location you visit. Each destination has a personalized stamp.
  4. Collect stamps to earn prizes starting at just three Creative Connections stops.
  5. Return your brochure to the Tourist Council to be validated for prizes. Your prizes and brochure will be mailed back to you so you can continue playing.
  6. All brochures must be sent for validation by May 9, 2022. You must be 18 years or older to play.

“It’s not always the case that you can play a game, be enriched and win prizes, too,” Nadolski said. “You already win just by dabbling or fully immersing yourself in an art museum, dance studio, performance, concert or gallery. Plus, you never know — you might find a piece of art or an experience that awakens a creative impulse and sends you into a new and exciting direction. That’s the transformative power of art.”

Creative Connections destinations include: The Acorn, ARS Gallery, Arts & Culture Center, Box Factory for the Arts, Buchanan Arts Center, Citadel Dance & Music Center, Chartreuse Art Gallery, The Gallery at Harbor Shores, The GhostLight Theatre, The History Center at Courthouse Square (Berrien County Historical Association), JLN Studio, Krasl Art Center, The Mendel Center of Lake Michigan College, Silver Beach Carousel, Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, Twin City Players and Water Street Glassworks.

Learn more about each destination and the prizes you can earn at https://swmichigan.org/creative. You’ll also find helpful FAQs, game instructions, the online brochure request and more.

“I would love to see arts enthusiasts flock to our area and spend a night or more in one of our local hotels so they can experience the arts scene while also touring the countryside, visiting our wineries, shops, restaurants, shorelines and golf courses,” Nadolski said. “When you package it all up, we really have a spectacular and highly accessible arts scene with the quality and diversity you might expect to find in a region much larger than ours.”

The Southwest Michigan Tourist Council connects visitors and locals alike with things to do in Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Counties. View their curated itineraries, Makers Trail destinations, blogs, trail guides, newsletters and more online. For more information, visit https://swmichigan.org or https://www.facebook.com/swmtc/, or call 269-925-6301.

Camping in West Michigan

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By Jeremy Witt, West Michigan Tourist Association

 

Surround yourself with nature when you take a camping trip in West Michigan. There’s a place to camp around every corner, whether you’re looking for RV sites, a place to set up your tent or stay in a cabin. These family friendly vacations can be done on any budget without compromising any of the fun.

Camping in Southern West Michigan

 

Canoeing at Sandy Pines

Camping is about relaxation, fun, and making great family memories, and the Covert/South Haven KOA will help you accomplish those three things whether you stay for a night or a week. Located near six beaches, you can play in Lake Michigan, walk the pier to the lighthouses, feed the ducks along the channel, build a sand castle, and relax as you listen to the waves crashing on the shoreline. At the campground, there is always something fun to do with activities and events scheduled throughout the summer in addition to the KOA’s amenities. End your day with family time around the campfire, laughing, telling ghost stories, and roasting s’mores.

 

For over forty years, Sandy Pines Recreational Community in Hopkins has been one of Michigan’s most popular family vacation destinations. Situated on a sprawling 800-acre parcel just off US-131 in Allegan County (between Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids), this park offers an on-site lake, four heated pools and a splash pad, an 18-hole golf course, mini golf, hiking and fitness trails, tot center, a ropes course, bocce ball, basketball, tennis courts, and more. Numerous seasonal activities, including flea markets, are also held each year.

 

One of southwest Michigan’s newest camping destinations is the Kal-Haven Outpost in South Haven. Offering 44 primitive wooded tent sites, 20 RV sites with power/water hookups, and seven spacious cabins, as well as a duplex and rental house, this 50-acre property is connected to the 33-mile Kal-Haven Trail Linear State Park. The cabins were built by a local craftsman and each sleeps up to eight, with three queen beds and a queen sleeper sofa, as well as a large sleeping loft. Each cabin is outfitted with handmade furnishings, a window air conditioning unit, a farmhouse table, and benches. Outside, each cabin features a fire ring, grill, and picnic table so that guests can truly enjoy the natural surroundings.

 

Start your summer with a trip to Cornwell’s Turkeyville in Marshall. You will be surprised at all you can see and do at one location! Dine on delicious turkey, attend Cornwell’s Dinner Theater, or visit Camp Turkeyville Resort, Cornwell’s latest addition. This RV resort is perfect for families young or old, and even your furry friends! With full RV accommodations, Turkeyville will make your weekend visit or vacation a success.

 

Weko Beach

Located on the sunny shores of Lake Michigan, Weko Beach Park Campground in Bridgman is the place to stay. Swim or relax on the beautiful, sandy beach and stop by the beach house for lunch or a snack. They have developed and semi-developed campsites, boardwalks, tent camping, cabins, observation decks, hot showers, bathrooms, and more to make your stay a good one.

 

River Country is known for its amazing outdoor beauty, and there’s plenty to enjoy. The campgrounds here have everything your family needs to thoroughly enjoy your camping excursion. Here, you’ll find boat rentals, beaches, excellent fishing, and, most importantly, a deeper relationship with the great outdoors.

 

More Camping in Southern West Michigan

  • Allegan County Parks, Recreation & Tourism, Allegan
  • Coloma-St. Joseph KOA, Benton Harbor
  • Covert Park Beach & Campground, Covert
  • Fort Custer Recreation Area, Augusta
  • Hidden Ridge RV Resort, Hopkins
  • Hungry Horse Campground, Dorr
  • Kalamazoo County Parks and Expo Center, Kalamazoo
  • Oak Shores Campground, Decatur
  • Spaulding Lake Campground, Niles
  • Sunny Brook RV Resort, South Haven
  • Van Buren State Park, South Haven
  • Welcome Woods Family Campground, Hastings
  • Yankee Springs Recreation Area, Middleville

West Michigan Tourist Association marks 100 years of promoting West Michigan

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Hugh J. Gray was appointed secretary/manager of WMTA upon its formation, and is honored with a stone cairn constructed of one stone from every county in Michigan to commemorate Gray as the “Dean of Michigan’s Tourist Activity.”

By Jeremy Witt

West Michigan Tourist Association

 

On May 7, 1917, delegates from across Michigan gathered in the Pantlind Hotel in Grand Rapids (today part of the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel), to work together to form the Michigan Tourist and Resort Association (today known as the West Michigan Tourist Association). Hugh J. Gray was appointed secretary/manager of WMTA upon its formation, and is honored with a stone cairn constructed of one stone from every county in Michigan to commemorate Gray as the “Dean of Michigan’s Tourist Activity.” This was the first grass roots tourist organization in the country, and was formed with the goal of promoting the attractions of West Michigan, and to encourage travelers to visit the region.

 

A hundred years later, the West Michigan Tourist Association (WMTA) continues to work towards that same goal with a special tribute from Michigan’s Governor on the occasion of WMTA’s anniversary. With more than 850 member properties throughout the area, WMTA has come to be recognized as the leading source of travel information for the West Michigan area. WMTA makes a wide variety of travel information available free of charge, including an annual West Michigan Travel Guide, a Lake Michigan Lighthouse Map, a monthly e-newsletter, and more.

 

WMTA is celebrating their centennial throughout 2017 with additional travel promotions and ways for the public to become involved:

 

  • Request a free copy of the West Michigan Travel Guide by mail (or view it online) to travel through the past 100 years in West Michigan, as well as the best of present day.
  • Follow along on the West Michigan social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram) for Throwback Thursday (#TBT) posts each week to explore visuals from the last 100 years in West Michigan.
  • Participate in the West Michigan 100th Anniversary Scavenger Hunt for a chance to win a copy of WMTA’s commemorative photo book and the grand prize from Boyne Mountain Resort.

 

Since 1917, the West Michigan Tourist Association (WMTA) has worked to market the very best of West Michigan to travelers from around the world. As WMTA celebrates 100 years in 2017, that commitment continues.

 

WMTA’s membership base consists of more than 800 attractions, lodging, events, and activities all across the west side of Michigan, from the Indiana border all the way into the Upper Peninsula. Over the past century, Michigan’s tourism industry has become second to only manufacturing in Michigan, making WMTA a vital resource for the area’s tourist destinations.

 

Today, WMTA continues its mission as a self-sustaining, membership-funded non-profit. For more information, please visit WMTA.org.