A Visit to Michigan’s Southern Peninsula

Though this is the second post in this blog, it is the first dedicated to travel. As noted in the initial post a health issue turned our plans upside down. Rather than hit the road in our car on October 2nd, we flew to Grand Rapids Michigan on October 9th for a 5 day visit with our friend Tim Horan. Then we returned to Spokane where we await Sheila’s procedure on October 29th. In between we have trips planned to Portland/Seattle, and to Las Vegas.

Tim lives in South Haven, a southern lower peninsula town on the shores of Lake Michigan. We were stunned by the contrast of Spokane to Michigan. Almost immediately we noticed that it is rare to trash along the roads or in town. People on cell phones while they drive was minimal, much less speeding and tailgating on the Michigan roads. Tabulate all of that and the scorecard reflects that area of Michigan is less uptight with infinitely more self esteem and friendlier. Even when we went to Grand Rapids, a population of 650,000, those factors did not change.

Tim had been the Mayor in South Haven in 1982-1984, the time of rust belt onset. Cities and towns that had been dependent on blue collar jobs lost those jobs. The city was in the throes of anger and depression. Tim, with a few key allies, was able to initiate a movement to improve downtown and the marina in order to attract tourists and wealthy Chicagoites looking for second homes on the lake. The result is a friendly, pretty, walkable downtown of thriving businesses leading down to the marina. Over time they transformed from blue collar to a vibrant tourist industry driven economy. They did this without becoming an assemblage of kitschy shops that characterize some of their neighbors on the Lake Michigan shoreline. Even when the tourists go, the downtown stays alive.

Perhaps this is a model for Spokane. They widened sidewalks and added trees to invite people to be on the streets of downtown. Space for tables at the shops and restaurants nourishes the businesses. This was a conscious decision 40 years ago. Wjile in South Haven we saw no homeless, and no trash. People seemed to have a prideful unhurried mindset we are missing in Spokane. The beaches are fine light-colored sand that is a pleasure to walk. Additionally, they have a senior center in South Haven that puts to shame every other senior center I have seen. One other perk is that the produce in stores was very much higher quality than what we are used to in Spokane.

You might ask, why don’t I move to South Haven? Well, their winters are notoriously unfriendly. While we were there the weather was great, temps in the 60’s and 70’s with bright warm sun. There is an abundance of trees in the entire area and they were in the fairly early process of turning colors making them even more attractive.

We spent days walking on beaches and through small towns. Perhaps the highlight, however, took place on a trip a little over an hour away to Grand Rapids, hometown of Gerald Ford. Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park a 158-acre combination botanical garden, outdoor sculpture park, and art museum was our destination. Striking gardens are integrated with fine art. There are many important works of contemporary and modern art.

The horticultural displays include plants of the Midwest as well as plants from regions around the world. Some are planned and manicured, others natural and native. You can see rocky landscapes, waterfalls, manmade structures and more. Among the individual gardens are children’s, agricultural, Japanese, woodlands, carnivorous plants, tropical, Victorian, rock, sculpture and desert gardens. In the spring they bring butterflies from all over the world and hatch them in a large indoor plant environment. After 4 hours the gardens were closing, and we had seen less than half of the gardens. The place is huge, but well worth our time. See more at the link below, and with the pictures posted here.

meijergardens.org

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