Featured Articles

Maybe it is the allure of the Petra exhibit at Calvin College. Or it could be the influence of music or movies that incorporate Middle Eastern sounds.

Dianna Stampfler has left her position as the marketing and media director of the West Michigan Tourist Association to form a new business, Promote Michigan.

Plainwell consultant and media-relations professional Dianna Stampfler puts in a lot of hours every week representing her tourist-industry clients.

Everything from A to Z — antiques to zippers — can be found at the Trufant Auction & Flea Market, touted as one of the largest flea markets in Michigan. No matter what you’re looking for, chances are you’ll find it during this treasure hunt in a town that boasts the title “Stump Fence Capital” of America.

Getting from place to place in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids doesn’t need to be a burden when the weather turns inclement. Whether faced with snow, rain or the heat of a West Michigan summer, you can easily get from “point A” to “point B” in the River city without setting foot outside.

Touring the back roads of Michigan will take you past some of the most beautiful countryside, where orchards and vineyards dot the landscape. Wherever you begin your journey, you’ll find unique destinations and attractions that pair well with a trip through Michigan’s wine country.

Perhaps one of the most challenging things for an artist is being judged by others, whether it’s by a visitor at an art exhibit or by a juror for an art competition. Art does not fit into a given shape and is not limited by a spectrum of colors.

In the last issue of GUIDE, I briefly mentioned a pending trip to the Middle Eastern country of Jordan. The week long trip (February 28-March 7) was the experience of a lifetime, reinforcing my New Year’s resolution to try new things. I can’t wait to tell you all about it.

Breakfast by morning. Deli by day. Piano bar by night. The musical transformation of Bite, at the intersection of Pearl Street and Ottawa Avenue in downtown Grand Rapids, has created a classic new hot spot for locals and those in town on business. As you approach the intersection, the piano tunes inside can be heard over the outdoor speakers.

The eastern shore of Lake Michigan in Southwest Michigan goes through a fascinating transition from the warm sunny days of August, through the crisp days of fall, and then into the storms of November and December. There is no need, however, to avoid the beach or to put your cameras away once winter has blown into town. You can brave the beach and the ravages of the weather to capture spectacular photos of both the stormy season and the frozen lakefront that follows with a little preparation and great care.

Whoever said enjoying a fine cigar is just for the rich and famous is blowing smoke. A new generation of cigar aficionados has come on the scene and select Grand Rapids establishments are welcoming them. Connoisseurs can enjoy a good smoke at more than a dozen locations in the Grand Rapids area.

Michigan’s craft distilling industry is growing at a rapid pace – ranking #4 in the nation in terms of overall number of distilleries (behind California, Oregon and Washington). To help unify the interests of the more than two dozen artisan distilleries, the Michigan Craft Distillers Association was formed earlier this summer to bring a voice to the industry.

While some travelers admire Michigan’s historic beacons from afar, dedicated lighthouse lovers make pilgrimages far and wide, down one-lane roads and deep into wooded areas to see the stately structures that have aided mariners for generations. Lighthouse aficionados aren’t content just viewing the state’s famed lights. They want to walk the floors and climb the towers, just as keepers did generations before.