Winter break starts Feb. 23 at Eastern Michigan University. For students seeking to fill the week of no classes with a trip that won't break the travel budget, Michigan offers a number of interesting places for day trips. All of these places are within a two-and-a-half-hour drive from campus.
Grand Rapids
Travel time: 2 hours and 15 minutes
Find something unique at Warehouse One Antiques, a two-story antique mall located at 449 Century Ave. SW in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The mall includes a selection of furniture, clothing and other collectibles. The mall is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Also in Grand Rapids is the Art Print Pop-Up, a free event set for the city's Downtown Market, located at 435 Ionia Ave. SW. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23, visitors can peruse art prints ranging from framed photography, stationery, magnets, bookmarks, stickers and more. The Market Hall also has a variety of restaurants available where visitors can grab a bite to eat.
Lansing
Travel time: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Attend an event at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts, located at 750 E. Shaw Lane in East Lansing, Michigan! The group Peking Acrobats will perform athletic and acrobatic skills, such as trick cycling, precision tumbling, juggling, somersaulting and gymnastics. Catch this event at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25. Tickets can be purchased online, and students receive discounted tickets starting at $19.
Those interested in baking may also want to check out a pie-baking class at the Sweetie-licious Bakery Cafe, located just north of Lansing at 108 North Bridge St. in DeWitt, Michigan. Class participants will learn how to bake the perfect pie from scratch. Registration is required before the event, and tickets are $70. The class is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26.
Toledo, Ohio
Travel time: 55 minutes
Ice skate at The Ribbon, a 1,000-foot loop trail going through rolling hills and soft curves, for a uniquely Metroparks winter ice-skating experience. Located at Glass City Metropark, 1521 Front St. in Toledo, Ohio, the venue includes a skating pond that offers a traditional ice rink experience for beginners. Ice-skating sessions are 90 minutes each, and reservations are strongly encouraged to guarantee a spot. Weekend times include 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with varying times during the week.
Visitors may also want to drop in at The Toledo Museum of Art, which has six traveling exhibits and 45 galleries from around the world to visit on display. Admission to the museum is free. Located at 2445 Monroe St., the museum is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. At 2 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, visitors can watch free glassblowing demonstrations. Each demonstration lasts about 45 minutes. Objects are available for purchase after the experience and following a 24-hour annealing cycle.
Detroit
Travel time: 45 minutes
Belle Isle Aquarium is the oldest aquarium in the country. Located at 3 Inselruhe Ave. in Detroit, Michigan, it features a large, unique collection of fish including all seven species of gar found in North America. Parking and admission into the park are free, but a $5 donation is encouraged. The aquarium is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Located at: Belle Isle Aquarium, 3 Inselruhe Ave., in Detroit, Michigan.
Also in Detroit, The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit presents exhibits connecting Detroit and the global art world. Iin addition to a number of other exhibits, four temporary shows end at the museum Sunday, Feb. 23. Those four are: Chris Schanck: A Surreality; Levon Kafafian: Portal Fire: Shrine of the Torchbearer; Clair Gatto and Kara Güt: Magic Circle; and Asma: Wander and Pursuit. for students with an ID are $8; general admission is $12. Located at: Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, 4454 Woodward Ave. in Detroit, Michigan.
