On The Cusp Of Spring Break. Are You Ready For Some Local Fun?

Camp Newaygo Wetland Trail

On The Cusp Of Spring Break. Are You ReadyFor Some Local Fun?
By N3 Spring Break Ops Team

Years ago when the folks from N3 World Headquarters and  Dog Dropping Depository (one of the few disadvantages of snowmelt) had children  around we often spent Spring Break  traveling to a variety of places. Of course, if you’ve done this you know what a great time it is to be on the road since most of the civilized (and otherwise) world seems to be heading for southern beaches or to the west for some skiing or perhaps  aiming to see the cherry blossoms in DC or maybe even on a journey to  New York to see….well…. to see New York, I guess.

Airports? Well, let’s just say the enhanced rudeness quotient-always at an escalated level in airports-amps up markedly due to the place just absolutely teeming with a large number of infrequent fliers. You can almost cut the collective tension with a jack-knife (if one was allowed to have one, that is).
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Then there are those times when one chooses to make it a staycation. Nothing lifts the spirits like...

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...a week off  when you needn’t go anywhere that requires packing. A time to take in some of the things that bring others to your area and maybe engage in a few day trips as well.

And it is for you Staycayers, and especially those of you with children, that we offer a few tips to keep the week as fun and enlightening as a trip to Mammoth Cave with significantly smaller swarms of humanity.

We will be posting some ideas  this week for activities and day trips beginning with some very local options.

Wendy Sinicki who serves as Newaygo County Welcome Center Volunteer and Marketing Coordinator compiled these tips for a little outdoor activity as well as some indoor options, each just a short jaunt from home.

A low-cost top 10 list of things to do in Newaygo County especially geared for families

Winter is over when Spring Break comes to Newaygo County but sometimes Mother Nature gets her signals crossed and it can be an adventure. To help parents during this week of having the kids home 24/7, the Newaygo County Welcome Center has some great, low-cost and even free ideas—rain or shine.

​If you have questions or need more information, please do not hesitate to contact the Welcome Center, 4684 Evergreen Drive, Newaygo, for more information. It will be open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The first ones are for days to be outside and the others are for when an indoor activity is a must.

1. For a first-time hiking adventure, the Camp Newaygo Wetland Trail is a great one. This 2.5 mile looped path that includes two boardwalks over different types of wetlands. Go past Camp Newaygo at 5333 S. Centerline Road, to a gravel road on the west side. The parking area is less than a quarter mile on the right. Make sure you stay on the boardwalks which could be slippery with wet leaves. Cost: Free.
2. Another easy first hiking experience is the Ensley Township Nature Preserve. This has many half-mile loops named after animals. The area also features a playground too. The preserve is located at 6985 136th Street, Sand Lake, west on 136th from Cypress. Cost: Free. For a trail map: http://www.ensleytownship.org/Ensley%20Center%20Brochure%20map.pdf
3. Any of the sections of the North Country Trail (NCT) are always a great hiking option. Trail heads are located at 40th Street or on M-20, with both just west of M-37. Three looping trails incorporate a portion of the NCT. One is at the Welcome Center, another includes the Flowing Wells and White Cloud County Park in White Cloud and the third is the Birch Grove Trail that connects Diamond Lake County Park, Loda Lake and NCT. Maps for these are available at the Welcome Center. Cost: A parking permit to park in the trailheads, county parks, or Loda Lake.
4. Looping trails through pine forests, prairies and wetlands highlight the 4.3 miles of trails at Coolbough Nature Preserve. From Croton Drive, turn north on Bayberry to 58th Street then east to Hazelwood Street for the parking area. Cost: Free.
5. For more challenging hiking experience, try the Hardy Dam Nature Trail. Parking for this trail is on the west side of Hardy Dam on 36th Street. Take the sidewalk to cross over the dam but follow the gravel road just after the spillway to the start of the trail. The trail showcases mature tall trees and a guide to markers is available at the Welcome Center. This trail can be challenging with a narrow path along a hillside that crosses several small tributaries to the river which can be muddy if rainy. Cost: Free.
6. For more of a challenge, try disc golfing. This is using a Frisbee or plastic disc which you must bring and throwing it and hitting obstacles such as trees or metal baskets depending on the course. Disc golf courses are available at Branstrom Park in Fremont; Big Bend Park and Newaygo State Park, on the backwaters of Hardy Dam; Conklin Park by Croton Dam and behind White Cloud Elementary School. Cost would be a state day or season permit for Newaygo State Park or a day fee for a vehicle at Big Bend Park.
7. Another adventure would be kayaking the White River. Put in at Rotary Park just below the White Cloud Dam and kayak 3 miles to the Flowing Wells take out or for a shorter trip use the kayak launch at White Cloud County Park. There also are several places to put in and take out along the Muskegon River. The water will be very cold so plan accordingly.

If the weather isn’t conducive to outdoor activities, there are several options for indoor events.

1. For the creative types, ages 8-16, Vaudeville Academy will help them  learn new skills and provide an opportunity to show them off in a skit or two at the Vaudeville show on Saturday, April 8, at 7:30 p.m. at the Dogwood Center for Performing Arts in Fremont. Students of this class will learn some new skills and have the option to be a part of a "slapstick" (physical) comedy act and a juggling and acrobatics act in the annual Vaudeville show at the Dogwood. Local performer, Mat Emerick, will teach the skills needed for the performance. Pre-registration is required and students must participate in all three classes. $20. Class, from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, April 5 – 7, costs $20.
2. Another creative option involves a variety of classes at the NCCA-Artsplace in Downtown Fremont. On Saturday mornings, there is drop-in-art and then during the week various classes from sewing, crafts and painting. Check out the website, http://www.ncca-artsplace.org/events/, for dates, times and costs.
3. Michigan Notable Author Steve Lehto will discuss his latest book, Preston Tucker and His Battle to Build the Car of Tomorrow, which tells the story of the man who tried to start his own car company after World War II, on Thursday, April 6 at 7 p.m. at Fremont Area District Library. This is part of the Writers Live at the Library series and is free.  
   
4. On Friday, April 7, David Lindley will perform his eclectic mix on multiple instruments in the Dogwood Center's Black Box. Tickets are $20 and available at the box office.

For more information, call the Welcome Center at 231-689-7340 or see events posted on the Newaygo County Welcome Center Facebook page.