Rachel's Guidebook for Williamston, MI
Food scene
Looking for craft beer or unique and tasty pub fare? Tavern 109 is a gem in the heart of downtown Williamston that's both a local and regional favorite. Cool vibe, great food.
Tavern 109
109 E Grand River RdLooking for craft beer or unique and tasty pub fare? Tavern 109 is a gem in the heart of downtown Williamston that's both a local and regional favorite. Cool vibe, great food.
Local brewery with casual restaurant out front. Yummy casual eats. The kind of place you could go to every week and not get tired of it. IPAs, Lagers, Microbrews, my beer connoisseur friends tell me this place is great! Definitely kid friendly, too.
Old Nation Brewery
1500 E Grand River RdLocal brewery with casual restaurant out front. Yummy casual eats. The kind of place you could go to every week and not get tired of it. IPAs, Lagers, Microbrews, my beer connoisseur friends tell me this place is great! Definitely kid friendly, too.
Local hole in the wall. Nice people. Chill vibe. Yummy food. I've never had a bad meal there.
Williamston Pub & Grill
132 E Grand River RdLocal hole in the wall. Nice people. Chill vibe. Yummy food. I've never had a bad meal there.
Great cuisine. This and Tavern 109 bring people from all over the area. Better food than we deserve in a small town like Williamston. A bit more formal than Tavern, but not at all stuffy.
The Bistro
151 S Putnam StGreat cuisine. This and Tavern 109 bring people from all over the area. Better food than we deserve in a small town like Williamston. A bit more formal than Tavern, but not at all stuffy.
OK, so this is probably my personal favorite in Williamston. Jose first started his place in the back of a gas station in Lansing and thrived with lunch orders from the downtown crowd at the state capital. More recently, he opened a storefront in a strip mall here in Williamston. Super nice guy. Delicious and unique cuban-style sandwiches. Give it a try!
Jose's Cuban Sandwich &Deli
725 West Grand River AvenueOK, so this is probably my personal favorite in Williamston. Jose first started his place in the back of a gas station in Lansing and thrived with lunch orders from the downtown crowd at the state capital. More recently, he opened a storefront in a strip mall here in Williamston. Super nice guy. Delicious and unique cuban-style sandwiches. Give it a try!
Yum Yum Yum. Pizza piled with fresh toppings that fall off when you're eating it. Subs are amazing, too! They'll deliver, too. Unassuming decor, more like an old cafeteria. Nothing fancy, just really good pizza and subs!
Brent's Pizza and Subs of Williamston
222 West Grand River AvenueYum Yum Yum. Pizza piled with fresh toppings that fall off when you're eating it. Subs are amazing, too! They'll deliver, too. Unassuming decor, more like an old cafeteria. Nothing fancy, just really good pizza and subs!
High end steak house. A local standard for entertaining clients. Their seafood chowder is pretty amazing. I don't see many children there. I'm told they have a decent wine list.
7 moradores locais recomendam
Capital Vine
2320 Showtime DrHigh end steak house. A local standard for entertaining clients. Their seafood chowder is pretty amazing. I don't see many children there. I'm told they have a decent wine list.
Small place, few tables, get a reservation early, but I'm told the steaks are UNBELIEVEABLE. I've yet to go personally, but if you try it out, let me know. Just writing this makes me think I should probably carve out an evening to go there!
10 moradores locais recomendam
Bowdies Chophouse
320 E Michigan AveSmall place, few tables, get a reservation early, but I'm told the steaks are UNBELIEVEABLE. I've yet to go personally, but if you try it out, let me know. Just writing this makes me think I should probably carve out an evening to go there!
Everyone loves Saddleback BBQ. Try Smoke in Old Town and see which BBQ you prefer, then let me know!
Saddleback BBQ Okemos
1754 Central Park DriveEveryone loves Saddleback BBQ. Try Smoke in Old Town and see which BBQ you prefer, then let me know!
Mexican food truck. Yummy Yummy! Bilingual. It's on the North side of Michigan Avenue, just east of Highway 127. Give me a Big Burrito from carne asada and a Jarritos, and I'm good to go!
10 moradores locais recomendam
El Oasis
2511 E Michigan AveMexican food truck. Yummy Yummy! Bilingual. It's on the North side of Michigan Avenue, just east of Highway 127. Give me a Big Burrito from carne asada and a Jarritos, and I'm good to go!
The best Ethiopian food in town! Careful, it's addicting!
6 moradores locais recomendam
Altu's Ethiopian Cuisine
1312 E Michigan AveThe best Ethiopian food in town! Careful, it's addicting!
Local Entertainment
Nationally recognized small professional theatre. Check out their website and see if you can catch a show. Their small casts and intimate theatre provide a truly unique and entertaining experience. Some productions may be better suited for mature audiences, check their website or call them for specifics.
Williamston Theatre
122 S Putnam StNationally recognized small professional theatre. Check out their website and see if you can catch a show. Their small casts and intimate theatre provide a truly unique and entertaining experience. Some productions may be better suited for mature audiences, check their website or call them for specifics.
Big 10 athletics is something special. Top notch programs with top notch athletes. Crazy loyal fans. Amazing marching bands. Catch an athletic event while you're here and you won't be disappointed (unless your team loses). Football, basketball and hockey are a few of the larger ones I'd recommend.
22 moradores locais recomendam
Estádio Spartan
325 W Shaw LnBig 10 athletics is something special. Top notch programs with top notch athletes. Crazy loyal fans. Amazing marching bands. Catch an athletic event while you're here and you won't be disappointed (unless your team loses). Football, basketball and hockey are a few of the larger ones I'd recommend.
Large local theater. Home of the Lansing Symphony. Many traveling broadway shows and other events frequent the Wharton Center.
Wharton Center
750 East Shaw LaneLarge local theater. Home of the Lansing Symphony. Many traveling broadway shows and other events frequent the Wharton Center.
Catch a bit of the local music scene. I haven't tried their food, so if you do, let me know and I'll update the review!
13 moradores locais recomendam
The Green Door Bar & Grill
2005 East Michigan AvenueCatch a bit of the local music scene. I haven't tried their food, so if you do, let me know and I'll update the review!
Great local park. Fun toys for kids. Lots of grass. Amphitheatre with free summer concerts. On the banks of the Red Cedar River with kayak launch points. Right by downtown, so you can play at the park then grab some dinner or a show.
McCormick Park
123 High StreetGreat local park. Fun toys for kids. Lots of grass. Amphitheatre with free summer concerts. On the banks of the Red Cedar River with kayak launch points. Right by downtown, so you can play at the park then grab some dinner or a show.
Take a trip into yesteryear. This theatre only has one screen and one or two showings a night, so check their website. Cheap tickets, cheap popcorn, no frills, just an old fashioned movie theatre beloved by the locals. For lots of screens and more modern theater experience, check out Celebration, Studio C at the Mall, or Eastwood towne center.
Sun Theatre
150 W Grand River AveTake a trip into yesteryear. This theatre only has one screen and one or two showings a night, so check their website. Cheap tickets, cheap popcorn, no frills, just an old fashioned movie theatre beloved by the locals. For lots of screens and more modern theater experience, check out Celebration, Studio C at the Mall, or Eastwood towne center.
Lansing's higher end outdoor shopping center. Has some decent national brands for clothing, jewelry, and restaurants. Movie theater, too.
41 moradores locais recomendam
Eastwood Towne Center
3003 US-127Lansing's higher end outdoor shopping center. Has some decent national brands for clothing, jewelry, and restaurants. Movie theater, too.
Fun park. Connects to the River trail for miles of walking, running, or biking along the grand river and Red Cedar. Has a splash pad for kids in the summer. Swimming in the lake. Playgrounds, pavilions, tubing hill with lift. I believe there's a small per-car charge at the gate.
23 moradores locais recomendam
Parque da Ilha do Falcão
1601 E Cavanaugh RdFun park. Connects to the River trail for miles of walking, running, or biking along the grand river and Red Cedar. Has a splash pad for kids in the summer. Swimming in the lake. Playgrounds, pavilions, tubing hill with lift. I believe there's a small per-car charge at the gate.
Miles of paved and boardwalk trail along the Red Cedar and Grand Rivers. Connects MSU to Downtown and Old Town and also to Hawk Island Park. Running, walking, biking are all welcome and encouraged. You could probably rollerskate or rollerblade on parts, but not the boardwalks.
9 moradores locais recomendam
Lansing River Trail
Lansing River TrailMiles of paved and boardwalk trail along the Red Cedar and Grand Rivers. Connects MSU to Downtown and Old Town and also to Hawk Island Park. Running, walking, biking are all welcome and encouraged. You could probably rollerskate or rollerblade on parts, but not the boardwalks.
How do fish get past a dam to spawn upstream? A fish ladder, of course! Believe it or not, we get salmon spawning all the way from Lake Michigan to Lansing. The fish ladder is an interesting thing to check out on a Sunday afternoon stroll along the Lansing River Trail. Start out with some pizza or BBQ in Old Town and then go explore. Maybe check out the Turner-Dodge House while you're at it! At Christmas, it's especially lovely.
6 moradores locais recomendam
Brenke Fish Ladder
216 East Grand River AvenueHow do fish get past a dam to spawn upstream? A fish ladder, of course! Believe it or not, we get salmon spawning all the way from Lake Michigan to Lansing. The fish ladder is an interesting thing to check out on a Sunday afternoon stroll along the Lansing River Trail. Start out with some pizza or BBQ in Old Town and then go explore. Maybe check out the Turner-Dodge House while you're at it! At Christmas, it's especially lovely.
Catch a glimpse of historic Lansing at this landmark. Don't plan your day around it, but if you're in the Old Town section, be sure to stop by and check it out.
Turner-Dodge House
100 E North StCatch a glimpse of historic Lansing at this landmark. Don't plan your day around it, but if you're in the Old Town section, be sure to stop by and check it out.
I love this trail. It's a quick mile and a half loop or so. Beautiful trees. Reminds me of trails in the Pacific Northwest (ok, without the 100 ft tall evergreens). Has a little elevation change to keep it interesting. Not too challenging. Fun for a quick run.
Ted Black Woods
540 West Grand River AvenueI love this trail. It's a quick mile and a half loop or so. Beautiful trees. Reminds me of trails in the Pacific Northwest (ok, without the 100 ft tall evergreens). Has a little elevation change to keep it interesting. Not too challenging. Fun for a quick run.
Great trail for walks, runs, biking. It roughly follows the Red Cedar River and you can access at Legg Park, Harris Nature Center and Meridian Road park. Partly paved, mostly dirt. I've never seen it crowded.
Red Cedar Nature Preserve & River Trail
1400 Sylvan Glen RoadGreat trail for walks, runs, biking. It roughly follows the Red Cedar River and you can access at Legg Park, Harris Nature Center and Meridian Road park. Partly paved, mostly dirt. I've never seen it crowded.
Are the kids tired of being inside on a rainy day? Check out the trampoline park! Also has basic food and laser tag. Fun for kids birthday parties.
Launch Trampoline Park Lansing
1982 W Grand River RdAre the kids tired of being inside on a rainy day? Check out the trampoline park! Also has basic food and laser tag. Fun for kids birthday parties.
Spare Time Entertainment Center
3101 E Grand River RdBowling, a midwest staple!
Go-Karts! Axe Throwing! Lots of fun!
13 moradores locais recomendam
High Caliber Karting and Entertainment
1982 W Grand River RdGo-Karts! Axe Throwing! Lots of fun!
Lovely park by a lovely lake. Ice cream stand across the street. Enjoy a dip in the water and a picnic. This is an all-sports lake, as well, if you have access to a boat.
22 moradores locais recomendam
Parque Sul do Lago Lansing
1621 Pike StLovely park by a lovely lake. Ice cream stand across the street. Enjoy a dip in the water and a picnic. This is an all-sports lake, as well, if you have access to a boat.