Mid Michigan

Copyright: Patty Elton-Interactive Outdoors, Inc. Woodland Beauty

An interesting industrial note about the Mid Michigan centers on Battle Creek, nicknamed the "Cereal Bowl of America." It was at the turn of the last century that physician, John H. Kellogg found ready-to-eat breakfast foods stimulated the health benefits for patients at the Battle Creek Sanitarium. Upon this observation, his brother, W. K. Kellogg and friend, Charles W. Post, began the world's most successful cereal industry.

Attractions - Mid Michigan Travel Region is home to Michigan's capitol city, Lansing. Comprising only five state parks, several of which bear the reference "recreation areas." With the majority of the region's terrain being a blend of open meadows and dense woodlands accented by rivers and streams, the area is a natural recreation destination.

Fort Custer Recreation Area, a prime example of the region's terrain, provides miles of hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. The Yankee Springs Recreation Area consists of 5,200 acres of rolling scenery teeming with wildlife while providing overnight camping and day use facilities. The Ionia Recreation Area features a 100-site family campground and a 49-site horse campground with adjacent trails and day use facilities. An interesting area for nature exploration is Yankee Springs Recreation Area where wildlife and plant life is plentiful. Marked by kettle-like formations, the scenic area was once inhabited by the Algonquin Indians. Another favorite water sport destination in Mid Michigan is Sleepy Hollow where the Hardy Dam Pond resides. In addition to anglers in pursuit of stocked walleye, bass and yellow perch, visitors come to power boat, wave-run, and water-ski. This 3,000-acre park is convenient to Lansing where fine dining, lodging, and cultural events and exhibits are enjoy all year. Winter sports in the region include snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, winter camping, ice fishing, and more.

Recreation - While travelers absorb their beautiful Mid Michigan surroundings, they typically pursue camping, swimming, picnicking, hunting, fishing, boating, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, horse camping, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and more.

Climate - Mid Michigan has warm to hot summers with temperatures climbing above 70 degrees F (above 21 degrees C). Winter temperatures average between 14 and 22 degrees F (-10 to -6 degrees C). Moisture deposited in this region averages between 28 and 36 inches but can be dramatically altered by the "lake effect."

Location - Mid Michigan is aptly named encompassing the mid region of the state. The capitol city of Lansing rests at the heart with major Interstates 96, 69, 94 and U.S. Highway 27 scoring the landscape. The southern boundary is shared with Indiana and Ohio.