Michie's Adventures at Soaring Eagle Casino

Hi, it’s me Michie the Fishie again!  I want to tell you about my trip to the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort.  My trip to Mt. Pleasant went swimmingly.  I couldn’t believe how impressive this place looked when I pulled up.  

It’s a big property.  They have 514 guest rooms and suites and over 70,000 square feet of meeting space.  Plus the resort is connected to one of the largest casinos in the state! 

The resort has a lot of things to do and choose from.  They have a full service spa, exercise room, beauty salon, indoor pool, outdoor Jacuzzi, three restaurants, a deli a couple lounges and also National Headliner Entertainment!  They’ve had people like Bill Cosby, Betty White, Tony Bennett, Rascal Flatts, even Toby Keith and the band Chicago! 

I wonder if Hootie and the Blowfish are coming here any time soon.

I decided to pass some time in the indoor heated pool.  The pool is unique in that it has an underwater sound system.  Coming from someone that spends an awful lot of time underwater, I really appreciate that feature.  The pool attendant literally had to fish me out of the pool so that I wouldn’t be late for my spa appointment. 

Ahhhh, there’s nothing like unwinding in the spa with a nice Seaweed Facial to get you ready for a night full of fun.

After my facial, Adam, one of the friendly Bellmen at the resort took me and my luggage up to my room.

He had the nerve to tell me that he thought I overpacked, but I don’t think you can ever be too prepared.

Holy Mackerel!  What a nice room!! 

I’ve got a room with a beautiful king size bed and my own personal Jacuzzi!  A fish can get used to accommodations like this! 

I can’t believe it!  My room actually has a piano in it! 

They must save rooms like this for the big fish they get staying here!  You know what they say…you can tune a piano but you can’t tuna fish!!  Heehee that’s a little fish humor…

I decided to go check out the restaurants to get a bite to eat. On my way to the restaurants I stopped to enjoy this beautiful Poinsettia Tree in the Grand Foyer.  

I couldn’t help but think that this would be a great place to have a holiday party, I’m sure the staff would make your planning so easy that it wouldn’t make you crabby. 

So now off to dinner, I thought I’d go to the Firefly Buffet and enjoy a nice leisurely meal until I noticed this sign….

AAAACK!!!  Seafoood Extravaganza?!!  Nobody warned me about that!  I’m going to the steakhouse instead! 

Ok, the Siniikaung Steakhouse looks like a better choice for me. What a nice menu…steaks, chops, vegetarian, a nice wine list to choose from and wait a minute…grilled Salmon??!!  Eeeek! I’m getting out of here and ordering room service!

I got a call from a friend of mine who invited me to meet them for a nightcap in the Talon Night Club. I didn’t feel like a fish out of water. 

What a great experience I had at the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort.  I really got schooled on how much there is to do and see there.  Check it out for yourself at www.soaringeaglecasino.com or call Julie at 989-775-5314 to plan your visit!  Trust me, you won’t feel like a little fish in a big pond, you’ll feel right at home!

Michie's Grand Experience on Mackinac Island

After a quick swim across the Straits of Mackinac I arrived on Mackinac Island for my overnight at Grand Hotel.  Jeff and his beautiful horse drawn carriage picked me up and brought me right to the red-carpeted front porch steps of Grand Hotel.  Not that I couldn’t have swam the short ½ mile from the dock, but it sure was nice to get a ride.  Here on Mackinac there are no cars, you have to walk, ride bike, take a carriage, or in my case, swim to where you want to go.

At the front steps “Doorman Extraordinaire” Dondi greeted me and we chatted for a few minutes after he helped me depart my carriage.  I quickly realized that Dondi is the man to see when you need a ride from the hotel to anywhere on the island. 

Dondi told me of the many things I must see and do while at Grand Hotel, beginning with going to the very top of the hotel and visiting the Cupola Bar.  It was amazing, with its 180 degree view of the Straits and the Mackinac Bridge, and don’t even get me started on the delicious beverages.

Next I went to the Grand Luncheon Buffet.  Talk about delicious!  I did not know where to begin, so, I started in the logical place, the dessert section.  With cheesecake, and carrot cake, and cookies, and pastries, and bread pudding, and…Oh, I could go on forever.

Oh look, there is Annie Farrell peeking through the glass of the cold foods section of the buffet.  Annie is Grand Hotel’s Director of Sales, she and the convention staff put together “Grand Events” big and small.  Just this season, the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce and Republican Leadership Conferences were both held at Grand Hotel.  I actually swam on stage at the podium where the future president of the United States could have been standing.  How exciting!

After eating lunch and checking out the Theatre, I decided to let my lunch settle and get a bit of exercise by taking a trip around the labyrinth located down by the pool.  What a great way to work off a few extra bites of cheesecake.

Now that I was out moving I decided to get in some free croquet and a little practice on the putting green.  

After all that activity I was ready to relax and take in the view, so I headed to the Worlds Longest Front Porch and took a seat in one of the 100 wicker rockers. Check out that view, you cannot help but relax here.

After a little R&R on the porch I figured I had better get up to my room and get ready for dinner. (I know, it seems like I just ate lunch doesn’t it?)  I decided to stop by and check out the Terrace Room. This room is used for nightly live music and dancing with Alex Graham and the Grand Hotel Orchestra.  During the day it is generally in use for meetings and fun things like wine tastings.

Next stop, my guest room.  I had so much fun jumping from bed to bed…oh, don’t tell anyone at the hotel I said that.  It was difficult to leave those comfy beds and go down to dinner.  But I did make it to dinner, and once again made a puffer fish out of myself indulging the gourmet 5-course dinner that comes with most room rates.  

My stay at Grand Hotel was so enjoyable, I hope to have a chance to return during their 2012 season and experience one of their weekend packages like Titanic, Somewhere In Time, or maybe 4^th of July.  What fun that would be!

Michie The Fish Goes Great Lakes Bay!

The Great Lakes Bay Region was easy to find after a short swim from Mount Pleasant!  Luckily, my friends Wendy & Sonja invited my famous friend Nemo to join me for my Great Lakes Bay Getaway in Bay City, Birch Run, Chesaning, Frankenmuth, Midland, and Saginaw.  It’s time to GO GREAT LAKES BAY!

They weren’t kidding when they told us the portions are HUGE at Tony’s I-75 Restaurant in Birch Run!  I think we’d better split this sundae and save room for all the other great dining in the Great Lakes Bay Region.  From Frankenmuth’s World Famous Family-Style Chicken Dinners to Bay City’s unique stops like Fusion 1 Café and Saginaw’s Jake’s Old City Grill, you’ll never leave the Great Lakes Bay Region hungry!

After eating that giant ice cream sundae at Tony’s, I figured I better have a look in the mirror… I didn’t know I’d be getting a whole MAZE full of them!  Nemo and I had a blast exploring Frankenmuth River Place’s Ultimate Mirror Maze, with over 2,000 square feet of mirrors, endless hallways, and dead ends.

Nemo and I thought we were too stuffed to ever eat again after our giant Tony’s sundae, but then we spotted the perfect place for some afternoon refreshments… the KingFish Restaurant & Tiki Lounge on the scenic Bay City riverfront!  We got to sit back and unwind at “Dockside,” the Restaurant’s four-level patio deck overlooking the historic Saginaw River!  With seating for over 200+ and a dock for over a dozen boats, KingFish is the perfect place to meet, celebrate, or just dine and unwind while watching a beautiful sunset!

After a great treat at KingFish, Nemo and I were swimming in great finds at the Bay Antique Center!  Did you know that the Bay Antique Center is Michigan’s largest and finest antique mart?  We saw why, as we browsed antiques and treasures from over 100 quality dealers, all at one location!

Following our shopping spree at the Bay Antique Center, it was time to get out and enjoy the fresh air!  Wendy and Sonja took us on a tour of all the Great Lakes Bay Region’s lush golf courses.  They pointed out the region’s four championship courses—Apple Mountain (Freeland), The Fortress (Frankenmuth), The Sawmill (Saginaw), and Bay Valley Resort (Bay City).  We also learned about the incredible new Mix & Match custom golf packages you can create only in Michigan’s Great Lakes Bay!  Simply choose your courses and your favorite place to stay, and they’ll build you a personalized package at an unbelievable rate!

We felt right at home when we visited the Children’s Zoo at Celebration Square in Saginaw!  Right away, we hitched a ride in a friend’s wagon and got to tour the entire zoo.  We saw llamas, alligators, peacocks, kangaroos and monkeys… and we were just lucky enough to catch the incredible exhibit of black-footed penguins without becoming lunch!  After all, this wasn’t just any zoo—it’s one of only five AZA-Accredited Zoos in all of Michigan!

After all the excitement at the zoo, it was time to unwind and channel our creativity, so we stopped by Space Studios, an incredible art gallery and studio in Midland.  Here, we got to browse some great artwork, and even get our fins a little dirty!  Did you know you’re able to learn to throw your very own pottery, and even glaze and paint it yourself?  Talk about dipping your fins into some fun!

All of that spinning on the pottery wheel made us a little dizzy (and a little hungry!), so Nemo and I decided to swing by St. Laurent Brothers to see what special batches of candies and nuts they were stirring up that day.  Between the saltwater taffy, specialty roasted nuts, and all of the other goodies, we definitely saw why this is a favorite stop for all ages!

Wendy & Sonja sure knew how to wrap up this tour with a relaxing, rejuvenating candlelit massage at Serendipity Day Spa in Frankenmuth River Place.  After seeing all of the amazing sights, savoring the flavors, and enjoying the excitement of Michigan’s Great Lakes Bay Region, anyone would need some R & R!

Captain Michie reporting from the Tall Ship Appledore on the beautiful Saginaw River in Bay City!  Our scales have been polished and our fins have been massaged, and now we’re off to our next fabulous Michigan destination… but we’ll sure miss the Great Lakes Bay Region!  Until next time…

Michie Takes Mt. Pleasant!

I woke up on this bright, sunny, August day with the smell of Comfort Inn and Suites Hotel and Conference Center’s continental breakfast wafting in my room.  I came to stay here last night because I heard it has one of the best conference facilities around, so I had to check it out for myself. The Comfort Inn and Suites Hotel and Conference Center did not let me down.  This facility has 138 guest rooms and 8 meeting rooms with a capacity of 600 so it can host any sort of event I want to put on.  There is also a Bennigan’s on site for me and my friends to swim to for some delicious food and drinks, not mention the fitness center, pool, high speed internet and free local calls available to me.  After enjoying breakfast, I am heading to the Ziibiwing Center to learn about this area’s Indian history.

Mmmm… I’m full.  That breakfast was delicious.  Next, I am off to the Ziibiwing Cultural Center on the Isabella Indian Reservation of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.  Mount Pleasant is rich in American Indian culture because of the 130,000 acres of reservation land sprawling through Isabella County.  The word “Ziibiwing” means place by the river in the tribe’s original language, Anishinabemowin, which makes the Ziibiwing Center the perfect place for me since I live in the water!  This language is used throughout the center, as well as in printed materials.  At the Ziibiwing Center, there is so much to see!  There are permanent exhibits and temporary exhibits that change throughout the year. 

            The Ziibiwing Center’s permanent exhibit is called “Diba Jimooyung” which means “telling our story”.  This 15 area exhibit teaches guests about the struggles to hold on to the land, language and life ways of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.  I feel like I know all about the American Indian culture of this area now! 

            The Ziibiwing Center also has meeting and conference facilities for holding events.  Located right by the Soaring Eagle Casino, this location will make any event unique.

            On my way out, I think I will stop in the gift shop to get some souvenirs to take home for my friends!  Maybe I will get some dream catchers or American Indian art work.I can’t decide what to buy; there are too many options!  

            After learning all about the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe at the Ziibiwing Center, I am going to head down the road to try my luck at the Soaring Eagle Casino.  The casino offers table games, poker, bingo, keno, and slots as well as a variety of dining options.  I think I am going to check out the nickel slots.  I have a lot more places to visit in Mount Pleasant so I don’t want to spend all of my money in one spot!  Wish me luck; I am hoping for a big win!  Keep your fins crossed!

Well, now I am downtown where all the shops are.  I’m so lucky to be here at this time because the Street Festival is happening right now!  There are booths everywhere from local vendors, a ton of food, and some great entertainment!  There will be dance exhibitions later; I hope I am here long enough to see them.  Right now, I am heading over to check out this sand castle that is being constructed in Town Center.  The city brought in professional sand sculptors that are taking the whole week to build this.  Mt. Pleasant must have known Michie was on her way; they wanted to make me feel right at home among all the sand!

Good thing I didn’t spend all my money at the casino so I can do some shopping and eating in downtown Mount Pleasant.  Let’s head down Broadway street, right past the Mount Pleasant Area CVB office at 200 E. Broadway!  The building where the CVB office stands now was one of the earliest bank buildings to be constructed in Mount Pleasant.  Starting as The First National Bank of Mount Pleasant, it changed its name to Isabella County State Bank in the 1890s.  After it was a bank building for over a century, it became what is now the CVB, Chamber of Commerce, and Middle Michigan Development Company offices.

            The word around here is that there are some great local restaurants I should check out for lunch.  Gambling at the casino and visiting the Ziibiwing Center has made me work up an appetite!  I am deciding whether to eat at The Brass Café or Max and Emily’s Eatery, both being locally owned restaurants. Residents have told me The Brass Café has an excellent selection of seasonal ingredients on their menu and is a great place to grab lunch or dinner for any occasion: cocktails, a night on the town, or a business meeting, for instance.  Max and Emily’s is also locally owned and has an extensive menu offering baked goods, soups, salads, and sandwiches.  At Max and Emily’s, you can order in or take it to go.  Although I have heard wonderful things about both places, I think I’m going to get something from Max and Emily’s.  That way, I can take my lunch with me.  After all, I have a lot more to do here and my stay is limited!

While in Mount Pleasant, I can’t forget to check out the campus of Central Michigan University!  Approximately 25,000 students attend CMU on a yearly basis.  The school sure has grown from when it was Mount Pleasant Normal and Business Institute in the 1890s.  My friends at the CVB, Chris Rowley and Matt Young, are CMU graduates themselves!  Fire up Chips!

            While on campus, I have to check out Kelly Shorts Stadium where the CMU Chippewas play football.  I might have to come back and watch the team play when the season kicks off.

            I have also heard about the new CMU Event Center that was completed in 2011, McGuirk Arena.  The event center seats 5,300 people and was designed to provide an engaging environment for commencement, athletic events, concerts, trade shows and more.  In 2011, CMU held its first graduation ceremony there, as well as hosted pop artist, Kesha!  I’m bummed I missed that!

The campus of CMU was amazing.  Next, I’m going to go check out the Chippewa River and hopefully soak up the sun on this gorgeous day.  The river serves as popular recreation activities for Mount Pleasant residents, college students, and visitors.  On the Chippewa River, you can canoe, kayak, fish and tube.  Right now, am I relaxing in front of the water fall at Nelson Park.  The Chippewa River runs right through Nelson Park; maybe I will pass it on my excursion later! Being a fish, I think I will just relax and let the river carry me away instead of fishing.  That doesn’t sound too exciting to me!

I feel so relaxed and tanned after that little trip down the Chippewa.  I’m off to meet up with my friend Matt Young, who works at the CVB.  He is going to tell me all about Michigan’s Central Swing.  It is a golf program run through the Mount Pleasant Area CVB.  You choose where to stay and where to play and Matt does the rest!  Sounds like a stress free way to plan a get away to me!  I’m making my way down Pickard Street, one of the main roads that runs through Mount Pleasant and where a lot of businesses are located!  I just passed Doozie’s Ice Cream; I will definitely be heading there later.

            After a short tour down Pickard Street, I made it here to Bucks Run, one of the courses that participates in the Michigan’s Central Swing program.  The program features 12 courses of high caliber, picturesque golf, all within convenient driving distance in Central Michigan. Guests can chose from one of the outstanding accommodations here in Mount Pleasant and create the perfect little golf getaway.  Bucks Run is one of the four premier courses that the program offers and has a 4.5 star rating.  Maybe if I am nice to Matt he will take me to see some of the other golf courses, such as Tullymore, St. Ive’s or Pohl Cat, next time I am in Mount Pleasant!

Time to wind down from the long and exciting day with dinner and a drink or two.  Ever since I got here people won’t stop raving about this restaurant called Mountain Town, so I can’t leave Mount Pleasant without stopping there.  This brewery and steakhouse now sits on the location where the historic Mount Pleasant Railroad Depot used to be.  The restaurant is a far cry from the original look of the railroad depot, but still has its original feel.  I’m going to have to try a rack of their award winning ribs just to see if there as good as everyone says they are.  Ribs will be a nice treat and a stray from the normal fishy diet of sea weed!  I’ll take one of their hand crafted beers to go along with it – the Chip River Weizen sounds delicious!

Mountain Town definitely lived up to their reputation.  I am stuffed!  Well, not quite.  Doozie’s ice cream will top me off.  Doozie’s is a local hot spot.  It is a  little outdoor ice cream parlor right off one of the main roads, Pickard.  They have an extensive menu ranging from a long list of Arctic Swirl flavors, to sundaes and shakes.  They even offer lighter versions that are just as delicious – Dole Whip or Skinny Dip for the more calorie conscious people.  Peanut Butter Cup Arctic Swirl with chocolate ice cream for me – yum! The lines may be long, but trust me, it’s worth the wait!

            After a long, fulfilling day in Mount Pleasant, I think I have seen it all for this trip.  Mount Pleasant Wow is right; there is so much to do here in Central Michigan. When I go back to my school of fish friends, I will have a lot to tell them about this exciting destination to convince them to come back with me and see more! I am going to go pass out in my soft, plush bed at Comfort Inn and Suites Hotel and Conference Center!  See you at my next stop! 

Michie Explores Ann Arbor!

Michie attended a reception for our Japanese micro site dignitaries at the METAL. Eclectic art pieces, blacksmithing and state-of-the art metal cutting took his breath away.

Be aware that the Fairy Doors of Ann Arbor may or may not be there at any given time.  They have been appearing in Ann Arbor since 2005.  Michie found this one at the Selo-Shevel Gallery. It’s a mystery. Some are exterior, some are interior, some are BOTH!!!

Another Urban Fairy Door.  Michie searched high and low at Sweetwaters Café, Peaceable Kingdom, The Ark and finally found one at Jefferson Market and Cakery.  When he went back the next day it was gone.

While Michie was searching for Fairy Doors he headed over to the Kerrytown District,  home of the Ann Arbor Farmers Market.   Crafts, furniture, baked goods, pottery, fresh flowers…he could not believe his luck.

Michie nestled into the fresh eggplants, green peppers and tomatoes at the Farmers Market.  How can he get those sunflowers home???

He better be careful or he will get sold with the basket of green beans.  So much to see and do at the Farmers Market but he better move on.

Michie headed right into the Kerrytown Market and Shops.  Fine shopping, dining, unique antiques, exotic spices and low and behold, exquisite papers at Hollanders.   He made himself at home in the bookbinding workshop.

Historic Kerrytown’s Hollanders specializes in unique decorative papers and hand bookbinding supplies.  The colors and designs at Hollanders were as bright and beautiful as his. 

Michie loved this year’s Ann Arbor Art Fair.   Four award-winning juried art fairs transformed Ann Arbor into an outdoor art gallery.  Michie jumped on board this piece of art. Wait, is this guy real or not?????

Michie saw the best in fine art and fine crafts during his adventures.   He is going to try to blend in here and get some rest.