Mark Your Calendars for Be a Tourist in Your Own Town!
Saturday, May 31, 2008 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Purchase a ‘passport’ for $1 during the month of May and spend Saturday, May 31st from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. exploring over 35 area attractions throughout downtown Lansing and the campus of Michigan State University.
This year BATYOT is focusing on a “greener” Lansing.
In 2008, the GLCVB is helping to make Greater Lansing a more environmentally aware hospitality community. We invite you to sample some of the green initiatives taking place in your own back yard. REDUCE your carbon footprint with the help of Urban Options. REUSE materials for artwork at the Creation Station. Or, learn how to RECYCLE at Friedland Industries. We’re proud of our environmentally focused and unique local businesses and encourage you to explore local products at the Lansing City Market, or take a tour of the Paramount Coffee Company and sample locally roasted coffee. Check out one of our area B&B’s, including the Cozy Koi and consider taking a mini-vacation by staying locally. Don’t forget to explore our many green spaces like Cooley Gardens, Frances Park or the newly opened Hunter Park Community Greenhouse in the Allen Neighborhood.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hours of the event?
The event runs from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The buses run from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. And you don't have to stop exploring Greater Lansing at 5. Stop by any one of our four information stations for a flyer listing area night spots, attractions and restaurants open until late and offering special deals and discounts.
Can I get to all the places by bus?
There are four CATA loops that are designated for Be A Tourist. One for downtown Lansing, one that goes to Old Town, one that heads out to Michigan State University and one that goes down to Potter Park Zoo. To keep the routes running efficiently, some of the attractions are not serviced by the Be A Tourist buses.
Downtown Bus Route (PDF)
MSU Bus Route (PDF)
Do I have to pay each time I get on the busses?
You only have to pay 50 cents the first time you board a bus, at which point you will get your passport stamped. This CATA stamp will allow you to ride on all of the Be A Tourist designated busses for the rest of the event.
Do all the kids need passports? 
Kids 3 and under are free and do not need a passport.
What’s the deal with the stamps on the back of the passport?
Collect 10 or more stamps on the passport from May 31st through the month of June and send it in for prize drawings.
Do I have to live in Lansing in order to participate in the event?
No. Anyone can participate in Be A Tourist In Your Own Town.
Where should I park?
The parking lot at the Michigan Historical Center on Kalamazoo is a great free place to park and you can pick up your passports there at the information station, too.
Where do I get the passports?
Buy your passports during the month of May at the Lansing or Meridian Malls’ guest service area, AAA Michigan on Grand River Ave., Convention & Visitors Bureau offices at 1223 Turner St. (2nd floor), Lansing Art Gallery on Washington Square or the CATA station (Grand x Kalamazoo.)
Hints
- Buy your family’s passports prior to the event so that you can plan your route ahead of time. This also allows you the chance to read up on what the new happenings are this year. It’s difficult to visit every attraction, so you will want to strategize each year.
- Invite out of town family or friends in to visit this weekend. Explore the city together. Or send them out to explore on their own!
- For a lot of kids, riding the CATA bus is an attraction itself!
- Make a mini vacation out of this…truly BE A TOURIST and stay over at one of our many hotels or Bed & Breakfasts.
Attractions participating to date:
- AAA of Michigan
- Absolute Gallery
- Beaumont Tower-MSU
- Boars Head Theater
- Book Burrow of Friends of Lansing Libraries
- Burchfield Park
- Burgdorf's Winery LLC
- Cadillac Club
- Capital Area District Library-downtown branch
- Capital Area Transportation Authority
- Construction University-touch a truck
- Cooley Gardens
- Cozy Koi Bed & Breakfast
- Creation Station
- Downtown Lansing/Washington Square
- Elderly Instruments
- Fenner Nature Center
- Friedland Industries
- Frances Park Gardens
- Greater Lansing Go Green! Initiative
- Greater Lansing Potters Guild
- Hunter Park Community GardenHouse
- Impression 5 Science Center
- Kresge Art Museum
- Lansing Art Gallery
- Lansing Board of Water & Light-John Dye Water Processing Plant
- Lansing City Market
- Lansing Community College-Shigematsu Memorial Garden
- Lansing Fire Station #41
- Lansing Lions Club
- Lansing Lugnuts
- Lansing Sailing Club
- Michigan Historical Museum/Library of Michigan
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- Michigan Museum of Surveying
- MSU Bug House
- MSU Bikes Service Center
- MSU Community Music School
- MSU Concert Auditorium/Fairchild Theatre/Dept of Theatre
- MSU Dairy Store
- Michigan Walk of Fame
- Michigan Womens Historical Center & Hall of Fame
- MSU Horticulture Gardens
- MSU 4H Children's Gardens
- MSU Museum
- Nokomis Learning Center
- Old Town Art Market
- Paramount Coffee Company
- Potter Park Zoo
- Preuss Pets
- Ranney Skate Park-Modern Skate & Surf demonstrations and lessons
- R. E. Olds Transportation Museum
- Reotown
- Saper Galleries
- State Capitol Building w/ Lansing Symphony quartet
- Turner-Dodge House and Heritage Center
- Urban Options
- VanAttas Greenhouse & Flower Shop
- W.J. Beal Botanical Gardens
- Woldumar Nature Center
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BATYOT Supporters
Partners:
Sponsors:
- L.E.P.F.A.
- Accident Fund
- General Motors
- Jackson National Life Insurance
- LAFCU
- Comerica Bank
- Capitol National Bank
- National City Bank
- Physicians Health Plan
- Friedland Industries
- Meijer
- Emergent BioSolutions
- Dean Trailways
- Michigan Women’s Historical Center & Hall of Fame
- Loomis, Ewert, Parsley, Davis & Gotting, P.C.
- KI Technology Group
- Sheraton Lansing
- Lansing Community College
- East Lansing Marriott at University Place
In Kind Services:
- Art Craft Display
- AAA
- Lansing Mall
- Meridian Mall
